The Department of Defense, Thursday, announced the death of a northeast Iowa native in Afghanistan. Officials say 25-year old Army Sgt. Michael E. Ristau, a native of Cascade, died  July 13th, in Qalat, Zabul province of Afghanistan.

Sgt. Michael Ristau (DOD photo)

Ristau was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was attacked by an Improvised Explosive Device. He was assigned as an infantryman to the Company B, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, U.S. Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Ristau joined the U.S. Army in July, of 2004, and was stationed at Lewis-McChord. He deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team in 2006-07 and deployed to Afghanistan in December 2011. He is survived by his wife and two sons, his parents, one sister, and two brothers.

The family of Sgt. Michael E. Ristau issued the following statement: “Michael was loved by his family, friends and community. His passion, other than his family, friends and country, was bull-riding and off-road mud climbing in his four-wheel-drive. Michael was also involved with the Patriot Guard Riders in honoring other fallen Soldiers. As a young child, he loved to skateboard and ride go-karts. He also loved to spend his childhood days outside with his family and friends. For the past eight years, Michael had a passion for the military and was going to re-enlist. He will be sadly missed, but not forgotten. Michael was always looking out for others and helping them in any way possible.”

Funeral arrangements are pending. Services will be held in Washington state, with a memorial service being held in Iowa at a future date.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrests of two individuals this week. On Monday, 22-year old James Michael Howard, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Howard was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond.

On Wednesday, 31-year old Aaron Lee Latus, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Fremont County warrant. Latus was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day to Fremont County authorities.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An aunt of two Iowa girls missing for nearly a week says the family has consulted with an attorney amid growing tensions with law enforcement officers handling the case. Tammy Brousseau says authorities seem to be treating her family members as suspects — particularly the parents of one of the missing girls, 10-year old Lyric Cook-Morrissey. Brousseau says she thinks police are targeting Misty and Dan Morrissey because they’ve spent time in prison, mostly due to drug charges. She says that this week a male family member briefly walked out of an interview with law enforcement in frustration. She didn’t identify him.

A traffic accident in Atlantic Wednesday resulted in over $5,000 of damage.

At about 4:00 Wednesday, Amy Williams of Atlantic was driving her vehicle southbound on Poplar as she was approaching a green light on 7th street.  At the same time, a vehicle driven by Tyler Boos of Exira was northbound on Poplar approaching the green light on 7th Street.  Boos started to make a left hand turn onto 7th street and struck the Williams vehicle in the intersection.

Williams was cited for no proof of insurance.  Boos was given a warning for failure to yield making a left turn.  Total damage from the accident was about $5,500.

Two more southwest Iowa Counties have announced burn bans.

Fremont and Page Counties now have burn bans.  Page County’s ban went into effect at 8 AM this morning, Fremont will go into effect at noon.

Those burn bans are in addition to bans in Montgomery, Mills, Pottawatamie, Audubon, and Mills Counties.