(Radio Iowa) – Woodbury County firefighters spent Sunday trying to contain a massive field fire near Anthon. County Emergency Manager Rebecca Socknat says a farmer working in the field northwest of Anthon set it on fire around 12:30 in the afternoon,  She says he was combining and that ignited the field and in the extremely dry and windy conditions, the fire took off. Socknat says the fire quickly spread through the field.

Socknat says the fire traveled north at least three miles across county roads and she was told at its widest point it was about a mile to a mile-and-a-half wide. Every fire department in the county except for the Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff fire departments responded to the fire along with several Plymouth County departments. No home were damaged and no one was injured — but farm equipment, utility poles and several cornfields burned up.  Crews were out working to replace the damaged utility poles.

A massive fire in Story County yesterday tore across a cornfield between Maxwell and Nevada. It took four hours to control. Investigators say that fast-moving fire may have been sparked by a smoldering cigarette tossed in a ditch. Fourteen Iowa counties now have burn bans in place.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (today), reported four arrests and one injury accident. Their report says 20-year old Joel Dixson-Clark III, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday night at the Pottawattamie County Jail. Dixson-Clark was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $1,000.

21-year old Trenton Maverick Drake, of Nodaway, was arrested Sunday evening for OWI/1st offense, and Speeding. His bond was set at $1,000. And, late Sunday morning, 33-year old William Dean Meredith, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, for Violation of a Court Order/Contempt of Court. He was being held without bond.

At around 3:24-a.m. Friday, 43-year old Heather Lee Bell, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested in Mills County on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $1,000.

And, Sheriff’s officials say 54-year old Marvin Levell, of Council Bluffs, was transported to Mercy Hospital by Malvern Rescue, Friday afternoon, following a single-vehicle accident. Authorities say he was traveling south on 360th Street in Mills County at around 1:35-p.m., when the 1995 semi he was driving entered the west ditch and flipped onto its side, causing severe damage to both the semi tractor and trailer. Levell was cited for Failure to Maintain Control of a vehicle.

One person was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, following an accident that took place just before 9-a.m. Monday (today). Authorities say a 2010 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 79-year old Calvin Dean Huffman, of Creston, was traveling north on Sumner Avenue and making a left hand turn. Huffman didn’t see a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 48-year old Jennifer Michelle Queener, of Creston, who was traveling south on Sumner. Huffman told police another vehicle was turning right at the same time as he was turning left. His pickup hit the van on the left front end as the pickup was in the far west lane.

A passenger in the pickup, Bernadette Norton, of Creston, was injured and taken by ambulance to the hospital. A report on her condition was not released. Damage to the vehicles was estimated at $3,000, each. There were no citations issued.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past week. Last Friday, 26-year old Anthoney Howard Diamonde Grefsheim, of Creston, was arrested by Greenfield Police on an Adair County warrant charging him with Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree (involving a person under the age of 12), Lascivious Acts with a child, and indecent contact with a child. His cash only bond was set at $100,000. Additional details were not released.

Also arrested Oct. 9th (On separate charges), was 34-year old Michael Eugene Matherly, of Creston, and 38-year old Michael Gail Steward, of Fontanelle. Matherly was taken into custody on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Assault with bodily injury/mental illness – 1st offense. His cash only bond was set at $1,000. Steward was arrested on and Adair County warrant for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. He was later released on a $1,000 cash only bond.

Thursday afternoon, 57-year old Douglas Wayne Ruse, of Corning, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Going Armed with Intent. He was later released from the Adair County Jail.  Also arrested Thursday afternoon, was 33-year old Amanda Marie Comly, of Stuart. She was taken into custody on an Adair County warrant for Driving While Barred. Her cash only bond was set at $100 after being fingerprinted.

On Oct. 7th, 40-year old Patrick Scott Beardsley, of Guthrie Center, was arrested by Adair Police for Violation of a No Contact Order. The charge was summarily dismissed by the Magistrate and Beardsley was released the following day. Also arrested by Adair Police on Oct. 7th, was 27-year old Alicia Marie Beardsley, of Guthrie Center. She was released on her own recognizance that same day.

On Oct. 6th, Adair County Deputies arrested 25-year old Lucas Dayne Anderson, of Stuart, on an Adair County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. Anderson was released two days later on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. 27-year old Tyler Eugene Worthington, of Casey, was arrested by Greenfield Police on Oct. 6th, following a physical altercation with his girlfriend, 21-year old Payton Allyssa Hill, of Greenfield. Worthington was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault causing marks to be left on her body. Hill was also charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, after allegedly striking Worthington on his face and other parts of his body, leaving marks. Worthington was released two days later on a $1,000 cash/surety bond. Hill was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

And, on Oct. 5th, 34-year old David Spencer Reeves, of Earlham, was arrested by Stuart Police, on an Adair County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft on the 4th Degree. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa are investigating gunfire that hit a Cedar Rapids apartment building over the weekend. Television station KCRG reports that the shooting happened just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the area of the Jane Boyd Community House. Police say several people reported hearing shots fired in the area. Investigating officers found several shell casings and gunshot damage to a nearby apartment.

No injuries were reported. Police say a vehicle suspected in the shooting was impounded. No reports of arrests in the shooting have been announced.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (today), reports 29-year old Leanthony Jarome Carey, of Gretna, NE., was arrested at around 1-a.m. Saturday, for Assault (without intent) causing bodily injury or mental illness. The incident took place at the Pottawattamie County Jail. The victim, according to authorities, was 43-year old inmate Michael Carver. Carey was being held in the jail on a $2,000 bond for the Assault charge, plus $10,000 bond associated with other charges ($12,000 total).

A traffic stop near Oakland at around 1-a.m. Saturday resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Jamie Eve Schneckloth. She was pulled over after a Deputy observed a person in a Ford Ranger pickup allegedly throw a blue can of what appeared to be beer, from inside the vehicle. The Deputy also observed the pickup had a brake light that was out. An OWI investigation was conducted, resulting in Schneckloth being taken into custody for OWI/1st offense.

At around 2-a.m. Friday, 24-year old Alexander Sales was arrested following a traffic stop in Council Bluffs. He was charged with Driving While License denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked. Thursday night, 50-year old Timothy Lynn Roskens was arrested following an investigation into a property damage accident, in Oakland. Roskens is alleged to have driven a vehicle that struck a parked vehicle in the 600 block of Willow Street. He was charged with OWI/1st offense.

A call Thursday night about a disturbance the 41-thousand block of York Road in Avoca, resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Curtis Clayton Roe. He was charged with Child Endangerment with substantial risk, and Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon. Authorities say there were two female children, ages three and five in the home when the incident took place.  Last Wednesday at around 1:30-a.m., a traffic stop that resulted in a pursuit, led to the arrest of 26-year old Robert Duane Dunlap, from Council Bluffs. Dunlap was taken into custody on I-29 south near mile marker 50. He faces charges that include Eluding (in excess of 25 mph), being a Fugitive from Justice, Interference with Official Acts, Reckless Driving, and Possession of Meth/1st offense. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $3,300 bond.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6th, a warrant check at a location in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest of 22-year old Donavan Edward Belt. He was taken into custody at around 8:25-p.m. for Violation of probation.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is dismissing what he calls “doomsday predictions” about how Amy Coney Barrett might rule as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. “Democrats and their allies shouldn’t claim to know how any judge would rule in any particular case,” Grassley said. “Just look at history.”  Grassley delivered an 11-minute defense of President Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court this (Monday) morning as hearings on Barrett’s nomination got underway. “A good judge understands it’s not the court’s place to rewrite the law as it sees fit. It’s not his or her place to let policy, personal or moral principles dictate an outcome of a case,” Grassley said. “We are fortune Judge Barrett’s record clearly reflects this standard.”

Grassley quoted the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who Barrett is nominated to replace. He also offered Barrett advice.  “Judge, you’ll no doubt be asked how you’ll rule on questions and issues,” Grassley said. “I expect you’ll follow the example of Justice Ginsburg. A nominee should offer no forecasts, no hints of how he or she will vote.” Grassley recited what he described as “high praise” of Barrett’s record as a law professor at Notre Dame, a judge and as a mother.  “To sum up, Judge Barrett’s qualifications and character are impeccable,” Grassley said. “Unfortunately, I expect the minority will try to rustle up baseless claims and scare tactics as they’ve done for decades, anything to derail the confirmation of a Republican nominee.”

All 22 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will deliver opening statements today (Monday). Democrats have criticized the timing of Barrett’s nomination for the November 10th U.S. Supreme Court hearing for a constitutional challenge of the Affordable Care Act. Iowa’s other Republican Senator, Joni Ernst, joined the Judiciary Committee in 2019. Her remarks will come later, then Barrett will speak.

DES MOINES– The Office of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is reminding Iowans participating in the fall harvest that Gov. Reynolds has already suspended the weight limits for transportation of agricultural supplies and commodities on state highways. Section 120 & 121 of the current Public Health Disaster Proclamation issued on September 18, 2020, allows vehicles transporting agricultural supplies and commodities including but not limited to livestock, milk, crop supplies, and agricultural waste (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit, for the duration of this proclamation. It also waives hours of service requirements while transporting these loads. 

 This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges. 

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to ensure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved in our state’s harvest. The current proclamation expires at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2020, unless extended by Governor Reynolds for another thirty days before that date.  

(Radio Iowa) – Fort Dodge police are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that happened shortly after 7 o’clock this (Monday) morning.  When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive male lying in the grass near the intersection of Hawkeye Avenue and Second Avenue Northwest. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary findings indicated that the male was operating a motorcycle traveling westbound when he lost control and struck a tree at the intersection. The identity of the victim is not being released at this time.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports there were three accidents over the weekend, with one resulting in an arrest.

Friday evening, 28-year old Kody Mitchel Ross Havens, of Anita, was driving a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on White Pole Road at Frontier, when he lost control of the machine. The cycle entered a ditch. Havens told authorities he had gotten too far over onto the shoulder of the road before his motorcycle crashed. The accident happened at around 6:30-p.m.    Havens suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, and was transported by private vehicle to his residence. The Harley sustained about $5,000 damage. Kody Havens was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and Leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Authorities says 47-year old Chad Edward Polivka, of San Tan Valley, AZ, was charged with OWI/1st offense, Failure to Maintain Control, and Leaving the Scene of an accident, after the 2019 Audi SUV he was driving left the road as it was westbound on 200th Street, at around 11:25-p.m. Friday. The vehicle struck a tree at the Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora, causing $15,000 to the SUV and and estimated $300 damage to the tree.  Polivka suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, but was not transported to the hospital.

And, at around 5:40-a.m. Saturday, a 2010 Chevy Traverse SUV driven by 60-year old Pamela Sue Carruthers, of Jefferson, was traveling south on Highway 25 in Guthrie County, just south of 310th, when a deer ran into the vehicle. The SUV sustained about $5,000 damage. Carruthers was not injured during the accident.