The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is reporting numerous vehicle burglaries have taken place this weekend in the Casey and Menlo areas. The burglaries happened early Saturday morning. Authorities say items were stolen from about 11 vehicles since Friday, and while the most common item reported missing was money, in another incident, a rifle and a laptop stolen from a vehicle in Casey.

The Sheriff’s office believes the thefts are occurring during the overnight hours and seem to be concentrated on White Pole Road, between Casey and Menlo.  In most cases, the vehicles hit by thieves were unlocked, and were generally located on the street or curbside parking.

Officials urge residents to remove all valuables from your vehicles and lock them, even in the rural areas. If you have any information about the burglaries, call the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office at 641-747-2214.

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a man on an assault charge Saturday evening. 31-year old Corey Ross Smith, of Elliott, was taken into custody at around 7:35-p.m. for Domestic Assault. Smith was brought to Montgomery County Corrections and held without bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The 20-year-old son of a western Iowa man who was fatally shot in his home has been arrested in Colorado. Police believe Sean Schendel killed his father, 55-year-old Robert Schendel, before his body was found Wednesday after he didn’t show up for work. Sean Schendel remained in a Colorado jail on Saturday awaiting extradition to Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As Hillary Rodham Clinton walked among the booths of funnel cakes and corn dogs at the Iowa State Fair, trailed by a massive pack of media and onlookers, Donald Trump’s helicopter circled the fairgrounds in the air above. That’s as close as Clinton and Trump’s massive entourages came at the state fair, a rite of passage for any presidential candidate. Clinton was accompanied by former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin as she greeted voters.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A 37-year-old Iowa man is in custody after being arrested at the scene of a fatal shooting in Waterloo. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. Friday. The name of the victim, who died later, wasn’t immediately released.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Health officials have cleared an eastern Iowa Taco Bell to reopen after the remnants of a methamphetamine lab were cleaned up. The Linn County Health Department decided the restaurant was safe after two rounds of environmental testing, but the company hasn’t decided when it will reopen.

Combs was found on 10th Street near Avenue B. Officers were called to the scene at around 5:42-a.m. Saturday to assist Fire Rescue personnel who were treating Combs. The man was suffering from severe head trauma. Authorities are trying to determine the cause of his injuries.

The son of a Council Bluffs man found murdered Wednesday was arrested Friday in Colorado on 1st Degree Murder and Theft charges. Authorities said Saturday 20-year old Sean M. Schendel, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody without incident at a Sterling, CO., motel. He was arrested by officers with the Denver and Sterling Police Departments, after Council Bluffs Police issued a felony warrant for two counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held in Colorado on the warrants, awaiting extradition to Pottawattamie County.

Upon completion of an investigation and additional evidence located and collected in Sterling, a warrant was issued for Sean Schendel charging him with Murder in the 1st Degree. The man’s father, 55-year old Robert R. Schendel was found dead inside his Council Bluffs home after Robert’s employer asked Police to conduct a welfare check, noting the man had not reported for work, and he was unable to get a response from the residence when he stopped by.  Robert Schendel died after suffering from several gunshot wounds. His vehicle, a 1988 Gray Dodge Caravan was missing from the man’s property.

Based on evidence at the murder scene, it was determined Sean Schendel was present during the time of his father’s death, and that Sean had withdrawn money from his father’s bank account. The missing van was located outside the motel Sean Schendel was staying at in Colorado. An investigation into the incident continues, but authorities say they do not expect any additional arrests.

Robert R Schendel

Sean M. Schendel

Beginning Monday, August 17, 2015, the 6:05 pm edition of the “Trading Post” on KJAN will move to 10:05 am.  The “Trading Post” will still be heard twice a day each Monday through Friday at 10:05 am and 2:05 pm.  There will no longer be an evening “Trading Post” at 6:05 pm.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the circumstances surrounding an unconscious man found on the street early Saturday morning. Officers were called to the vicinity of 10th Street and Avenue B at around 5:42-a.m. to assist Fire Rescue personnel who were treating a man laying on 10th street.

The man was identified as 20-year old Jacob D. Combs, of Council Bluffs. Combs suffered from severe head trauma and was transported by Council Bluffs Rescue to Creighton Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon. His injuries were described as life threatening.

Authorities are trying to determine the cause of his injuries. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867 or the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728.

In a post on their social media page, officials with the Stuart Police Department, Saturday, said officers executed two search warrants at South Summit Apartments in Stuart, Friday night. Authorities said a significant amount of methamphetamine was recovered.

One person was arrested and faces a felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to distribute, charge. The unidentified suspect was also charged child endangerment, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officials say their investigation is ongoing, and other charges are expected.

The state’s largest supplier of power is undertaking a project that will brighten up streets in hundreds of Iowa cities and towns. Ashton Newman is a spokesperson for MidAmerican Energy Company. “We’re going to be replacing more than 100,000 of our streetlights and converting those to LED over the next 10 years,” Newman said. The conversion to Light Emitting Diode units won’t be happening in all Iowa towns covered by MidAmerican’s service territory.

“There are still streetlights that are owned by cities and not MidAmerican Energy, so those are not part of the project,” Newman said. In areas where the streetlights are changed, those cities are expected to save energy and money. “The important thing about LEDs is that they consume approximately 35 to 50 percent less energy, depending on their type and size, than the typical High Pressure Sodium streetlights that exist today,” Newman said. The LEDs long life spans also result in less maintenance costs, fewer streetlight outages and increased reliability.

“They also typically have a brighter, whiter light that improves the ability to see colors at night and improves night viability,” Newman said. The conversion project will be paid for by MidAmerican Energy, with no cost to municipalities unless they opt for an accelerated installation plan. MidAmerican Energy’s service territory includes the cities of Des Moines, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Iowa City and the Quad Cities.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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