Authorities in Council Bluffs say foul play is NOT suspected in the death of a woman and her dog, both of whom were found near a burning pickup truck in a motel parking lot, early Monday morning. Officials say Bluffs Police and Fire responded just before 2-a.m. to the Days Inn on south 7th Street, for a vehicle fire. When Officers arrived, they found a Ford F-150 parked on the northern edge of the motel’s parking lot, fully engulfed in flames. Located to the north of that vehicle, in a grassy area, was the body of a deceased female and a deceased dog. The dog and the female each had a single gunshot wound to the head. The female was identified as 43 year old Paula Arnett, of Ingleside Texas. A handgun was located under Arnett’s body and the burning F-150 was registered to her husband. Arnett was also the owner of the deceased dog. Arnett, her husband and her seventeen year old Stepson were traveling from Texas to Sioux City, IA. and were spending the night at Days Inn. The incident is being investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. An autopsy will be conducted on Arnett tomorrow (Tuesday), but again, authorities say foul play is not suspected at this time.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports an investigation into two separate incidents that took place in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of 300th Street on May 26th, has resulted in the arrest of 35-year old Christopher Matthew Andersen, of Elk Horn. Andersen was taken into custody with the help of deputies from Shelby County, at around 11-p.m. Sunday. He was arrested on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for Operating (a motor vehicle) without the Owner’s Consent, Trespassing, and Theft in the 5th degree.

Anderson was booked into the Audubon County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two recent arrests. Friday afternoon, 31-year old Patrick Lawrence Nolte, of Stuart, was arrested in Stuart on a warrant issued May 29th, charging him with Driving While Barred. He was also arrested for Simple Domestic Assault, 2nd Offense. Nolte was being held in the Adair County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And on June 4th, 25-year old Matthew David Alluisi, of Orient, was arrested in Greenfield for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. Bond was set at $1,000.

Authorities in Cass County located a missing woman Sunday, about three-hours after she was seen leaving Valley Oil, on foot. The Sheriff’s Office says the 19-year old walked away for reasons unknown at around 2:20-a.m., and headed east across Highway 71, into a wooded area.

The Cass County Communications Center reported at the time the woman seemed very confused when she spoke with a dispatcher, and was somewhat uncooperative. She remained on her cell phone until it was either shut off or the battery died. Until the call ended, the dispatcher triangulated the location of her phone, helping authorities narrow down their search.

When she was found, the woman transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for a medical and mental evaluation. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, the Atlantic Police Department, and Audubon County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff would also like to extend special thanks to the Atlantic Firemen who volunteered to come out and assist with the search.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is not saying whether he will sign off on the $7.3 billion spending plan approved by the Legislature last week.  Branstad said Monday he needs to review all the budget bills backed by the Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate. He declined to say how he will act on the compromise plan, which includes $7.17 billion in ongoing spending, as well as $135 million in one-time expenditures.

Branstad criticized lawmakers for failing to approve K-12 education funding for the 2016-2017 school year before they adjourned but did not say if he would try to call lawmakers back in a special session to resolve the issue. He also would not commit to a compromise plan struck to keep open two mental health institutions slated for closure.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is encouraging Iowa students who were in kindergarten through 8th grade this past school year, to take part in a “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” at any of the 37 participating farmers markets across the state. The Iowa Farm to School program, which is part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, is sponsoring the initiative.

Northey says “We are fortunate to have wonderful farmers markets all across the state and I hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to get out and learn more about all the fresh, delicious products that are available and support their local market.”  To participate, students simply need to complete the “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” form. Forms may be picked up at any participating farmers market or can be printed from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under the “Hot Topics” section.

When they have completed the form, they can submit it to the market manager at the main market booth for the farmers market. Upon submitting the form, students will receive a free item from the market, such as a fruit, vegetable or honey, and will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes. In addition, the classroom with the most participation over the summer will receive a grow light that can be used to help them grow their own fruits and vegetables.

In western Iowa, farmers markets participating in the program include those in Shelby County (Harlan), and the Missouri Valley Welcome Center. More information about the Iowa Farm to School program and other upcoming events can be found at: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/farmToSchoolProgram.asp.

A man who claims a Shenandoah Police Officer used excessive force during a Jan. 2014 traffic stop, is suing the officer, Shenandoah Police Department, and the City of Shenandoah. According to reports, an attorney for Shenandoah native Drew Bayless filed the civil suit Friday. The suit seeks to recover damages as a result of injuries Bayless allegedly suffered at the hands of Officer Derek Baier during a traffic stop on Jan. 1st, 2014.

In addition to claiming the Officer used excessive force, the lawsuit claims Baier allegedly committed civil assault/battery during the traffic stop. Bayless’ attorney said in the suit his client suffered significant physical injuries, as well as suffered extensive pain, suffering and mental distress.

The lawsuit asks the defendants to pay Baier’s medical and hospital expenses – past and future – along with loss of wages, loss of future earning capacity, physical and mental pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of full mind and body.

Shenandoah City Attorney Mahlon Sorensen and Police Chief Kris Gerbert were contacted by local reporters in Shenadoah over the weekend, but had no comment, as neither had a chance review the allegations included in the lawsuit.

The Annual Audubon Flight Breakfast was held Sunday morning at the Audubon Municipal Airport.

Photo from AudubonIowa.org.

Officials with the Audubon Chamber report 41 planes flew-in for the event, and 685 people were served a breakfast consisting of ham and cheese omelets, pancakes, coffee, milk and juice. The breakfast was served from 6:30-until 10:30-a.m.

The aircraft and their pilots came from 20 Iowa communities, while others flew in from Bennington and Omaha, Nebraska.

The weather was perfect, with partly sunny skies and medium winds for flying. In addition to the pilots and their passengers, who ate for free, the event was attended by area bicycle clubs who rode in on the T-Bone Trail. The Flight Breakfast serves as a major fundraiser for the Audubon Chamber of Commerce, and is held the first Sunday in June.

The calendar says summer won’t start for almost two weeks but it’ll feel hot and humid across much of Iowa today (Monday) and it’ll get even hotter tomorrow. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says it’s a very sticky start to the week.  “We’re going to see some warm air that’s currently over the plains move into the state with temperatures pushing into the lower 90s by tomorrow afternoon,” Cogil says, “so much warmer than anything we’ve seen so far.”

Sioux City had a high of 90 degrees on March 16th for the earliest recorded temperature in the 90s. Cogil said the hot, sticky weather will only be around for a few days. “We’ve been rather fortunate in the past year or so where we haven’t seen a lot of the hot weather that we’d seen in the previous years,” he says, “and so far this year, it’s followed in that path.”

Cogil says there’s a chance of thunderstorms starting Wednesday night with the possibility of some heavy rain in a few places. “Right now, it does look like a good threat of heavy rainfall, especially over the northern half of the state,” he says, “anywhere between two to four inches, in general.”

The thunderstorm chances will continue through the weekend with daytime highs dropping slightly into the 70s and 80s.

(Radio Iowa)