DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa economic development officials have approved incentives for three companies that promise to create 281 jobs and spend $39 million to locate new facilities or expand in Iowa. The Iowa Economic Development Authority on Friday says it approved tax credits for TrinityRail Maintenance Services which plans to build a new railroad car maintenance facility in Sioux City. The company promises to create 250 new jobs.

Mrs. Clark’s Foods is expanding in Ankeny by adding a $7.3 million warehouse and refrigeration facility. It also received tax benefits for 13 new jobs. The company makes fruit and vegetable juices, salad dressings and other sauces.

Dubuque insurance consulting firm Kunkel and Associates is getting $128,000 in loans for a building expansion project that will create 18 jobs.

A complaint about suspicious activity early this (Friday) morning in the City of Brooks, led to the arrest of one person on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year old Joshua Cooney was arrested on charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Cooney was transported to the Adams County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

(12-p.m. News)

Two people were arrested late this week on sexual abuse charges, in Adams County. At around 7:30-p.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s office received a report from authorities in Missouri, with regard to the possible sexual abuse of a child. At around 8:15-a.m. today (Friday), Adams County deputies arrested 20-year old Brandon Pafford, of Nodaway, on felony charges of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd degree and Lascivious Acts with a Child. Pafford was transported to the Adams County Jail in Corning and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

And at around 10:30-a.m. today (Friday), 38-year old Carolyn Green, of Nodaway, was arrested on a felony charge of Child Endangerment, based on an investigation of the possible sexual abuse of a child within her residence. Green was also be held in the jail pending an appearance before a magistrate.

(12-p.m. News)

Police in Glenwood are investigating the theft of $20,000 worth of lawn mowers and trimmers. According to the Daily NonPareil, a worker with Jim Hughes Real Estate reported the theft Thursday in the 400 block of South Locust Street in Glenwood.

The Iowa Department of Corrections, Thursday, placed 23-year old Colton Edward Benson-Blaine on escape status after he failed to return to the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility from employment, on Wednesday.

Dept. of Corrections Images

Colton Benson-Blaine

Benson-Blaine was transferred to work release on August 6th. His sentence in Shelby County for Voluntary Manslaughter began on August 5th, 2011. Benson-Blaine is described as a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes, 6 feet one inch tall, weighs about 267 pounds and has a scar on his right wrist.

Information as to Benson-Blain’s whereabouts should be reported to the Council Bluffs Police Department or Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.