The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports an Emerson man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on drug charges. 49-year old Scott Timothy Hall faces a Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia charge, following his arrest at around 3:30-p.m. His bond was set at $1,300. And, 43-year old Michael James Beveridge, of Omaha, was arrested late Tuesday night for: Possession of a controlled substance, interference with official acts, eluding, speeding, no proof of insurance, no valid drivers license, failure to use seat belts, and fraudulent use of registration. His bond was set at $4,400.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 22-year old Ebon Hackett, of Glenwood, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, after the 2003 Pontiac he was driving left the road and entered a yard at 57890 Hilman Road. The car hit a pine tree, spun around and came to rest next to a large cottonwood tree. The accident happened at around 9:40-a.m., Tuesday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A sweltering heat wave is expanding as temperatures in the Midwest and South approach near record-setting levels in the waning days of spring. The National Weather Service says the number of states under heat advisories nearly doubled Thursday to 12. The affected states are Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. A Heat Advisory remains in effect from 1-p.m until 7-p.m. today for southwest Iowa (counties along and south of I-80)

Temperatures are forecast in the 90s across much of those states, but the humidity is expected to make them feel much hotter. Heat indexes are expected to hit 115 degrees in central Oklahoma and northeastern Arkansas.

The weather service in Little Rock said on Twitter: “It’s DISGUSTING out there!” In central Kansas’ Salina, the thermometer hit 106 degrees on Wednesday, tying the record for that date. Some relief is expected this weekend as the humidity decreases.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of bankers suggests there’s been a slight improvement in the weak economic outlook for rural areas of 10 Western and Plains states.

A report issued Thursday on the Rural Mainstreet Index says it rose to 43.9 this month from 40.9 in May. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the overall index has remained below growth neutral for 10 months. He says that over the past 12 months, farm prices are down 9.5 percent, grain prices are off 4 percent and livestock prices are down 15 percent.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Due to the heat advisory in effect for today, the Adair City Hall will be open until 8:00 p.m. If anyone needs a place to cool off, you’re welcome to come on in. If you know of neighbors or elderly persons who might need a place to go, please advise them to come to the Adair City Hall.

One person was sent to the hospital following an accident this (Thursday) morning, in Red Oak. Red Oak Police say 22-year old Natacia Raynae Houston, of Red Oak, was taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue, for observation and possible medical treatment, following the collision that happened at around 8:10-a.m. at the intersection of North 5th and East Coolbaugh Streets.

Official say a car driven by Houston was traveling east in the 400 block of E. Coolbaugh Street. The woman told police sun glare caused her to drift her vehicle to the right, where it hit a legally parked 2015 Ford F-150 pickup with an attached 2015 H&H utility trailer.

Damage to Houston’s 2010 Pontiac G6 was estimated at $4,500. Damage to the pickup and trailer owned by Dale Wheeler, was estimated at $6,000 altogether. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire and Rescue, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Missouri River Historical Development Board has approved a $1 million grant for a proposed agricultural expo center in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that the grant from the nonprofit group could help leverage state funds to help build the $6.7 million Ag Expo & Learning Center.

Plans call for the center to include a 3,000-seat arena, a warm-up arena, livestock pens and a stockyards hall of fame. The proposed center would host equestrian competitions, livestock shows and other farm and agriculture-related events.

The board is set to formally present the grant to expo center leaders at a ceremony Thursday. The development board’s president, Mark Monson, said he hopes the grant will help kick-start additional private contributions for the center.

Iowa’s got talent and aspiring singers from across the state can compete for a chance to sing in front of an enormous crowd at Iowa’s largest single-day concert event. Megan Helmers, spokeswoman for the Des Moines Symphony, says they’re looking for someone who can belt out the National Anthem at the patriotic Iowa State Capitol concert on July 1st.

“We have a link on our website right now where people can go online to register,” Helmers says. “We just need a little information from them, contact information and what key they’d like to sing in, and the first 20 who apply are accepted.”

The competitors in the 7th annual “Oh Say, Can You Sing?” contest will audition before a panel of judges on-stage next weekend during the popular Des Moines Arts Festival. The 20 people who registered online will be guaranteed a slot and five walk-up singers will also be allowed to audition.

“Whoever we pick will get to sing the National Anthem at Yankee Doodle Pops in front of a crowd of 100,000 people, backed by the Des Moines Symphony,” Helmers says. “They’ll also get season tickets for our next symphony season as well as a few other perks.”

America’s National Anthem is considered by many vocalists to be a tough song to sing, given its wide required range of highs and lows. “That is absolutely correct,” Helmers says. “I think it’s probably one of the more difficult national anthems in the world to sing correctly, but we’ve been pretty lucky in past years and we’ve had some terrific vocalists who’ve auditioned for us.”

The auditions will be held at noon on June 25th at the arts fest. Learn more at the website: dmsymphony.org.

(Radio Iowa)

Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Jeremy Bennett has released statistics with regards to the sheriff’s office most recent special traffic enforcement project. The traffic safety project ran from May 23rd through June 6th.

Members of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office made four felony arrests and seven drug arrests. The sheriff’s office staff also processed seven impaired drivers. Five drivers were impaired on illicit or prescription drugs and two were impaired by alcohol.

A total of two hundred and twelve warnings were issued for traffic violations with ninety coming from speed violations, followed by thirty-seven equipment violations. Thirty-two total citations were issued with twenty-two issued for speeding.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports a woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon, on a Theft charge. 41-year old Carrie Johns, of Creston, faces a charge of 5th Degree Theft. Johns was released from the Law Enforcement Center on a Promise to Appear.