GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has died near where a grass fire began in central Iowa. Grinnell firefighters dispatched to a property west of Grinnell around 2:45 p.m. Saturday found the man’s body. He’s been identified as 86-year-old Bernard Willfang. Authorities say the fire and Willfang’s death appear to have been accidental.

The fire blackened about 40 acres of land and burned 70 bales of hay.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Dodge man has been ordered to pay back his former employer and the Iowa Lottery for stolen scratch tickets. The Messenger reports that 31-year-old Christopher Breyfogle pleaded guilty Monday to theft and lottery theft. He’ll be on probation for three years and must pay back nearly $11,500 to the lottery and more than $12,400 to Yesway. Another theft count was dismissed in exchange for Breyfogle’s pleas.

Authorities have said an Iowa Lottery employee saw Breyfogle scanning and redeeming scratch tickets at another retail location in Fort Dodge. The lottery contacted the convenience store where Breyfogle worked, and it was determined that scratch tickets were missing from the store’s inventory.

An investigation into a hit-and-run property damage accident Friday in Page County, resulted in the arrest of a man on a warrant for Felony Eluding. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Jason Ludwig Reents, of Coin, also faces multiple traffic offenses. His arrest occurred during the investigation into an accident that occurred at 4:45 p.m., Friday.  Police were called to investigate an incident where a vehicle had left the roadway and struck a carport and supporting structure at 501 N. 10th St., causing an estimated $500 damage to the structure.

When police arrived, the driver fled the scene in a beige 1997 Lincoln Mark VII. Clarinda Police and Page County Sheriff’s Department Deputies pursued the vehicle for a period but terminated the pursuit. A subsequent investigation identified the driver as Reents. On Monday, November 27th complaints were filed in Page County District Court and an arrest warrant was issued for Reents. He was taken into custody by Page County Deputes at his place of employment, Monday afternoon. Reents is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $2,000 bail.

Police reports have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

A woman whose vehicle struck a deer last week in Mills County, was transported to a hospital in Council Bluffs. Authorities say on Friday, 40-year old Duana Dodendorf, of Bellevue, NE, was traveling in a 2016 Mazda at around 6:30-p.m., when a large deer ran out in front of her vehicle. The woman said she did not have time to take evasive action. After her car hit the deer, Dodendorf initially reported no injuries, but when she tried to exit her vehicle, the woman briefly collapsed, complained of chest pain, and had difficulty breathing.

She was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital to be checked out and treated as necessary.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place over the past week. On Monday, 39-year old Joseph Corey Jack, of Malvern, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $2,000. On Nov. 26th, 24-year old John Wayne Vermuele, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

Last Friday night, 45-year old Ray Leslie Knipe and 32-year old Troy Edward Grindle, both of Glenwood, were arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Knipe was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both men were being held in the Mills County Jail, where Knipe’s bond was set at $1,300, and Grindle’s bond was set at $300.

On. Nov. 23rd, 36-year old Jessica Lynn Ballinger, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000. And, on Nov. 22nd, 47-year old John David Stone, of Braddyville, was arrested by Mills County Deputies at the Page County Jail, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 4th, and Trespassing.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Updated 8:55-a.m.) Officials with the Creston Police Department today (Tuesday), issued their daily report on arrests and incidents. According to the report, Steven Ray Ochs, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:45-p.m. Monday, for Public Intoxication. He was released later on a $300 bond. And, at around 2:30-this (Tuesday) morning, Brandon Joseph Lee Tull, of Creston, was arrested for Driving while Under Suspension. He was later released on a Promise to Appear in Court.

And, at around Noon on Friday, Creston Police arrested 41-year old Joel Richard Gross, of Creston, on a charge of 5th Degree Theft. He was released from custody on a Promise to Appear in Court, with additional charges pending.

Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 300 block of N. Vine Street reported Monday morning, that someone stole cash and prescription pills from his vehicle, as it was parked near his residence. The loss was estimated at $255. The incident, was thought to have happened sometime between 10-p.m. Sunday and 9:30-a.m., Monday.

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

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The spokesman for the Food Bank of Iowa says food donations regularly decrease significantly this time of year. Danny Akright says while donations start to drop off — the number of people who need assistance has not dropped a lot since the Great Recession that started in 2008. “You would think that there would be a lot fewer people who are food insecure. But really at the peak it was about 14 percent in Iowa — 14 percent of Iowans were food insecure — but it’s only down to 12 percent.”

The organization covers 55 counties in central and southeast Iowa. He says there’s always a seasonal drop in food that’s available as the various garden programs and farms head into winter.  “Of course when the growing season ends that flow of produce kind of slows to a trickle,” Akright says. He says the Food Bank of Iowa has seen an increase in financial donations — which he says are important to keeping the pantry stocked.”We’re able to use those to buy the products that people don’t generally donate and that we’re not getting during certain times of the year,” according to Akright.

The Food Bank of Iowa brought in more than two-point-eight million dollars in donor support last fiscal year. The previous year fiscal year, that number was two-point-two million dollars. Akright says Money raised in November and December each year equals between 30 to 40 percent of their yearly total.

(Radio Iowa, w/thanks to Clay Masters, Iowa Public Radio

Red Oak Police, late Monday night, arrested a Nebraska man on a charge of Public Intoxication. 34-year old Jared Alan Gresham, of Omaha, was arrested at around 11-p.m. in the 500 block of N. 6th Street, in Red Oak. He was being held this (Tuesday) morning in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.