Law enforcement officials with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, along with the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, have identified the cousins that died in the May 15th fire in Guthrie Center. Authorities say 16 year old Shakiah Cockerham and 12 year old Melanie “Paige” Exline, both of Guthrie Center, died during the blaze.

Shakiah and Paige’s uncle, 54 year old William Long, III suffered severe burns to his upper body and was flown to Omaha, NE, where he remains hospitalized for those injuries. Their grandmother, 74 year old Shirley Exline, suffered minor injuries.

The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office has concluded that the house fire was a result of Arson and therefore a criminal investigation into the Arson and deaths is taking place with the cooperation of the agencies listed above.

It is asked that anyone with information related to this investigation contact the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 747-2214.

A man wanted for Violating a No Contact Order and leading an Adair County Sheriff’s  Deputy on a high-speed pursuit Monday night, has been caught. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says 25-year old Marcus Anthony Terrell, of Albia, was being held in the Dallas County Jail and was set to be returned to Guthrie County today (Wednesday) to make an appearance before the magistrate.

Terrell faces charges that include Violation of a No Contact Order, Operating a Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent, Domestic Abuse Assault 3rd Offense, Eluding, Driving While Barred, Injuring a Police K9 and Assault on a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon.

Numerous law enforcement agencies, fire departments and EMS personnel assisted the Guthrie County S-O in handling the incident, that began when a deputy encountered Terrell at around 10-p.m. Monday, at a residence in Casey.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers said today “After consulting with the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska [he has] decided to cancel the Police Memorial Service for this afternoon (Wednesday, May 17, 2:00 p.m.). There is a 70% chance of thunderstorms and/or rain showers moving through the Clarinda area at that time.

The Atlantic Fire Department, Medivac Ambulance, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement and Iowa DNR were on the scene late this morning of a pontoon boat fire located in a parking lot north of Duke Aerial, near Highway 71 and Interstate 80 in Cass County. The fire was reported at around 10:13-a.m.

Atlantic Fire Department 2nd Assistant Fire Chief Tim Cappel told KJAN News when the first crews arrived, smoke was coming from the rear of the large pontoon boat, which is used in a river dredging operation. Inside the pontoons are empty barrels, for ballast, and what was described as an unknown amount of vegetable oil, which was used for rust protection. In the front, was an unknown amount of straw.

Ric Hanson/photo

Cappel said it’s not clear how the fire started, although investigators on the scene were trying to determine if someone may have been sleeping in the forward portion of the pontoon, which had hatch-like openings. They were also looking at footprints on top of the vessel and tire tracks on the north side. For now though, it remains under investigation.

A state audit of a financially-troubled rural water district finds that in the past two years, the district has paid off about six MILLION dollars of its debts. The Xenia  Rural Water District serves more than 94-hundred customers in 11 counties in central and north central Iowa. In 2009, the district was unable to repay 135-million dollars in debts. By 2013, the district had refinanced its debt.

The latest audit finds rate increases and growth in water connection fees boosted Xenia’s revenue by four-and-a-half percent last year. Auditors who reviewed records from 2015 and 2016 note the district has positive cash flow, has made full debt repayments and is in a financial position to repay new bonds that were issued last September.

The Xenia Rural Water District was established in 1977 for rural customers in Dallas and Boone Counties. It’s now been extended to customers in Polk, Story, Adair, Madison, Guthrie, Greene, Calhoun, Webster and Hamilton Counties. The district’s headquarters are in Bouton, a town in Dallas County that had 129 residents in the 2010 Census.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a Deputy called to a location on Monument Road for a reported suspicious female, ended-up arresting 37-year old Kimberly M. Becerra, of Council Bluffs, on charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Becerra was taken into custody at around 10:15-a.m. Tuesday. Seized into evidence was two prescription bottles with an unknown substance, and a needle.

Authorities said also, 28-year old Brendan Ryan Clark, of Council Bluffs, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday on warrant for his arrest. Clark was wanted for Theft in the 4th Degree, two counts of Probation Violation, and four felony counts of Forgery. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail without incident.