Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports his office was contacted by a parent this past week (Oct. 15th-19th), who said that while waiting for their child to get off a school bus, the parent was approached by a person who said they were gathering information for a “kid’s safety network,” or had child safety kit information. The parent was asked to give the child’s information and finger prints. The parent requested the person who contacted them return, when both parents were home, however there was no return visit.

Chief Rhamy said the Red Oak Police Dept. has been unable to verify with any groups in town that would be conducting this type of event or solicitation. There is not enough information, he said, to determine conclusively that the company is bogus or legitimate, but the Chief requests your help in the matter. If you are, or have been approached in a similar incident or questioning, please contact Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center at 712-623-6500, so an officer may respond and verify the validity of the company or individual.

Rhamy reminds parents that they should never give out any information on a child or adult to a source that you do not know, or have properly researched ahead of time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No one won the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to a staggering $1.6 billion. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $1 billion grand prize in Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 7. The next drawing will be Tuesday. The estimated jackpot for that drawing would tie the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of winning the jackpot aren’t good. The chance of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is one in 302.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Nebraska man died during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday night, south of Glenwood, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Alberto Iban Herrerra, of Bellevue, NE., died when the 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving, left the road and entered the median before rolling over nearly twice. The accident happened at around 9:42-p.m. on Highway 34, just west of Levi Road.

Herrerra, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene of the crash.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions numbers that could win an estimated $1 billion jackpot have been announced. They are 15 23 53 65 70 and Mega Ball 7. The jackpot is the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. lottery history. As of early this morning, officials had still not announced if there was a winner or winners of the jackpot.

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa officials say a teenage girl has died after becoming trapped in her burning, crashed car. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were sent to the scene of a crash Friday morning when 16-year-old ShyAnne Larsen, of Honey Creek, reported that her car had crashed and had caught fire. She told dispatchers she was unable to get out of the car. Her body was later found in the burned out car.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A prominent youth basketball coach in Iowa has admitted to possessing nude photos and videos of 400 boys, including former players and their friends. Former Iowa Barnstormers Coach Greg Stephen pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually exploiting minors and possessing and transporting child pornography. He acknowledged in a plea agreement that police discovered files on his hard drive containing videos or photos including images of the boys undressing, showering and sleeping.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a guard was punched and kicked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The Iowa Corrections Department says the attack occurred Friday morning when an inmate confronted the officer. The guard was taken to Fort Madison Community Hospital for treatment and then released. The names of those involved haven’t been made public. A department spokesman says the inmate didn’t suffer any major injuries.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced her appointments of Margaret Reyes and Craig Dreismeier as district court judges in the Fourth Judicial District. Reyes, of Pacific Junction, received her undergraduate and law degrees from Creighton University. She currently serves as an assistant county attorney in the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office. Reyes fills the vacancy that was created when Gov. Reynolds appointed Justice Susan Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court earlier this year.

Dreismeier, of Council Bluffs, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his law degree from the Creighton University Law School. He currently serves as a district associate judge in the Fourth Judicial District.

The Fourth Judicial District includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

The Cass County Conservation Service says “Due to lack of site sign-ups” they are “regretfully cancelling the Lighted Halloween Campground including the Birthday Party. You may turn in the Birthday geocache tokens into our Office on both October 25 and 26^th during office hours,” or call the CCCB to make other arrangements.

RED OAK — Montgomery County Democrats have announced they will host Democracy Day on Saturday, October 27, starting at 9 a.m. in Fountain Square Park in downtown Red Oak. The keynote speaker for the event will be Christie Vilsack, former First Lady of Iowa and champion of Education & Literacy.

Other speakers scheduled for the event are Democratic nominees for Secretary of Agriculture, Tim Gannon and State Auditor, Rob Sand; both Iowa House Democratic candidates in Montgomery County, Chuck Larson, District 23 and James Uhlenkamp, District 24; as well as representatives for gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, and US Congress District 3 candidate Cindy Axne. Local speakers will address current issues of importance such as immigration, mental health, the economy, the military, education and healthcare. Candidates are scheduled to speak 9:20-9:50am; keynote address is scheduled to begin at 9:55am; and issue speakers will wrap up the event beginning at 10:15am.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s office is open for early voting Oct 27 from 9-a.m. to 5-p.m.  After the event on the square, attendees are invited to walk together to the Montgomery County Courthouse, located at 117 East Coolbaugh Street, and vote.  More information on voting can be found at www.montgomerycountyiowa.com. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place in the upper level of the Red Oak Elks Lodge, located at 519 North 1st Street. More information on this event can be found at www.iowamocodemocrats.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryCountyIowaDemocrats/

The Montgomery County Democrats is the local organization of the Iowa Democratic Party. They represent the towns of Red Oak, Stanton, Villisca, Elliott, Grant, and Coburg and meet the 3^rd Monday monthly at the Red Oak Library. You can learn more about them online at www.iowamocodemocrats.com.  The democratic parties of Page & Taylor Counties are also sponsoring Democracy Day events on October 27, 2018. The Clarinda Lied Library will host candidates at 10:45am and Mrs. Vilsack at 11:30am.  The Bedford Library will host candidates at 11:45am and Mrs. Vilsack at 12:30pm.

A teenager from western Iowa died in a fiery crash early this (Friday) morning in Pottawattamie County. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker reports just before eight-a.m., deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle reported the accident and advised the vehicle was on fire and they were unable to get out. Deputies located the vehicle not long on Pinoak Road just west of County Road L-34, minutes later. The vehicle had traveled off the roadway and ended up on its side. It was fully engulfed in flames.

Fire and rescue personnel arrived at around 8:10-a.m. and extinguished the flames. The driver, identified as 16-year old ShyAnne Larsen, of Honey Creek, was unable to escape the vehicle and flames. She died at the scene. A preliminary investigation determined the teen was eastbound on Pinoak Road in a 2000 Ford Focus, when the vehicle left the road and entered the north ditch, when it traveled on its side before coming to rest. The fire started in the front portion of the vehicle. The cause of the fire is unknown. The accident remains under investigation.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), said a 16-year old was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Thursday night, for carrying weapons. The teen admitted to taking a loaded gun and ammunition to the Creston High School in his backpack on Thursday. The juvenile was transported to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, in Eldora.

Creston School District Supt. Steve McDermott issued a statement today (Friday), concerning the incident. McDermott said during an investigation at the students’ home, “One of the boy’s bags was searched and a handgun was discovered. The young man then admitted to having taken that bag with the gun to school at least once in the past. Law enforcement has determined that this is an isolated incident and that the situation has been contained. It has been reported that no threats have been made or founded. The boy will be charged and will not be returning to school in the foreseen future.”

Glenwood Police report four arrests over the past few days. On Thursday: 27-year old Austin Olson, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation; 34-year old Octavius Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 28-year old Amin Person, of Omaha, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Bonds for Olson and Johnson were set at $5,000 each. Person’s bond was set at $1,000. And, on Wednesday, Glenwood Police arrested 29-year old Ashley Ring, of Glenwood, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $5,000.