More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Clarinda Police Department is requesting your help in locating a missing juvenile, Bryant Kirby Fuller. Bryant is sixteen years of age, 6’1″ tall, weighs 180 lbs., blue eyes, and has short brown hair (crew cut style). He was last seen at approximately 5:30 a.m. today (Thursday) walking along U.S. Highway 71, north of Shambaugh in rural Page County.

Bryant was wearing a gray sweatshirt and black shorts. He wears prescription eyeglasses. Foul play is not suspected and Bryant is believed to a voluntary run away from his home in Clarinda. If you have information regarding Bryant’s whereabouts please contact the nearest law enforcement agency.

Bryant Fuller

An accident at around 2-a.m. today (Thursday) on Interstate 29 in Harrison County, resulted in five people, four them from Tacoma, WA.,  being transported to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix was broken down on the shoulder of southbound I-29 just north of mile marker 86, when it was struck in the rear by a southbound 2007 Dodge pickup. During the collision, the car was shoved into the west ditch. The pickup rolled over and came to rest in the middle of I-29.

All of the accident victims, with the exception of a two-year old who was in the Pontiac, were transported by Mondamin Rescue to Community Hospital in Missouri Valley. The child, Mary Jane Poutasi, of Tacoma, WA., was flown by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

The driver of the Pontiac, identified as 39-year old Soga Eneliko, of Tacoma, was outside the vehicle when it was struck. He was not injured. The driver of the pickup was identified as 31-year old Simon Philip Zelinski, of Watersmeet, MI. The other accident victims (passengers in the Pontiac), included 13-year old Honeelyn Hyeon, 34-year old Toloula Poutasi, and Alofania Eneliko, all of Tacoma.

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

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Local, state and federal authorities set out to search 20 locations in the Des Moines area at about 5 a.m. Wednesday. It was part of a drug investigation that reaches into several other states. A spokesman for Des Moines Police says their investigation of a “methamphetamine distribution network” in Des Moines began three months ago. It grew into a joint operation with the state’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement and federal A-T-F agents.

According to a statement from Des Moines Police, the drug ring has been distributing “large quantities” of meth. Federal authorities said of the six men who were arrested, one is from the State of Washington. Four are from Des Moines and the other person under arrest is from Elkhart. All six are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. (Their names, age and city of residence are listed below):

• Shannon Lee Paxton, 46, of Des Moines
• Kerry Drew Haegele, 47, of Des Moines
• Fidel Rios, Jr., 34, of Pasco, Washington
• Kira Fallis, 26, of Elkhart
• John Archer, 52, of Des Moines
• Charles Astley, 63, of Des Moines

PRAIRIEBURG, Iowa (AP) – Thunderstorms running across Iowa have injured at least one person, mowed down crops and damaged homes and farm buildings. Tornadoes were reported Wednesday in several eastern Iowa counties. Linn County authorities say a woman was injured when her home collapsed near Prairieburg. Pieces from damaged farm structures littered the ground around Prairieburg after the storm passed.

Another tornado reported near the Linn County Fair on the southeast side of Central City sent fairgoers to shelters. Trees and tents were damaged but no fairgrounds buildings. Golf ball-size hail and heavy rain were reported in the Des Moines area.

Fremont County authorities say a tornado touched down in a rural area between Sidney and Shenandoah, flattening crops. A home near Farragut was damaged, but no injuries have been reported.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on drug and other charges early this (Thursday) morning, following a traffic stop. A vehicle driven by 54-year old Bruce Warren Fitzwater, of Gravity, was pulled over at around 12:12-a.m. in the 2500 block of Union Avenue. An investigation resulted in Fitzwater being charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as Driving while revoked. He was also cited for Fraudulent use of Registration and having no insurance. Fitzwater was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

At around the same time and place, 26-year old Jesse Allen Luft, of Villisca, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernlia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 22-year old Ryan Nelson, of Sidney, was arrested Tuesday for Theft 2nd, in connection to the possession of a stolen motor vehicle on June 19th.  Deputies made contact with Nelson, who was in possession of a motor vehicle that had been stolen out of Nebraska City, Nebraska earlier that day. A warrant was issued for Nelson and he was arrested June 27th without incident.  Nelson was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 cash bond.

And, on Wednesday, Fremont County Deputies arrested 64-year old Doc Holliday, (AKA Patrick Dunbar), of Helenville, WI, (and formally of Sidney), for Operating a vehicle Without the Owner’s Consent.  Deputies received a report that Holliday was seen operating a vehicle by a family member of the owner.  Deputies allege that Holliday took the vehicle from, and later returned the vehicle to the Tabor City Park, without the owner’s consent. Holliday was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $2,000 bond.

“Doc” Holliday

Ryan Nelson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

STUART, Iowa — The National Weather Service in Des Moines confirms a tornado touched down in Adair County, late Wednesday afternoon, near Stuart. The twister, rated an EF-0 with estimate peak winds of 75-mph, began at around 4:12-p.m. southwest of Stuart, and dissipated at around 4:20-p.m. southeast of Stuart. The tornado traveled an estimated 7-miles. It’s width was not immediately known. It was captured on numerous pictures and video by area residents and spotters.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) — At least one tornado has touched down in the southwestern corner of Iowa. Fremont County Emergency Management Director Mike Crecelius says the tornado hit a rural area east of Sidney on Wednesday afternoon. Crecelius says no injuries have been reported. Sidney Assistant Fire Chief Dustin Sheldon told Omaha television station KETV that some rural homes near Sidney and Shenandoah were damaged.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a man in the death of an Illinois man whose body was found burning near a Davenport street. The Quad-City Times reports that 42-year-old Tremayne La-Toine Thomas, of Davenport, was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the May 30 death of 35-year-old Brandon Brooks. Police say Brooks was seen with Thomas the day before his death and that a search of Thomas’ home turned up blood evidence.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — ABC and a South Dakota meat producer have settled in a $1.9 billion lawsuit against the network over its reports on a beef product that critics dubbed “pink slime.” The terms of the settlement announced Wednesday are confidential. Dakota Dunes-based Beef Products Inc. sued the television network in 2012, saying ABC’s coverage misled consumers into believing the product is unsafe, is not beef and isn’t nutritious.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in a theft investigation. Authorities say on Tuesday, a man residing at 300 South 1st Street in Northboro, reported the theft of several cell phones, head phones, a portable DVD player, tools, and change from his residence.  The theft occurred sometime between June 22, 2017 and June 27, 2017. The victim believes that the items were stolen on different dates. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-246-5193.