News

Trooper wounded by accused killer

Local News August 20, 2026

STUART — An Iowa State Patrol trooper was shot and wounded Tuesday afternoon after confronting a shotgun-toting man who is charged with killing a woman. Trooper Chase Carruthers was taken to a Des Moines hospital and remains a patient there. The deceased was identified by the Iowa Department of Public Safety as 42-year-old Toni Elena-Ann Salazar, of Stuart. Austin N. Reed, 46, of Stuart, was arrested and charged with first degree murder and attempted muder of a police officer. The incident happened at about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Southwest Sixth Street. An ...

‘That’s what she would have wanted’

Local News August 20, 2026

The clouds cleared off Saturday morning to allow a successful bike ride that raised money for trail improvements in honor of an avid local cyclist. “What I saw was a bunch of people having a good time, reminiscing and creating memories,” said Jeff Halter, an organizer of the Prairie ...

Area firefighters deal with soaring truck prices

Local News August 20, 2026

Local fire departments are paying big bucks - sometimes as much as $1 million - for new trucks and waiting longer and longer to get them. The most recent example can be found in Fort Dodge, where the Fire Department recently placed in service a bucket truck called a tower ladder that can lift ...

News of Record: Aug. 20, 2026

News of record August 20, 2026

Magistrate Court WEBSTER COUNTY Wednesday Driving while license suspended — Kody B. Lacaille, 32, 644 Second St. N.W., 10 days in jail (suspended), $250 plus surcharge, court costs. Mariah G. Friedl, 26, Eagle Grove, $150 plus surcharge, court costs. Failure to appear for sentencing — Derrick L. Stewart, 27, 1339 S. 21st St., further proceedings to be scheduled. Trespass, first offense — Leann T. Holcombe, 32, 1793 Legion Ave., trial set for Sept. 10. Rental housing ordinance violation — MGJH1 LLC, Chicago, Illinois, continued until Oct. 28. D9 Properties LLC, ...

Grassley addresses health care issues in FD visit

Local News August 19, 2026

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley on Tuesday visited UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center, a facility he’s trying to help with new legislation. The Republican senator expressed hope that his bill will see final passage by the end of the year, providing much needed funding to ...

News of Record: Aug. 19, 2026

News of record August 19, 2026

Magistrate Court WEBSTER COUNTY Tuesday No valid drivers license — Jeremy L. Altman, 45, 903 N. Third St., $260 plus surcharge, court costs. Violation of probation — Zachary S. Hammond, 40, Lehigh, further proceedings to be scheduled. Second degree sexual abuse — Eldon Eugene Rose Lanstrum, 29, Lohrville, two counts, preliminary hearing set for Aug. 28, no contact order issued. Lascivious acts with a child — Eldon Eugene Rose Lanstrum, 29, Lohrville, two counts, preliminary hearing set for Aug. 28, no contact order issued. Violation of a no contact order — Melissa ...