Red Oak Police, Saturday, arrested 24-year old Brandon Joseph Floyd Light, of Red Oak. Light was taken into custody at around 5:20-p.m. in the 700 block of E. Washington Avenue, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, a Serious Misdemeanor. He was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has died in an Iowa apartment fire. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the fire was reported just after 10 p.m. Friday in Fairfax. Smoke and flames were pouring from the apartment building when deputies and fire crews arrived. The release said the victim was found in an upstairs unit and pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in the investigation. The sheriff’s office says the Red Cross is helping displaced residents.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Saturday, reported three arrests took place this past week. On Wednesday (Dec. 16th), 42-year old Shane Robert Seagler, of Massena, was arrested by Police in Adair, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts: Marijuana & Methamphetamine); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and Theft in the 5th Degree. He was taken into custody after the Kum & Go in Adair reported a theft at around 6:50-a.m.

The clerk identified Seagler – whom she knew – and reported he allegedly stole a bottle of Black Velvet. Video surveillance backed-up her claim. Seagler initially left the store, but returned at around 2:20-p.m.  A van he was a passenger in was pulled over at 5th Street and I-80. The officer saw inside the vehicle, in plain view, the bottle of whiskey and an open can of beer. Other items, including a pipe, a glass pipe, butane torch used for smoking meth, a scale and a gum container contained meth and marijuana were found inside the van. The driver – Mathew Mitchel – was cited for open container, and released. Seagler admitted the drugs were his. He was cited and released from the scene.

Sheriff Vandewater says 20-year old Amber Mileena Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested Dec. 16th, for Driving While Barred. She was cited at the scene and released.  And, as we have previously reported, 43-year old Dixie Lou Hernandez, of Stuart, was arrested Dec. 16th by Stuart Police, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. She was transferred to the custody of Union County Deputies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has been sentenced to life in prison for beating his mother to death with a crowbar and then remaining with her body for five days before contacting authorities. The Des Moines Register reports that 33-year-old Christopher Thompson was sentenced Friday for first-degree murder in the March death of Paula Thompson.

Court documents show she had been trying to get her son to move out of her home and had confided to friends and on social media that she was frightened of him. Court records show Thompson has already asked the court to set aside his guilty verdict.

A recent break-in at a residence in Essex resulted in a foot pursuit, and the arrest of a man from Wisconsin. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Nebraska Avenue, in Essex, following a report of a man who broke into a house and then fled on foot.

Officers located a man matching the suspect description and, after a brief foot pursuit, arrested 23-year-old Cody Gregory Tschida, of Prescott, WI., for Burglary in the 3rd degree, Serious Assault, and Public Intoxication.

Tschida was unable to post a $6,300 bond, and was transported to the Page County Jail.

w/ Chris Parks

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MUSCATINE, Iowa, Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — A company headquartered in Muscatine (Iowa) is sending a million thanks to cat lovers all across the country after reaching its goal of donating one million pounds of naturally safe litter to shelters in need. Officials with the Kent Pet Group report World’s Best Cat Litter™,  the #1 natural cat litter brand recently celebrated the one million pound milestone with a large donation of its super-absorbent corn litter to the Arizona Humane Society, which was one of 20 shelter partners enrolled in the program.

The milestone is the realization of a one million pound goal set for the brand’s GiveLitter™ #GIVEACRAP campaign. The fun and interactive initiative made it easy and free for people to show their cat love to donate much-needed litter to shelters across the United States.

The groundbreaking social media campaign saw cat lovers, shelters, and even one well known cat-loving celebrity, share support on social media by posting the hashtag #giveacrap in exchange for donations of the brand’s naturally safe corn litter. Supporters also helped donate litter by going online and wrapping a photo of themselves (and their cats) in a custom #GIVEACRAP photo frame and sharing it on social media.

Jean Broders, Senior Brand Manager, Kent Pet Group says “Our company believes that pets make us better people and this milestone shows what happens when we work together. We’re the #1 selling natural litter brand, but this is what it really means to be at our best…it’s about supporting our fans and shelter partners.”

To celebrate the achievement, the team from World’s Best Cat Litter™ held a ZOOM party with members of the Arizona Humane Society and released a special tribute video to fans featuring ONE MILLION cats — some of which were submitted by actual fans. And in an effort to keep awareness on the initiative before announcing its next GiveLitter™ goal in the spring of 2021, the cat litter brand is asking for cat lovers to help them build the biggest list of cat love ever — One Million Reasons to #GIVEACRAP about cats. Submit yours here.

(Updated 4:45-p.m. 12/19) Students and staff at the IKM-Manning School District are mourning the loss of a Freshman. In a letter posted on the District’s website, Friday, Superintendent Trevor Miller said “It is with a great deal of sadness that I am informing you that Max Sanford, one of our 9th grade students, passed unexpected this [Friday] morning. Our condolences and thoughts go out to the Sanford family and friends, and to all Max’s friends and fellow students.”

Miller said grief counseling services are available to students and staff. He said also, “During this time of grief, please respect the family’s privacy.” Late Friday morning, the school announced the IKM-Manning basketball games vs. Tri-Center for Friday night, had been postponed. On the District’s social media page, the East Sac Community School District posted a message from students and staff, offering their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers, to the IKM-Manning community.

Funeral services for MAX SANFORD will be held 10:30-a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23rd, at the IKM-Manning School in Manning. Friends may call at the IKM-Manning gymnasium on Tue., Dec. 22nd, from 4-until 7-p.m.