(Red Oak) – A 14-year faces arson charges in connection with a house fire in Red Oak late last week. According to reports, the male juvenile was charged with 1st degree arson – a class B felony – following a joint investigation conducted by the Red Oak Fire and Police Departments, and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office. His case was sent to the Juvenile Court System for further processing.

The blaze took place Friday afternoon at 604 Miller Avenue, in Red Oak. Firefighters arrived on the scene a little after 3 p.m. found fire in an upstairs bedroom. The flames were contained to that room, but the house sustained significant smoke and water damage. The home’s occupants safely evacuated before firefighters arrived. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion and transported to the hospital to be checked out.

Firefighters from Villisca, Stanton, Essex and Elliott provided mutual aid. MidAmerican Energy, Montgomery County Emergency Management, Red Oak Police, the American Red Cross and Montgomery County Memorial Hospital also assisted Red Oak’s Fire Department.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DCI, Monday evening, provided an update on an incident in Kellerton that led up to a fatal shooting. Authorities said on Sunday evening at 10:12 p.m., the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call indicating a male subject was in Kellerton, Iowa, and had displayed a gun in a threatening manner.  Ringgold County Deputies quickly located the suspect and attempted to make a traffic stop.  The vehicle, driven by Chance Newton, led officers on a high speed pursuit. During the pursuit, Newton fired shots at a pursuing deputy’s vehicle, striking the vehicle.  The pursuit ended when Chance Newton was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound while driving through the town.  His vehicle then left the roadway and struck a tree. Chance Newton was pronounced dead at the scene.  No law enforcement officers fired their weapons, and no officers were injured.

Joseph Vanderflught

At 10:44 p.m., a man called 911 to report that he had been shot along with a female occupant as they were traveling in a vehicle along county road J45 in Lamoni.  During the investigation, it was discovered that there was an ongoing dispute between Chance Newton and Joseph Vanderflught.  During an interview with law enforcement, Vanderflught stated that he fired upon a vehicle traveling on J45 because he thought it was the vehicle of  Newton.  Both occupants were treated at the Ringgold County Hospital and transported to MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Both were listed in stable condition.  As a result, Vanderflught was charged with two counts of Attempted Murder.  He was arrested without incident and is currently being held in the Decatur County Jail.

Assistance was provided by the Iowa State Patrol, the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, the Leon Police Department and the Lamoni Police Department.  The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.

(Radio Iowa) – A Sioux City man is facing several charges after a window-breaking spree in downtown Sioux City. Officer Andrew Dutler says 37-year-old Ryan Redler was hitting the windows with a hammer. He says Redler broke windows at various businesses and also broke a window on the west side of the police department. Windows on two doors at the federal courthouse were also shattered.

Redler was arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment of cuts to his hands and arms from the broken glass. He faces four counts of second-degree criminal mischief. “He is also being charged with two counts of assault by an inmate — specifically bodily fluids. He bled all over some officers of ours, as well as E-M-S staff,” Dutler says.

A charge of fifth-degree mischief was also tacked on and Redler is being held on a 20-thousand dollar bond in the Woodbury County Jail.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen reports, beginning Tuesday, August 10^th, 2021 the Southwest section of the Schildberg Recreation Trail along Lake 3 will be closed for bank repair (erosion control). Bryant says “We apologize for the inconvenience, but appreciate your understanding as we address this section which has started create some issues due to erosion.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Fair opens Thursday, after being cancelled last year by COVID-19, and health officials are concerned crowded exhibit halls could help spread the highly-contagious delta variant. Fair manager and CEO Gary Slater says dozens of sanitizing stations were added to the fairgrounds. He says numbers in buildings will not be limited, but masks will be recommended for everyone indoors, according to CDC guidelines.

“If you’re unvaccinated and you need to wear your mask, you certainly can,” Slater says. “They’re not required but certainly encouraged. Of course, vaccinated folks, it’s kind of up to them if they choose to wear a mask or not.” Hy-Vee will hold a free coronavirus vaccination clinic throughout the fair near the main gates. Polk County Health Department spokesperson Nola Aigner Davis says if people don’t wear masks at the fair, the virus could spread quickly among tight crowds.

“We want our community to make smart decisions because we have seen this throughout the pandemic, whenever there is a holiday, whenever there’s a large event, we see cases,” she says. Aigner Davis says masks are key, but suggests people consider spending less time at the fair or go at times that aren’t as busy to help limit the potential spread of the virus. The 11-day Iowa State Fair is the biggest event of the year in Iowa, often drawing more than 100,000 visitors per day.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested today (Monday), on drug charges. Authorities say 44-year old Amber Dejaynes, of Pacific Junction was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety. And, 53-year-old Donald Henrikus, of Council Bluffs was arrested for controlled substance violation, with bond set at $10,000 cash or surety.