A fire in Massena during the early morning hours of Nov. 14th has been ruled accidental. The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports the fire that destroyed a mobile home occupied by 53-year old Bruce Neumann at 208 Pine Street, in Massena, was caused by an improperly shielded fire place, the heat and flames from which caused nearby wood and wood paneling to ignite.

Neumann died from smoke inhalation. Officials say there was no smoke detector in the home when the blaze broke out at around 1-a.m. Nov. 14th. The home was a total loss. So far this year, 36 people have died from fire related incidents, in Iowa. In five cases, there was no smoke detector in the home, and five persons died because their smoke detectors were not working or were not equipped with batteries.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Iowa DNR’s Air Quality Bureau is seeking public comments on a draft plan to meet federal air quality standards for lead in the Council Bluffs area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated part of Council Bluffs as a nonattainment area for lead in November 2011, three years after EPA substantially reduced the permissible lead levels allowed in air. The public is invited to submit oral or written comments on the draft plan at a public hearing at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 22 at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave.

The DNR worked with two lead-emitting facilities, Griffin Pipe Products Co. LLC and Alter Metal Recycling, to develop air pollution control measures that will quickly reduce ambient air impacts of lead emissions and meet federal air quality standards in the nonattainment area.

The control strategy will reduce lead emissions from Alter Metal Recycling by nearly 95 percent, primarily through cleaning and sweeping haul roads. Griffin Pipe will use similar practices and continue to operate existing control equipment. The control strategy also provides Griffin Pipe flexibility in their method of operation while maintaining public health protections for lead.

Details of the strategy for the lead nonattainment area in Council Bluffs can be reviewed in the draft state implementation plan (SIP) at the Council Bluffs library, at the DNR-Air Quality Bureau in Windsor Heights or on the DNR’s website under Stakeholder Involvement, Public Input at
www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryAir.aspx

Submit written comments on the proposed plan by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 22, to Matthew Johnson, DNR Air Quality Bureau, 7900 Hickman Road, Suite 1, Windsor Heights, IA 50324. Or, fax comments to 515-725-9501 or email Matthew.Johnson@dnr.iowa.gov.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — City staff and volunteers have rounded up more than 10 domesticated birds left at a Council Bluffs park to ensure they can survive the winter. The Daily Nonpareil reports the geese and ducks will be sheltered at a Glenwood farm. The birds, dropped off at Big Lake Park when their owners no longer wanted them, were gathered by animal control officials and volunteers Wednesday.

The city parks department used to collect them and house them over the winter before returning them to the park. But DeAnn Nelson with Animal Control says the money, time and space needed to do so became a burden.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered that flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff to mark Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day weekend. Branstad announced Thursday that the flags will be set at half-staff from 5 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Monday at the State Capitol Complex and other public buildings throughout the state.

The state is encouraging businesses, schools and other public buildings to also fly the flag at half-staff during that time period. Sunday marks the 73rd anniversary of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack killed about 2,400 sailors, Marines and soldiers.

A man and woman from Kimballton were arrested Wednesday on drugs charges resulting from an investigation into the search of a home in Audubon on March 13th. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 34-year old’s Crystal Ann Richter and Michael David Lollie, both of Kimballton, were taken into custody on outstanding warrants charging them with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Richter was arrested at an Audubon business at around 11-p.m., Wednesday. Lollie later turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office. Both have since posted bond and were released. They’re scheduled to appear in front of the magistrate on Dec. 11th.