Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County are asking for your help in solving a case of theft. Authorities say sometime during the evening or overnight hours of February 8th and 9th, tractor weights were stolen from a John Deere tractor in the 300 block of North Market Street, in Audubon. The weights were valued at more than $1,200.

Anyone with any information about the crime is asked to contact the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office at 712-563-2631, or Audubon County Crimestoppers at 712-563-2234.

Iowa’s cattle producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2017. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style. This is the eighth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicks off February 13. All nominations must be in the IBIC office by 5 p.m. on March 13, 2017.

In order to recognize these great burgers, IBIC and ICA are asking Iowans to nominate their favorite burger for the award, and those nominations can be made by mail, text, or online. Details about the contest, rules, and nomination forms are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to 313131. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger.

Katie Olthoff, Director of Communications for the ICA, says “There are three ways to nominate your favorite burger. We are accepting nominations online at www.iabeef.org; by texting BEEF to 313131, which will provide a link to the online voting page, or a paper nomination can be mailed to the IBIC office.”

The nomination period ends March 13, 2017. The top 10 restaurants with the most votes are eligible for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger. The top ten finalists will be announced on March 20. Finalists will receive a certificate and will be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2017 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 1 and will kick-off May Beef Month.

In 2016, more than 6,200 nominations for 311 restaurants were received in the contest. The final winners in previous years are: 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair; 2015 – The Cider House, Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill, Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille, Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III, Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck, Dexter; 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company, Sac City.

Authorities say a Des Moines woman was murdered early this (Monday) morning by her estranged husband who was also killed during a police chase. Police and first responders were called to a home at 2:30 A-M on a report of a stabbing and found the body of 51-year-old Rasema Keco. The suspect was identified as her husband, 58-year-old Ekrem Keco. They no longer lived together and there was a no contact order on Mr. Keco for a child who lived at the house.

Within minutes, police in Altoona spotted the man’s vehicle but he refused to stop. During the chase, police say it appears Keco stabbed himself in the neck, then rammed the back of a semi-truck on Interstate 80 near Mitchellville and was killed. The woman’s death is the seventh homicide in Des Moines this year.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two Atlantic men were arrested on drug charges, Sunday. 35-year old Aaron Lee Latus was arrested for felony Possession of Meth 3rd/Subsequent Offense. Latus was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. And, 26-year old Troy David Garrison-Romick, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense and Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense. Garrison-Romick was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $3,000 bond.

On Saturday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 42-year old Matthew Paul Hardick, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of OWI/2nd Offense. Hardick was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $2,000 bond.

We’re all impacted by the weather, one way or another, but Iowans who have a keen interest in the actions of Mother Nature should consider becoming an official spotter. Kelsey Angle, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says spotter training classes start next week at locations all across the state. “Storm spotter training is training people to identify when severe weather does occur and then how to report that information to the National Weather Service,” Angle says. “These people are extremely important in the verification process in regards to severe weather and also putting that information into the warnings and statements that we distribute to the public.”

Over the years, more than 45-hundred weather spotters have been trained in central Iowa alone and Angle says they’re an exceptionally valuable resource. “The training is free and open to the public,” Angle says. “Participants will go through an hour-and-a-half of training which will include identification of tornadoes, how to measure hail, as well as describe wind damage and how to report that information back to the National Weather Service.”

Sometimes, young people become especially fascinated by the weather and they can make excellent spotters — for life. “There is no age limit associated with the training,” Angle says. “Anybody that has an interest in weather and reporting information to the National Weather Service is welcome to attend.”

Even if you’ve gone through the training before, he suggests taking the course every year as a refresher. Thirty-three spotter training sessions are planned just in central Iowa through April, with the first course scheduled for February 21st in Webster County.

Locally, Storm Spotter Training classes are being offered:

• In Cass County: 7-p.m. Wed., March 8th, at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. For more information, call Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon at 712-243-1500.
• In Adair and Guthrie Counties: 7-p.m. Wed., March 15th, at the Menlo Community Building, in Menlo. For more info., call Adair-Guthrie EMC Bob Kempf at 641-332-3030.
• In Union County: 7-p.m. Tue., March 21st, at the Alliant Bldg. upstairs conference room (208 W. Taylor), in Creston. For more info., call Union County EMC JoAnne Duckworth at 641-782-1622.

(Radio Iowa)

The Glenwood Police Department is reporting four recent arrests. Today (Monday), 31-year old Jacob Jones, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Jones was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until making an appearance before a magistrate judge.

Sunday, 18-year old Brandon Tappan, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was also being held in the Mills County Jail until making an appearance before a magistrate judge.

Saturday, 25-year old Lyndsi Miner, of Glenwood, was arrested on charges that include Burglary, Serious Assault, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault. Miner was being held on a $30,000 cash bond or surety.

And on Friday, 40-year old Travis Handley, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Ongoing Criminal Mischief and Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was also being held on a $30,000 cash bond or surety.

From agriculture to communication events and visual arts, Iowa 4-H fair judges and those considering being a 4-H judge, a training will be Saturday, March 4 at the Carson Community Center in Carson, IA.

This judges training will prepare adults interested in working with young people and evaluating exhibits at county fair. The training will cover positive youth development, how to evaluate, educate and encourage during conference judging and 4-H exhibit expectations and guidelines. This training will be delivered by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Youth Program Specialists and current 4-H judges. Subject matter workshops will include clothing events, communication events, ag and natural resources, photography, Family and Consumer Sceince area and more!

“We especially welcome those who are new to 4-H judging. We need more adults who can support youth in this way,” said Jane Hayes-Johnk, ISU Extension and Outreach Youth Program Specialist. Current judges, new judges, 4-H club Leaders, and others interested in working with youth and fairs are encouraged to attend. The cost of the training is $45 for all day or $25 for half day registration with an on-line pre-registration required to reserve materials and lunch at this web location:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/judgestraining

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker is pleased to announce that on February 10th, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Division of Communications was recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for demonstrating commitment to protecting children, by completing the necessary requirements to become a Missing Kids Readiness Project Member.

The Division of Communications is now one of 259 agencies in the United States who have achieved this status and the fifth agency in the State of Iowa. The NCMEC Missing Kids Readiness Project promotes best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted and sexually exploited children.

Criteria necessary to receive the recognition and other information, is available on the website http://www.missingkids.org/MKRP

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s reports reports several arrests over the past few days. Late Sunday night, 36-year old Andrew Walter Dodge, of Omaha, was arrested for Public Intoxication, following a disturbance at Fred’s Bar, in Avoca. When Dodge was asked to leave the establishment, he refused to so, and was escorted out of the business by bar patrons, who then locked the doors. When Dodge tried to get back in, he nearly broke the door. He was arrested on the Public Intox. charge at around 11:15-p.m., Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, 64-year old Roland Duane Smith, of Panama, was arrested near Minden, after a Deputy ran the license plate on Smith’s pickup truck. A records check indicated Smith had a warrant out of Panama, for Forgery. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.

Early Sunday morning, 25-year old Brandon Lechaun Dinovo, of Council Bluffs, was cited into court for Interference with Official Acts, following a physical disturbance. And, 39-year old Clinton John Gardner, of Oakland, was arrested at around 1-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/3rd offense, following a traffic stop in Oakland, for having a defective muffler.

Saturday night, 41-year old Kevin Andrew Daub, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and carrying a concealed weapon (A gun), following a traffic stop for speeding just north of Crescent. Saturday evening, 30-year old Jonathan Daniel Kunze, of Underwood, was arrested in Pottawattamie County, after he was pulled over for traveling at a high rate of speed. Kunze was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (174.5 grams of marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Early Saturday morning, 49-year old Robin Lynn Stander, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Public Intoxication, following a disturbance at a residence. And, late Friday night, 53-year old Richard Nelson Steiner, of Macedonia, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after failing to stop at a controlled intersection at Highway 59 and Aspen Road.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Lorimor suffered serious/incapacitating injuries and was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, following a rollover accident early Saturday morning. 48-year old David Patrick Love, of Lorimor, was traveling east on Rea Road a little after midnight, Saturday. As he came to the intersection and curve with Strawberry Lane, he failed to negotiate the curve, causing the 2011 Dodge Caravan he was driving to cross the center triangle ditch.

The van then ramped over Strawberry Lane and entered the east ditch before impacting the ditch and rolling onto the drivers side. Love, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected from the vehicle through the windshield, and had to be extricated by mechanical means. Damage from the crash amounted to $9,000.