The driver of a van equipped with improper plates was cited early this (Friday) morning in Lenox, after police observed the plates had expired in 2006, and did not match the vehicle. According to the Lenox Police Department, officers saw the van at around 1:15-a.m. at Brooks and 120th street.

The vehicle was stopped and the driver identified as 55-year old Steven Nutt, of Creston, was cited for operation without registration, false use of registration, failure to have a valid drivers license and failure to have insurance. The van was subsequently impounded.

ARTHUR, Iowa (AP) – No injuries have been reported after an explosion at an ethanol plant in northwest Iowa. The blast occurred Thursday night at the Flint Hills Resources plant in Arthur. Flint Hills spokesman Jake Reint says the explosion occurred in a grain dryer.

The plant will remain out of operation until the explosion is investigated and damage is repaired. Reint says it’s unclear how long that will take. The plant employs about 50 people and operates 24 hours a day.

A company website says Wichita, Kansas-based Flint Hills Resources bought the plant in September 2013. The plant began operating in 2008 and produces 110 million gallons of ethanol a year.

w/ Ric Hanson

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(corrects earlier post)

The Audubon County Fair continues through Monday at the fairgrounds in Audubon. Thursday night marked the crowning of the 2014 Fair Queen, the title of which went to Cassie Irlmeier, daughter of Kenneth and Sandra Irlmeier, of Elk Horn. She received her crown from 2013 Queen Jan Asberry. Cassie is a Medic with the Iowa National Guard. She plans to study Criminology at UNI this fall.

First Runner-up for the Fair Queen title was Mary Wede, daughter of Mark and Sue Wede, of Audubon.  Mary plans to study Early Childhood Development at DMACC this fall. And, the second Runner-up was Sarah Mosinski, daughter of Donald and Jennifer Mosinski, of Audubon. Sarah plans to pursue an education in either teaching or cosmetology.

Today’s Schedule at the Fair:

8:30 AM Future 4-H’er Sheep/Goat Show
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat Show
9:00 AM Judging Open Class Static & Antiques Entries
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show
1:30 PM Knowledge Bowl-Show Barn
2:30 PM Livestock Judging Contest Sign up
3:00 PM Livestock Judging Contest 3:30 PM-4:30 PM Open Class Rabbit Check in 4:30 PM Future 4-H’er Rabbit Show
5:00 PM 4-H/FFA & Open Rabbit Show
6:00 PM 4-H/FFA Youth Volleyball Tourney Registration – Pavillion
6:30 PM 4-H/FFA Youth Volleyball Tourney – Pavillion
7:00 PM Farm Bureau Cook Off Contest Judging

WADENA, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that tracks and fecal matter left near some northeast Iowa beehives came from a black bear. A beekeeper south of Wadena, near the Clayton-Fayette county line, reported that his beehives had been torn up. The fecal matter, or scat, was found within 25 feet of the hives. A neighboring landowner reported tracks and reported seeing a female with two cubs.

The department is trying to confirm the sighting of the cubs, because they would be the first wild cubs documented in Iowa in more than 140 years. The department says black bears have not lived wild in the state since the 1800s.

Royalty at the 2014 Potttawattamie County Fair were crowned Thursday evening, at the fairgrounds in Avoca. Officials say 17-year old Kyra Martens, of Oakland, won the title “2014 Pottawattamie County Fair Queen.” The teen, who will be a senior this fall at Riverside High School, is the daughter of Mark and Mischa Martins.

Runner-up for the Fair Queen title was Delaney Carroll, of Avoca. Jessica Wise, of Avoca, received the title of “2014 Miss Congeniality.”

Also at the Pott. County Fair, Thursday, Olivia Kock was honored with the title of “Junior Fair Queen.” She was competing against Lydia Wede, of Treynor.

Police in Red Oak, Thursday night,  arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, charge. 24-year old Kiley Brian Caron, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m. and held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 cash bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party and officials in Red Oak, Iowa, each say the other should pay to tear down an abandoned and deteriorating church in the southwestern Iowa community. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a company headed by Nebraska GOP Chairman J.L. Spray purchased a tax lien for the 124-year-old church near downtown Red Oak in 2012 and now owns the building.

The city says the building is dangerous and wants Spray to pay to have it demolished. But Spray, a Lincoln attorney, says information provided during the tax sale made it appear that the building was in better shape than it was. He says after failed attempts to work out a compromise that it’s now the city’s responsibility to cover the cost of demolition.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MARION, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is in Iowa for a series of fundraisers and campaign stops in a state with the first presidential caucuses. Christie was greeted yesterday by Iowa voters at MJ’s restaurant in Marion, Iowa. He visited the restaurant with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Patrons in the restaurant thanked Christie for coming to Iowa to support their governor and many urged him to run for president.

BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Nine men from southern Iowa have been accused of sex crimes involving children. The Ottumwa Courier reports search and arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for the men. They were later sent to the Davis County Jail. Bloomfield police say they received allegations of sexual exploitation about a month ago and started an investigation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport plans to launch a news-based website aimed at more transparency. Officials say the website will cover Davenport news and possibly local weather and sports. It is expected to launch in 60 to 90 days.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A judicial commission has asked the Iowa Supreme Court to suspend a judge accused of being intoxicated while on the job. The Iowa Commission on Judicial Qualifications asked the high court this week to suspend District Associate Judge Emily Dean, who presides over the North Lee County District Associate Court in Fort Madison. Dean is accused of being intoxicated while on the bench and in the courthouse between late 2011 and 2012.

Two people were arrested earlier this week on drug charges in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Department reports 36-year old Keith Ellis Coltrane, of Omaha, and 38-year old Dena Marie Demare, of Glenwood, were taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m., Monday, on Levi Road. Both were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Their bonds were set at $1,300 each.

And, early today (Thursday), 48-year old Michael Scott Holt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Malvern for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at$1,000.