WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – A frantic hunt for a runaway, pregnant dog ended happily when searchers found the black lab mix in an Iowa garage – nursing a brand-new litter of puppies. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the hubbub began when the dog, which was being flown from Texas to a Wisconsin rescue shelter, slipped out of her harness and fled during a stop at the Winterset, Iowa airport on Friday.

Crews searched for the dog, named Ava, overnight. She was found just before noon Saturday in a Winterset home’s garage. And she wasn’t alone. Ava had given birth to nine puppies. Ava and her pups are expected to complete their trip to Wisconsin this week.

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa school superintendent fired last week has hired a lawyer to fight fraud and other allegations made against him after a district investigation. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that former Shenandoah Community School District Superintendent Jeff Hiser has hired Council Bluffs attorney Eric Hansen. Hansen is a former Mills County prosecutor.

Hansen says Hiser will respond to the allegations when he has had an opportunity “to see what, if any, evidence the district has.” Hiser was fired earlier this month. A school board member says Hiser submitted fraudulent reimbursements for expenses, violated district policies regarding leave requests and obstructed the board’s investigation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday afternoon at the Courthouse in Atlantic. During their 1-p.m. meeting, the Board will canvass the votes of the Nov. 4th General Election. They’re also expected to receive a report from Cass County Librarians and a request for funding from the group for Fiscal Year 2016.

The Board will also discuss and possibly act on a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephone system for the courthouse, as well as a Federal Aid agreement to help fund the replacement of a bridge on the Cass-Audubon County line. Other action includes the awarding of a contract for a bridge replacement project on Jackson Road, with the contract being awarded to Cunningham-Reis Company, in the amount of $565, 461. Work on the project is expected to begin later this winter.

And, the Board will act on waterproofing the County’s building at 707 Poplar Street (the site of the future 9-1-1/Communications Center).

A teenager from Clarinda was injured and trapped in the vehicle she was driving following an accident early Saturday afternoon, east of Essex. Authorities said the unidentified 16-year old female was transported by Essex Fire and Rescue to the Clarinda Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, after Essex Fire and Rescue personnel extracted her from the vehicle by mechanical means.

The accident happened at around 1-p.m. near 2382 150th Street. Officials said the girl was traveling east on 150th Street, when she swerved to miss a deer that ran onto the road. The vehicle entered a ditch, hit a telephone pole and rolled twice before coming to rest on its passenger side.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a man one person was arrested on weapon, burglary and drug charges Saturday night.  29-year old Joshua Dean Cooney, of Villisca, was taken into custody just after 9-p.m., on a valid Montgomery County warrant for carrying weapons, Possession of Burglar Tools, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana.

Cooney was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

Residents living in or near Shenandoah and Audubon will soon have access to improved healthcare options thanks to $21.9 million in loans from USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility program. Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, said the Shenandoah Medical Center will be using a $20,350,000 USDA loan to assist with the construction of a two-story medical clinic addition, as well as making various renovations to the existing hospital and clinic building. The Friendship Home Association in Audubon will be using a $1,567,000 USDA loan to help construct a 12-bed memory care addition to the existing facility.

The addition to the Friendship Home is expected to have five semi-private and two private rooms and will also include a serving kitchen, nurses’ station, activities area, dining room and exterior garden area. When the Shenandoah Hospital project is completed the hospital facility will also have a new surgery area, an expanded emergency department, a new entrance with a single registration point and waiting area, renovated laboratory areas plus updated mechanical systems for the existing facility.

The projects are receiving funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility program which provides loan and grant funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. Loans, grants and loan guarantees can help public bodies or community-based nonprofits build facilities and purchase equipment for such things as healthcare facilities, public safety facilities and services, childcare centers, community buildings and libraries

During the last six years, USDA Rural Development has supported nearly 50 rural hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and/or assisting living facilities to make needed facility and equipment improvements. USDA grants, loans and guaranteed loan funds to these projects topped $305 million.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest state employee union is set to offer an initial contract proposal to Governor Terry Branstad. Iowa Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will make the proposal Monday. The union, which represents about 20,000 state workers, is covered by the current contract through the end of June. Union president Danny Homan declined to say what was in the proposal. The state will release its proposal November 24th and negotiations start early next year.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — The Fort Dodge airport will again be able to offer commercial flights in February. The Fort Dodge Messenger reported Air Choice One will begin offering trips to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on February 23rd.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 17-year-old Des Moines man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in a driveway. Des Moines police say the teen will be charged with first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Aaron McHenry. Police say McHenry was found lying in a driveway after several shots were reported Friday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa worker who oversees substance abuse programs has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. KCCI reports 50-year-old Jeff Gronstal was arrested early Friday morning. Polk County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jana Abens says a deputy stopped Gronstal’s truck because its registration was expired. Abens says the deputy smelled alcohol so he began sobriety tests.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa judge has upheld actions of the state’s gaming commission over its decision to issue a casino license last year to a new developer in Sioux City. Polk County District Court Judge Eliza Ovrom’s ruling Friday upholds actions by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission that led to a Hard Rock-themed casino and hotel. Belle of Sioux City, operators of the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino, had sued to force the commission to reinstate its license and rescind the new one to the Hard Rock developer.

The Sioux City Journal reports Ovrom dismissed claims the commission’s actions were unreasonable and violated state law, among other arguments. Belle of Sioux City is a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming.