DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of volunteer Iowa firefighters and emergency responders can claim a new $50 credit on their income taxes.  The Iowa Department of Revenue says volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel qualify for the credit starting in the 2013 tax year. Those tax filings are due in April.  Firefighters are eligible as long as they are active members of a department, and meet minimum training standards established by the state.

EMS workers are eligible if they are trained, certified and have a certificate from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The Legislative Services Agency says that up to 21,000 workers will be able to claim all or a portion of the credit, reducing state revenue by about $900,000 annually.

Gov. Terry Branstad signed the tax credit into law in 2012.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday of a Glenwood woman. 29-year old Shanna Marie Black was taken into custody at around 8:30-a.m. in Cass County, NE., on a warrant for Probation Violation. Black was being held in the Mills County Jail on $50,000 bond.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday, in Mills County. Authorities say a 2013 Hyundai driven by Justin Jones, of Essex, was traveling west on Highway 34. As the vehicle approached the intersection with Kidd Road, it collided with a 2009 Chevy driven by Kimberly Frederick, of Glenwood. Officials say Frederick failed to yield as she was crossing Highway 34.

LAWTON, Iowa (AP) – A fire damaged the home of a firefighter while he was helping other volunteers put out a field blaze in northwest Iowa.  The Sioux City Journal says the fire at the Lawton home of Stacey and Cody Meyers was reported about 3 p.m. Thursday. Their children and pets escaped, and no injuries have been reported. The Red Cross helped the family find a place to stay Thursday night.

The fire cause is being investigated.  The grass fire fought by Cody Meyers and others members of the Lawton Fire Department was reported a little after 2 p.m. Thursday It blackened about 30 acres of grassland and a picked cornfield.

A private effort is underway to try and save a 125-foot water tower in Stanton, painted to look like a Swedish coffeepot. Since 1971, a 50,000-gallon water tower in the town of Stanton has featured a giant handle, spout and knob. A sign on the edge of town says, “home of the world’s largest coffeepot.”

Stanton Coffee Pot water tower

Last month, the Des Moines Register reports a $1.2 million revamp of the town’s central water system will cease use of the tower. At minimum, an estimated $250,000 would be needed to safely preserve the tower as an empty landmark. Maintenance issues include no cover on the spout to protect it from rain and moisture. Repainting the structure would require costly sandblasting. There are also out-of-date ladders on the side of the tower.

Kate Peterson Sloop is spear-heading a fundraising effort to save the structure that has been bringing tourists to Stanton for decades. To date, only $100 has been raised toward the $250,000 goal of restoring the tower for the City. Organizers will be accepting donations for almost the next year and a half at a dedicated page on youcaring.com. (www.youcaring.com/other/save-the-world-s-largest-coffee-pot/109697)

Donations can also be mailed to:

Save Our Coffee Pot Fund
C/O Great Western Bank
PO Box 9
Stanton, IA 51573

Police in Atlantic say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday morning on east 4th Street. Officials say a vehicle driven by Donald Prall, of Atlantic, hit a vehicle driven by Cory Feltner, of Griswold, causing $3,200 damage. According to the report, Prall’s vehicle was sitting in a parking spot facing west in the 10 block of east 4th, waiting for a vehicle that was turning around. Feltner’s vehicle was traveling west on 4th Street when Prall started to turn left from the parking spot and his  vehicle hit Feltner’s on the right side. The accident happened at around 11:35-a.m. No citations were issued.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Police in Red Oak arrested 29-year old Kyle William Chase, of Red Oak, Thursday evening. Chase was taken into custody at around 7:50-p.m. in the 1400 block of N. 1st Street, on charges of 5th degree theft, criminal mischief in the 5th degree, and trespassing. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $900 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for help in finding the person or persons responsible for the theft of an antique cast-iron fountain worth about $7,000. The Daily NonPareil reports the 6-foot tall fountain was stolen sometime between Noon and 5-p.m. Tuesday, from a residence at 151 Park Avenue, in Council Bluffs.

The owner, 74-year old Bill Mann, said he believes the fountain was targeted so it could be melted and sold for cash, which Police say is a common practice for metal thieves. According to Council Bluffs metal recycling centers, iron is worth about 10 to 20 cents per pound, which means the fountain would sell for $50 to $100.

Mann said it would be difficult for someone to remove the fountain because it was welded to a concrete base and the house is located on a steep and lengthy hill. The fountain was among several additions to the house, which was renovated to look similar to the Historic General Dodge House. The fountain was installed about three years ago after the house underwent several renovations.

Mann said previous burglary attempts have included urns and other lawn ornaments.  A cash is being offered by Mann and his spouse for any tips that lead to an arrest related to the theft. Anyone with information about the theft is urged to call the Council Bluffs Police Department at (712) 328-5737.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man for public nudity, late Thursday morning, following an incident that allegedly took place at a Public Library on Willow Avenue. Library Director Kathy Rieger told the Daily NonPareil that a patron had told a clerk at the front desk that someone was looking at a mirror in the men’s bathroom but was not wearing pants. Moments later, another guest told library officials the man was not wearing any clothing.

Rieger said the man, whom police have not identified, had violated library bathroom and behavior policies. Officers escorted the man out of the library. The suspect wore clothes as he left the building. Rieger said it is library procedure for workers to call 911 when someone violates a library policy. However, public nudity is not a common violation.