One person is dead following a fatal crash in Henry County, Iowa.

According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, a 2025 Honda Civic was headed southbound on Highway 218 near the 49-mile marker shortly before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, when it crossed the median for unknown reasons, striking an oncoming semi. This area is located just north of Mount Pleasant. The Civic’s driver was killed in the crash. The report didn’t list any injuries to the semi’s driver.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for help with the annual wild turkey production survey.  During the months of July and August wild turkey sightings are recorded to estimate this year’s nesting rates and nest success.

Participation is easy – just note the date and county in which the turkey was seen, if it was an adult female or adult male – males have beards on their breast – and if and how many poults (baby turkeys) were present. The survey is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/turkey, then click on Wild Turkey Survey. There is also an identification guide on documenting wild turkey broods on the survey webpage, that provides tips on how to determine males from females, and different flock scenarios with poults of different ages.

Annual population surveys conducted by the DNR are an important component of managing the wild turkey. Turkey populations can fluctuate annually across all regions of the state.  All participation is appreciated.

Many new laws went into effect yesterday including the new Iowa law that increases penalties for assaults against law enforcement officers and first responders.

The law protects law-enforcement officers, first responders, and corrections officers by raising penalties for assaults to:

• Up to 10 years in prison when the assault involves a dangerous weapon or is meant to inflict serious injury

• Up to 5 years when the assault causes bodily injury

• A mandatory minimum sentence of 7 days in jail for all other assaults against first responders

The law also raises the penalty for spitting on law-enforcement officers, first responders, or corrections officers to assault with other bodily fluids.

Gov. Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff and remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in honor and remembrance of Iowa Senator Rocky De Witt.

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

With the Fourth of July just days away, we want to remind everyone to celebrate safely—especially when it comes to fireworks.

Last year, more than 10,000 people in the U.S. were injured by fireworks, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And nearly half of those injured were kids under the age of 15.

Officials recommend leaving the fireworks to the professionals and attending public shows. But if you’re lighting fireworks at home:

Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby.

Light one firework at a time—and never relight a dud.

And never point fireworks at people, pets, or buildings.

Celebrate safely—and keep the holiday fun, not dangerous.

A good rule of thumb when using fireworks is to use fireworks:

• Only on private property with the owner’s permission
• NOT on city streets, sidewalks, parks, or any public property
• Fireworks must remain on your property — you are responsible for all debris and damage
• Do not discharge fireworks while intoxicated or under a fire ban
• Call 911 only for emergencies, not for fireworks complaints
• And be courteous to your neighbors. You never know who may be struggling with mental health and PTSD.

Henry County, IA

• July 3^rd 9am to 10 pm
• July 4^th 9am to 11pm

Fairfield

• July 3^rd between 9 am and 11pm
• July 4^th between 9 am and 11pm

A Columbus Junction man was arrested last week after investigators say he drove a van dragging the body of a deceased man tied to the vehicle with a cord before crashing the van into a ditch.

Salvador Castaneda, 58, was arrested by the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office on June 25 and charged with abuse of a corpse-mutilate/dismember to conceal a crime (class C felony).

Just before 4:30 p.m. on June 25, Louisa County dispatched received a 911 call that a white Chevrolet Astro van had crashed into a ditch near the 14000 block of R Avenue. During a search of the van, police found a cell phone with an alarm going off, a loaded handgun with the serial number scratched off, and a large bag of suspected marijuana.

Investigators soon discovered the body of Noe Ibarra-Tijerina, 58, in a nearby ditch what an electrical cord wrapped around his torso and a small puncture hole in the area of his right cheekbone, consistent with a small caliber gunshot wound.

Police also spoke with a witness who reported seeing the van dragging what appeared to be a body through the streets, and investigators also discovered blood and drag marks in the streets.

Castaneda is being held at the Louisa County Jail on $25,000 cash-only bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday at the Louisa County Courthouse in Wapello.