The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Tuesday evening, released additional information about an apparent drowning that occurred at Lake Manawa Monday afternoon.

The drowning happened in the swimming area near the Lake Manawa beach around 1:15pm, when 16-year old Edgar Gregorio Loarca Garcia, of Omaha, Nebraska went under the water and did not resurface. It is believed that Garcia was a non-experienced swimmer.

Officials say while his death does not appear to be suspicious, an autopsy will be conducted. The swimming area at the Lake Manawa beach will likely be closed for the remainder of the week, while the investigation into this apparent drowning continues.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Parks Bureau and Law Enforcement Bureau were assisted by the Council Bluffs Fire Department, Omaha Fire Department Dive Team, Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department and Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue was called to the scene of a residence at 408 Front Street, Tuesday evening, for what appeared to have been a lightning strike. The call came in just before 6-p.m. Fire Chief Mark McNees said there was smoke in the attic, but there was no obvious sign of a lightning hit.

There was burned wiring traced back to an extension cord that was connected to coupling that was plugged into a pool pump in the back yard. The pool pump exploded, causing the breaker box to trip. He said there was a bunch of wiring that was not connected to a junction box, but should have been. Regardless, there was no structural damage to the home. The power was cut off until an electrician can effect repairs sometime on Wednesday.

Later, McNees said a firefighter who lives nearby saw lightning in the area. It’s believed a bolt struck somewhere near the pool, possible finding a path to the wiring. Firefighters removed the smoldering insulation from the attic and ventilated the home. The residents and their animals got out safely.

Firefighters were on the scene for nearly an hour.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Carson was arrested Tuesday (today), on drug & other charges. 36-year old Justin Kyrle Lawton was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and an additional charge of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense. Lawton was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 36-year old Clayton W. Carver, (no address listed) on a charge of Consumption of Alcohol in Public Place. Carver was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 62-year old Mark Allen Hoegh, of Redmond, OR, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Hoegh was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $1,000 bond.

Last Thursday, 41-year old Kristal Ranna Fulk, of Atlantic, and 43-year old Brad James Smith, of Knoxville, were arrested in Cass County on one charge each of Disorderly Conduct. Both parties were taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on their own recognizances.

And, on May 21st, 48-year old Kevin Boyd Canter, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Canter was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

A woman from Nebraska was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by EMS, Saturday afternoon, following a single-vehicle accident brought on by a medical condition. The accident happened at around 3:30-p.m. near the intersection of 290^th and M Avenue. The investigation showed that Dixie L Allbery of Gretna, NE was driving a 2010 Jeep Compass Sport SUV northbound on M Avenue just south of 290^th Street, when a medical condition affected her ability to drive. Her SUV went into the ditch and continued traveling through two cornfields before coming to rest. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000. The corn fields sustained an estimated $1,500 damage. No citations have been issued.

There were several arrests in Mills County over the past week. Authorities said today (Tuesday), 36-year old Christopher Lee Bradley, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday night for being a Fugitive from Justice. Bradley was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. Sunday night, Deputies arrested 43-year old Douglas Clark Harris, of Bellevue, NE., for Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $300. Sunday afternoon, 48-year old Tony Dennis Gustin, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County for Trespassing/1st degree. His bond was $300.

Saturday evening, 60-year old Daniel Swan Anderson, of Papillion, NE., was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Open Container, Speeding, and Failure to Maintain or Use Seat Belts. Bond was set at $1,000. Last that same evening, 33-year old Damon WIlliam Siebe, of Bennington, NE., was arrested on two counts of Assault while displaying a Dangerous Weapon, Carrying Weapons, and Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $6,300. Also arrested Saturday night, was 32-year old Michael Leigh Jones, of Glenwood, for Public Intoxication, with bond set at $300. Saturday morning, 42-year old Cynthia Ann Unger, of Iowa City, was arrested in Mills County for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports. The Des Moines Register reports that confirmed child abuse cases in Iowa increased 26 percent, from almost 8,900 in 2016 to more than 11,200 last year. Child protection workers found more cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and drug-affected children. Lawmakers say they believe media coverage of the starvation deaths of Natalie Finn in 2016 and Sabrina Ray in 2017 increased public awareness of the issue. The state’s child abuse hotline received more calls following media coverage of the deaths.

Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann says the higher abuse numbers released this month indicate a need for more resources. Gov. Kim Reynolds cut $4.3 million in March from the Department of Human Services, which oversees child protection.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past weekend. Late Sunday night, Deputies arrested 24-year old Micah Azariah Grider, of Houston, TX for OWI 1st Offense (drugged) and possession of drug paraphernalia. The arrest followed a traffic stop about two-miles east of Shenandoah. Grider was later released on $1,300 bond, pending further court proceedings. Saturday evening, a report of a confused male in Shambaugh, resulted in the arrest of 49-year old John George Peterson, of Shambaugh. The man was taken into custody for Public Intoxication. He later posted bond amounting to $300.

And, Friday afternoon, Page County Deputies arrested 57-year old David Blain Shuffler, of Shenandoah, on a valid 2012 warrant for Probation Violation. Shuffler was arrested at a residence in Shenandoah. He was unable to post the $10,000.00 cash only bond and is being held in the Page County Jail for holding pending further court proceedings. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted the Page County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s office reports an investigation last Friday morning into an incident near Crescent, where threats involving a gun had allegedly taken place, resulted in the arrest of a man on charges of Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and Violation of a court order. A Deputy dispatched to 23175 Old Lincoln Highway, south of Crescent, led to the arrest of 69-year old Dennis Lorin Collins, of Crescent. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Pott. County Jail. A revolver was taken into evidence.

Thursday afternoon, 30-year old Marvell Teaire Wright, of Council Bluffs, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. Wright was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections staff. Sunday evening, Deputies arrested 23-year old Brian William Curtis, of Omaha. He was arrested for OWI/1st offense after Deputies responded to a report of an erratic or possibly intoxicated driver just after 7-p.m., Sunday. Curtis was also charged with Interference with Official Acts. A woman from Bellevue, NE., was arrested at around 2-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. 43-year old Kristine L. Carpenter was taken into custody after deputies were called to conduct a welfare check on a woman in a vehicle on I-80, at about mile marker 34, Sunday.

An incident at the Pott. County Jail Monday afternoon, resulted in a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for an inmate, 25-year old Charles Frederick Pennington, a transient. Pennington allegedly broke a Sprinkler head in the jail. The damage was estimated at $400. The driver of a vehicle stopped for speeding Monday afternoon on I-80 in Council Bluffs, was arrested on drug charges. An investigation resulted in the recovery of 7.1 pounds of marijuana from the vehicle. The driver, 22-year old Christopher Lane Frey, of Madison, WI. Frey was arrested for Drug Possession w/intent to deliver, Marijuana. Later that same afternoon, a Deputy was called to investigate a report of harassment at a residence in the 22,000 block of Pioneer Trail, in Pottawattamie County. Deputies arrested 65-year old Mark Ryan Bellows, of Council Bluffs, for aggravated Harassment in the 1st degree, for the alleged intimidation of a 23-year old female.

Monday night, Deputies in Pott. County arrested 27-year old Alex John Rocha, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for Violation of a Court order, after he was found to be a passenger in a vehicle driven by a 29-year old woman, who was protected from contact by Rocha. And, 36-year old Yoandy Ramos, of Oakland, was arrested at around 12:20-a.m. today (Tuesday), on an OWI/1st offense charge, after a property damage, hit-and-run accident was investigated, in Oakland.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two people killed in a Waterloo collision between a car and motorcycle. Police say the crash occurred around 5:40 p.m. Saturday, when the northbound car turned left into the path of the southbound motorcycle. The car driver was taken to a hospital. She’s been identified as 21-year-old Katie Scarbrough, of Waterloo.

Police say the motorcyclist and a passenger in the car died. The motorcyclist was identified as 42-year-old Courtland VanArsdale, who lived in Waterloo. The car passenger was identified as 20-year-old Tyah Hoskins, who lived in Cedar Falls.

Police in Glenwood report two people were arrested on separate charges over the past couple of weeks. Last Saturday, 26-year old Jose Sanchez-Ayala, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, on May 18th, 18-year old Hunter Hemiller, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was also set at $1,000.