Police in Red Oak say a woman from Missouri Valley was arrested Tuesday on fraud and drug charges, following an investigation into bad checks written at two Red Oak businesses. 48-year old Delise Renee Steadman was arrested at the United Farmers Mercantile in Red Oak, after officers responded to a call about a woman writing checks on a closed account at the Mercantile.

Officials say Steadman allegedly wrote six checks at the United Farmers Mercantile and five checks at the Cubby’s Store in Red Oak. The checks amounted to a little more than $660. 

Steadman was taken into custody on 11 counts of Fraudulent Practices in the 3^rd Degree. While the woman was being searched, officers discovered a pipe used to consume illegal controlled substances. Steadman was subsequently charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Tuesday night on drug charges, following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at a residence in Red Oak. 30-year old Stephen Adams, of Red Oak, was arrested on three counts of Delivery of Marijuana, and Possession with the Intent to Deliver (76.2-grams). His bond was set at $5,000.

47-year old Michelle Adams, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $300. And, 53-year old Donald Charles, of Des Moines, was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of Methamphetamine and Possession with the Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $205,000.

The trio were arrested at around 8-p.m. Tuesday.

Voters in Taylor County, Tuesday approved a $3.8-million dollar bond issue for the construction of a new Law Enforcement Center. The facility will house a jail designed to hold prisoners for 20-years at a substantial cost savings to what is currently being paid to board them locally and in other counties. The bond also allows for the construction of new Sheriff’s Offices. The current jail in Bedford is more than 100-years old. The measure needed 61-percent approval to pass. Unofficial results show it was approved by 931 (or 61.21%) of voters. 590 voted against the bond issue. 

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, approved the issuance of $1.2 million in general obligation bonds for improvements in the courthouse and adjacent areas. According to the Daily NonPareil, the unanimous vote paves the way for the county’s Buildings and Grounds Department to seek bids for the sale of the bonds to help fund safety and security measures.

Proposed projects include the installation of fire sprinklers in the ceilings on the first and second floors, as well as the basement. A new air conditioning system will be installed at the same time as work is being done on the ceilings and new lights are installed. That project will cost about $510,000.

The building’s four elevators need replacements of some of the control mechanisms. Expected cost there is $400,000. And,  to improve security, electronic card access will replace keys for 31 doors throughout the building, as well as a nearby building used for storing election materials. The card access project is expected to cost $86,000.

Two other projects involving the paving of four county parking lots in the area,  and renovation of the courthouse restrooms to make them complaint with standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act, will add about $230,000 to the price tag. The bond funds will be paid back from the county’s debt services levy. The bonds are to be paid back over a five- to seven-year period.