A bomb threat in Shelby County, Wednesday, prompted the evacuation of students and the cancellation of classes at the Harlan Community High School. Authorities were notified of the threat by district officials at around 12:16-p.m. Students were evacuated to two, separate secure locations while authorities and firefighters searched the premises. Officials decided to dismiss classes for the day at around 2:10-p.m.

After the school was secured at around 4-p.m., students and staff were allowed to return to the parking lot and retrieve their vehicles. Classes were expected to resume today (Wednesday), as normal.

An investigation into the incident was ongoing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has proposed the closure of two of the state’s four mental health institutions. Amy Lorentzen McCoy, an Iowa Department of Human Services spokeswoman, said Wednesday that Branstad didn’t include funding for the Clarinda and Mount Pleasant facilities in his budget proposal released this week. Money to the facilities will be cut off July 1st.

The Des Moines Register reports the institutions have experienced a population decline for decades, with only 24 residents currently at Clarinda facility and 47 in Mount Pleasant. McCoy says a 2009 taskforce previously recommended closure under Governor Chet Culver, but the proposal was dropped. Branstad also discussed consolidating mental health services last month, but said there were no immediate plans to do so.

Facilities in Cherokee and Independence will remain open.

SLOAN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have ruled the death of a Sloan man found slain inside his home last week as a homicide.  The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday that it’s developed a person of interest in the death of 29-year-old Dustin Taylor Wilder. But the department says no arrests have been made yet.

Lt. Tony Wingert declined to comment to the Sioux City Journal about Wilder’s death since it’s still under investigation. He says more details are expected to be released as the investigation continues. Law enforcement officials found Wilder on Friday inside his residence after they say they received a report about an unconscious male.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests and one theft investigation. Authorities say 31-year old Charles Bradshaw, of Clarinda, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. The arrest stems from an incident that took place Jan. 11th, during which Bradshaw allegedly damaged a sprinkler head in his cell at the Montgomery County Jail, which resulted in the fire suppression and alarm system being activated. The incident caused $550 damage.

On Monday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year old Joshua Poe, of Villisca. The man was taken into custody following an investigation into an incident which took place on 260th Street east of Villisca, on Sunday. Poe was charged with Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. He was being in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

And authorities investigated a burglary which was reported Wednesday. The event took place sometime between Dec. 15th and Dec. 31st 2014, at Hawkeye Storage unit located on Highway 48, north of Red Oak. The victim reports numerous tools and power tools were taken from a storage unit. The loss was estimated at $3,250. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 712-623-5107 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has proposed the closure of two of the state’s four mental health institutions. The Des Moines Register reports Amy Lorentzen McCoy, an Iowa Department of Human Services spokeswoman, said Wednesday that Branstad didn’t include funding for the Clarinda and Mount Pleasant facilities in his budget proposal released this week. Money to the facilities will be cut off July 1st. Facilities in Cherokee and Independence will remain open.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials have voted to revoke a dog ban in most Dubuque parks. The Telegraph Herald reports the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission on Tuesday narrowly approved a plan that would allow leashed and licensed dogs and cats in parks in the area. Following a 4-3 vote, the commission sent its recommendation to the City Council. Council members will consider the proposal February 2nd.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An industrial service company has decided to demolish four 1800s buildings on a Burlington thoroughfare. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports Frank Millard Company will soon take down the historic Burlington buildings to construct new workspaces to expand its manufacturing services.

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A 68-year-old Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide and other charges stemming from a November collision in Nebraska’s Dodge County. The Fremont Tribune reports that Harry Beckner, of Sioux City, Iowa, made his pleas on Monday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to breaking into and stealing from two residences. The Sioux City Journal reports 25-year-old Dewayne Hendershot pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree burglary. Hendershot must serve a minimum of seven years in prison to become eligible for parole, as outlined in his plea agreement

Hendershot confessed to breaking into a home and robbing a resident at gunpoint in Dec. 2013. He also admitted to breaking into a home in Nov. 2013 and stealing guns. Charges from another robbery were dropped as part of Hendershot’s plea agreement.

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — A man has been seriously injured while working at a meat processing plant in Pottawattamie County. The Omaha World-Herald reports the man was operating a scissor lift alone on Wednesday morning at the OSI Oakland meat processing plant in Oakland when he found himself pinned against an overhead pipe. He was taken by ambulance to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says the man sustained a head injury in the accident. Mike Koranda, the plant’s general manager, says the injury is not believed to be life-threatening. Koranda say the plant will investigate the incident.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday) released a report listing numerous, recent arrests. Officials say on Wednesday (1/14) 32-year old Anne Lynette Criswell, a homeless person, was arrested in Shelby County on a warrant for Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. Her bond was set at  $1,000. And, a homeless man, 40-year old Robert David See, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

There were also three arrests in Mills County, Tuesday. 21-year old Joseph Alan Sullivan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail on a warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000.  50-year old Roger Lee Wimer, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Failure To Appear on an OWI charge. His bond was also set at $5,000.  And, 32-year old Dustin Lee Schaffer, of Omaha, was arrested early Tuesday morning at Highway 34 and Kidd Road, for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300.

On Sunday, deputies in Mills County arrested 20-year old Trenton John Enger, and 19-year old  Darryk James Leu, both of Malvern for Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Their bonds were set at $1,300 each

And on Saturday, 51-year old Donald Edward Bonfiglio, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. 21-year old Timothy John Jennings, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.  Also arrested Saturday, was 39-year old Jerry Lee Dawson, of Emerson, who was charged with Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300. I

A maintenance worker at a food processing plant in Pottawattamie County was seriously injured this (Wednesday) morning, when he was pinned between a pipe and lift machine. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The employee was transported to a hospital in Omaha. WOWT reports the incident happened at Oakland Foods, on Highway 59. Pottawatttamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker told the station the employee was on a lift extended upward when the accident happened at around 10-a.m.

Another worker called 911 after lowering the lift. The victim’s name has not yet been released. The parent company, OSI Industries said they were notifying the employee’s family, and had contacted OSHA. A thorough investigating was into what happened is expected.

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency report students were safely evacuated from the Harlan Community High School this afternoon, after authorities were notified of a bomb threat. At 12:16 today Shelby County EMA/911 received a call for assistance in handling the incident. KETV reports the district alerted families via email and automated phone calls around 12:30 p.m. Officials said all students have been accounted for and are safe. Students were being dismissed at 2:10 p.m.

All K-8 students are at Immanuel Lutheran Church and can be picked up in the church parking lot. Students 9-12 are at Grace Baptist Church and can be picked up along Cyclone Avenue. Officials said students and staff won’t be allowed to get their vehicles or return to any building in the district, and everyone should stay away from the Middle School and High School.

Law enforcement determined the high school won’t be secure until at least 6 p.m.