w/ Ric Hanson

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Two men charged in the stabbing of an Atlantic man late last month are set to stand trial after pleading not guilty to two felony charges associated with the incident, while a third person agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Appearing at their arraignment hearings Monday in Atlantic, 18-year old Bryce Baker and 23-year-old Mykel Thoren entered written pleas of Not Guilty to felony Willful Injury and Going Armed with Intent charges, while 21-year-old Austin Nelson plead guilty to an amended charge of Accessory after the Fact, and was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Baker and Thoren are set to appear for their pre-trial conference on March 11^th, with their trial slated for March 26^th. All three men had been charged in connection with the stabbing of 43-year-old Robert Leslie, of Atlantic, during an incident which occurred on January 28^th.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest Monday, of 26-year old Seth Allen Simmons, of Villisca. Simmons was taken into custody at around 7-pm, on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a Villisca man was arrested on drug and numerous other charges, following a foot pursuit Monday evening. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Michael Scott Walton, of Villisca, was charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree, and Possession of Methamphetamine, Interference with Official Acts.

Walton was wanted on warrants out of Polk County for Contempt of Court/Failure To Appear for a Child Support hearing, and on two-counts of Interference with Official Acts. He was also wanted on an Audubon County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. He was taken into custody at around 6:45-p.m. Monday, following a short foot pursuit through Villisca, where he was found to be hiding in a garage in the 300 block of east 2nd Street.

Walton was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Officials on the scene of a house fire in rural Montgomery County say four adults and seven children were left homeless following a house fire Monday afternoon about 10-miles southwest of Elliott. Firefighters from Elliott, Red Oak, Griswold and Villisca were called to the two-story home at 1296 C Avenue at around 2:50-p.m., Monday. Griswold Fire brought two tanker trucks to assist in supplying water to battle the blaze.

Scanner reports indicated some of the residents were transported to the hospital, but the extent of the injuries are not clear. No firefighters were hurt. The State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to determine what caused the blaze. The American Red Cross will be working with the family to find shelter and clothing. We’ll update the story as additional details become available.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two arrests over the weekend. On Saturday, 33-year old Reed William Johnston, of Glenwood, was taken into custody for OWI/3rd offense. Johnston was arrested just before midnight, Saturday, near the intersection of 230th & Cimarron in Mills County. His bond was set at $5,000. Earlier that afternoon, 65-year old Douglas Dell Boyington, of Emerson, was arrested in Emerson for Public Intox and Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $600.

Authorities in Mills County also investigated a reported incident of Identity Theft in Malvern, on Friday. And on Saturday deputies investigated an incident of Burglary in the 3rd degree and Criminal Mischief. The incident took place in Strahan.

Firefighters from Elliott, Red Oak and Griswold were called to the scene of a house fire about 10-miles southwest of Elliott, this (Monday) afternoon. The blaze occurred at a two-story home located at 1296 C Avenue. Griswold Fire brought two tanker trucks to assist in supplying water to battle the blaze. The first crews arrived on the scene around 2:50-p.m. There was no word on injures as of 3-p.m. We’ll update the story as additional details become available.

A fire at a farm early this (Monday) morning, resulted in the death of several chickens in Montgomery County.

Photo’s courtesy Brian Hamman.

According to Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman, the blaze at Sunbest Papetti’s Chicken farm happened shortly after 5:30-a.m.  Firefighters from the Villisca and Stanton Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with the Montgomery County EMA.

Hamman says the blaze was quickly contained by Villisca Firefighter’s to the east end of the south building before it spread throughout the entire structure or endangered other buildings in the complex. No injuries were reported to any firefighters. Crews were on scene for roughly 3 hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.