The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of an Avoca man Tuesday night. 38-year old Duke Lou Bruce Petterson was arrested at his residence for Contempt of Court/Violating a No Contact Order, associated with a previous incident. Petterson was booked into the Pott. County Jail and held on a $1,500 bond.

The Grinch has struck again in Creston. Authorities say a resident in the 500 block of N. Cherry Street reported Sunday that sometime between 11-p.m. Saturday and 1-a.m. Sunday, someone stole a Christmas Laser Light projector from his yard. The loss was estimated at $25. Earlier this week, we reported two Creston residents had also reported their laser Christmas lights were stolen from yards in the 500 block of N. Cherry Street and the 400 block of N. Vine Street.

Creston Police said also, the S&K Cafe reported Tuesday, that sometime in the last couple of days someone spray painted the side of the building. The damage was estimated at $200. And, authorities say 37-year old Michael Waddingham, of Orient, was arrested Tuesday night on a charge of Driving While Barred. Waddingham was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has declared a mistrial in the murder trial of a Sioux City man charged with stabbing a man to death during an argument. The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Duane Hoffmeyer declared the mistrial Tuesday afternoon after jurors said they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of 47-year-old Elias Wanatee. Jurors deliberated more than 11 hours before giving up.

Wanatee was charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 17 stabbing death of Vernon Mace. The 50-year-old Mace died after being stabbed nine times. There were no witnesses and police didn’t find the weapon. Defense attorney Jason Dunn suggested during closing argument that Wanatee acted in self-defense. Wanatee will remain in jail while awaiting a new trial.