More than 12-hundred (1,200) Red Cross volunteers in Iowa gave 41-thousand (41,000) hours of service to disaster victims this year. The regional communications officer for the Red Cross in Iowa, Kara Kelly, says floods and wildfires across the country have kept the relief agency busy.

“Certainly, nationally, it was busier than usual,” Kelly said. ” Of course, here in Iowa, we’re always busy responding to mostly single-family home fires, but certainly across the country, we’ve seen a lot of disaster activity.” At least 40 Iowans were deployed to lend aid nationwide in 2015. In Iowa, Kelly said volunteers responded to 632 house fires over the past 12 months.

“The large disasters certainly get a lot more attention, but our Red Cross volunteers are on call 24/7 and mostly respond to individual incidents like home fires,” Kelly said. According to Kelly, Iowans gave more than 36,850 lifesaving blood donations in 2015. The American Red Cross opened its first branch in Iowa in 1916.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has been sentenced to two years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old girl in 2014. Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says 43-year-old Danny Lee Barnes, of Sioux Center, was sentenced on a charge of assault with intent to commit sex abuse. Authorities say Barnes had sex with a 14-year-old girl at a park during the early morning hours of Aug. 23, 2014. The girl was a friend to Barnes’ family.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Dubuque say a 14-year-old boy was injured after he was pinned under a car following a one-vehicle crash. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says Caleb Sweat was ejected from a vehicle that lost control on Highway 61. The car, driven by 45-year-old Jason Sweat, entered a ditch and rolled. Authorities say Caleb was pinned under the car. He was extricated and taken to a local hospital with injuries to his legs. Jason Sweat, Caleb’s father, was cited for failure to maintain control of his vehicle.

Attorneys for an anti-abortion group who successfully challenged part of an Iowa campaign finance law want taxpayers to reimburse them for $300,000 in legal fees. In court filings this month, lawyers for Iowa Right to Life argued their clients should be considered prevailing parties in the case and the state should be on the hook for their costs of bringing the lawsuit. They’ve asked a federal judge to award $271,000 to the Bopp Law Firm of Terre Haute, Indiana and $28,000 to Des Moines-based BrownWinick.

A former tower guard at a maximum-security Iowa prison has been sentenced to 17 months behind bars for being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Ethan Darrow will surrender later to begin serving the sentence issued by U.S. District Judge Linda Reade, who also ordered a $5,000 fine. Federal authorities announced charges against the 29-year-old and three other former guards in October. Darrow pleaded guilty after admitting that he was a regular user of marijuana and cocaine in 2014.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department released details Monday on 5 recent accidents and 1 arrest.

Early Saturday morning, December 26th, Mills County Deputies arrested 45-year-old Herbert Cecil Hatcher, of Shenandoah, for OWI 1st offense and Driving Under Suspension.  Hatcher was being held in the Mills County Jail on  $1,300 bond.

Wednesday night, December 23rd, a 2002 Ford driven by Daniel Vornbrook, of Glenwood, was traveling northbound on 221st St just south of Deacon Road, when the vehicle went out of control due to ice on the roadway.  The vehicle slid into a ditch, where the passenger side struck a tree.  Vornbrook was transported to University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) by Glenwood Rescue. Two children in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. They were also take to UNMC, by ambulance. Another passenger in the vehicle was transported to UNMC by Lifenet helicopter.

That same night, a 2000 GMC Denali driven by Marco Spencer, of Omaha, was traveling southbound on 221st Street just North of Ashton Road, when the SUV went out of control while it was turning.  The vehicle hit a power pole before coming to rest on its driver’s side, facing northbound.  Spencer was partially ejected and was flown by Lifenet to the UNMC. His passenger, Marquis Spencer, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the UNMC by Silver City Rescue.  Authorities says road conditions and alcohol were a possible factors in the crash.

Thursday afternoon, December 24th, a 2000 Ford driven by Patrick Colwell, of Glenwood, was traveling south on Pease Road in Mills County, when the vehicle slid through a right curve and left the road. The vehicle rolled into the ditch and came to rest on its passenger side. The roadway was snow covered at the time. No injuries were reported

Friday morning, December 25th, a 2012 Ford driven by Kim Hewett, of Council Bluffs, was stopped at the railroad crossing waiting for the train to pass in the 19400 block of Bunge Road. Bernice Rivkin of Chicago, IL, was driving a 2007 Toyota, and noticed a line of stopped vehicles waiting for the train, but was unable to stop in-time. Her car slid into the back of Hewett’s Ford. Authorities say the eastbound lane of Bunge Road was ice covered at the time. No injuries were reported.

And, Saturday evening, December 26th, a 2015 BMW driven by Leah Hruska, of Lincoln, NE, was traveling westbound on Highway 34 in Mills County near Levi Road, when a deer emerged from the ditch. After Hruska’s car hit the deer head-on, the animal went underneath the vehicle, causing disabling damage. No injures were reported.

Two Harlan firefighters were injured at the scene of a residential structure fire Monday morning. According to our sister station KNOD, the firefighters were hurt when they fell on the ice near the blaze at 902 Tarkington Street, in Harlan. No other injuries were reported. The fire occurred at around 9:40-a.m.

The house was a total loss. Officials say the blaze started in the northwest corner of the house in a storage area. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Crews from the Westphalia and Avoca Fire Departments provided mutual aid to Harlan Fire. Harlan Police Officers and Medivac also assisted at the scene. Firefighters were on the scene for a little more than four hours.

The American Red Cross was called-in to assist the family with their housing needs. They will be staying at the Settle Inn and Suites tonight (Monday). The family of five lost everything in the fire and are in immediate need of clothing. The father wears a size large shirt and pants that are size 30 x 36. The mother wears a medium shirt and size 7 pants. There are also three children, a boy who wears size 4T, a girl that wears a size 2T, and a 1 month old girl that wears 0 to 3 months sizes.

Any children’s toys or books that can be used in a rather confined space would also be appreciated. Food is being provided by the Iowa Community Kitchen. Donations can be left at Christ’s Church at the corner of 12th and Lincoln, across from Elm Crest Retirement Community, from 4 to 5 pm today. Financial Donations and clothing donations may also be left with Town and Country Credit Union on Chatburn Avenue in Harlan.

Cass County Health System Foundation is offering $10,000 in scholarships to students who are enrolled and have been accepted into a nursing or medical doctor training program. The scholarships were established by a bequest from Louie and Elsie Hansen. John Molgaard, CCHS Foundation board member, said “The Hansens believed strongly in the importance of education. I believe they would be proud to know that these scholarships are helping our students become well-trained medical professionals. It’s not only an investment in the student, but in the health of our community, too.”

The Louie and Elsie Hansen Memorial Scholarship was established to benefit Cass County high school graduates who are enrolled and have been accepted into a college of nursing or medicine, leading to an LPN, RN, BSN, or MD degree. Two $5,000 awards will be presented. Consideration will be given to applicants’ scholarship, citizenship, and leadership abilities.

Applications are available at area high school guidance offices and the Foundation office at Cass County Health System. The application can also be downloaded from www.casshealth.org. In 2015, the CCHS Foundation was able to award three $5,000 scholarships. Recipients of the Louie and Elsie Hansen Scholarships were Courtney Jensen of Atlantic who is attending Iowa Western Community College for her RN, Samantha Freund and Emma Mathisen also of Atlantic who are attending Mercy College of Health Science for their BSN.

Scholarship applications are due April 1, 2016. For further information, contact Dawn Marnin, CCHS Foundation Director, at 712-243-7409 or mardd@casshealth.org.

An accident involving a snow plow Thursday evening in Atlantic sent one person to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Atlantic Police report the plow, driven by Nicholas Myers, of Atlantic, was pushing snow in the parking lot near the Salvation Army building and had turned to go west at the north end of the lot, when a pedestrian, Joel Dory, of Anita, was struck by the plow.

Myers told police he came around a pole and didn’t see Dory until he got around the obstruction. He applied the brakes, but the truck slid and struck Dory, who was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital to be treated for undisclosed injuries.

Police say no injuries were reported following an accident that happened at around 11:40-a.m., Dec. 23rd, at 9th and Walnut Streets in Atlantic. Officials say a vehicle driven by Michelle Miller, of Lewis, was traveling south on Walnut and approaching 9th Street, when her vehicle was struck by a vehicle being driven by Meagan Travis, of Council Bluffs. The accident occurred after Travis, who was traveling west on 9th, stopped at the intersection, but then not seeing Miller’s vehicle, continued into the intersection. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

The Atlantic Police Department today (Monday), reports numerous arrests took place over the past week or so. On Sunday, officers arrested 44-year old Scott Lockard, of Atlantic, for OWI. Last Thursday, 34-year old Brian Beard, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On Dec. 23rd, 18-year old T-K Narios, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. And on Dec. 21st, Atlantic Police arrested 24-year old Mark Fredericksen, of Red Oak, for Public Intoxication.

On Dec. 19th, 30-year old Brian Brookshire, of Atlantic, was arrested for Aggravated Assault/Use or Display of a Weapon. Each of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail.