An investigation into reported suspicious activity early this (Monday) morning in Tabor, led to the arrest of a Mills County man on drug charges. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope said Deputies were dispatched to the Tabor City limits and later conducted a traffic stop on Highway 275 in front of the Casey’s Store, in Tabor. Upon further investigation, the Fremont County K9 team was requested. The Mills County Sheriff Department and Shenandoah Police Department K9 units also assisted at the scene.

As a result of the investigation, authorities arrested 35-year old David Joseph Jay, of Glenwood, for: Possession of Meth; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Butane Hash Oil (DABS); Unlawful Possession of Prescription Medication and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jay was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held on a $14,300 cash bond.

David Joseph Jay (photo submitted)

(Updated) Firefighters from Portsmouth and Panama along with a Medivac Ambulance crew were dispatched to a structure fire early this (Monday) morning. The call came in from 206 3rd Avenue in Portsmouth, just before 3-a.m.  Initial reports suggested the fire began in the kitchen area and may have been electrical in nature, but Portsmouth Fire Chief Michael Leinen said later the cause of the fire was still under investigation. Leinen said there was extensive damage to the kitchen/back porch area, and the remainder of the house sustained smoke and some water damage.

The Harlan and Persia Fire Departments were initially dispatched to the scene, but then were called off at around 3:20-a.m.. Fire crews were on the scene about 2 hours.

A ten-year-old has died in a northwest Iowa farming accident. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says that just before 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, they received a 9-1-1 call of an accident nearly three miles south of Inwood on Highway 18. Inwood emergency personnel and deputies from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched. The Canton-Inwood Ambulance from Canton, South Dakota also responded to the scene.

According to Lyon County Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep, a family member was moving a round bale with a skid loader and somehow the bale moved and fell off of the unit and rolled over 10-year-old Marcus Blom, of Inwood. Vander Stoep says the Sanford Air-Med helicopter from Sioux Falls, South Dakota landed at the site of the accident. But he says that due to the extent of his injuries, Blom died at the scene.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa legislature is poised to pass a bill this week that will dramatically eliminate items that teachers and government workers in Iowa may bargain for during union contract negotiations. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake suggests with Republicans holding a majority of seats in both the House and Senate now, this move should not be a surprise.

“This is about doing the right thing for Iowans,” Upmeyer says. “This is something we’ve worked on for a number of years. We’ve had bills on this topic before.” Critics say state and local government workers will only be able to negotiate over base wages during future contract talks. Republican legislators who held forums in their districts this weekend were quizzed by large crowds upset about the bill. More than 100 people gathered in an Oskaloosa coffee shop to confront three local legislators.

Suzy Card of Pella, a regional representative for the state teachers’ union, drew applause from the crowd when she questioned whether the G-O-P had “campaigned on getting rid of collective bargaining.” “That’s a yes or no questions, guys,” Card said and the crowd applauded. More than 400 attended a forum in Ankeny. Jody Butler, a former education advisor to Governor Terry Branstad in the 1990s, asked the two Republican legislators there to “have a meaningful conversation” and make adjustments in the bill.

“Take your time instead of shoving this through,” Butler said. On Sunday afternoon, there was a large rally at the statehouse in support of teachers and other government workers. A public hearing on the bill is scheduled this (Monday) evening in a committee room at the statehouse.

(Radio Iowa)

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

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo Police shot and wounded a gunman who took over a convenience store over the weekend. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the incident happened Sunday afternoon at a Kwik Star convenience store. A man with a gun entered the store around 2:45 p.m. and ordered everyone out. Police surrounded the store. When the suspect exited the store, he fired his gun, and officers returned fire.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say they are investigating the shooting death of a man in a case that initially appeared to be a traffic crash. Police responded Saturday night to a report of a car that had struck a utility pole, injuring the driver. Officers who arrived found the driver’s injuries didn’t seem caused by the crash, and after he was taken to a hospital it was determined he’d been shot. The man, identified as 33-year-old Des Moines resident Adriel Ward, died early Sunday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s top elections official, who is pushing for a voter identification law, has only been informed of 10 votes that were potentially improper out of nearly 1.6 million cast statewide in the November election. A summary shows Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office learned of a few cases of double votes and votes cast by ineligible felons on Election Day. A review shows most of the instances were mistakes rather than fraud, and may not have been stopped by an identification requirement.

TOLEDO, Iowa (AP) — Toledo residents can’t agree on what the state should do with the 27-acre former Iowa Juvenile Home that Gov. Terry Branstad ordered closed in 2014. The Courier reports that Matrix Design Group has presented three options for developing the 16 buildings and surrounding land. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board hired the company to determine how to develop the space.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say they are investigating the shooting death of a man in a case that initially appeared to be a traffic crash. Police responded Saturday night to a report of a car that had struck a utility pole, injuring the driver. Officers who arrived found the driver’s injuries didn’t seem caused by the crash, and after he was taken to a hospital it was determined he’d been shot.

The man, identified as 33-year-old Des Moines resident Adriel Ward, died early Sunday. It’s the sixth homicide this year in Des Moines.

TOLEDO, Iowa (AP) — Residents in Toledo are unsure what they want the state to do with the 27-acre former Iowa Juvenile Home that Gov. Terry Branstad ordered closed in 2014.

The Courier reports that Matrix Design Group has presented three options for the 27 acres, 16 buildings and nearly 143,000 square feet of the facility that closed in 2014. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board hired the company to determine how to develop the facility.

Two options would keep part of the grounds as an educational facility and devote the rest to residential living. The third makes the entire area a mix of senior housing and residential living.

More than 50 people who attended the meeting offered questions and critiques but didn’t unite behind a specific plan.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s top elections official, who is pushing for a voter identification requirement that could make it harder for some to vote, has only been informed of 10 votes that were potentially improper out of 1.6 million cast statewide.

A summary of “general election irregularities” obtained by The Associated Press shows Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office learned of a handful of cases of alleged double-voting and votes cast by ineligible felons on Election Day.

Further review by AP shows most of the instances were mistakes rather than fraud, and may not have been stopped by an identification requirement.

They included a non-English speaking citizen who mistakenly voted when he registered and again on Election Day, and a felon whose voting rights had been restored in Wisconsin but not Iowa.

One person was injured during a burglary incident early this (Sunday) morning, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Council Bluffs Police in responding at around 2:40-a.m. to a Burglary in Progress in the 3100 block of Avenue H. Upon arrival in the area, deputies located a male victim of the one of the burglaries being assaulted by three people, all of whom are believed to have been males. The victim had chased after the suspects and confronted them.

The three assailants fled on foot upon deputies’ arrival and as of 6-a.m. Sunday, had not been located. The suspects / assailants were wearing ski masks, dark hooded sweatshirts and dark coats. The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital. His identity is not being released at this time as this is an open active joint investigation with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and the Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigation Division.

Anyone with information in reference to the burglaries, assault or suspicious parties in the area 3100 block of Ave H-J st on the morning of February 12th are urged to contact Council Bluffs Police Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867)

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a “shot fired” incident that took place late Saturday night. Officers were dispatched at around 11:55-p.m. to 1426 4th Avenue.  Upon arrival, they made contact with the victim, who said was parking his car when a suspect exited the residence of 1426 4th Ave and told him to move his vehicle. A verbal altercation transpired, with the suspect entering the residence and coming back out with a long barreled firearm. He again warned the victim to move his car.

After the suspect fired a round into the air,  the victim moved his car, then waited a few minutes to call police. When officers arrived none of the witnesses or the victim could confirm the suspect was still in the residence. Officers created a perimeter and attempted to make contact with anyone inside the house. It was later determined that the house was empty and the perimeter was discontinued.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact crime stoppers at 712-328-7867.