Authorities in southwest Iowa are asking for your help in finding a stolen pickup and the man who stole it. Red Oak Police say at around 5:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), officers were notified about a pickup stolen from an alley behind  709 E. Nuckols Street. Surveillance video showed the white Chevy extended cab with Iowa license plate CCU 984, was stolen at around 1:23-a.m., and the suspect was 45-year old Stuart James Andrew Sellers, who is wanted in connection with a theft from the University of Iowa Hospital, had fled from authorities Tuesday evening. The pickup has black fender flares over the wheel wells, a silver toolbox in the back, and rust on the rear bumper. Officials say the keys to the vehicle had been left in the unlocked pickup. If you see the vehicle, call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712. You can remain anonymous, and your information could result in a cash reward.

Stuart Sellers

Authorities said on Tuesday, Red Oak Police were contacted by detectives with the University of Iowa Police, who requested assistance in attempting to positively identify a possible burglary suspect. The U-of-I Hospital had recently been the victim of a burglary resulting in a loss of more than $10,000. Items stolen included electronic equipment, printers, phones, personal belongings and miscellaneous equipment. Red Oak Police located the suspect (Stuart Sellers), and began an investigation into attempting to positively identifying him for the U-of-I Police. During the investigation, Sellers fled on foot and eventually entered a creek.

A perimeter was set up, and three K-9 units as well as the Montgomery County Emergency Management drone equipped with an infra-red search camera, searched for Sellers. Despite their efforts, authorities lost track of Sellers and called off the search at around 8:45-p.m., Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, though, authorities were able to recover a majority, if not all, of the stolen property. The investigation is ongoing, and charges are currently pending against Sellers. If you have any information on his location, contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers or Red Oak Police, at 712-623-6500.

Red Oak Police were assisting in their investigation and incident by: The University of Iowa Police Department; Montgomery, Mills, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Montgomery, Mills and Fremont County K9 Units.

(12-p.m. News)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is not pleased with Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s action to tear up a copy of the President’s speech right after he finished the State of the Union. “I’ll put it diplomatically — I thought it was very disrespectful…Just truly unbelievable really that the Speaker of the House would act out in such as way,” Ernst says. Ernst says it was not appropriate. “I know that she and the president have disagreements and we are obviously going through a very trying time in the last several weeks and months — but that does not excuse her behavior,” Ernst says.

Some of the trying times that Ernst refers to is the impeachment hearings. She says she will vote not against impeachment when it comes before the U-S Senate. “Bottom line, the articles of impeachment that were sent over from the House clearly do not define anything that the president has done that rises to the level of impeachment,” according to Ernst. Ernst was also asked about the issues with the Iowa Caucuses during her weekly conference call with reporters. She doesn’t buy into any conspiracy theories about what happened. “I think it was technology. And we all know that certainly technology needs to be rigorously tested,” Ernst says. “And so I don’t want to go into any of the political side conversations. So, I do think that it was simply a failure of technology.”

She says the Iowa Caucuses are still important in the selection of the president. “The process itself — you know I still believe in it and think the grassroots way that we do business in Iowa is very, very helpful. Not only to our citizens, but also very helpful to all of those candidates,” according to Ernst. “Iowa is a great testing grounds — it doesn’t matter who you are — whether you are a campaign with the least amount of money, or a campaign with the most amount of money.”

Ernst says she will continue to defend the process because she believes it puts the candidates through a rigorous test with all the questions they face in the state.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), set Feb. 26^th at 9:30-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing, with regard to a Proposed Property Tax Levy. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg said the Board discussed the proposal this (Wednesday) morning, as well. She said they are required by law to complete a Maximum Levy Budget Notice, hold a Public Hearing on the notice, and then approve by Resolution during their regular budget hearing. Berg presented the figures to the Board, which show the tax dollars raised this year was only a .95 (point-nine-five) percent increase in the General and General Supplemental Fund.

She said rural property owners would see a .25 (point Two-five) percent increase, under the proposal. In other business, Berg said Brenda Dudley, from Stuart, spoke to the Board about closing down White Pole Road for a few hours, on April. 18^th for the 2^nd Annual, “Bonnie and Clyde” Run/Walk from Dexter to Stuart. The road will be closed from 10:30-a.m. until 1-p.m. that day, for the event, which begins at the Dexter City Museum and follows White Pole Road into Stuart. It ends in downtown Stuart, near the former 1^st National Bank (The site of Bonnie and Clyde’s last bank robbery in April, 1934).

For more information look for the Bonnie and Clyde 5 mile Run/Walk on Facebook.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Safety today (Wednesday), identified the victim of a shooting that occurred Friday night, in Monona County. Authorities say an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner determined 16-year old Joseph Hopkins, of Mapleton, died as the result of a single gunshot wound. Investigators do not believe there is a current danger to the public.

The teen’s body was discovered when Mapleton Police and EMS responded to a reported shooting in Mapleton, at around 9:40-p.m., Friday.  Authorities spoke with minors in the residence as part of their investigation, which is ongoing. No further details are being released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) — Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is bringing up the delayed results from the Iowa Caucuses as he campaigns in New Hampshire.  “For some reason in Iowa, they’re having a little bit of trouble counting votes,” Sanders said, drawing laughter from the crowd, “but I am confident that here in New Hampshire, I know they’d be able to count your votes on Election Night.”

With 71 percent of the Iowa Caucus precincts reporting, Sanders leads in the “popular vote” measurement, but trails Pete Buttigieg in the delegate count by about one-and-a-half percent. Sanders told reporters on his campaign plane that there is “no excuse” for the Iowa Democratic Party’s failure. “We should all be disappointed in the inability of the (Iowa Democratic) Party to come up with timely results,” Sanders said, “but we are not casting aspersions on the results that are being counted.”

Elizabeth Warren will finish third in the Iowa Caucuses and she got laughs from a New Hampshire audience by mentioning the results. “Wow, but here’s what we know. It’s a tight, three-way race at the top. We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa. I’m feeling good,” Warren said, to cheers. Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar are going to finish behind the three Iowa Caucus leaders.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports they were notified at around 9:48-p.m. Tuesday, that a man with a gunshot wound was at the hospital in Creston. 48-year old William Ray Peckham was treated for a non-life threatening injury, and released. The incident remains under investigation. Additional information was not released.

And, 24-year old Cody Joseph Reighard, of Creston, was arrested at around 7:15-p.m. Tuesday, in Jasper County. Reighard was taken into custody on two Union County warrants for violation of probation. He was being held without bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, pending an appearance before a magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says she’s grateful to the VOLUNTEERS who’ve stepped up to help triple-check the Iowa Caucus results. “Folks come to the Democratic headquarters and overnight worked diligently to make sure that the results that will be released are factual and don’t leave any room for error,” Axne says.

Axne and the two other Democrats from Iowa who serve in the U.S. House released a written statement late yesterday afternoon. They said the Iowa Caucuses are the foundation of how BOTH political parties and the nation select presidents and generations of Iowa voters have taken that responsibility seriously. Axne, along with Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and Congressman Dave Loebsack, called for transparency and accountability moving forward. “We want to make sure we’re doing the job that we were asked to do,” Axne says.

By mid-morning on Wednesday, 71 percent of Caucus-night results had been posted on the Iowa Democratic Party’s website.

(Radio Iowa) — An Iowa teacher who attended last (Tuesday) night’s “State of the Union” speech says federal officials need to boost spending for public schools. Shannon Baity teaches in Altoona, at an elementary school in the Southeast Polk School District. “We’re losing more and more funding to take care of our children which is completely the future of our society,” Baity says. Baity’s grandfather was a teacher and her 70-year-old father is still teaching. “I just want to be able to be a voice for all of the teachers in Iowa,” Baity says, “teachers around the country.”

Baity was the guest of Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne. Axne says more teachers like Baity will leave the profession if policymakers fail to act and that’s why she invited Baity to Washington. “Because that’s more important than what happened in the Caucuses in Iowa,” Axne says. Axne — along with Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and Congressman Dave Loebsack — issued a written statement late yesterday afternoon, expressing disappointment in delayed reporting of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucus Night’s results.

Axne and Finkenauer endorsed Joe Biden before the Caucuses. Loebsack endorsed Pete Buttigieg.

A man from Nebraska who is being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on numerous charges, was served with a warrant Tuesday afternoon connecting him to a double homicide in Kansas. Authorities in Kansas say 28-year old Kevin Dewayne Dean, of Omaha, faces charges that include two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of first-degree attempted robbery, as well as one count of unlawful use of a weapon. According to court records, the charges are with regard to the Sept. 10, 2019 deaths of  20-year-old Dajuan Reese and 44-year-old Rance Burton. The men died during an attempted robbery at a South Kansas City apartment. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports his bond on the Iowa charges was set at $13,000.  Prosecutors in Kansas have requested a cash-only bond of $400,000 related to the charges in their jurisdiction.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 36-year old Andrew Michael Hasbrouck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday afternoon for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. He was taken into custody after deputies were called to a residence in the 19,000 block of Corcord Loop, with regard to a possibly stolen car. Hasbrouck, who was at the scene upon their arrival, was found to have an active protective order on him, in reference to the female protected party in the residence.

21-year old Andre Frederick Ryan was arrested Monday night in the area of Badger and Jefferson Avenues, following a report of a possibly intoxicated driver. Ryan was subsequently arrested for OWI/1st offense. And, 45-year old Jason D. Mueller was arrested Monday afternoon, following a report of a trespasser on Union Pacific railroad property. Mueller was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernlia, Public Intoxication, and Trespass/1st offense.