KIRON, Iowa (AP) – Investigators say a fatal house fire in the northwest Iowa town of Kiron was an accident.  Sioux City television station KTIV says the fire was reported about 9 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters put out the blaze, then found the body of 50-year-old Tina Reed.

Kiron is a town of about 280 that sits 60 miles east-southeast of Sioux City.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The organizer of free Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., for Nebraska and western Iowa veterans of the Korean War says he’s booked a plane that he can’t yet pay for.  Bill Williams of Patriotic Productions in Omaha says he has a goal of $80,000 but has only $20,000 in donations so far.

He told the Lincoln Journal Star that he’s joined forces with his counterpart in southwest Iowa, who is in the same bind. The Iowa organizer also has raised just $20,000 toward his $80,000 goal.  They’ve booked the same plane for consecutive flights: Oct. 29 for the Nebraskans, Oct. 30 for the Iowans. Williams says that will save them about $20,000.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests occurred on Sunday. 19-year old’s Mikel Olin Hilton and Jacob David Jones, both of Corning, were arrested at around 10:45-a.m. on 5th degree theft and simple assault charges. The young men are accused of going to the Corning Hy-Vee Store and stealing a pack of cigarettes worth just over Six-dollars, and assaulting the manager of the store.

Hilton and Jones were being held without bond, in the Adams County Jail.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say two Clarinda residents were arrested Sunday night, following an incident at Viking Lake State Park, near Stanton. 19-year old’s Shayla Nothwehr and Christian Clark Latham, both of Clarinda, were charged with possession of alcohol under the legal age. Latham was hit with an additional charge of Interference with Official Acts. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond. Nothwehr was cited for her offense, and released.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by officers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Officials on college campuses around the state are reminding students about precautions they should take to avoid becoming the victim of an assault. University of Iowa Police Officer Alton Poole advises students to travel in packs. “When you have more people around, you increase the likelihood that you can stay safe,” Poole says. The first assault of this school year near the U-of-I campus occurred at 2:45 a.m. on August 25. A woman reported being knocked to the ground by a male attacker on a sidewalk. The woman escaped with minor injuries, according to a press release.

Poole says the incident should serve as a reminder that there are safety measures offered at the university, including NiteRide. “NiteRide is a service for women only, it’s free, and it operates seven days a week,” Poole says. “They can contact our website to get information about times, pickups, and boundaries.” The University of Iowa Student Government also offers a free taxi cab service for students called SafeRide.

Poole says students can avoid putting themselves in an unsafe situation by staying away from alcohol or at least drinking responsibly. “You’ve heard of people drugging other people’s drinks, so don’t leave your drink unattended and watch how much you consume,” Poole says. “If you plan on drinking, have a person with you who agrees to be sober.” In addition to the NiteRide and SafeRide programs, the University of Iowa has “blue emergency alert stations” scattered around campus.

(Radio Iowa)