The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two more children have died as a result of the Dec. 21 fire at a Davenport mobile home park. Davenport interim fire marshal Jim Morris said in a news release Wednesday that 9-month-old Isabella Smead and 4-year-old Skylar Smead “succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire” at the Five Seasons park. They had been taken to an Iowa City hospital for treatment.

Authorities already had reported the fire deaths of the children’s mother, 23-year-old Kelsey Clain, and two other children, Jayden Smead, who was 5, and 2-year-old Carson Smead. Officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Iowa cattle producers are putting in extra work to make sure their animals are well taken care of in this extreme cold. David Trowbridge, president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, says the breeds of cattle raised in Iowa are “built” for cold weather environments. But, they still need plenty of attention to survive sub-zero conditions. “They’re adequately able to handle the weather as long as you can keep fresh feed, fresh water and bedding…a comfortable place for them to lay down,” Trowbridge says.

Another challenge is helping cattle maintain their footing by keeping their pens free of frozen material or chunks. “Probably the most important thing in the wintertime is keeping the lots smooth enough that the ground isn’t rough,” Trowbridge says. “That might involve muck scrapers to scrape the pens…so they have smooth access to feed and water.”

Trowbridge oversees a 7,000 head cattle lot near Tabor in southwest Iowa’s Fremont County. According to the Iowa Beef Industry Council, there are more than 3.8 million cows on farms across the state. Iowa is ranked 9th in the country in terms of beef cow production and 12th in dairy cows.

(Radio Iowa)

The drivers of two vehicles suffered minor/possible injuries during a collision at around 3-p.m. Wednesday, in Creston. Police report the accident happened at the intersection of Sheldon and Sumner Streets, when a 2002 Jeep Liberty driven by 60-year old Timothy Sean Norton, of Creston, hit a 2017 Fiat broadside, causing a total of $6,000 damage. The driver of the Fiat was identified as 36-year old Paige Nicole O’Neil, of Creston.  Both Norton and O’Neil were transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center by ambulance, to be checked-out.

During the investigation, Norton claimed his traffic light had just turned yellow when he entered the intersection. O’Neil claimed she had the green light. Neither driver saw the other until it was too late. Authorities say the accident occurred close to the transition time between the red and green lights, and it is unknown which driver was at fault. No citations were issued.

Red Oak Police, Wednesday night, arrested 53-year old David Allen Welch, of Red Oak, following a traffic stop for an improper tail lamp. A records check indicated Welch was driving under suspension. He was taken into custody at around 9:20-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Police in Council Bluffs say a call about a burglary in progress just before 6-p.m., Wednesday, resulted in the arrest of a man from Avoca. Officers were dispatched to 122 Benton Street at around 5:51-p.m. Upon arrival, they made contact with the alleged offender, 57-year old Michael Crestoni, of Avoca.

Crestoni was transported to the detective bureau and interviewed along with the victims, 50-year old Tomika Crestoni, of Avoca, and 46-year old Julie Skalberg, of Council Bluffs, as well as a witness. During the interviews, it was determined Michael Crestoni forced entry to 122 Benton St.

Once inside the residence, Crestoni allegedly strangled Skalberg and physically assaulted Tomika Crestoni by kicking her in the head and body. Michael Crestoni is then alleged to have pulled a 9-inch knife, and threatened to kill both women.

Michael Crestoni was placed under arrest for Burglary 1st, two counts of Harassment in the 1st Degree, Going Armed with Intent, Domestic Abuse Aggravated and
Aggravated Assault with Dangerous Weapon.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:405 a.m. CST

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A Planned Parenthood clinic in eastern Iowa that is providing abortions will close soon. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said Wednesday its clinic in Bettendorf will close Friday, several months after the local affiliate announced plans to do so. Planned Parenthood said in May that four of its 12 clinics in Iowa would close soon. The announcement was made shortly after the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature removed state funding for organizations that provide abortions.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found a 25-year-old defendant guilty of killing one man and wounding another in a Cedar Rapids parking lot. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Quarzone Martin was convicted of second-degree murder and related crimes. The verdicts were read Wednesday in a Linn County District Courtroom. Prosecutors say he fatally shot 26-year-old Andrew Meeks and wounded 30-year-old Johnny Moore Jr. on July 2.

GILMAN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 90-year-old man died in central Iowa after falling into a water well on Christmas Day. The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that first responders were sent to a property in rural Gilman around 9:10 a.m. Monday. Gilman Fire & Rescue says the man was pulled out around 20 minutes later from about 6 feet underground. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Authorities identified the man as Maurice Tufte

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — New charges have been filed against a man accused of fatally shooting an Ottumwa teenager. The Ottumwa Courier reports that Venhure Tsegay was charged last week with a robbery and burglary that occurred on Oct. 30, 2015. Tsegay is accused of shooting 16-year-old Christian Madueno in the face on Nov. 29, 2016. Authorities say Madueno died nearly a month later, on Christmas Day last year.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 38-year-old Meri Ellen Kling of Red Oak on Wednesday at 2:42pm. Kling was arrested at 106 West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak on an active Montgomery County Warrant for Violation of Probation. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,500 bond.

You’re invited to join Cass County Conservation Staff at Atlantic’s Schildberg Recreation Area- Lake 4 on Saturday, January 6th, 2018. Staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m. Let’s celebrate 20 years of the Trumpeter Swans visiting Atlantic, and 15 years of having this wonderful public event! There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions. Hot chocolate, cookies, grilled hotdogs, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).

The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, Lake 4 is on the north side of Highway 83. IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be held at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available. This event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A Planned Parenthood clinic in eastern Iowa that is providing abortions will close soon. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said Wednesday its clinic in Bettendorf will close Friday, several months after the local affiliate announced plans to do so.

Planned Parenthood said in May that four of its 12 clinics in Iowa, including the Bettendorf location, would close soon. The announcement was made shortly after the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature removed state funding for organizations that provide abortions. At the time, no federal or state dollars were being spent on abortions in Iowa.

The other three facilities closed during the summer, and the Bettendorf clinic stopped most family planning services around the same time. The facility has been proving telemedicine abortion, which involves the use of medicine to end a pregnancy.