A report in the Daily NonPareil says a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Thursday in Nebraska, for allegedly making terroristic threats against several agencies. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker told the paper 56-year old Paul Grindstaff, of Crescent, was arrested in Omaha after allegedly sending threatening emails Wednesday. Danker said he believed the emails were a response to a custody dispute Grindstaff was involved in concerning his granddaughter.

The emails were not targeted against anyone specifically, but they allegedly contained statements that alluded to the Sandy Hook school shooting and the shooting rampage of ex-Los Angeles Police Department Officer Christopher Dorner. Danker said the mention of those two events certainly caught law enforcement’s attention.

Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said he could not comment on the specifics of the investigation, but he confirmed Grindstaff was apprehended by the Metro Area Task Force Thursday morning and arrested on warrants for suspicion of terroristic threats and first-degree harassment. Wilber told the paper that because Grindstaff was arrested in Omaha, the arrest affidavit will not be released publicly until Grindstaff is returned to Pottawattamie County.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers appear close on a budget deal for the state’s judicial branch. The state House approved a budget yesterday that gives the judiciary a budget of more than $167 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. That’s an increase of nearly $6 million over the current year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-majority Iowa House has approved legislation that would change collective bargaining rules. House lawmakers included the provision in a broad spending bill they approved yesterday. State employees would have to pay 20 percent of their health insurance premiums under the proposal.

MONTICELLO, Iowa (AP) — A snowstorm has delayed repair on a ruptured propane line in eastern Iowa that caused the evacuation of several homes. Crew and equipment hired to fix the line were delayed in Minnesota by poor road conditions. The strong winds are helping disperse the spewing gas. Authorities say a farmer on a tractor struck the above-ground pipeline Wednesday near Monticello.

CLARKSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — One man has been killed and two others injured in a two-vehicle crash in northern Iowa. The roadway was wet with slush at the time of the accident yesterday on Highway 188 near Clarksville. Edward Eilers died after his northbound SUV was struck by an oncoming van. The accident is being investigated.

Atlantic Fire and Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of what was initially thought to be a structure fire at 200 Oak Street. Fire Chief Mark McNees said Atlantic Police Officer Dave Erickson saw flames coming from what he thought was the building, owned by R&B Feeds, at around 9:08-p.m.

Atlantic Fire on the scene at 200 Oak St. Thursday night, near R & B Feeds.

McNees said when the first fire crews arrived, the saw a diesel pickup truck with its engine block plugged in to a core heater, in preparation for use on Friday. He said the electrical cord to the core heater apparently shorted out and caught the engine compartment on fire.

The truck was parked between a delivery truck and some bulk tanks, somewhat hidden from view. McNees credits Officer Erickson for noticing the flames when he did, before the fire spread to the building, approximately four-feet away. McNees said a City of Atlantic Maintenance worker also saw the flames and reported them to 9-1-1, at about the same time. He said when firefighters  first arrived, all the crews could see was a large glow and smoke.  It wasn’t clear at the onset, exactly what was on fire.

Some loud bangs heard shortly after firefighters arrived were the sounds of the front tires of the truck exploding from the heat and flames.The full-sized Ford truck was a total loss.