Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County said Monday (today) an arrest has been made in connection with an investigation into the discovery of a methamphetamine lab. The operation was found on a vacant farm in rural Shelby County after remnants of the lab was found by members of the public, who alerted authorities. An investigation has identified one suspect.

39-year old Raymond Johnson, of Seneca, MO, was taken into custody in Fremont County, on unrelated charges. Johnson faces felony charges in Shelby County that include Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Pseudoephedrine as a precursor, and Possession of lithium as a precursor. A warrant has been issued for Johnson, who will be returned to Shelby County upon completion of the charges in Fremont County. His bond was set at $5,000.

Officials with the Danish Immigrant Museum have announced the change of its name to “Museum of Danish America,” and have elected six new members to the board of directors. The change came during the museum’s annual meeting on October 11th.

New logo for the Museum of Danish America (formerly the Danish Immigrant Museum)

Since it was founded in 1983, the focus of the museum has been to tell the story of the Danish immigration around the turn of the 20^th century, but Executive Director Dr. John Mark Nielsen said they began to recognize that the immigrant experience was changing. Nielsen says “In strategic planning meetings beginning in 2004, board members recognized the decline in immigration from Denmark and the need to expand the museum’s focus to include documenting the evolving relations between our two countries.”

Nielsen said that many supporters of the museum had come to feel that the name, The Danish Immigrant Museum, placed too much emphasis on the immigrant generation – it was not inclusive enough for the future. At the October 2012 meeting of the Board of Directors, a committee was charged with the responsibility of soliciting, reviewing and proposing possible new names for consideration at its February 2013 meeting in Houston, Texas. The committee considered fifteen different names and recommended “Museum of Danish America,” which was officially adopted on Oct. 11^th, 2013.

Six new board members join a group of 17 led by President of the Board Dagmar Muthamia of Long Beach, California. The new members include: Daniel Christensen, of West Des Moines; Bente Ellis, of San Jose, CA; Bill Jensen, of Urbandale; Carolyn Jensen, of St. Paul, MN; Brent Norlem, of Monticello, MN, and Craig Molgaard, of Missoula, MT.

(9-a.m. News)

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report deputies arrested four people last week. 33-year old John Bosco Lukas, of Omaha, was arrested Saturday on charges that include OWI/2nd offense, Failure to have insurance, open container, no valid driver’s license, and speeding.

36-year old Roger Eugene Straw and 39-year old Kara Marcine Straw, both of Sidney, were arrested last Tuesday (Oct. 15th). Roger Straw was charged with simple assault and interference with official acts. Kara Straw faces  simple assault and public intoxication charges.

And on Monday, Oct. 14th, 32-year old Jeremy Scott Carnes, of Pacific Junction, was arrested in Fremont County for aggravated assault.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report a fatal, single-vehicle rollover accident occurred early Sunday morning, south of Gray. 21-year old Michael Dean Schmidt, of Audubon, died at the scene of the crash off 120th Street. The accident was reported at around 3:30-a.m.

Officials say Schmidt’s vehicle was traveling west on 120th Street when it crossed the center line of the road and continued onto the left shoulder following a curve. Schmidt was ejected from the vehicle as rolled down a ditch and landed in a field.

The accident remains under investigation. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by officers with the Audubon Police Department and crews from the Audubon Fire and Rescue Department.

(8-a.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Police Officers in Stuart Officers responded Sunday to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Gaines St. The 911 caller said they heard an argument, yelling and gun shots coming from a neighbor’s house. After investigating the incident, officers discovered that the 911 caller was allegedly suffering from an altered mental state, and that the shooting/argument had never actually occurred.

And, Stuart Police say they have received another report of a pot belly pig running lose in the downtown area. Authorities say it’s the 5th pig call of the summer, and they’re not sure where the pigs are coming from. The pig was captured unharmed by Stuart Officers and taken to the Stuart Vet Clinic.

The Stuart Police Department reports a woman from Nebraska was arrested at around 6-p.m. Sunday, after she was pulled over for allegedly driving erratically on Interstate 80 in Adair County. Motorists reported the woman had come close to crashing several times. Iowa State Troopers and Adair County Deputies were not in position to stop the vehicle at the time of the reports, but Stuart Police Officers stopped Melissa Ruge of Decatur, NE, after her vehicle exited I-80 at the Stuart exit.

Authorities say Ruge was determined to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) nearly three and a half times the legal limit. She was charged with OWI 1st offense and booked into the Adair County Jail.

A man and a woman from Red Oak face felony Burglary and other charges, after police responded to a report of two subjects making a forced entry into a residence. Officials say 26-year old Christopher James Colebank and 24-year old Megan Renea Guffey, both of Red Oak, were charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree, a class-D felony, and a serious misdemeanor charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. Colebank and Guffey were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond, each.

The pair were taken into custody at around 5:40-p.m.  One of the suspects was caught leaving the property in the 100 block of East Joy Street. The other was apprehended about a block away, on East Corning Street. Red Oak Police were assisted in making the arrests, by deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Officials also thank the public for its assistance in nabbing the suspects.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 10:40-p.m. Sunday, of a Red Oak woman. 37-year old Angela Elizabeth Baier was charged with Driving While License Revoked. Baier was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.