(Radio Iowa) – A new policy going into effect this summer clarifies the prosecution of cases when illegal drugs acquired in one county lead to a person’s overdose in another county. Representative Jon Dunwell of Newton said one of his constituents has personal experience with this kind of situation. “This mother lost her 24 year old daughter. Her daughter was heading back into getting some treatment (but)…she was going to take her last little bit of drugs,” Dunwell told Radio Iowa. “She bought some drugs in one county, but she died in another county.”

The law, which goes into effect July 1, says a person who supplies drugs that cause an overdose can be charged in the county where the drugs were obtained or in the county where the death or serious injury occurred. If both county attorneys are building a case, the county in which the drugs were obtained would have the primary right to proceed with a prosecution Dunwell said in his constituent’s case, it wasn’t clear that either county could bring charges and, in the end, no one was charged. “The one county had some concerns about the case and the other county thought they could get it through,” Dunwell said, “so this would allow either county to do it.”

The bill passed the Iowa House and Senate unanimously. Dunwell and his constituent were at the Capitol this week to watch the governor sign the bill into law in a private event. “She’s sitting there with the governor. The governor has her granddaughter on her lap and she says: ‘I never thought I could make a difference,’” Dunwell said.

The child was four years old when her mother overdosed.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a woman was arrested Thursday evening on a Theft charge. 40-year-old Judy Kay Gunter, of Creston, was taken into custody at the Creston Wal-Mart Store, at around 6:40-p.m., for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited, and released at the scene on a Promise To Appear in court.

(Rockwell City, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Calhoun County, Thursday, issued an arrest report for April. Among those arrested was a man from Audubon County. Authorities say on April 3^rd, 53-year-old Lynn Allen Frolich, of Audubon, was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Calhoun County for failure to appear, on an original charge of driving while barred, an aggravated misdemeanor. The charge had been filed by the Lake City Police Department.

“CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS AND DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.”

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency is calling for volunteers to participate in a county-wide storm clean-up effort that takes place Saturday (May 4^th). Volunteers will gather at the Harlan High School’s north/back parking lot. Groups of 10-to-20 people gather at 11:30-a.m. Individuals or small groups will gather at Noon.

Grab your friends, co-workers, family, club, team, and/or neighbors. Teams should delegate a leader. Be sure to wear clothes that can get muddy, bring your gloves, and a bucket to gather small debris.

Participants will pick up debris in fields, for farmers who have requested help. If you have any questions, call the Shelby County EMA at (712) 215-8066.