(Red Oak, Iowa) – An investigation into an alleged assault early this (Tuesday) morning, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of two people. Red Oak Police say Officers were called to the 300 block of E. Market Street in Red Oak, for an assault that had occurred. Before those Officers arrived, Dispatch advised them that the female victim of the assault was in the front lobby of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. She reported the assault, and also that the alleged assailant, 24-year-old Abigail Jean Kates, of Red Oak, threw a pan at the woman’s car, causing one of the rear driver’s side windows to shatter.

Officers spoke with both the victim and Kates. They subsequently charged Kates with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. In addition, 32-year-old Dylan Thomas Griffeth, of Red Oak, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.

Both subjects were being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, as of the latest report.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, of 24-year-old Maxim. R. Kozlov, from Shannon City. Kozlov was charged with a Department of Corrections Warrant for Violation of Parole. He was being held in the Union County Jail on No Bond.

And, there were two incidents reported to Creston Police, Monday. A woman from Afton said someone stole her black leather Montana purse while working at the hospital. Contents taken were a debit card, drivers license, check book, cash and car keys. Loss estimate $260. The theft took place sometime between 2:30- and 3-p.m., Monday.

A Creston woman reported Monday night, that someone stole her Black and Orange BMX Bike from the side yard next to the front door. Loss estimate $200

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand is encouraging Iowa school districts to apply for federal infrastructure grants to replace aging diesel powered buses. The grants can be used to buy buses that are battery-powered or run on propane or compressed natural gas. Sand says the federal program puts no limit on how much money goes to each state. “If we do a good job of getting applications in, we could really make great investments in our school bus fleet and great investments in reducing costs for our school districts in this state,” Sand says.

The application deadline is August 19th. Sand says more efficient school buses could make a big impact on a district’s budget. “Now that inflation is a problem and we are dealing with high fuel prices constantly, this could be an incredibly promising program for a lot of school districts to be able to save a good amount of money,” Sand says.

The grants come from the bipartisan infrastructure bill congress approved last year. The program is for replacing buses that are at least 12 years old. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a list of 204 public school districts in Iowa that would be prioritized for grants because they are rural or serve a student body with a high poverty rate. The Meskwaki Settlement School is also on the E-P-A’s priority list for bus replacement.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Senior Citizen in Atlantic has asked the local media to warn the public about a scam involving fake Facebook “friends”.  The person says you may receive a message from a friend on Facebook Messenger, your phone or computer, telling you about a non-taxable grant that is available to low-income senior citizens. This so-called “friend” will tell you that he or she applied and paid a small fee and got the money delivered to their door shortly after. Your “friend” may also tell you that you need to pay some additional fees, all using Cash App, Zelle or gift cards. Please be aware you are never chatting with your real “friend”, you’re chatting with a scammer.

The senior citizen who approached the media, said they thought this was a scam to start with, but with three “friends” messaging them and encouraging the person to apply, they began to think it was real. The key to avoid this scam is to contact your real friend(s) in-person and ask if they know about these grants or programs that are being promoted.

The citizen concluded by saying, “Let my loss save you from being tempted.”