CALHOUN COUNTY, Iowa —

A single, brand-new, ambulance sits outside of the Calhoun County EMS building in Rockwell City. Once it gets the registration from the state, it'll be up and running. Though, most days, Calhoun County only has the staff to provide a single ambulance for the entire county.

"Our community is stressed, really stressed, really pulled to the max to cover what is needed," said Luke Winkelman, interim director.

Some days another one-person crew serves as a backup and can respond when the other ambulance crew is on another call. Though, that one-person crew needs a driver to take someone to a local hospital.

Winkelman says the county hasn't missed any EMS calls, but there are times when people are put on hold waiting for an ambulance.

"The people that are still left [working] are going for broke, emotionally and physically," Winkelman said, describing long shifts and extra overtime for the five workers still serving.

Last year, KCCI Investigates traveled to Calhoun County after some workers left because of a change in pay. Now, the number of employees is basically half what it was a year ago.

The county is actively looking for people who want to become EMS workers, Winkelman says they'll pay for training.

"We're looking for strong applicants that have a strong desire to care for their community and help where it is needed most," he said.

Voters in Calhoun County turned down a chance to deem EMS "essential" and raise taxes to better fund the service. Calhoun County was one of three in the state who turned it down, voters in five others approved the move.

Calhoun County is one of three to receive a $50,000 grant to test a new state pilot program that treats EMS like Uber. The app, once implemented, will send the closest staff member to respond to an emergency before and ambulance can arrive. Winkelman just hopes he has the staff.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't struggling to get the Iowa United First State off the ground, as well as meet the needs of EMS," he said.

KCCI Investigates has spent more than a year uncovering problems with Iowa's Emergency Medical Services. To watch an eight-part series, click here.

FAYETTE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) - As part of a month-long investigation into drug trafficking, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and West Union Police Department have executed 10 drug narcotic search warrants and arrested 13 individuals.

On July 11th, 2023, officials arrested 29-year-old Ryan Smith for operating his vehicle while intoxicated. A drug canine and search warrant was requested, and after gaining approval, officials located and seized distribution amounts of methamphetamine, multiple grams of marijuana, and a scale. An additional search warrant was executed at his residence. More methamphetamine, marijuana, and paraphernalia were found. 61-year-old Bryon Smith was also arrested and charged.

On July 12th, officials conducted two more drug-related search warrants where they found heroin, morphine, meth, THC wax/marijuana, ledgers, scales, loaded syringes, pill crushers, baggies, and other paraphernalia. 51-year-old Jeff Blue, 23-year-old Drake Duffield, 38-year-old Nathan Slaughter, and 45-year-old Misty Cook were all arrested.

On July 14th, multiple law enforcement agencies worked together to execute five more drug narcotic warrants relating to the above investigation. Seven more individuals, all from West Union, were arrested on drug-related charges.

In total, the following 13 people were arrested and charged with:

Ryan Smith - Operating While Intoxicated, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver, 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Byron Smith - Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Jeff Blue - Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Deliver Morphine, Possession of Heroin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, 3 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance - 3rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Drake Duffield - Sex Offender Registry Violation, Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana - 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Nathan Slaughter - Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana - 3rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Misty Cook - Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana - 3rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Warren Harvey - Possession of Methamphetamine - 3rd Offense, Possession of Marijuana - 3rd Offense, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used (Methamphetamine), Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Ashley Murphy - Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used (Methamphetamine), Possession of Methamphetamine - 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana - 1st Offense, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Jodie Wakeford - Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used (Methamphetamine). Possession of Methamphetamine - 2nd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Rachel Latham - Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used (Methamphetamine), Possession of Methamphetamine - 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Roger Nichols - Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd Offense (Methamphetamine), Possession of controlled substance 3rd Offense (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Kaben Schmelzer - Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine), Possession of Controlled Substance - 2nd Offense (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Madison Williams - Possession of Controlled Substance - 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine), Possession of Controlled Substance - 2nd Offense (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Officials say that more arrests and more charges are expected to be made in connection to the investigation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The number of ways to consume legal THC in Iowa is growing. Bars and liquor stores are now offering drinks infused with THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana and hemp.

Michael Williams said he’s a regular at Old Neighborhood Pub in Cedar Rapids. When the bar started carrying drinks infused with THC, he gave them a try.

“My review of it is, in and of itself, [it] is a little on the relaxing side,” said Williams.

That was after he took a sip; before there was some uncertainty about what he was trying.

“I asked quite a few questions, you know, to get an educated understanding of what [the drinks] were,” he added.

In 2019, Governor Reynolds signed into law the Iowa Hemp Act, which was then approved by the USDA in 2020. With that law, hemp plants are no longer controlled substances and products derived from hemp are legal. According to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, hemp plants must have THC levels of 0.3% or less or be destroyed.

In January, Climbing Kites registered as a business in Iowa. The company proclaims it is “Iowa’s first cannabis-infused social beverage.” It also appears to have opened the floodgates.

“We actually got [THC drinks] before we were able to put them on our shelf. But we were able to get our permit, I think it was three weeks ago. We’ve actually had two orders go through already,” said Andrea Van Hoeck, owner of Old Neighborhood Pub.

Jason Wilkerson, owner of Local Craft Cellar, said the products have proven “extremely popular.”

“Collectively, I would say that Climbing Kites brand is outperforming 90% of our craft beer brands,” said Wilkerson. “And we sell a lot of craft beer.”

Recreational marijuana is still illegal in the state of Iowa, but Williams and Van Hoeck hoped THC drinks were indicators of change.

“Everybody around us right now is legal except for Iowa,” said Van Hoeck, adding, “Nebraska is working on it.”

Williams said the drinks were “baby steps” toward marijuana legalization. “Our state is so behind on what most of the country is doing at this point in time.”

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