WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been turned over to immigration authorities and his sister sentenced to probation after they set up a sham marriage to keep the man in the United States. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 27-year-old Selmir Salkanovic, of Waterloo, was accused of marrying a U.S. citizen purely to obtain an upgraded immigration status after he overstayed a tourism visa.

His sister, Sanela Dedic, was accused of paying off an unidentified American woman to be the bride in the fake marriage. The siblings pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Dedic allegedly offered to pay the woman $5,000 and gave her a Ford Taurus. She also allegedly asked the woman to fill out immigration paperwork and travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for a hearing for her brother.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A panel has named a new 137-acre park near Dubuque ahead of work to add a mountain bike trail system and disc golf course. The Dubuque County Conservation Board announced this week it had named the park Proving Grounds Recreation Area, according to the Telegraph Herald . Deere & Co. donated the land for the park, and the name reflects how Deere had long used the property to test its equipment.

The park has been open for hiking and bow hunting. Crews began working on park projects since fall and have added a paved parking area, restrooms and a pavilion. Upcoming work includes building a 7½-mile mountain bike trail system and an 18-hold disc golf course.

The development costs, which are expected to total about $300,000, will be covered by the county, state grants and fundraising. The mountain-biking trail will be the third in Dubuque County, along with one in Asbury’s Cloie Creek Park and another being completed at the Interstate Power Co. Forest Preserve. Brett Errthum, president of Tri-State Mountain Bike Riders, said his group is partnering with the county and expects work on the trails to start in the spring or summer. The trail will open in phases.

Brett Blewett, a member of Dubuque Disc Golf, said the new course will be the county’s first featuring 18 holes. Two other county courses include nine holes.

(Radio Iowa) — The three Iowa Democrats serving in the U.S. House took their first votes in the 116th congress, joining with other Democrats in passing legislation that would end the partial government shutdown. Third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says she supports enhanced border security, but is opposed to President Trump’s demand for money to complete a wall along the southern border.

(as said: “The wall has not been proven to be something that’s fiscally responsible or effective,” Axne says.)

Axne along with Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, of Dubuque — the Democrat representing Iowa’s first district — are among 102 women just elected to the House. Both voted to return Nancy Pelosi to the speaker’s chair.

(as said: “She is really somebody who understands that every single voter’s voice in this country must be heard,” Axne says, “and she stands by those philosophies and those values.”)

Dave Loebsack, of Iowa City, the other Democrat representing Iowa in congress, says the partial government shut-down is unacceptable, particularly when U-S-D-A — which he says has “nothing to do with securing the border” — is closed and farm payments aren’t being processed.

Steve King of Kiron — the only Republican who remains in Iowa’s House delegation — announced Friday, he will hold a town hall meeting in each of the fourth congressional district’s 39 counties this year. King last year said town hall meetings had become forums for “paid protesters” and he stopped scheduling them.

A Omaha man was arrested on multiple charges following an incident early Saturday morning in Red Oak. At 2:25am Red Oak Police arrested 43-year-old Jason Ryan Richmond of Omaha, NE in the 400 block of East Reed Street. Richmond was charged with four counts of Aggravated Assault, one count of Carrying Weapons, and Going Armed with Intent. Richmond was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Police were assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office during the arrest.