(Radio Iowa) – As Waterloo residents work to revitalize old industrial areas, concerns are mounting about the safety of those sites, like the Chamberlain ammunition plant which was abandoned some 40 years. Residents want to tear it down and put affordable housing in its place, but the E-P-A has said the soil is toxic. Margo Collins-Draine, who’s lived in the neighborhood since the late ’60s, wants to see more help from the agency beyond just a warning sign. “They’re coming in and they’re giving consultations, but they’re not putting their money where their mouth is,” Collins-Draine says. “They need to do more as far as funding sources to help the city out.”

Collins-Draine says Chamberlain and other factories left Waterloo nearly 50 years ago, and the city was left with few options. “HUD didn’t come in, EPA didn’t come in. Nothing was ever treated. The groundwater wasn’t treated,” she says. “Most of them were along either the Cedar River or tributaries to the Cedar River, so there’s contamination.”

The E-P-A named the Chamberlain compound a “brownfield” site several years ago, preventing any immediate development of the property. The site is currently fenced off without signage indicating the danger.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. On Sunday, 19-year-old Trevor Brant, of Glenwood, was arrested on two-counts each of; Criminal Mischief; Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Assault. Brant was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $12,000 cash-only bond.

And, on Saturday, Glenwood Police arrested 34-year-old Salman Elias, of Lincoln, NE, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.  Elias posted bond and was released.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five recent arrests. Two people were arrested on drug charges: 28-year-old Blake Alan McDole, of Creston, was arrested Friday for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. McDole was later released on a $1,300 bond. And, 19-year-old Zai Land Amarion Glover, of Johnston, was arrested Sunday night for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense.  Glover was released on a $1,000 bond.

Two people were arrested on an OWI charge this past week, in Creston: 71-year-old Charles Thomas Franklin Brown, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense at around 1:47-a.m., Saturday. And, 38-year-old Dulce Estrella Pantoja, of Lenox, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bonds for both individuals was set at $1,000.

And, last Thursday evening, Creston Police arrested 40-year-old Abel Olivera Martinez, of Creston, at his residence. Martinez was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault [on a] Resident Household Member. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 bond.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – A Dubuque Police Officer was arrested late last week on assault and harassment charges. KCRG reports 27-year-old Tyler Breitbach was arrested on multiple domestic abuse charges on Friday morning. Breitbach, of Peosta, is facing two counts of domestic assault and one count of third-degree harassment.

Court documents show a woman Breitbach had dated and lived with reported that he assaulted her twice in the summer of 2023. In the first incident, the woman described that in June 2023, the two were driving home on Swiss Valley Road, when Breitbach had “gotten upset and swung his arm out at her, striking her in the face with an open hand causing pain and leaving injury.”

In a second incident, documents say the woman was visiting an ex-boyfriend in July 2023. The woman says Breitbach arrived, and when she opened the door, he “used an extended arm to push her to the side and into the wall as he barged his way past her,” which she says forced her back into the wall, causing pain.

According to a report from the Telegraph Herald, City of Dubuque Public Information Officer Randy Gehl said the report came to light during the city’s annual review of harassment and reporting policies. The documents show Breitbach was interviewed in April 2024, and denied any physical contact with the woman, saying the relationship was “toxic but never physical.”

DUBUQUE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man was found dead underneath a tractor Sunday evening. The sheriff’s office says emergency crews responded to the area of Wente Road and Pape Road north of Dyersville at 8:14 p.m. for a report of a tractor rollover with a person trapped. When crews arrived, they found a 61-year-old man dead underneath the tractor. The man has not been identified.

The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says more information will be released after family members are notified. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Dyersville Police Department, New Vienna-Luxemburg Fire Department, and Bi-County EMS responded to the scene.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports his officers are teaming-up with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), to ensure drivers are buckled-up as they travel roads in Montgomery County. The “Click It or Ticket” traffic safety campaign is underway now through June 1st.

Authorities note, that as of May 18th, there had been 56 fatalities on Iowa’s roads that involved a vehicle with seat belts. HALF of the motorists in those accidents were NOT wearing their seat belts. The Red Oak Police Department wants to remind everyone of these simple things:

• Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roadway today. Be attentive and put the phone down.
• When you wear your seat belt, as a front-seat passenger in a vehicle, your risk of fatal injury is reduced by 45-percent. Seat belts save lives!

Chief Rhamy and the Red Oak P-D would like to remind you to “Click It or Ticket” during this public safety campaign and each time you get behind the wheel.