(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Madison County did not report any injuries following an accident Saturday night, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 63-year-old Kimberly Dawn Mathes, of Winterset, was driving a 2005 Chevy trailblazer SUV westbound on Highway 34 at around 9:40-p.m., when she failed to make a turn onto Laurel Street.

The SUV went over a curb at the intersection and struck a traffic signal pole. The impact caused the right front wheel and part of the vehicle’s suspension to be torn-off. The SUV’s grill and other parts of the vehicle were found as far as 10-yards away, according to the police report.

Mathes was found in her vehicle, with the engine still running, when police arrived. She told authorities that due to heavy rain she couldn’t see the curve in the road ahead, which caused her to lose control. The Police report said due to the widely scattered debris from the SUV, Mathes was allegedly traveling faster than the posted 35-mile per hour speed limit. She was not cited, though.

The Officer’s report stated she should re-examined for her vision, because the four-lane roadway was well lit, even in the heavy rain.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five recent arrests:

At around 9:20-a.m. Friday, June 14th, Officers arrested 33-year-old Elisa Renae Savala, of Creston. She was taekn into custody on a Union County Warrant for Violation of No Contact/Protection Order. Savala was held in the Union County Jail until seen by the magistrate.  Friday evening, Creston Police arrested 21-year-old Calvin Cerda, of Lenox, for Driving while Revoked. Cerda was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

At around 1:45-a.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 46-year-old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, on a Union County Warrant for Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by Felon. Whitney was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Early Sunday morning, 38-year-old Jose Raul Flores, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. Flores was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. And, at around 3-a.m. Sunday, 50-year-old Charles Herbert Abell, of Macksburg, was arrested in Creston for Driving while Suspended. Abell was cited and released from the scene on Promise to Appear.

Montgomery county law enforcement reports a Red Oak woman was arrested Sunday on a drug offense.  During a traffic stop just before midnight Sunday, June 16 in the 1900 block of Broadway Street in Red Oak, 31-year old Aundrea Theresa Clay of Red Oak was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, 3rd offense.  Clay was taken to the Montgomery County jail and held on $5,000 bond.  Red Oak police and the Montgomery County K-9 assisted.

Iowa Democratic Party leaders say hard work and message discipline will yield results for the party in November’s election. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart kicked off the party’s 2024 state convention this weekend by acknowledging there’s a long, hard haul ahead.

All six members of Iowa’s current congressional delegation are Republicans and Republicans have large majorities in the Iowa House and Senate. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst (KON-first) is one of the 36 Democrats in the Iowa House.

Konfrst says Iowans are concerned about public education and abortion — and Democratic candidates need to focus on those two key issues.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum (YOH-kum) is one of 16 Democrats in the Iowa Senate. She says Democrats are the defenders of public education in Iowa.

Vice President Kamala Harris recorded a video message that was played for the three-hundred-25 (325) delegates who attended the convention.

Democrats who are running for seats in the U-S House addressed convention delegates, too. Second district nominee Sarah Corkery of Cedar Falls is running against Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion.

Lanon Baccam (luh-NON buh-CAHM), the Democrat who’s running against Republican Congressman Zach Nunn in the third district, also emphasized the abortion issue.

The General Election in November 5th — 140 days away. Iowa Democrats also announced on Saturday that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (beh-SHEER) will be the keynote speaker at a party fundraiser on July 27th. Beshear, a Democrat who just won a second term as governor in 2023, is from a state that, like Iowa, has big G-O-P majorities in the Kentucky legislature and both of the state’s U-S Senators are Republicans.

The University of Iowa is moving ahead on a project to expand and renovate the Tippie College of Business after getting approval from the Board of Regents. U-I vice president, Rod Lehnertz (Lenn-ertz), says the budget is projected between 45 and 60 million dollars.

Part of the project involves renovation of Gilmore Hall.

The Pappajohn Business Building will also be renovated in this project. Lehnertz says they are seeking private gifts to fund a majority of the project. Another project would spend 14 to 17 million dollars to renovate the restrooms in Burge Hall.

Lehnertz says it is a major residence hall and dinning facility, so the work will be done during the summer to avoid disruptions. The Board of Regents also approved renovationg of Level 7 of the John Pappajohn Pavilion for expanded labor, delivery and postpartum patient care at the University Hospitals.

The estimated project cost is 74 million dollars.