The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in solving the theft of items taken from two graves in the Elliott Cemetery. The thefts, which were reported late Sunday evening, took place sometime over the past two weeks. They included solar lights and other decorations. If you have information about the thefts, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107.

The Omaha World-Herald reports charges are pending in a fatality accident that took place over the weekend on Interstate 80, north of Atlantic. 81-year old Donald Kerby was driving a car that swerved left from the right lane toward the left lane of I-80 westbound at around 12:45-p.m., Saturday. The Des Moines man was apparently trying to avoid hitting a trailer that was parked on the north shoulder of the road.

When the car entered a portion of the left lane, it came into contact with a motorcycle that went out of control. Two other cycles crashed trying to avoid the first accident. The driver of one of the motorcycles, 38-year old Ryan J. Lossing, of Omaha, was ejected from his machine and struck by a westbound semi. His passenger, Lossing’s 38-year old wife Christina, was admitted to Creighton University Medical Center. The couple had gotten married three weeks ago, according to Christina Lossing’s Facebook page.

Also injured in the crash was 33-year old John Chase, of Pacific Junction, and 56-year old William J. Schurevich, of Fremont, Nebraska. All of the riders were part of a large contingent of motorcyclists who were escorting the remains of a Army veteran Bill Henry back to Nebraska, after having visited the Freedom Rock in northern Adair County. Henry died Sept. 14th from head injuries he suffered two weeks earlier, when his motorcycle crashed on a similar escort trip to Arlington National Cemetery.

Chase was released from Cass County Hospital on Saturday. Schurevich was admitted to the Creighton medical center, but there was no word on his condition. Speed and alcohol were NOT considered to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has approved rules for consolidating the greyhound racing in the state to one track and paying off the dog owners who do not want to continue racing. Racing and Gaming administrator Brian Ohorilko, says the vote last week is one of the last steps in the process. “It’s been kind of a lengthy process that we believe the public has had quite a bit of input in. And those rules were final adopted,” Ohorilko says. He says the system for the payouts could be in place in a couple of months.

Ohorilko says they may have to appear before the administrative rules committee, but if there are no changes, they expect the rules to be adopted on November 18th. The dog tracks in Dubuque and Council Bluffs agreed to make annual payments to a fund to get out of greyhound racing. “It equates to 72 million dollars I believe over seven years. Half of that money is to be distributed to participants and stakeholders of the industry,” Ohorilko says.

Under the agreement, the Council Bluffs track will end greyhound racing this year, and the Iowa Greyhound Association will take over the operation of the Dubuque track.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One motorcyclist died and three others were injured when a car crashed into a group of riders who were escorting a veteran’s body to Nebraska. The wreck happened Saturday afternoon on Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 81-year-old Donald Kerby of Des Moines struck the motorcycles when he changed lanes, killing 38-year-old Ryan Lossing of Omaha.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa couple got married in a hospital chapel over the weekend after the bride broke her leg on their wedding day. The Quad-City Times reports Melissa Eisenbacher slipped on gravel Saturday morning and fell. Doctors determined she separated her ankle and fractured her tibia. The groom, Rex Grebner, says the groomsmen and bridesmaids joined them in the hospital chapel at Genesis Medical Center-West Central Park. The couple went to their planned reception before heading home.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The weak demand for crude oil and ethanol has delayed construction of a proposed $30.9 million rail car maintenance facility in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports local officials believe the TrinityRail project will still be built in Sioux City once shipments rebound. The facility was supposed to create 250 new jobs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The state treasurer has blocked a proposal by Governor Terry Branstad’s administration to finance Iowa’s $68 million communications system for emergency responders through a lease-purchase agreement with Motorola Solutions. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says he didn’t approve the deal because it adds roughly $9 million in interest payments to the price during the 13-year term. Motorola was chosen last year to build the system following a controversial bidding process.

At least one person was shot and at least two others injured after an altercation in Glenwood on Sunday evening.  The Glenwood Police Department reports the incident took place on Third Street in Glenwood between Hazel and Myrtle around 6:00pm.

Authorities say the person who is believed to have done the shooting was among those injured by gunfire and taken to an area hospital.  Additional information is currently not available.

A traffic stop early this (Sunday) morning in Red Oak, resulted in two arrests. Authorities say 21-year old Timothy Stubbs, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts, while 51-year old Patrick Hall, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/drugged. Their arrests took place at around 2:55-a.m. at the intersection of N. 1st and E. Corning Streets, in Red Oak. Both men were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, with Hall’s bond set at $1,000, and Stubbs’ bond set at $300.

A Red Oak man was arrested on a Public Intoxication charge early this (Sunday) morning. 53-year old David Lawrence Howe was taken into custody at around 12:35-a.m., in the 1600 block of East Summit Street. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.