The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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CONROY, Iowa (AP) – The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado caused the damage at farmsteads near Conroy in eastern Iowa. The service says the twister packed winds of 105 mph and touched down around 5:34 p.m. Tuesday and lifted 20 minutes later. It ran for nearly 4.7 miles.

Windows and siding were damaged at two farm homes along its path, and two outbuildings were hit as well. No injuries have been reported.

A Des Moines man faces several charges after telling police he had put explosives inside a West Des Moines mall. West Des Moines police say they received the call around eight p-m Wednesday from the who said he had barricaded himself in the Valley West Mall. Dispatchers continued conversations with the man, identified as 26-year-old Quinten Nelson, and he told them he had explosives and was armed.

Police officers from six other departments and the State Fire Marshal’s office responded and Nelson was eventually located in a construction dumpster behind a store. Nelson was taken to the hospital for an evaluation and then booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of threatening terrorism, threat of an explosive device, first-degree harassment, interference with official acts, and false report of an explosive or incendiary device.

(Radio Iowa)

A central Iowa police chief suffered only minor injuries when he was struck by a car that fled a traffic stop. Boone Police responded to the report of an assault Monday afternoon and surrounded a parked car, which matched the description of the one they were looking for. Boone Police Chief John Wiebold was approaching the driver, who accelerated.

Wiebold’s body camera captured the incident. (https://www.facebook.com/BoonePD/videos/1492342670788780/ )  After hitting the chief, the car sped away and led officers on a chase. The driver eventually stopped, but then tried to run away. She was quickly apprehended. Twenty-five-year-old Erica Shales of Des Moines is now facing charges of eluding, assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and driving while suspended. She had a warrant for her arrest out of Polk County.

Two passengers in the car, 35-year-old Craig Collins of Nevada and 32-year-old Chanel Clark of Ames, were also arrested. They’re facing drug-related charges. Boone Police said Chief Wiebold did not require medical treatment.

(Radio Iowa)

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports an investigation into an alleged sexual assault resulted in an arrest, Wednesday. 74-year old David Dyke, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody for Sexual Assault and Burglary in the 1st Degree. Dyke was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held without bond while awaiting an appearance before the magistrate.

David Dyke (Photo courtesy Fremont Co. S/O)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

Members of the Atlantic School Board Wednesday evening, held the first regular session that featured new Superintendent Steve Barber and Finance Director Sarah Sheeder. During their session, Sheeder was also officially appointed Board Secretary. Barber, as you may recall was hire to replace former Superintendent Mike Amstein, who has retired, and Sheeder was hired to replace Mary Beth Fast, who accepted a similar position with a central Iowa school district.

Atlantic School Board (From left to right: Kristy Pellett, Jenny Williams, Ali Bruckner, Superintendent Steve Barber, Dr. Keith Swanson and Finance Director/Board Sec. Sarah Sheeder (Josh McLaren on the phone for this meeting)

The Board Wednesday, by a vote of 3-to 2, split a fuel bid recommendation between Pelgas and Olsen Fuel Supply. The original recommendation from Transportation Director Dave Eckles and Superintendent Barber, was to accept the low bid from Olsen’s for the district’s propane, diesel and gasoline needs. Both propane bids were adjusted to reflect a 30-cents per gallon state gas tax, which will be refunded at years’ end. There is also an Alternative Fuels Excise Tax credit available in the amount of 37-cents per gallon.

Olsen’s net bid on propane was lower by about 4.5-cents per gallon over Pelgas, but Board members Josh McLaren and Christy Pellett thought it would be more wise to “share the wealth” so to speak, in providing business to both companies. Last year, the Board went with Olsen’s for all the fuel needs, even though they were higher on the cost of propane. Pelgas does not supply number 1 and number 2 diesal, or unleaded regular/ethanol blends. The Board voted to contract with Pelgas for the propane, and Olsen’s for the other forms of fuel. Dr. Keith Swanson and Alison Bruckner were the two No votes for dividing the services.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board heard from Food Services Director DeeAnn Schreiner, about the summer lunch program, that runs from May 31st through August 4th. Schreiner said Breakfast is averaging 50 kids daily, and lunch 158 students daily. She said also they have been giving away food on a daily basis, with each child able to take home up to four items per day. That includes canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, fruit snacks and individual lunch/dinner items.

The big news, she said was with regard to a Farm to School grant. The grant application was written by Schreiner and Kate Olsen, with Cass County/ISU Extension and submitted on Dec. 8, 2016. The schools included in the joint application were Atlantic, Griswold and CAM. Only two applications out of the hundreds submitted, came from Iowa, and Cass County is the only one to be awarded the $45,000 planning grant from the USDA, with a $15,000 match coming from all three county schools in the form of “In-Kind” donations of time from Schreiner, Olsen and other staff. The USDA funds will be used to hire a Farm-to-school coordinator to work 20-hours per week to see the process through.

Among the goals, is to create a plan for next year for resourcing locally grown, fresh food sources.

MOVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Police in western Iowa say a man has died from injuries he received earlier this week in a riding lawn mower accident. Moville police say 57-year-old Leiv Salte, of Moville, was riding a lawn mower around 6:30 p.m. Monday on a frontage road just off Highway 20. Investigators say it appeared he lost control of the mower and went over a retaining wall.

The Sioux City Journal reports that the mower landed on Salte.

A collision between two semi’s Wednesday morning in Pottawattamie County resulted in a Nebraska man being sent to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. The Iowa State Patrol says 49-year old Richard Bigge, of Omaha, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to the hospital by Underwood Rescue following the crash that happened just before 6-a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 80, at about mile marker 10.5.

Officials say a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by 25-year old Kuldip Singh, of Santa Clara, CA., was traveling eastbound when he heard a noise from his trailer. Singh pulled to the right to stop and check on what was making the noise. A 2013 Volvo semi driven by Bigge was eastbound and saw lights in front of him. As he rapidly approached, he realized too late that the Freightliner was in the right lane.

Bigge hit the brakes and attempted to avoid the collision, but his the left front of his trailer struck the right rear of the Singh’s semi. Both rigs came to rest on the eastbound lanes.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two Red Oak residents after a pursuit on July 10th with a third individual arrested later. At 11:16am Monday Deputies responded to a call of three suspicious individuals southeast of Nodaway near 260th and Elm Avenue. A Deputy then met a vehicle with the three suspicious occupants on 260th Street. The driver attempted to hide at the residence of 1210 Chestnut while an occupant later identified as Richard Pierce fled on foot. The driver of the vehicle, Bobbi Bruce and passenger Michael Brace both of Red Oak, thought it was safe and clear to leave and headed south on Chestnut Avenue but were spotted by the Deputy and pursued. Bruce attempted to flee and eventually surrendered after losing control of the vehicle attempting to turn south on Cherry Avenue.

Bruce was charged with Eluding, Driving While Revoked, Interference with Official Acts, Accessory after the Fact, and Possession and Control of an Offensive Weapon by a Felon. Brace was charged with Interference with Official Acts, Accessory after the Fact and Possession and Control of an Offensive Weapon by a Felon. Pierce was later located and arrested by Adams County K9, lying in a field.