Firefighters from Harlan and Westphalia battled a garage fire Monday evening, in Harlan. The blaze at 1711 6th Street was reported at around 5:25-p.m.  Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said there was significant damage to the structure, but no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Photo from our sister station KNOD, in Harlan.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant for Eluding. 37-year old David Thomas Forbes, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Mills County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, Tuesday, said a Nebraska man is charged in connection with a pedestrian, fatal hit-and-run accident that took place on the Interstate 480 bridge in Council Bluffs, March 10th, at around 2:15-a.m. 44-year old Tracy Peniska, of Omaha, turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Jail, on Monday. He was subsequently charged with Leaving the scene of a fatality accident, and Obstructing Prosecution. His bond was set at$10,000.

The investigation has led the police to believe that more than one vehicle was involved in the incident.  As a result of the investigation, a second driver, 25-year old William Jones, of Omaha, was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, having no driver’s license, and no insurance. He was released from custody after receiving his citations.

Authorities issued warrants for Peniska, after an investigation determined Peniska was operating the vehicle that struck the pedestrian, 29-year old Brett Jensen, of Council Bluffs, who was found laying in the far left hand lane of west bound traffic during the early morning hours of March 10th. Officials say Peniska left the scene without rendering aid to Jensen, and after the accident, had falsely reported his vehicle was stolen, in an attempt to obstruct prosecution.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Monday, May 23rd.  At 10:30am Deputies arrested 26-year-old Mark R. Griger of Red Oak on a charge of 2nd Degree Theft for being in possession of a 2004 Pontiac Gran Prix that was reported stolen from Nebraska.  Griger was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 cash bond.

At 7:20pm the Sheriff’s Office arrested 39-year-old Billy R. Hunter of Red Oak on two valid Montgomery County Warrants for Violation of Probation.  Hunter was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced today (Tuesday) the former city clerk in Casey has entered a plea of guilty to charges associated with a scheme to defraud the City and cover-up the evidence. 61-year old Dorothy L. Dillinger Tuesday (today) pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of malicious use of fire.

Dillinger admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud the City of Casey from around 2009 until August 2014, while serving as the City Clerk. As part of that scheme, she admitted that she used the City’s credit card and funds to purchase items for personal use without the knowledge or approval of the City Council. Dillinger used the United States Postal Service to mail City checks to pay the resulting credit card statements.

Dillinger also admitted to making unauthorized payments to herself for personal expenses without City Council approval or knowledge. She failed to disclose these expenditures to both the City Council, as well as in minutes from City Council meetings.

Dillinger also admitted to maliciously destroying the City of Casey Community Building, which was used in activities affecting interstate commerce, by means of fire. The city building was destroyed by fire from the late night of August 19th into the morning of August 20th in 2014.

Dillinger faces a statutory sentence of at least five (5) years and up to twenty (20) years in prison, as well as financial penalties and a term of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Dillinger agreed to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court at sentencing.

Sentencing is scheduled for at 10:30 a.m. on September 26th at the United States Courthouse in Des Moines.

Plans are underway for the third annual Southwest Iowa Arts Tour, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18, 2016. This annual event takes place in communities throughout southwest Iowa, showcasing local artists, galleries and businesses. Last year, the event doubled from the inaugural year to 9 communities with over 40 local artists representing diverse media, such as metal work, painting, pottery and jewelry.

The planning group is now seeking artists and communities to add to the tour for this fall. Registration information for artists and communities is located at www.swiarttour.com. Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are also available. Deadline for artist and sponsor registrations is July 1, 2016.

The Southwest Iowa Art Tour is coordinated by the Southwest Iowa Arts Council’s volunteer Board of Directors with support from Golden Hills RC&D. Funding support for the event has been provided by the Red Oak City Council Hotel/Motel grant, the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative, the Iowa West Foundation and the University of Iowa. The Southwest Iowa Art Tour, hosted by the Southwest Iowa Arts Council, is a group of artists from throughout the region who collaborate to provide opportunities for the public to view and purchase their work.

The Southwest Iowa Arts Council’s mission is to “Connect rural communities in Southwest Iowa through contemporary and traditional visual arts promotion and education.” Goals of the group are to promote artists in southwest Iowa and assist in their viability, recognition and support; to cultivate visual arts appreciation and patronage through education and outreach; to provide learning opportunities for youth and adults to foster an interest in the visual arts; and to create and promote events in southwest Iowa that celebrate the traditional and contemporary arts. The Southwest Iowa Arts Council is a nonprofit organization.

Thousands of Iowans will gather for picnics, cookouts, and family get-togethers this Memorial Day weekend. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) cautions that some of those Iowans will become ill in the following week or two, thanks to a food-borne illness. A food-borne illness is any illness caused by eating contaminated food or water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, 76 million Americans get sick, more than 300,000 are taken to the hospital, and 5,000 people die from food-borne illnesses.

While some food-borne illnesses can be deadly, most that occur in Iowa don’t last long (one to three days), and go away on their own. Most of the things that cause food-borne illnesses affect the digestive tract and symptoms generally include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Especially during warmer weather, food safety begins at the grocery store. “When shopping, buy cold foods like meat, poultry and dairy products last, right before checkout,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Plan to drive directly home from the grocery store so the food doesn’t sit in a hot car any longer than necessary. You may also want to take a cooler with ice or insulated grocery bags to transport perishables home – especially if your drive home is more than half an hour.” Once home, place cold foods like meat, poultry and dairy products in the refrigerator right away.

To make sure you, your family, and friends have a healthy holiday, remember the following tips:

• Cook all meats thoroughly, especially ground meats like hamburgers and sausages (like bratwursts). Use a meat thermometer to ensure the middle of the meat has reached a temperature that will kill the organisms that can make us sick. Cook chicken to 165 F, ground meats like hamburger to 160 F, and whole meats like steaks or pork chops to 145 F.
• Marinate foods in the refrigerator – not on the kitchen counter or outdoors. In addition, if you plan to use some of the marinade as a sauce on the cooked food, set aside a portion before adding the raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Don’t reuse marinade, as this can re-contaminate the food.
• Cook thoroughly and immediately after ‘partial cooking.’ If you partially cook food in your kitchen to reduce grilling time, do so immediately before the food goes on the hot grill.
• Keep cold food cold and hot food hot. Whether in your car or on the picnic table, illness-causing bacteria can grow in many foods within two hours and during warmer weather, that time is cut down to within one hour.
• Don’t reuse platters or utensils. Using the same platter or utensils that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood allows bacteria from the raw food’s juices to spread to the cooked food. Instead, have a clean platter and utensils ready at grill-side to serve your food.
• Have a way to wash your hands prior to eating. For example, if picnicking, bring soap and water or hand wipes so everyone can clean their hands before they eat.

For more information on food safety, visit http://idph.iowa.gov/cade/foodborne-illness.