(New Market, Iowa) – A home in rural Taylor County sustained extensive damage during a fire late Thursday morning. The bulk of the damage occurred in the living room of the home at 1271 140th Street, near New Market. Extensive smoke and water damage was sustained elsewhere throughout the structure.  According to reports, firefighters from New Market, Villisca and Corning responded to the blaze, at around 11:30-a.m.

The home’s residents escaped without injury by the time firefighters arrived. Crews remained on the scene for a little more than two hours before operations was terminated. No firefighters were injured.

Photo courtesy of Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Sioux City, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 34-year-old Shawn Juan Brown, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Woodbury County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required, Wednesday.

Shawn Brown (IA Dept. of Corrections photo)

Brown is a 5 Foot, 4 inch (5’04”), 186-pound Black Male. He was admitted to the work release facility on September 25th, 2024.

Persons with information on Brown’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – If it’s been a while since you’ve seen an older relative, Iowans may be noticing certain signs over the long Thanksgiving weekend in how they’re acting that might indicate the start of a problem.

Megan Benzing, program manager for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says it’s supposed to be a joyful time, but it’s also an opportunity to take note of potential warning signs which may warrant further action.

“This is the time of year where families start gathering around the dinner table,” Benzing says. “It’s a very difficult time because this is going to be the time where all the family members may start to notice that their loved ones are experiencing changes in their memory, their thinking and their behaviors.”

Some of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially early on, include forgetting recently-learned information, challenges planning or solving problems, and difficulty completing familiar tasks. It can be troublesome to watch a loved one struggle with what should be a simple chore.

“That might be confusing for a lot of people. They may not know what’s going on with their loved one but they should know that the Alzheimer’s Association is available around the clock 365 days a year,” Benzing says. “If you need to reach out and talk to somebody, we are available through our 24/7 helpline.”

That number is 800-272-3900. There are also a variety of resources available online.

(Adair, Iowa) – The Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center (AC/GC) School District Boards of Education will hold a joint work session this coming Monday, December 2nd (2024), at the AC/GC Junior High Media Center, in Adair. The meeting begins at 7-p.m.  According to the agenda, the purpose of the meeting is to discuss a “Reorganization petition.”  No action will be taken.

In a recent meeting of the Adair – Casey and Guthrie Center School Boards, the topic of whole grade sharing/reorganization was discussed. That agreement will end on June 30, 2026.

District Superintendent Josh Rasmussen has stated that both Boards and district administrators recognize possible future obstacles – such as enrollment numbers – could be addressed, by working with other area school districts.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department, on Wednesday, released a report on arrests that took place between Sept. 28th and November 25th. Here are those who were arrested most recently.

DES MOINES, Iowa — If your holiday plans include consuming alcohol, the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is reminding you to plan for a sober driver. To help keep intoxicated drivers off the road this holiday weekend, the GTSB is offering a $10 Uber voucher for the holiday weekend. The $10 off Uber code is rie1T1nxWMg and can be used until Dec. 2.

AAA is also activating its “Tow-to-Go” service for the weekend. The company will tow one person and their vehicle to a safe place within a 10-mile radius. The service is free to everyone, even if you don’t have a AAA membership. To request a tow, visit the AAA website or call 855-286-9246.

The service is active until 6 a.m. Monday.