Emergency Management officials in Mills County report a countywide ban on open burning will go into effect on Monday, April 8th, beginning at 4-p.m.  According Mills County Emergency Management Director Larry Hurst, the ban will prohibit open burning in all cities within Mills County until further notice, under Chapter 100 of the Iowa Code.

The decision to institute a Burn Ban on Monday came after Emergency Management officials polled the local fire department Chiefs in the county. The chiefs agreed to the plan, which was submitted to and approved by, the State Fire Marshall’s Office in Des Moines. Under a Burn Ban, residents of Mills County must discontinue the burning of yard waste, piled tree debris or other items. Small recreational camp fires will be permitted, but only if they are built in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one inch wire mesh.

An application from your local Fire District Chief can be obtained and submitted to allow a permit for open burning if your local fire official believes it’s safe to do so. After approval of permit, several county entities are informed to lessen the danger of false alarms. Violation of a burn ban is punishable by a simple citation, or, an arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.

For more information on burn bans and the law contact the State Fire Marshall’s Office at 515 725-6145

The Red Oak Police Department received a report of a burglary today (Friday) at a residence located within the 700 Block of E. Reed St. The victim, James Leroy Bourn, reported that the suspect(s) forced an exterior door open to gain entry into the residence. This caused approximately $200 damage to the door. Bourn is still compiling a list of items taken from the residence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500 or the Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 800-432-1001.

The Harlan Police Department reported to the scene of an accident at the intersection of Highway 59 and Cyclone Ave. on April 1st. Upon investigation it was determined that Kenneth Klein of Harlan was driving northbound on Highway 59 while Sarah Martin of Harlan was westbound on Cyclone Ave., and was turning south onto Highway 59. Klein failed to stop for the stop sign at that intersection and his 2006 Chevrolet struck the front driver’s side of Martin’s 2005 Hyundai causing major damage to both vehicles. Klein was cited for failure to obey stop or yield sign.

The Harlan Police Department released their arrest report today (Friday) for this past week. On April 1st, the Harlan Police Department reported the arrest of 21-year old T.J. Anderson of Harlan following a traffic stop. Anderson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving under suspension and cited for defective or unauthorized muffler system. Officers are awaiting results from the DCI and charges are pending for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

On April 3rd, Harlan Officers responded to a disturbance call at Casey’s General Store. Upon arrival they arrested 39-year old Curtis Baldwin and 54-year old Michael Garrison, both of Harlan. Both men were taken to the Shelby County Jail where Baldwin was charged with aggravated public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and possessing contraband. Garrison was charged with aggravated public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

On April 5th, Harlan Police Officers cited 17-year old Samuel Rivera for minor in possession of tobacco after the Officers were called to the school. Rivera was cited and released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King says he is nearing a decision on whether to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Tom Harkin, but does not know today whether he will run. Appearing on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” the six-term U.S. House member from Kiron said: “I need to get a decision made fairly quickly.”

King says he is reviewing polling data he says will help him decide. The outspoken western Iowa conservative has been urged by Republicans, including Gov. Terry Branstad, to forgo a 2014 bid, and run in 2016, in the event six-term Republican Sen. Charles Grassley retires.

Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley of Waterloo is his party’s only candidate for Senate. Harkin, first elected in 1984, said in January he would not seek a sixth term.

A young man set to graduate from the Treynor High School has received an appointment to the U-S Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Christopher M. Haijsman, of McClelland was appointed to the Academy for the 2013-2014 school year. Haijsman is the son of Sherry and Michael Haijsman.  He will graduate in May from Treynor High School.

Haijsman is a member of the National Honor Society and the Academic Quiz Bowl Team and participated in cross country.  He is a Cadet Commander in the Civil Air Patrol. Grassley said “Admission to the service academies is highly competitive and a great honor. Students work very hard to earn this kind of opportunity.” Iowa’s senior Senator wished Haijsman well, and thanked him for his commitment to serve our country.

Haijsman joins a number of other Iowa students who have been selected this year for admission to the U.S. service academies.  Included among them is Wilson Pingrey of Coon Rapids, who was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. All of the students were among the Iowans Grassley nominated this year for appointments to the U.S. service academies.

For more than 200 years, the academies have educated and trained individuals to lead and command the U.S. armed forces.

One person was seriously injured during an ATV accident Thursday evening, about three-miles east of Lewis. Details are currently limited, but the call about the “Traumatic Injury” accident near 61368 Oxford Road, came in at around 5:15-p.m. Dispatch reports at the time, said a man riding the ATV had been laying near the machine for about an hour before he was found.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Johnson, Medivac Ambulance, Lewis Fire and Rescue and Griswold Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene. We’ll update this story as more information is made available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a jury should decide whether a Guthrie Center bar is responsible for injuries to a patron attacked by another in the establishment’s parking lot. The case had been dismissed by a district court judge but the Supreme Court says in a ruling Friday that it should go to trial.  It involves a group of construction workers drinking at Gutterz Bowl and Lounge in Guthrie Center in March 2009.

The bar owner made Curtis Hoyt leave after he started an argument with another man, Curtis Knapp. Later, in the parking lot, Knapp hit Hoyt on the head, knocking him out. Hoyt is suing the bar. The Supreme Court says bar owners must protect patrons and there are sufficient legal issues for a jury to decide.

In an update to our report this (Friday) morning, the Atlantic Police Department said a local man suffered non-life threatening injuries during a collision between his motorcycle and a car Thursday afternoon, in Atlantic. Randall Anderson, of Atlantic, was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, following a collision with a car at the intersection of 2nd Street and Sunnyside Lane (near the Water Treatment Plant).

The accident happened at around 1:45-p.m. Thursday, as Anderson was making a left-hand turn from 2nd Street/Highway 83, onto Sunnyside lane. Officials say a car driven by Ruth Carstens, of Loveland, CO, had stopped at the intersection, but then proceeded through a stop sign before hitting the cycle.  Carstens was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Damage from the accident amounted to $1,300.

After weeks of voting, Viking Lake State Park near Stanton, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, have made it to the DNR’s Park Madness championship on Facebook. As a result, Iowans will be able to enter a drawing for a chance to win a free weekend of camping at the championship park. The final round of voting begins at 7:30 p.m. April 7 at www.facebook.com/iowadnr.

People can vote for their park of choice by commenting on the Park Madness post. Be sure to “like” the DNR’s page while you’re there to see future Park Madness posts. The winning park will be announced Monday, April 8th at noon on Facebook, along with contest information. People can enter to win two camping coupons for the winning park. Details about contest entry and rules will be available, beginning April 8th, at www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/ParkMadness.aspx.

Park Madness kicked off March 19, with two parks from each region of the state facing off. Lacey-Keosauqua defeated Lake Ahquabi in the southeast regional and then Backbone to represent eastern Iowa. Viking Lake won over Waubonsie in the southwest regional and then Ledges in the western semifinal.

For more pictures of parks in the running, visit the DNR on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/iowadnr and check the “Iowa State Parks” board. Follow the DNR on Twitter at www.twitter.com/iowadnr for updates and more information.