A boat has been deployed in a northeast Iowa lake to help an FBI dive team prepare for a sonar search for two missing cousins.

Black Hawk County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rick Abben (A’-behn) said Friday the three people in the boat are checking the Meyers Lake in Evansdale before the dive team enters the water and begins using its specialized equipment.

The team’s searching for 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins. They’ve been missing since they went for a bike ride on July 13. Their bikes were found near the lake.

Agents in FBI shirts spent several minutes hooking up equipment before the boat pushed off into the lake.

Abben says the dive team has arrived in the area and is planning the logistics of their dive.

The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task force reports 5 Council Bluffs businesses have been cited for selling alcohol to a minor.

On Thursday, members of the task force conducted an undercover operation into the illegal sale of alcohol to minors in Council Bluffs.  A total of 15 businesses were checked, with five making a sale to a minor.

The task force says five criminal citations were issued for selling alcohol to a minor to Shenanigan’s, 1892 German Ber Haus, Quaker Steak and Lube, Do Rock Inn, and T’z Tavern.  They say the 10 businesses checked that were in compliance include Goofy’s Corner, Fiddlin Moneky, Barley’s, Glory Days, Railway Inn, O’Face Bar, Dusty’s Bar, Caddy Shack, Breakway Bar, and J & B Lounge.

The operation was conducted with assistance of two, 19 year-old females and one, 19 year-old male.

The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task force says this type of operation is ongoing and they will continue to check businesses in the future.

The Clarinda Police Department reports several incidents the past few days.

On Thursday charges in Page County District Court were filed against 23-year-old Lynn Elizabeth Chandler of Maryville, Missouri.  The charges stem from an incident that occurred that occurred in Clarinda during the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 11, 2012.  Chandler was charged with felony drug possession, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor interference with a police officer and misdemeanor providing false identification information to a police officer.  She is currently in custody in Nodaway County, Missouri on unrelated charges. Chandler’s bail on the charges stemming from the incident in Clarinda is presently set at $2,000. Chandler is awaiting extradition to Iowa.

That same day, the Clarinda Police Department reports 33-year-old Matthew Ronald Corey of Clarinda was arrested on a warrant from Adams County for a probation violation. He posted $1,000.00 bail a short time after being brought to the Page County Courthouse and was released pending additional court action in Adams County.

Also Thursday, the Clarinda Police Department says Darren McCollough of Clarinda reported that his apartment at 800 W. Tarkio St, apt. E-2 had been burglarized sometime during the late evening hours of Wednesday or early morning hours Thursday.  He reports a Sony PlayStation 3 game system with an estimated value of $320.00 had been taken from the apartment. There are no suspects and the incident remains under investigation.

On Wednesday, officials with the Clarinda Community Public School District reported the theft numerous Easton softball bats with an estimated value of $1,000.00. The theft occurred sometime between July 12-16^th. The softball bats had been stored in a shed at the City of Clarinda baseball/softball field complex. There are no suspects and the incident remains under investigation.

On Tuesday, shortly after 1 AM, officers responded to the Timber Creek Apartment Complex in Clarinda to investigate a complaint of illegal use of fireworks.  Officers observed Hugo Navor Hernandez Cruz, Jr. detonating explosive devices. Charges are pending against Cruz, Jr.  in Page County Magistrate Court for misdemeanor illegal use of fireworks.

(Updated…County now says Cass Co burn ban will be at 3 PM)

Two more southwest Iowa counties have issued burn bans.

A burn ban in Cass County will go into effect today at 3 PM.  Carroll County will have a burn ban go into effect Sunday at 8 AM.

Other southwest Iowa counties with burn bans include Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont, Page, and Montgomery counties.  More than half of all Iowa counties have issued burn bans.

A gas leak in Council Bluffs Thursday led to a brief evacuation of the area.

The Omaha World Herald reports firefighters were called to the East Pierce Street and Kimball Avenue area Thursday at about 3:15 PM where Black Hills Energy crews were already on the scene.

Council Bluffs Assistant Fire Chief Matt Thomas tells the World Herald that Black Hills Energy crews were doing work on East Pierce and they may have severed a 2 inch gas pipe.  He says traffic was stopped on East Pierce and Kimball for a short period while authorities checked gas levels in the area.  He says they also evacuated a few homes in the area, but did not evacuate Jennie Edmundson Hospital or Mercy Hospital where people reported smelling gas.  Black Hills personnel were already on the scene at those hospitals making sure there weren’t problems according to Thomas.

The World Herald says Black Hills Energy stopped the leak by about 3:35 PM.

Guthrie Center is looking into the possibility of becoming a Main Street Community.

The Guthrie Center Times reports a meeting was held Tuesday at Guthrie Activity Center regarding the city becoming a Main Street Community.  About 100 citizens attended.  After the keynote speaker, Thom Guzman of the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s Main Street program spoke, it was decided that a committee would be formed.  The committee would be made of volunteers who would travel to other Main Street Communities and determine the pros and cons of membership

Mayor Denny Kunkle tells the Guthrie Center Times that anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact City Hall at 641-332-2190

Main Street is an Iowa program that includes 48 member communities across the state that aims to help towns restore and revitalize their business districts.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office says a rear-end accident occurred Wednesday, and it involved the Sheriff himself.

The Guthrie Center Times reports that on Wednesday Sheriff Marty Arganbright was called to the 200th Street and Panorama Drive area to conduct traffic control for a double wide home that was being moved into place.  Arganbright arrived on the scene slowing down on 200th Street, but noticed a vehicle rapidly approaching his 2007 Chevy Silverado.  He was unable to move his truck in time and was struck by a 2007 Ford Fusion driven by Margaret Jeanne McDermott of Panora.

The Guthrie Center Times says damage to McDermott’s vehicle was about $2,500.  No damage was reported on Sheriff  Arganbright’s truck.  No citations were issued.

Police are looking for a hit and run driver in Council Bluffs after the driver tried to beat a railroad crossing.

The Omaha World Herald reports that Council Bluffs Police say woman was struck by a vehicle Tuesday at 11 PM in the 900 block of South 17th Street.  Reports say that 37-year-old Carrie Schwiesow was crossing the street near railroad tracks when the crossing arms began to flash.  An eastbound driver was attempting to beat the railroad crossing and struck Schwiesow near the middle of the street.  The vehicle reportedly stopped for a brief time, but then continued onto ninth avenue.  The crash caused Schwiesow to be flipped onto her head.  She was released from Mercy Hospital after treatment of her injuries.

The World Herald says authorities believe the vehicle may be a 2005 Kia after finding a driver-side mirror at the scene.  Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at 712-325-STOP.

w/ Brett Johnson

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A two vehicle crash in Guthrie County Wednesday resulted in one injury.

On Wednesday shortly before 4 PM, a 2008 Ford F25 driven by 26-yar-0ld Justin Zika of Adel was southbound on Wax Trail just north of 330’th Street when he crested a hill.  At the same time a 2012 Honda Civic driven by 68-year-old Barbara Richt of West Des Moines was northbound  on Wax Trail.  Zika panicked as he crested the hill and saw Richt’s vehicle.  Zika thought his break was on but instead accelerated as he approached Richt.  Zika was in the northbound lane when his vehicle struck Richt’s vehicle.  Both vehicles ended up in a ditch.

Richt was transported by Stuart rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for treatment of unknown injuries.  Her vehicle was totaled.  Zika did not sustain injuries.  His vehicle sustained about $5,000 damage.  He was cited for driving the wrong way on a two-way road.