A traffic stop in Villisca at around 2:15-a.m. today (Wednesday), resulted in the arrest of two men on drug charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 45-year old John Leon Lynn Bowen, of Villisca, faces a felony, Possession of Methamphetamine charge, while 36-year old Joshua Duane Mohn, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted in conducting the stop by Montgomery County K9 “Rush.”

An investigation into several Fremont County burglaries that occurred Nov. 29th, resulted in the arrest of two people, Tuesday. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says the burglaries occurred at a farm residence near Sidney. Among the items taken was at least one firearm. A search warrant executed by Fremont and Mills County deputies in Pacific Junction, Tuesday, resulted in the recovery of several pieces of stolen property, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Taken into custody for Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, was 35-year old Leo Alan Edwards, of Pacific Junction, who was brought to the Mills County Jail. Charges against Edwards are currently pending in Fremont County. 25-year old Sonia Danielle Smith, of Hamburg, was arrested in Glenwood. Smith was charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution. Additional charges are pending. Smith was being in the Fremont County Jail on a $15,000 cash only bond.

Authorities are looking for anyone who may have purchased items over the past few weeks from either Smith or Edwards. Officials believe items may have been sold through Craigslist in either Council Bluffs or the Clarinda areas.

A man Des Moines Police said was a “Person of Interest” in a double homicide investigation was arrested late Tuesday night in northern Dallas County, after a four-hour stand-off with authorities. According to Perry radio station KDLS, 39-year old Michael Wanchanic surrendered and was taken into custody near Bouton.  Wanchanic was wanted for questioning in the murders of 36-year-old Bryon Howard and 31-year-old Heather Belieu, who were found dead inside a home on Des Moines’ west side Monday afternoon. Police are not saying how they died. Wanchanic reportedly lived in the couples’ home, along with several other persons, including children.

Authorities received a tip at around 6:15-p.m. Tuesday, that Wanchanic was possibly in Woodward. Woodward Police Chief Joe Cox saw the man at a local convenience store and pursued the subject’s van until the vehicle died on Highway 141, near Bouton. Wanchanic remained in van for hours as law enforcement agencies from the Dallas County Sheriff’s office, Woodward Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Boone County Sheriff’s office and Suburban Emergency Response Team attempted to negotiate with him.

The man reportedly told authorities during the incident, that he had a 9 millimeter gun with him, and he wanted a cigarette. He never directly threatened officers at the scene but he did threaten to harm himself and commit suicide. Wanchanic was processed by the Des Moines Police Department and taken to the Polk County jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa state senator and congressional candidate is being criticized by Republicans and Democrats after he said he supports executing immigrant felons who seek to re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported. Republican Mark Chelgren is running for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. Chelgren told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his comments came during a conversation about terrorism and border control. Chelgren stressed he was talking specifically about immigrants with felony convictions trying to re-enter the U.S. illegally.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa’s governing body is withholding details of a plan to rename a campus building, which is scheduled to be announced and approved within a matter of hours Wednesday. Iowa Board of Regents spokesman Josh Lehman says the details of the proposal will be released at Wednesday’s board meeting, where regents are scheduled to vote on it in the afternoon.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Jeb Bush and his super PAC have put roughly three times as much money into television advertising as any of his Republican presidential rivals. But the former Florida governor appears to have made little progress in a race that continues to be dominated by political novices like real estate mogul Donald Trump. Bush’s poll numbers are in the single digits nationally and in New Hampshire, the second-to-vote state where he has concentrated its efforts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The presidents of two public universities in Iowa say they want more state dollars to add faculty and increase salaries. University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld says he’s requesting more than $5 million in additional funds for the upcoming fiscal year to help increase the salaries of some faculty. He says the money would keep the university competitive.

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident west of Atlantic, Tuesday night. According to dispatch reports, a vehicle was on its side in the ditch just off 570th Street between Galveston and Fayette Road.

Photo courtesy Cass County Emergency Mgmt Coordinator Mike Kennon.

The driver was trapped in the vehicle but was otherwise said to have been uninjured. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance responded to the scene at around 6:12-p.m. Roads in the area were said to have been icy.

No other details are currently available.

The just ended month of November is entering the records books as unusually warm and wet. Harry Hillaker is the state climatologist. He says preliminary figure show last month was the 8th wettest and 10th warmest November in Iowa over 143 years of record keeping. The statewide average temperature for the month was 41.7 degrees, 5.1 degrees warmer than normal. The warmest temperatures were recorded on November 2nd.

“Des Moines, Glenwood, and Shenandoah all reached 79 degrees,” Hillaker said. “On the cold end of things, we had a couple of dates where we got down below zero. Spencer was the first to do that, minus-four degrees on the 21st. On the very next morning, Waterloo and Stanley…got down to minus-five degrees.” The first 10 days of November were extremely dry, but the remainder of the month involved a lot of rain and snow.

The statewide average snowfall total for the month was 6.1 inches, more than double usual amount for November. Last month enters the record books as Iowa’s 13th snowiest November. “In fact, that one big storm we had on November 20-21 brought more snow than any other single November back to 1991,” Hillaker said. Rock Rapids, in far northwest Iowa, received over 15 inches of snow in that storm. The other unusual weather event during the month involved 13 tornadoes touching down across south-central and southeast Iowa on Veteran’s Day.

“If those numbers hold up, that looks to be a record for the month of November,” Hillaker said. “Ten years ago, in 2005, we had 12 tornadoes recorded on almost the same day, November 12.”

(Radio Iowa/KJAN)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says more than $173,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants have recently been awarded to 74 of Iowa’s rural fire departments to aid their efforts in protecting Iowan’s and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment.

Among the fire departments that have received or will receive 2015 VFA grants, are those in: Creston, Elk Horn, Harlan, Irwin, Menlo, Onawa, Sidney, Stanton, and Stuart. The grants are made possible through the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with US Forest Service – State and Private Forestry.

Gail Kantak, fire supervisor with the DNR’s Forestry Bureau, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland fire reporting forms are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire.

Departments returning the reports receive priority points when the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. The wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has retired from the Iowa Army National Guard after more than 23 years of military service. “Today is my first day as a full-fledged civilian,” Ernst says, with a laugh. Ernst, a lieutenant colonel who is the first female combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate, officially retired yesterday (Monday).

“It was really hard to step away from the National Guard, but it was a commitment that I had made in the campaign and I’m ready to move forward and separate from the Guard,” Ernst said. “It’s been such an honor to serving in the National Guard. I really truly served with some of the finest men and women in uniform. I will continue to serve them as a United States Senator.” Ernst was the commander of a battalion of 150 soldiers who did a 14-month tour of duty in Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 and 2004. After her election in 2014, she shifted to duty at Camp Dodge as the assistant to the Iowa Army National Guard chief of staff.

“Obviously serving as a United States Senator does take a lot of time, a lot of energy and I, of course, want to continue serving Iowans, but it will be in a much different capacity here in the United States Senate,” Ernst says, “and, of course, I would love to spend more time with my family as well.” Ernst in the past year has kept up her duty and training requirements.

“That’s where we do run into time constraints and I think my family has been on the short end of that,” Ernst says. “…I will spend more time, of course, with my family and more time out on the road focusing on the senate as well. I did the 99 county tour, was able to do that this past year, but this will allow a little bit more flexibility with that schedule.” Her husband is a retired soldier and the couple’s daughter attends Stanton High School. Ernst joined the Army R-O-T-C at Iowa State University when she was 19 years old, so she’s been in the military her entire adult life.

“And it is very difficult for me to step away because of the great people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” Ernst says. Ernst discussed her retirement with Iowa reporters during a conference call this morning (Tuesday). Ernst, who is 45, will receive a military pension when she reaches the age of 59.

(Radio Iowa)

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Anthony John Lesatz, of Audubon, was arrested Monday night on a outstanding felony warrant for providing false information on a permit to acquire firearms.

The charge is the result of an investigation into an application Lesatz submitted to the Sheriff’s Office. Lesatz was brought to the Audubon County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer, today (Tuesday), said his officers made six arrests over the past few weeks. On Sunday, 20-year old Angel Nicole Knowles, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Knowles was later released on promise to appear in court.

Last Friday, officers with the Audubon Police Department arrested 21-year old Kaz Ryan Cozad, of Lamoni, for Disorderly Conduct. Cozad was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he was held to appear before a magistrate.

On Nov. 26th, 30-year old Scott Joseph Meislahn, of Dubuque, was arrested in Audubon for OWI – 3rd offense. Meislahn was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he posted $5000 bond.

On Nov. 25th, 27-year old Jessica Lynn Pedrin and 25-year old Heather Eileen Runkis, both of Audubon, were arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Both were released later on promise to appear in court.

And on Nov. 12th, Audubon Police arrested 56-year old Karla Jo Anderson of Audubon, on a warrant for Theft – 5th degree. Anderson appeared, and pled guilty, before a magistrate.