The Audubon Police Department reports five western Iowa residents were arrested Wednesday on numerous drug charges. Police Chief David Simonsen said the arrests stemmed from an investigation into alleged drug activity, and the execution of a search warrant, at a residence in Audubon.

Among those taken into custody, Wednesday was: 25-year-old  Nina Gross of Audubon, who was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Gathering Where Drugs are Used/Marijuana, and Gathering Where Drugs are Used/Methamphetamine. 28-year-old Anthony Bruns of Manning, was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Gathering where Drugs are Used/Methamphetamine, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Knowingly keeping a Dwelling for the Purpose of Using a Controlled Substance. 38-year-old Chad Darrow of Denison, was charged with Gathering Where Drugs are Used/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Methamphetamine. 36-year-old Michael Stessman of Defiance, was charged with Possession of Marijuana/3^rd or Subsequent Offense, Possession of Methamphetamine/Subsequent Offense, and Gathering Where Drugs are Used/ Methamphetamine. And, 31-year-old Nickolas Schwenn of Denison, was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Gathering Where Drugs are Used/Methamphetamine.

All five suspects were booked into the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate. The Audubon Police Department was assisted in their investigation and arrests by deputies with the Audubon County Sheriff’s Department, and the County Attorney’s Office.

The new Iowa Economic Development Authority Board met today (Thursday) in Des Moines, with its members taking action on approving awards that will create up to 593 jobs in Iowa and retain another 105 jobs. The board approved incentives for planned or proposed projects located in Des Moines, Charles City, Fort Dodge, Coralville, Urbandale, Davenport, Underwood and Independence. The incentives went to companies whose business is in the areas of technology, manufacturing, food processing and biosciences.

In western Iowa, Link Snacks in Underwood was approved by the board for $40,000 in direct financial assistance plus tax incentives to Link Snacks, Inc., to expand it’s operations. The money will be used for the acquisition of an existing building in the city of Underwood to establish a second distribution center in Iowa for its products.

The company’s other center is in Laurens.  Link Snacks,Inc. is one of the fastest-growing meat snack manufacturers in the world, and sells their products in more than 40 countries.  This $9.4 million capital investment is expected to create 131 new jobs.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A Glenwood man is being held on $25,000 bond after being charged in connection with the death of his 5-month-old son. Authorities say 35-year-old Jason Curtis was arrested Wednesday on Felony charges of child endangerment, neglect of a dependent person and willful injury. They say Curtis called for help on July 14th because his son was barely breathing. When emergency crews arrived they found the child unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at a Council Bluffs hospital. Special Agent in Charge with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Terry Klooster, says an autopsy showed Jackson Curtis died of head trauma. Klooster declined to say how the injury was inflicted because the investigation is continuing. Curtis appeared in court this (Thursday) morning.

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A Hamlin teen died and three other people were injured during a near head-on collision Wednesday night in Audubon County. The Iowa State Patrol says 17-year old Kristopher George Crawley, who was wearing a seatbelt, died at the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic following the crash, which happened at around 11:25-p.m on Highway 71, just north of Brayton.

Officials say the teen was a passenger in a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was traveling north on Highway 71, when it collided near the centerline of the road with a southbound 2006 Chevy pickup.  After the crash, both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.

Injured in the crash, was the driver of the SUV, 22-year old Jason Robert Rattenborg, of Audubon, and two persons in the pickup, including the driver, 55-year old Kendall Lee Ware, of Lineville, and 30-year old Mark Anthony Piearson, of Leon.  Two of the injured were taken to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, the other two were transported to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital, each was taken by Exira Rescue.

The accident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the arrest Wednesday evening, of a Villisca man on an assault charge. 27-year old William Joseph Pokorny was charged with Simple Domestic assault, after deputies responded to a reported incident in the 100 block of North 5th Avenue in Villisca, at around 7:10-p.m., Wednesday.

Pokorny was booked into the Montgomery County Jail in Red Oak, where he was being held on $300 bond.

Fire officials in Council Bluffs have released the name of an elderly Council Bluffs woman who died following a house fire Wednesday afternoon. Chief Alan Byers says 77-year old Yon-Sook Kim was overcome by smoke, and died at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Byers says firefighters responded to 917 Spruce St. at around 1:17 p.m, after a neighbor called to report smoke coming from an attic vent. A utility worker on his way to a job site also called 9-1-1 when he saw heavy smoke coming from a front window of the home. Police officers arrived on the scene and kicked in the door, but were unable to enter the home due to the intense smoke.

Firefighters found the woman unconscious, in her kitchen.  A preliminary investigation indicates an accidental cooking fire likely caused the blaze. Byers says the amount of actual fire damage to the structure was limited to the hall & kitchen area, with heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the residence. He says also, there were no working smoke detectors in the home.

An autopsy was sheduled to be performed on Kim’s body today (Thursday), at the State Medical Examiner’s office in Ankeny. The results of the autopsy will likely be released in 2-to 3-days.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported Wednesday that 35- year old Jason Curtis, of Glenwood, was arrested on Felony warrants charging him with Child Endangerment,  Neglect of a Dependent Person, and Willful Injury.  Curtis’  arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Glenwood Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  The investigation concluded that on July 14th, 2011 in Glenwood, Curtis allegedly caused the death of his 5-month old son, Jackson Curtis during an “incident.”  No other details were released.

Authorities say if you have any information that may be of assist to officers in thier investigation, you’re asked to contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 712-322-1585 or the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-4844.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Glenwood man died, and three other people were injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident late this (Wednesday) morning, in Mills County. Officials say a 2002 Jeep Liberty driven by 21-year old Timothy Scott Mahan, of Council Bluffs, was traveling west on Ellington Avenue (a gravel road), at an excessive rate of speed. As the SUV topped at hill just before noon, Mahan lost control. The vehicle entered the south ditch and rolled several times, ejecting Mahan, and his three passengers. None of vehicle’s occupants were wearing their seat belts.

19-year old Chance Erik Gunderson, of Glenwood, died in the crash. 23-year old Felicia Marie Hansen, of Council Bluffs, 19-year old Jacob Alan Wahle, of Glenwood, and the driver of the Jeep were injured. All of the injured crash victims were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha. The accident happened a few miles northeast of Pony Creek Park.