Des Moines, Iowa –  Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau say a Cedar Rapids man, 57-year-old Joseph Drahozal, was charged with one count of Forgery (Class D Felony), two counts of Fraudulent Sales Practice under $10,000 (Class D Felony), and one count of Theft in the third degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The charges against Drahozal stem from an investigation that began in August of 2022.  According to the criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, while Drahozal was working as an insurance producer, he intentionally took possession of funds intended for the accounts of his insurance clients and put those funds into his personal account for his own use.  He also forged his information onto checks belonging to clients to steal funds.

Joseph Drahozal (Linn County Sheriff’s Office photo)

Drahozal was placed under arrest and taken to the Linn County Jail on November 28, 2022. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond. No additional information will be provided at this time. Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is agreeing to consider changes to levees along the Missouri River in an effort to avoid a repeat of recent major floods. State officials in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska worked together to suggest changes to reduce the risks following the 2019 flood. Colonel Travis Rayfield, commander of the Corps’ Kansas City District, says federal law restricts what they can do when rebuilding levees that were broken by floodwaters.

“When you do a study, that will allow us to, in our verbiage, we do a study, which is really an informal plan, will give us a chance to relook how we’ve aligned levees and structural solutions,” Rayfield says. “So what does that mean? It gives us our first chance to maybe move levees or other physical structures to let the water go through in a better manner.” Two southwestern Iowa towns, Hamburg and Pacific Junction, were heavily damaged in the 2019 flood, with Hamburg alone losing more than 70 homes. Rayfield says the new agreement comes in two parts, and the first will study the river’s flow from South Dakota all the way to St. Louis.

“We’re looking systematically at the lower 730 miles of the Missouri River,” he says. “That’s to see how much water is moving through, where it comes from and how it goes. That’s the system plan.” Rayfield says the Corps will also work to find spots where the water is not moving adequately downstream, like in Holt County in northwest Missouri. Rayfield says floods start and end locally, but this new arrangement is about coming up with solutions all the way up to the federal level.

“We need solutions for how we want that water to move through in a flood that the local government can support, the state government can support and the federal government can support,” Rayfield says. “Really, that’s what this partnership is about, is understanding what will work in this specific footprint informed by the new data and science we got from the most recent floods.” The Corps of Engineers will factor major floods in 1993, 2011 and 2019 into the study. Under current federal law, the Corps is only allowed to rebuild levees.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Market Manager Brigham Hoegh reports the upcoming Christmas Market 2022 (Thurs., Dec. 22) has a fantastic vendor lineup, and offers both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Christmas Market 2022 will be held from 3-until 7-p.m. Dec. 22nd, at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, and, thanks to the hosts, the Christmas Market will offer activities for kids. Plus, you can grab pizza from food truck Zipp’s Pizzaria!

This holiday farmers market is held just days before Christmas. You’ll find lots of local produce and meats, farm-fresh eggs, delicious baked goods, seasonal candles, bath and body products, jewelry, art, decorations, and gifts.

Christmas Market 2022 offers both in-person shopping and pre-ordering. Pre-ordering will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from Dec. 10-20. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Christmas Market accepts SNAP/EBT/Food Stamps and Double Up Food Bucks.

Christmas Market: Delicious. Cozy. Fresh. Local.