(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports 56-year-old Ralph Springs, of Glenwood, was arrested Thursday (April 7, 2022). Springs was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant associated with a Class-D Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, charge. His cash-only bond was set at $5,000.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) say the organization recently worked with the Shelby County Fair Board, to secure a $25,000 grant for upgrades to infrastructure and amenities. The money comes from Iowa West Foundation, which routinely assists with projects throughout southwest Iowa. Darren Goshorn, Shelby County Fair Board President, says “Funding through the Iowa West Foundation will allow us to make improvements and additions to the fairgrounds. As a result, we will be able to host bigger events and attract more visitors, which we see as a benefit for all of Shelby County. The Shelby County Fair Corporation is extremely grateful for being awarded this grant.”

The funds from the grant will be used toward construction of new public restrooms; providing 14 additional camper hook-ups for electricity, water and sewer; and providing a non-potable water source that consists of a new well and two storage tanks. Tim Galligan, program officer at Iowa West Foundation, says the “Iowa West Foundation is glad to support the Shelby County Fairground improvements project. The project is well-planned and will help build on their current success. The increase of amenities and improvements will support not only the community but also area visitors.”

The Iowa West Foundation is committed to helping communities achieve their dreams. Letters of Inquiry (the first step in the grant application process) are accepted year-round with deadlines of Jan. 1, May. 1 and Sept. 1 prior to each of the three grants cycles. For more information on the application process, a virtual grants workshop will be held on April 22nd. Details and registration can be found at: www.iowawestfoundation.org.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – An investigation into a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Feb.16th in Council Bluffs, has resulted in an arrest. According to Sgt. Joshua Hughes with the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Special Operations/Traffic/K-9 Unit, 29-year-old Caleb Jefferson Bartels, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday (April 5, 2022), on charges of Homicide by Motor Vehicle while Under-the-Influence, Failure to Maintain Control, and Operating a vehicle without a license. Alcohol and speed were believed to be factors in the crash.

Bartels was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $50,000 bond. His next hearing is set for April 14th.

Caleb J. Bartels

The accident happened at around 2:06-a.m. Feb. 16th, on Interstate 29 northbound at the 48.9-mile marker , in Council Bluffs.  Upon arrival Police found a man suffering from serious injuries, and a female who had died from her injuries. During the investigation that followed, authorities determined Bartels was operating a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle when it went off the road. Bartels and his passenger, 33-year-old Tomorrow Riley, of Omaha, were thrown from the cycle.

She was the mother of a 13-year old son.

DAVENPORT – The Iowa Department of Corrections, on Friday (today) said 22-year-old Jarrett Anthony Bonnell, convicted of Intimidation With a Dangerous Weapon in Scott County, failed to report back to the Davenport Residential Correctional Facility as required, Thursday.

Jarett Bonnell (I-DOC photo)

Bonnell is awhite male, height 6’1″, and weighs 224 pounds. He was admitted to the residential facility on February 7, 2022. Persons with information on Bonnell’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Malvern, Iowa) –  Officials with the City of Malvern are warning residents not to put used motor oil in with your trash for pickup. Not only is the practice dangerous for Iowa’s water and soil quality, but it is against the law to dump in the landfill. Operators with Konfrst Trash informed the City of refuse containing used motor oil that was found during this week’s garbage collection. A picture shows when the trash was compacted inside the garbage truck, the oil leaked and was spread inside the hopper/compactor and collection box.

Photo from the City of Malvern Facebook page.

The City is are asking for the public’s help to make sure this does not continue to happen. Officials said on social media, that “If the problem persists, the City will pursue a municipal infraction of up to $750 and refer any future violations to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for prosecution including fines and the possibility of imprisonment.”

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa student from western Ukraine has been watching the war from afar and decided she wanted to do something in Iowa City to answer questions about her home country and explain its history. Oksana Hirchak says the university’s language center staff offered immediate support when she approached them with her idea for a “Ukrainian Conversation Hour” on campus. “I thought it would be nice to have, like, especially right now when people hear a lot about Ukraine — and maybe there will be students who would be interested in the Ukrainian language and core culture,” she says, “and I want them to have where to come and who to talk who could help them.”

Hirchak, who is psychology student at the University of Iowa, says she’s ready for any questions students may have for her. “It’s just like Ukraine is far — it’s like really really far…and they might not know a lot about this country,” she says, “so I want to make it closer to them.”

She’ll host her first “Ukrainian Conversation Hour” next Tuesday night on the University of Iowa campus.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Kassidy Arena)