Police in Red Oak report a convicted sex offender who was listed as one of Iowa’s most wanted sex offenders, was captured in Red Oak, Saturday afternoon. Thanks to tips from the public, officials say 34-year old Travis Lynn Sickels, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 4:30-p.m. in the 300 block of E. Market Street.

Travis Lynn Sickels

Sickels, who was convicted in Sept. 2003 of having indecent contact with a female between the ages of 14 and 17, was also wanted on a Cass County warrant for failure to pay child support. He is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond for failure to register as a sex offender, and a separate $2,000 bond for failure to pay child support.

Officials say an investigation is on-going, with additional criminal charges possible.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa woman has been found guilty of torturing her mentally disabled stepson. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that a judge found 46-year-old Rebecca Beyer guilty Friday of first-degree kidnapping and willful injury. She faces up to life in prison when she’s sentenced

Authorities say Beyer routinely abused the victim, now a 21-year-old man, severely burning him with heated eating utensils and a clothes iron and keeping him tethered to a wall in the garage with a dog leash.

Beyer’s attorney denied that his client abused her stepson, saying his injuries were caused by poor hygiene.

Main Street Iowa hosted the 27th annual Main Street Iowa Awards celebration on Friday, May 2 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (Iowa Events Center) in downtown Des Moines. The event to recognize local Main Street projects, activities and volunteers was attended by approximately 500 individuals representing communities across the state. Competitive nominations were submitted for 77 projects and activities within the five categories of design, economic restructuring, organization, promotion and overall program. Nineteen were recognized with awards and two received honorable mention.

Among the winners, from western and southwest Iowa: In the Design Award category, was: the Community of Greenfield, for the total rehabilitation of more than 5,000 square feet for the Hotel Greenfield Project; and, an Organization Award was presented to the community of Manning for the MSM Family Feud fundraising event.

The honors were presented by Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). In addition to the competitive nominations, 51 individuals or couples who were selected by their community for outstanding dedication and volunteer service benefiting the local Main Street program were recognized during the awards ceremony.

Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to: Sandy Petersen, with Avoca Main Street; Bert Peckham, with Main Street Corning; Jim & Bonnie Stalder, with Main Street Greenfield; Ken Laughery, with Main Street Guthrie Center, and Ron Reischel, with the Main Street Meeting group. The Program Director Award for years of service to their respective communities, was presented to: Doug Mullen, from Bedford; Colleen Nelson, from Manning, and Stacie Hull, from Greenfield.

In its 27-year history, Main Street Iowa has tracked over $1.3 billion in private investment in the purchase, construction and rehabilitation of property in participating commercial districts, significantly increasing the state’s job and business base. In addition, nearly two and a half million hours of volunteer time have been logged collectively by local main street organizations.

The communities of Bedford and Dunlap received recognition for their 20 years of participation as designated Main Street communities; and new Main Street organizations in Avoca, Guthrie Center and Newton were recognized and welcomed into the program, bringing the total active Main Street districts to 52.

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/IDRC/MainStreetIowa.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Wells’ Dairy says it is voluntarily recalling one of its Blue Bunny ice cream products for a labeling problem. The Le Mars, Iowa-based company said in a news release Saturday that packages of 56 fluid-ounce Blue Bunny Premium Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream are being recalled because the product may contain egg not declared on the label. People who are allergic to egg could have a severe reaction if they consume the ice cream.

The packages were sold at retail grocery stores in Kansas, Indiana and Iowa. The products affected are from Lot Number 40010 TTT 19115, and have a best-used-by date of Oct. 9, 2015. The company says no customers have reported any illnesses in connection with the ice cream to date.

The Red Oak Police Department says no injuries were reported after a car slammed into a restaurant Saturday afternoon in Red Oak. Officials say at around 12:22-p.m., 14-year old Ethan Baumli, Clarinda, was driving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix and attempting to park in front of the KFC/Taco Bell store at 400 E. Senate Avenue, when he became distracted by his mother in the passenger seat.

The teen stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the car to jump the curb, cross the sidewalk and strike the northeast corner of the building.  The building sustained about $10,000 damage during the mishap, while damage to the car was estimated at $1,000.

Officials say Red Oak Fire and Rescue personnel checked the structure and determined the building was safe for occupancy.