The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on July 1st, of 35-year old Mark Andrew Travis, of Sidney. Travis was arrested following an investigation by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office into the alleged falsifying of water testing records for the City of Sidney. Authorities allege that between 2009 and 2015, Travis falsified water testing records that were required to be performed by Iowa law.

Mark Travis

An investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources determined water testing records sent to the Iowa DNR, had been falsified. An investigation referral was made by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Travis was arrested for Felonious Misconduct in Office, a Class D Felony. Travis turned himself in to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, posted a $5,000 bond, and was released. Since the DNR investigation concluded in September 2015, Sidney municipal water has been tested and found to be within accepted standards.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say an Adair County man suffered minor injuries during an accident Monday morning. 83-year old Harvey Wallace, of Fontanelle, was driving a 2001 Ford Windstar van northeast towards Prescott at around 11:40-a.m., when the van left the road and made contact with a BNSF railroad signaling mast. The impact caused the van to rotate and flip into its top across the tracks.

Wallace was transported by ambulance to CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Corning. The accident remains under investigation. Adams County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by Prescott Fire and Rescue, Corning Rescue, and bystanders who volunteered to assist.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spent part of his July 4th with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, fueling speculation about his vice presidential pick. Trump met with Ernst in New Jersey on Monday and praised her in a tweet.

Ernst is a first-term senator, combat veteran and the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa. She ran on a platform of cutting wasteful spending, with the slogan “Make ’em squeal.”

Trump also spent time over the weekend with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. In addition, the New York billionaire is considering former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

In a statement, Ernst says she had a good conversation with Trump but did not say whether the vice presidency was discussed.

Fireworks will be filling the sky tonight and while most people find them spectacular to view up close, for others, they can cause breathing problems. Iowa DNR environmental specialist Chris Maiers says it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance. “We’re not saying ‘don’t go to any fireworks displays,’ it’s just be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid that blow off smoke coming toward you at the end or during the displays,” Maiers says. “That can really hinder the enjoyment…not only will it be difficult to breathe, it’ll be difficult to see too.”

An air pollution monitor in Davenport detected unhealthy levels of fine particles following last year’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Maiers says that’s something to consider when you’re deciding where to sit during the celebration. “These actually have things like heavy metals in them because that’s what they burn to produce the colors and you really don’t want to breath that in…there’s all sorts of stuff in there that can make even healthy people have issues like coughing or even a little bit of chest pain,” Maiers says.

He suggests people with asthma or respiratory issues, children and the elderly should make sure to stay upwind and a safe distance away from the fireworks.

(Radio Iowa/IPR)

GREELEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an eastern Iowa woman was killed when a homemade cannon exploded at a backyard gathering. Davenport television station KWQC-TV reports that 55-year-old Lori L. Heims of Edgewood was flown to an Iowa City hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department says Heims was injured at the gathering with friends in Greeley around 11:40 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators say the cannon was loaded and fired, and when it went off, the rear portion of the barrel blew out and sent fragments toward Heims. One of the fragments struck Heims in the head. Heims was taken to a hospital in Manchester before being flown to Iowa City, but doctors were unable to save her.

Greeley is about 80 miles north of Iowa City.