A man from Dallas County was injured during a rollover accident this (Thursday) afternoon, in Guthrie County. The Iowa State Patrol says 18-year old Ricardo Samuel Alanis Cazares, of Dawson, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported by Panora Fire and Rescue to the Dallas County Hospital, following the crash that happened at around 12:30-p.m.

Officials say Cazares was traveling north on Guthrie County Road P-28. At the intersection with 270th Street, P-28 curves west, and then back north. The 2004 Dodge Caravan Cazares was driving went across the southbound lane and onto the southbound shoulder at the curve. Cazares overcorrected, causing the van to roll over and come to rest upright in the east ditch.

A western Iowa teen faces numerous arson charges. Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report 19-year old Coty William Cates, of Missouri Valley, was arrested April 16th on three counts of Arson in the 2nd Degree. The charges stem from an investigation into three separate fires set to a vacant residence located at 1003 Granite Street, Missouri Valley.Cates was being held in the Missouri Valley Jail.

Officials say the first fire occurred at approximately 1:12-a.m.on October 4, 2014. The second fire occurred at approximately 3:24-p.m., on October 9, 2014. The third fire occurred at approximately 9:57-p.m., on October 10, 2014. The combination of the three fires caused extensive damage to the home.

The Missouri Valley Police Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office continue to investigate several other possible arson fires that have occurred in the Missouri Valley area over the past two years. They include:

• An explosion at a vacant house that occurred east of Missouri Valley at 2279 Hwy 30 on October 27, 2013.
• Numerous large hay bales set on fire in several locations outside of Missouri Valley on October 31, 2014.
• A vacant house fire located at 105 West Superior, Missouri Valley on March 7, 2015.

Anyone with information about those is asked to call the Missouri Valley Police Department at (712) 642-2736, DPS’ State Fire Marshal Division at (712) 308-3977, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 644-2244, or the Arson Hotline at (800) 532-1459:

A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction from the Iowa Arson Reward Fund.

A traffic stop in Audubon County this (Thursday) morning, resulted in a man being arrested on a alcohol charge. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year old Michael Todd Sonntag, of Exira, was pulled over in Exira at around 12:15-a.m. and charged with OWI/1st Offense. Sonntag was brought to the Audubon County Jail and held until appearing before the magistrate, and then released.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) – A facade project to give Red Oak’s downtown square a face-lift is set to begin. The Daily Nonpareil reports residents gathered in Fountain Square Park Wednesday for the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. Paul Griffen, the executive director for the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, said the gathering was a celebration of updates that are needed.

The project, which will be done in two phases, will give new awnings, paint and more to 30 buildings in the downtown square area. Both phases are expected to be completed by the end of the year. According to Griffen, the facade project will have a price tag of more than $900,000 by the time it is done.

The city has received funds for the project from a Community Development Block Grant, as well as money from Downtown Urban Renewal and building owner contributions.