Officials with AAA Minnesota/Iowa have announced that three hotels in Iowa earned the Four Diamond Rating during the past 12 months. The AAA/CAA Four and Five Diamond Ratings are AAA’s highest designations for hotels and restaurants. Among the three is The Ameristar Casino Hotel, in Council Bluffs. The others include The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, in Cedar Rapids, and The Hotel Blackhawk, in Davenport.

Hotels rated Four or Five Diamond are stylish and refined with upscale physical attributes. Guests receive personalized attention from an experienced staff and extensive amenities in a luxurious setting. Establishments at the Four and Five Diamond rating levels make up just 3.9 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, of the 59,000 AAA/CAA Approved hotels and restaurants. Across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, the selected properties represent the upper echelon of the hospitality industry.

Across the continent, just 4.2 percent of all AAA Approved hotels and restaurants began the year with the travel authority’s highest ratings 

A traffic stop in Red Oak Thursday night resulted in the arrest on drugs charges, of a man from Villisca. According to Red Oak Police, 58-year-old Rodolfo Morales Jr., of Villisca, was pulled over at the intersection of East Summit Street and Sunnyslope Drive. During the traffic stop, authorities determined Morales, Jr. was driving with a revoked license.

A perimeter search of his vehicle by the Red Oak P-D’s K-9 unit resulted in a search of  the vehicle, during which marijuana, and 30-doses of various prescription drug medications were found.  Morales Jr. was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Prescription Drugs. He was also charged with a drug tax stamp violation, and driving while revoked. Morales, Jr. was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 cash bond.