Firefighters in Griswold were called to the scene of a garage fire, Sunday afternoon. The blaze at 810 5th Street was reported at around 1:15-p.m. According to reports, an occupant of the home was trying to fight the flames with a garden hose when firefighters arrived.

Fire crews took over and extinguished the flames soon after they arrived, but the contents of the garage, including a pickup, were a total loss. No injuries were reported and there was no damage to the nearby residence. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a vehicle that went out of control and crashed Saturday night, died during the accident. Authorities say a 2003 Nissan SUV was traveling west on NE 46th Avenue at around 9-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control, entered a ditch and struck a concrete barrier. The SUV then rolled onto its top, and burst into flames.

The driver was trapped in the vehicle. A passenger was able to escape before being transported to Methodist Hospital for treatment of injuries. No names had been released as of Sunday afternoon, at the request of the victims’ families.

Police in Des Moines, Sunday afternoon, identified a Des Moines man who was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday night. Authorities say 62-year old Gregory Snowden was struck by a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Tiffany Elliot, of Ankeny. The accident happened in the 800 block of SW 9th Street just before 9:30-p.m.

Witnesses told police Snowden was sitting in the roadway just prior to being hit by Elliot’s vehicle as it traveled southbound across the SW 9th viaduct, crossing the Raccoon River. Medics transported Snowden to Methodist Hospital where he later died.

Police said Elliot was not impaired or distracted when the crash happened. Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit officers continue to investigate the crash.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A 28-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in prison for injuring his girlfriend and causing her death. KCRG reports that Cody Brown was sentenced Friday to the maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter in the connection with the June 2018 death of 24-year-old Stephanie Bowling.

Prosecutors say Brown threw Bowling to the ground during an argument, and she died several days later from head injuries. About 50 of Bowling’s friends and family members attended the sentencing hearing. She was the mother of two daughters, who were ages 2 and 8 when she died.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The fast-moving water flowing out of Gavins Point dam on the South Dakota-Nebraska border will create dangerous fishing conditions on the Missouri River this fall. The Sioux City Journal reports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is warning fishermen to take precautions and stay out of restricted areas because of the high volume of water in the river.

The paddlefish snagging season begins Tuesday. But the Corps plans to continue releasing 80,000 cubic feet per second of water from the dam throughout October. All fishermen should wear life vests and be careful of their footing. The Corps says boaters should not anchor their boats in the area near the dam because of the turbulent water.

Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold a board workshop with Boyd Jones, Monday (Sept. 30th). Their session includes discussion with regard to the initial findings of the Facility Study. The meeting in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office, begins at 7:00 p.m.

During their meeting this past August, Superintendent Paul Croghan reports assessments of the building facilities were making progress.  The initial focus, he said, is to limit access to the entire building by changing the main entrance. The assessments have included everything from color schemes to roofs and other infrastructure concerns.  That includes systematically organized classrooms, backstops, fields, concessions, etc.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Monday (Sept. 30th), in a regular session. The meeting takes place in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. On their agenda, in addition to Department Head reports, is discussion and possible action on a township position.

The Brighton Township Clerk’s position is vacant as of Oct. 1st. Both the clerk and trustee are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

The Supervisors will also continue their discussion, with regard to the County Employee Handbook and Safety Policy.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Rev. William Joensen has been ordained as the 10th bishop to lead the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that more than 1,500 parishioners witnessed the ordination Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines, the diocese’s largest. Pope Francis selected the 59-year-old Joensen, an Iowa native, to replace former Bishop Richard Pates, who retired after holding the role for more than a decade.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man who witnesses reported was sitting in a Des Moines street has been hit by a vehicle and killed. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Friday on SW 9th Street. Medics arrived to find a 62-year-old Des Moines resident had been hit by a southbound vehicle as it crossed the Racoon River. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died. The man’s name had not been released by late Saturday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say more vaping-related illnesses have been reported in the state. The Iowa Department of Public Health says in a news release that 23 cases of respiratory illness associated with vaping have been reported in Iowa _ up from 15 last week. There have been no deaths in the state. Of the 23 Iowa cases, ages range from 17 to 60, and most of the patients were male. Officials say 18 have reported vaping some form of THC.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Applications are being sought to fill a vacancy on Iowa City’s Human Rights Commission. The vacancy is an unexpired term that runs through the end of 2020. The vacancy is an unexpired term that runs through the end of 2020. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. The group meets monthly and is charged with educating the public on civil and human rights. That includes planning programs and activities to eliminate unlawful discrimination.

The Adair County Auditor’s Office reports Absentee Ballots will be available October 7, 2019 in the Auditor’s Office, for: Adair, Bridgewater, Casey, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Orient, and Stuart cities and the Adair Casey, CAM, Nodaway Valley, Orient Macksburg, and West Central Valley School Districts.

Adair County voters may vote in the Auditor’s Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (beginning Oct. 7th), or they may request a ballot be mailed to them. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2019. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, November 4, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Absentee Ballot request forms are available in the Auditor’s Office or they can be downloaded at the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.iowa.gov.

A northern Iowa man riding a bicycle that was struck by a van in northwest Iowa early Saturday morning, has died from his injuries. The Iowa State Patrol reports 57-year old Kent Eugene Harfst, of Webster City, was riding a bicycle eastbound on Woodbury County Road D-12 at around 6:35-a.m., Saturday, when he was hit from behind by a 2017 Ford Transit van, driven by 19-year old Aaron Joshua Albert, of Mondamin.

The accident happened near the crest of a hill, in dark conditions. Following the collision, Harfst came to rest in the south ditch. He suffered critical injuries and was flown by air ambulance to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City, where he died. The driver of the van was not hurt.

Friends say Harfst was the Park and Recreation Director for the city of Webster City. He was also known for his numerous contributions of time to city projects and events.