The Stuart Police Department reports one person was arrested on arson and other charges, Sunday, following a reported fire at the Super 8 hotel just off Interstate 80 at the Stuart exit. Officials say evidence discovered during the investigation resulted in the arrest of Jason McGowan, of Stuart.  McGowan was arrested at the scene of the fire and taken to the Adair County Jail, where he was charged with 1st Degree Arson, filing False Reports (Arson) and False Reports to Public Safety Entity in relation to the fire.

The incident began at around 5:35-p.m. Sunday, with reports of a fire at the Super 8 Hotel located at 203 SE 7th St. in Stuart. Officers arrived and found a guest room on fire. According to Stuart Police Chief David Reha fire alarms were not working in the building at the time of the fire. Stuart Police evacuated the hotel by going room to room. Officers later discovered that one of their vehicles had been intentionally damaged while they were inside evacuating the hotel. The hotel room was a total loss and damage is estimated in excess of $3,000.00. Damage to the police vehicle was estimated at $200.

Due to suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire, a cooperative investigation was conducted by members of the Stuart Police Department, Stuart Fire Department, and Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office, which led to McGowan’s arrest. In addition to the arson and false report charges, McGowan was charged with Criminal Mischief,  with regard to the damage caused to a police vehicle.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer said Monday, his office is currently taking requests for “Operation Blessing.” Since Clarinda, Essex and Shenandoah have similar programs, the Sheriff’s Office is focusing on children in the other communities and rural areas of Page County. The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child. The requests can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or in person at the Sheriff’s Office. There will be a first and second choice for each child. Requests will be taken from November 25th through December 20th.

Operation Blessing was started in the mid 1980’s with the Page County Reserve Officers to ensure that every child in Page County had the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since.

Anyone wishing to donate to Operation Blessing can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th, Clarinda. When the gifts are ready to be picked up the Sheriff’s Office will notify the parent or guardian that the gift is ready.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to everyone who has helped keep this program going through donations in the past, and the assistance their staff provides through the wrapping and delivery process.

Authorities in western Iowa are seeking the public’s help in identifying a body found on Saturday, November 16th. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a hunter who had discovered the body of a white male in a rural, wooded area 4 miles southwest of Mondamin.  The body was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.  There was no form of identification with the body.

The body is described as a white male, approximately 5’11” and 160 pounds.  He has longer grey and black hair and no teeth.  At the time of discovery, he was wearing black Wrangler brand jeans, a blue t-shirt with a pocket, a blue button down dress shirt, a brown-plaid insulated flannel jacket, and a blue hooded zipper sweatshirt with a “Golden Harvest” logo on the left breast area.  He was also wearing Red Wing brand boots, size 12.

This man’s death and identification are being investigated by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.  If anyone information regarding this investigation please contact Iowa DCI Special Agent Chad Fiedler at (712)322-1585 or (402)515-5160.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he is reviewing his options for raising revenues to help Iowa’s bridges and roads. Branstad said Monday that he is trying to find out what approach might be politically possible. Earlier this year, Branstad expressed concern about raising the state fuel tax and asked Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino to review the state’s options for funding infrastructure costs.

That list of options includes raising new registration fees and raising fees for oversize vehicles. Branstad says he has not committed to any plan. Iowa’s fuel tax —now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline including fees — hasn’t been raised since 1989. A commission appointed by Branstad in 2011 recommended an increase of 8 to 10 cents a gallon to boost funding for bridges and roads.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Google will pay Iowa more than $275,000 as part of a $17 million national settlement over claims that the search engine giant violated consumer privacy. The New York Attorney General’s office said Google Inc. altered coding in 2011 and 2012 to find a way around default privacy settings on Safari without consumers’ knowledge or consent. Such coding allowed the company to gather information about consumers, including online surfing habits.

The company had allowed consumers to opt out of having third-party advertising cookies set on their browsers. Google disabled the coding in February 2012 after the practice was widely reported. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the money will go into the state’s consumer education and litigation fund. The settlement involves 37 states and the District of Columbia.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Friday (Nov. 15th), 56-year old Robert Ernest McMartin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for Child Support Hearing. McMartin was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day by District Court order.

On Thursday (November 14th), 25-year old Dustin Michael Haas, of Griswold, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 2^nd Offense (an Aggravated misdemeanor). Haas was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.  Also arrested Thursday, was 27-year old Prudence Penelope Gwendolyn Page, of Atlantic. She was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Page was brought to the Cass County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

And on November 8th, 32-year old Melanie Rene Mullen, of Atlantic, turned herself in at the Cass County Jail on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Disorderly Conduct. Mullen was released that day on $300 bond.

(12:40-p.m. News)