Authorities in Montgomery County say a Red Oak woman was arrested Monday afternoon on a theft charge. The Red Oak Police Department reports 33-year old Becky Jo Hegarty was taken into custody at the Red Oak Fareway store on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree, after allegedly taking a purse that did not belong to her. Hegarty was being held Monday in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he’s ready to work on a compromise plan for how Iowa delivers health care to low-income residents. Branstad has opposed expanding the Medicaid program in the state, proposing an alternate plan called Healthy Iowa. But he now says he would consider taking the federal funds offered for expansion, if there was a guarantee that the state wouldn’t get stuck with the bill if federal funding declines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plaza in downtown Des Moines is getting a new name more than 30 years after it opened. The Des Moines Register reports that groups taking the lead in renovating Nollen Plaza announced yesterday they would change the name to Cowles Commons. The name honors the Gardner and Florence Call Cowles Foundation, which is the largest donor toward a planned $9 million renovation of the large space at Locust and Third streets.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Two toddlers have survived falling about 15 feet from an apartment building in Storm Lake. Storm Lake Police announced yesterday that the children, ages 2 and 4, pressed against a window screen in their apartment unit on the second floor and fell.

Authorities in Harrison County report one person was killed after they were hit by a train Monday afternoon, According to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, authorities were dispatched to Union Pacific Railroad tracks east of the Blair, Neb., bridge shortly after 2 p.m. The individual, whose identity was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into the accident continues.
Officials say the 110 car train was carrying freight from California to Chicago when it hit the pedestrian shortly after crossing the Missouri River into Iowa.

Webster County, IOWA — Law enforcement in Dayton, Iowa and Webster County, in coordination with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, is requesting the public’s help in finding a 15 year old girl.

Kathlynn Shepard

Authorities said late Monday night Kathlynn Shepard was reported missing late that same afternoon, when another juvenile indicated the pair had been abducted after accepting a ride from a stranger. Law enforcement believe they have located the alleged abductor, however Kathlynn remains missing. Kathlynn is 5’6″ and 160 pounds. She has blond hair and blue eyes.

If you have any information related to the disappearance of 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard, please contact law enforcement immediately. In particular, residents in and around the area where Boone, Webster and Hamilton counties meet, are asked to keep an eye out for the missing girl. Call 515-573-2323 with any information.

Authorities in Stuart late Monday night released more information on their social media website, about a bank robbery that occurred Monday afternoon.

Bank video of robbery suspect (Stuart PD photo)

Officials say at approximately 3:45pm Stuart Police responded to the report of a bank robbery at First State Bank located in the 200 block of N. Division St. in Stuart. Upon arrival officers learned that the bank had been robbed by a subject believed to be a female, who was wearing a bright green dress. The suspect was approximately 5’4”with dark red or brown hair.

Another angle from surveillance cameras of the robbery suspect.

The suspect may have been wearing a wig to conceal their identity. The suspect handed a teller a note demanding money and the teller complied. The suspect was then seen leaving the bank on foot to the north.

A witness later reported to police that the suspect climbed into the trunk of a car which was parked nearby in an alley. The car is described as a newer model dark navy sedan with a squared back end. The vehicle was last seen leaving northbound in the alley.

The Stuart Police Department is being assisted by the FBI and DCI in its criminal investigation. Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputies and State Patrol Troopers assisted at the scene of the crime. DCI Crime Lab Technicians were also dispatched to the scene to collect evidence. At this time the suspect is not known. We are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. This person may or may not be from the Stuart area. If you think you recognize this person please contact the Stuart Police Department at 515-523-1896 or the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at 641-747-2214.

Authorities in western Iowa are asking for the public’s help in locating a female who allegedly robbed a bank in  Stuart Monday afternoon.

Bank video of robbery suspect (Stuart PD photo)

According to dispatch reports, a white female wearing a green and white dress with some type of abstract print walked into a bank and handed the teller a note demanding money and allegedly threatening the teller if they failed to comply.

Another angle from surveillance cameras of the robbery suspect.

No weapon was said to have been displayed. No other details were provided. If you have any information about the incident, contact the Stuart Police Department at 515-523-1896.

Two people were hospitalized Monday afternoon, after a station wagon rear-ended a survey truck just north of Interstate 80 on the Elk Horn road (Highway 173).

The silver van involved in Monday afternoon’s accident on Hwy 173 just north of I-80. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

Shelby County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rod McMurphy told KJAN News that the survey vehicle, a 2008 Chevy Suburban driven by 53-year old Dale Hoogeveen, of Chaska, MN, was traveling slowly on the northbound shoulder of 173 with its caution lights flashing, when it was hit by a  Ford Focus station wagon owned by the State of Iowa,and driven by 60-year old Alice Linden, of Kimballton. The Ford came over a hill northbound and struck the Suburban from behind.The station wagon ended up slightly in the east ditch, while the SUV was pushed forward, but otherwise remained on the road.

Linden was trapped in her vehicle and required extrication by using the “Jaws of Life”.The drivers of both vehicles were transported by Elk Horn Rescue and Atlantic Medivac to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. McMurphy said Linden was later flown by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, for treatment of serious injuries. Hoogeveen was treated at CCMH and released.

The accident was reported to have occurred just before 4-p.m.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports a physician from Pottawattamie County was arrested Monday, on a suspicion of sex abuse charge.

Dr. Dennis S. Jones (Photo from Methodist Physicians Clinic website)

Officials say 68-year old Dr. Dennis Seaborn Jones, a pediatrician from of Council Bluffs, turned himself in to law enforcement at the Pottawattamie County Jail.  Jones, who has practiced in Council Bluffs for more than 35-years and has no previous complaints on record,  faces a felony charge of Second Degree Sexual Abuse. He’s accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 5-year old girl outside of his medical practice.

The child, who was said to have been the man’s granddaughter,  disclosed the alleged contact to a parent on May 12th, saying she no longer wanted to see Jones because he “tortures” her. Court documents say further interviews indicated the child was the subject of inappropriate touching. Jones’ attorney Mike Winter says Jones is not guilty, is devastated by the claims, and expects to be found not guilty. Dr. Jones made his initial court appearance Monday and was released from the Pottawattamie County Jail after posting $65,000 bond. Methodist Physicians Clinic officials has placed Jones on immediate suspension. They issued a statement on the matter Monday afternoon, saying they learned of the doctor’s arrest early Monday morning. They said they had no further comment at this time.

The charge is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Council Bluffs Police Department.  Law enforcement continue to investigate the allegations.  Members of the public are encouraged to contact police if they have any information about Dr. Jones that may assist in the investigation.  Please contact Special Agent Chad Fiedler at 712-322-1585.

The Atlantic Police Department reports no one was injured during an accident Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 6 and 29th Street. Officials say vehicles driven by Elijah Vonweyhe and Robert Clausen, both of Atlantic, collided at around 4:40-p.m.  According to the accident report, Vonweyhe was at a stop sign facing east on 29th Street.  Clausen was traveling north on Highway 6 and did not have a stop sign. Vonweyhe proceeded into the intersection and was hit by the Clausen vehicle. Damage from the crash amounted to $6,000. Vonweyhe was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a highway.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) issued additional information about an accident which occurred May 15th. Officials say at 7:04 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on 590^th Street (Highway 173) in Cass County.  A 1974 John Deere tractor driven by 19-year old Daniel William Kay, of Atlantic,  was northbound on 590^th Street and slowing to turn into a driveway when it was struck in the rear by a 2002 Honda Accord owned and driven by 76-year old Donald Allen Gibson,  of Audubon.

Gibson and a passenger were transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac and were both later transported to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha. Kay was not injured. Damage to the tractor is estimated at $1,500; damage to the Honda Accord is estimated at $6000. Gibson was cited for Failure to Stop in Assured Clear Distance.