Author: Kadie Johannson

On Monday, February 23, 2026, Representative Blaine Watkins (R-Donnellson) of House District 100 successfully floor managed his first piece of legislation through the Iowa House.

House File 2521 amends code to require an animal shelter volunteer or employee to accept a dog or cat in order for it not to be considered abandonment. If an animal is dropped off outside a shelter without any contact with someone from the shelter, that animal is considered abandoned, and county attorneys could prosecute the individual who abandoned the animal.

“This bill ensures that when someone surrenders a cat or dog an employee or volunteer must accept the animal,” Watkins said. “This provides a clear safeguard against animal abandonment.”

HF 2521 passed bipartisanly through the Iowa House with a vote of 89-0.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is alerting area residents to an increase in fraudulent activity known as check washing.

In a notice released this week, the Sheriff’s Office says check washing is a form of fraud in which criminals steal legitimate checks, chemically “wash” them to remove the original ink, and then rewrite the check to themselves or another party in order to redirect funds.

Authorities say criminals often target checks left in residential mailboxes. Once stolen, the checks are altered and fraudulently deposited or cashed, leaving victims with significant financial losses.

Residents are urged to watch for red flags that may indicate a check has been tampered with. These include faded or discolored areas on the check, inconsistent handwriting, or altered watermarks.

To help prevent becoming a victim, the Sheriff’s Office recommends using fraud-resistant checks with built-in security features such as watermarks, monitoring bank accounts regularly for discrepancies, and considering electronic payments as a safer alternative when possible.

Officials also advise depositing outgoing mail in secure blue postal collection boxes rather than leaving it in residential mailboxes, and not leaving mail in your mailbox overnight. If you plan to be away from home, have your mail held at the post office or picked up by a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor.

In addition, residents are reminded not to discard credit card records or bills in household trash. Sensitive documents should be shredded or destroyed before disposal. Enrolling in online banking and closely monitoring accounts for unauthorized transactions can also help detect fraud early.

If you suspect you have been a victim of check washing, report it immediately to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reports a Niota, Illinois man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly driving the wrong way on Highway 34.

According to Sheriff Rich McNamee, deputies were dispatched at approximately 2:10 a.m. on February 22, 2026 after receiving reports of an SUV traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 34. Henry County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls throughout the incident, with callers providing updated location information on the vehicle.

Deputies located the SUV still traveling in the incorrect lanes and conducted a traffic stop near mile marker 239. Authorities say the vehicle was brought to a safe stop without further incident.

Following an investigation, deputies determined Chad Hohenthaner, 54, of Niota, Illinois, was operating the vehicle on the wrong side of the two-way highway. Hohenthaner was arrested and transported to the Henry County Jail.

He has been charged with Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense, a serious misdemeanor, along with Open Container and Driving on the Wrong Side of a Two-Way Highway, both scheduled violations.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Attorney Becky Wilson has announced her plans to appear on the ballot for Henry County Attorney, according to a recent press release to KILJ. In the release, Wilson details her legal experience and explains why she believes she is well-qualified for the position.

Attorney Wilson explains she has a total of 17 years of legal experience, consisting of 7 years as a National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) certified paralegal and 10 years as a practicing attorney in Iowa. She has practiced many areas of law; bankruptcy, family, personal injury, criminal defense, probate, child in need of assistance, guardianships, juvenile delinquencies, and more.

She grew up in small-town Iowa and now lives in Winfield. She and her husband have been married 37 years and have three sons and two grandchildren. Her husband is pastor of the Winfield Open Bible Church.

In a statement, she said she believes Henry County deserves a prosecutor who can restore public trust and place the interests of the community first.

Wilson says she welcomes opportunities to speak with local organizations and voters ahead of the election.

You can view her letter announcing her candidacy in its entirety here.

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office has released details surrounding an early Sunday morning investigation in Keosauqua.

According to Sheriff Brad Hudson, at approximately 4:30 a.m. on February 22, a deputy responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and a possible missing person.

The reporting party told authorities her boyfriend had taken her car to Tillie’s Bar earlier in the night and had not returned home. She later learned from individuals at the bar that an unknown male had loaded her intoxicated boyfriend into her vehicle and driven away.

At approximately 5:30 a.m., the vehicle was located near Hotel Manning in downtown Keosauqua. Both male subjects were found in the immediate area.

Trenton A. Miller, 36, of Danville was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

All charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.