Police in Red Oak report two women employed by a local convenience store were arrested Monday night on Theft charges. Authorities say following an investigation, Debra Ann Lamb and Katherina Ann Gurney, both of Red Oak, both employees at the Red Oak Kum-and-Go Store, were taken into custody at around 10:30-p.m.  Lamb was charged with Theft in the 3rd Degree, while Gurney faces a 4th Degree Theft charge. Both women were being held in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday morning. Lamb’s bond was set at $2,000, while Gurney’s bond was $1,000.

And, Red Oak Police investigated two, separate, non-injury accidents Monday. Authorities say Police were called to 6th and Elm Streets where a two-vehicle accident took place. When officers arrived, they found a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider sitting on the west side of the intersection on the traveled portion of the road. A second vehicle was near a power pole facing southeast across the road. An investigation determined the Eclipse, driven by 18-year old Teanna Pafford, of Red Oak, was traveling westbound. Pafford failed to see the other, southbound car. The vehicles collided at the intersection The damage was estimated at $6,000 altogether. Pafford was cited for Failure to Yield to a vehicle on the right.

The other accident happened at the intersection of Hammond and 1st Streets in Red Oak, at around 3:35-p.m., Monday. Officials say a 2007 Chevy Suburban driven by 15-year old Nathan Fournier, of Red Oak, was traveling west on Hammond Street, while a 1992 Chevy pickup driven by 46-year old Justin Nuckolls, of Red Oak, was traveling south on 1st Street. Nuckolls told police he put his truck in neutral and thought he was slowing down. The collision happened after he looked up from his dash. Damage from the crash amounted to $4,800. Nuckolls was cited for Failure to Obey a Yield Sign.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

HAWARDEN, Iowa (AP) — Wells Fargo has donated a home to the Center for Financial Education, a nonprofit ministry that provides counseling services free of charge in northwest Iowa. Wells Fargo donated the house mortgage-free in October. Through its Community and Urban Stabilization Program, which was started last year, Wells Fargo has donated more than 450 properties to nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Des Moines man has been charged in connection with a stabbing in Newton. Court documents show 25-year-old Quentin Smith was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a stabbing incident Sunday night at a Newton home. Police say a man awoke to Smith standing nearby with a knife in hand.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad took the day off Monday to recover from a cold. Branstad’s spokesman Jimmy Centers said the governor caught a cold while on vacation last week. All his public events were canceled Monday so Branstad could take the day off to rest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gun control advocates are reiterating their opposition to legislation that would allow a child of any age in Iowa to use a handgun with a parent’s supervision. The Rev. Cheryl Thomas with Iowans for Gun Safety says the legislation, which passed recently in the House, would increase gun violence in Iowa. The bill would allow children under 14 to use a handgun with a parent’s supervision. It would also remove mandatory background checks on some handgun purchases, removing a de facto three-day waiting period, among other things.

A 10-year old suffered from minor abrasions after the bike he was riding was struck by a car in Council Bluffs, Monday afternoon. Bluffs Police say officers responded to a reported car pedestrian crash at the intersection of 6th and Kanesville at 3:48-p.m.  When the officers arrived, it was learned that a 10 year old, his mother, and sister were crossing 6th Street, traveling westbound on bicycles.

32-year old Fernando Vasquez, of Council Bluffs, was traveling northbound on 6th Street in a Mazda. Vasquez stopped for a red light and started to turn right onto Kanesville, when the 10 year old ran into the side of the Mazda, fell to the ground and sustained minor scrapes. The child’s mother refused medical treatment at the scene. The child’s name is not being released.

Authorities right turns on red are allowed at the intersection, when safe to do so. Vasquez was cited for failing to yield to persons in a crosswalk.

Republican Joni Ernst has introduced her first bill in the U.S. Senate — the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Care Act.” The bill would make hiring more psychiatrists a higher priority for the Veterans Administration, plus Ernst proposes expanding coverage so veterans could seek mental health care elsewhere if they’d have a lengthy wait at a V-A facility.

“These veterans fought for us and defended us tirelessly. They endured more than some of us can ever imagine,” Ernst said. “The invisible wounds of war can no longer go unnoticed.” Ernst made her comments during a speech late Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. She spoke for more than 10 minutes, mentioning her own military service and the calls she’s gotten from veterans who are suicidal, but cannot get timely help from the V-A.

“We have to do better,” Ernst said. A veteran seeking mental health services from the V-A has to wait an average of 36 days before they get an appointment and Ernst suggests that’s one reason why the suicide rate among veterans is so high. “We hear this number from time to do, but think about it: 22 veterans suicides per days,” Ernst said. Under current practice, veterans are not allowed coverage for mental health services if a V-A facility is within 40 miles of where they live — regardless of the wait time for an appointment at that facility.

(Radio Iowa)

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest last Friday of 29-year old Colbie Fike. The Glenwood man was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says with a burst of cool weather and moisture expected over the next few days, they’re asking businesses and fire stations in the County to place their “Fire Danger” signs in the “Moderate” category for the next few days. The next update will be Thursday, March 26th.

The Atlantic Area Ambassadors visit Smith Land Service Co. to welcome Pete Smith to
the community and the company. Pete graduated from ISU in 2012 and is now beginning his training as an associate appraiser with the company.  Smith said “I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agriculture Business and shortly after decided I wanted to grow my career and establish roots in my hometown of Atlantic.”

Smith Land Service Team: Wayne Nosbisch, Fauzan Smith, Glen Smith, Pete Smith, Deb
Schuler Not pictured: Donald Kearn
Ambassadors Pictured: Nedra Perry, Sue Muri, Pat McCurdy, Michelle Heath, Debbie
Leistad, Jolene Roecker, Kathy Hockenberry, Connie Wailes, Lana Westphalen, Renea
Steffens, Crystal Christensen, Julie May, Dolly Bergmann, Desiree Hoye, Megan
Roberts, Carol Seddon, Christy Jespersen, Sara Nelson. Rich Perry, Ed Leistad, Dr.
Mitch Peerbolte, Chip Hansen, Lucas Mosier, Russ Joyce, Melanie Petty, Dr. Keith
Leonard, Darrell Hockenberry, Dr. Jim Kickland

Smith Land Service is located in downtown Atlantic and have over 32 years of experience. The company is a partner owned and operated farmland service company
offering farm real estate, management and appraisal services.

A Council Bluffs man is dead following a crash late Monday morning in the 2400 block of Valley View Drive. According to Council Bluffs Police, officers and medics responded to the scene at around 11:25-a.m. An investigation revealed a vehicle was traveling south on Valley View and had left the roadway to the right before going airborne and coming to rest in a field on the west side of Valley View Drive.

A passenger in the vehicle, 82-year old Kathryn Sealock, of Council Bluffs, told authorities her 58-year old son Jeffrey was at the wheel when he passed out and became unresponsive. His foot pressed on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to speed-up. Kathryn Sealock tried to gain control of the car but was unable to do so.

Following the crash, Jeffrey Sealock was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where he was pronounced dead. Kathryn Sealock was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.