U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will lead a Senate delegation visit to Vietnam and Singapore this week at a critical time for U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The delegation visiting Vietnam, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the normalization of relations with the United States – an effort in which Senator McCain played a leading role – will include Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). In Singapore, the delegation will be joined by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

In Vietnam, senators will meet with top government officials and civil society leaders in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to discuss a range of vital security and economic issues. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam and the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

In Singapore, senators will participate in the The Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual conclave of Asia-Pacific defense ministers and policy makers, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

MUSCATINE – Four people escaped serious injury when the boat they were in went over the spillway at Lock and Dam 16 near Muscatine late Saturday evening. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Sunday, the fiberglass runabout boat being operated by 41-year old Kevin Mundt, of Orion, Ill., went over the spillway shortly before 11- p.m. on Saturday at a high rate of speed landing in about two feet of water. Both Mundt and 20-year old Jenna Bundy, also of Orion, Ill., were transported to Trinity Hospital in Muscatine where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The other passengers in the boat, 31-year old Daniel Dick, 31, and 33-year old Amanda Dick, both of LeClaire, were ejected from the boat, but uninjured. None of the occupants of the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, but did put them on before swimming and wading to shore.

The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, Sunday afternoon, issued a statement to the media with regard to a set of burglaries that occurred early Sunday morning in the vicinity of 9th and Birch Streets. Green said “Atlantic Police would like to encourage citizens to lock their cars and houses.”

Green said “While Atlantic enjoys an unusually low rate of crimes of this type, the recent incidents are a reminder that all citizens should observe common security measures.” About 10 days ago, Green says there were a number of unlocked cars entered, and items stolen. A number of local juveniles are currently being investigated for the offenses, however, according to the Chief, “The case is not complete, so no further details will be released at this time.”

Green says “One of the best defenses against theft and burglary is the common door lock, couple with the neighborly act of reporting anything unusual or suspicious in your neighborhood. Citizens do not need to be alarmed by these occurrences” according to Green, but rather this is “A call to be observant, and practice what should be normal, daily security measures.”

The driver of a stolen vehicle was injured and faces numerous charges after the suspect crashed the vehicle into a total of three vehicles and a house in Council Bluffs early this (Sunday) morning. According to Bluffs Police, 22-year old Mark E. Wilke, Jr., suffered minor injuries during the crash and was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital for treatment. When he’s released, he’ll be arrested for Reckless Driving, Theft in the 1st degree of  a stolen vehicle, and OWI.

Police and Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue Personnel were called to the area of the 3500 block of Avenue A at around 4:25-a.m., after they received word a vehicle hit a house at 3515 Avenue A. The vehicle, owned by Terry Hanson, of Council Bluffs, was damaged when it hit two parked vehicles and the home of Scott Mohr, of Council Bluffs. The vehicle was located in the intersection of Avenue A and 35th Street.

Police say the suspect vehicle was apparently traveling at a high rate of speed on Avenue A westbound. At the intersection of 35th Street and Avenue A, it collided with a mini-van before continuing west and hitting the two parked vehicles in front of 3511 Avenue A and then hitting Mohr’s home.

Upon further investigation, it was determined the suspect vehicle was stolen out of Treynor, and that Hanson didn’t know it was missing. A City of Council Bluffs building inspector was called to check the structural stability of the home.

Four teachers in southwest Iowa were recognized recently by the Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Awards. According to the Daily NonPareil, Joy Best, who teaches fifth grade at AHST in Avoca, and Rhesa Leiding, who teaches sixth through eighth grade social studies at Nishnabotna Middle School in Hamburg, both won the award. They received $10,000 as well as earning $2,500 for their respective schools.