(Radio Iowa) – State liquor sales revenues were up by nearly four percent in the fiscal year that ended in July, in what was the lowest increase in five years. Sales last year were up 13%, and Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Chief Financial Officer, Leisa Bertram, says things appear to be leveling off following a pandemic sales surge. “Every year we kind of budget between three and five percent would be a normal increase. So yeah, the last couple of years having a large increases are definitely an outlier. This is where I would say yeah, 3.75% is more of a normal increase,” Bertram says.

The gallons of liquor sold dropped by 70,000. “One of the main reasons is our top seller this year was Tito’s (vodka). Historically, it’s been black velvet for about the last 10 years. So Tito’s is a little higher price product. So selling, you know higher price items, and then also selling more full cases,” Bertram says. Liquor sales brought in $431 million, and a record of just more than $150 million from liquor sales was turned over to the state along with another $19 million in licensing and taxes.

Another factor in the liquor sales was a continued increase in the number of convenience and smaller stores that obtained licenses. Bertram says those stores usually have a smaller inventory. “But they do make up a good amount of our of our licensees. And so yeah, the distribution of those, you can get liquor at more places,”” Bertram says.”But again, the variety might not be as big at some of those smaller stores. But we are seeing a trend towards smaller footprint stores. We have some major retailers that are opening smaller footprint stores as well.” Bertram says the supply chain issues did create some issues for specific products. “So we did see more out of stocks this year, you know, based on those supply chain constraints. What we didn’t see, though, is when we were out of stock on an item, our customers would kind of pivot to another item,” she says. “So we weren’t necessarily losing sales — but we were losing sales on those specific brands.”

She says people were able to kind of pivot and find a replacement their favorite drink — and that included instate native distillery items that are available.”So if people couldn’t get what they really needed, or what they got into in the past, we were able to kind of step in line with other brands,” Bertram says. December is one of the top months for alcohol sales, and the sales this December will be part of the new fiscal year numbers. Bertram says early indications are the recent sales trend is continuing. “We’re just about the same increase as we were at the end of this fiscal year report. So year to date, we’re at about four percent increase over last year,” she says. So, I’d say our revenues are still strong, we’re still pulling in good revenue. But we’re not seeing those huge increases, you’re seeing a small increase. And it’s, again, more indicative of what we’ve seen in the past. ”

Bertram says the cost of some products has gone up, while the cost of others have gone down, so overall costs haven’t gone up that much for liquor despite inflation.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood, today (Friday), arrested a woman for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Authorities say 19-year-old Seven Barrett, of Glenwood, was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Ft. Dodge, Iowa) – Police in Fort Dodge report an arrest was made recently in connection with a “shots fired” incident. There were no injuries reported. Authorities say as a result of this investigation thus far, 29‐year‐old Collin W. Towlerton, of Fort Dodge, was taken into custody for:

* Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (D Felony)

* Reckless Use of Firearm (Aggravated Misdemeanor)

* O.W.I. 2nd Offense (Aggravated Misdemeanor)

Towlerton was booked into the Webster County Jail. His arrest followed a call at around 11:44-p.m. Wednesday to the the Webster County Telecommunications Center. The caller reported hearing shots fired in the area of the 1500 Blk 17th St S.W. The caller also gave a description of a vehicle that was seen leaving the area.

Officers responded and located the vehicle described by the caller. A felony stop was performed on the vehicle and 2 subjects were detained. Upon further investigation by officers on scene, it was discovered that the garage belonging to 1524 17th St. S.W. had multiple bullet holes in it. Officers spoke to multiple witnesses and the scene was processed for evidence.

The Fort Dodge Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident and encourage anyone who may have information to contact law enforcement. Information may also be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

The Fort Dodge Police Department has been assisted in the investigation by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Webster County Attorney’s Office.

(Van Meter, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident involving an SUV left three teens from Norwalk injured, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2019 Chevy Equinox driven by 16-year-old John Henry Clark, was traveling north on East Street in Van Meter, when Clark failed to negotiate the turn at Elm Street. The SUV struck an embankment, causing Clark, and his passengers: 16-year-old Reagan Groskreutz and 17-year-old Lily Hughes, to be injured.  Groskreutz was transported by Mercy One Helicopter to Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines. Hughes was transported to Blank Children’s Hospital by Waukee EMS.

The accident happened at around 9:47-p.m., Thursday. It remains under investigation.

(Rural Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rescue and Cass EMS were dispatched at around 7:30-a.m. today (Friday), to the scene of a rollover accident near 620th and the Turkey Creek Bridge (an area between Memphis and Lansing Road, south of Atlantic, in Cass County. (Update 7:43-a.m.): There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was said to be upright, in a ditch.