A new aebleskiver eating contest record was set Saturday during the Tivoli Fest 2nd annual Aebleskiver eating contest. Geoffrey Esper devoured 107 aebleskiver in 8 minutes. Fellow contestant Darron Breeden ate 98 for second place during the contest.  (KNOD)

Geoffrey Esper, aebleskiver-champion-2018

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has been found dead in a central Iowa apartment building that had high levels of carbon monoxide. Firefighters evacuated the Meadowbrook Apartments in Newton on Monday after several high readings were recorded. The man’s body was found in the apartment with the highest level of carbon monoxide. Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik says the cause of the man’s death will be determined by an autopsy.

Welliks says no one else was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The cause of the gas buildup was unclear. The man’s name hasn’t been released.

One person was injured in a grain elevator explosion in Sioux City Tuesday afternoon. Sioux City police chief Ed Mahon says the explosion happened at 12:55 p-m at the Anderson Grain Elevator. He says they don’t know what caused the explosion and it was mostly out, but crews had to find and shut off the gas to the elevator to get the fire out.

A gaping hole was blown into the top and side of the structure and homes located east of the building were evacuated because of the threat of a possible second explosion and elevator collapse. Chief Mahon says there were three employees at the elevator when the explosion happened. He says one was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two others were not injured and have been interviewed about what they saw. The injured employee’s name has not been released. Mahon says there was a big concern about part of the building collapsing on firefighters. “They said they saw some concrete moving that appeared to be bulging out,” Mahon said. He says they were being cautious until they could do something to take the concrete down.

Firefighters from South Sioux City, Dakota City, Homer and Winnebago responded to help Sioux City.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans are being reminded about the risks of inner tubing after an Omaha teen died Monday while tubing at Lake Manawa, in Council Bluffs. Todd Robertson, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says with heat indices soaring lately, even though you’re surrounded by water, you still need to drink plenty of fluids while tubing. “You have to drink enough water because heat exhaustion can come onto you,” Robertson says. “Even though you’re relaxing in a tube and just floating down the river, if that’s what you’re doing, it still takes a little bit of energy and plus you’ve got the sun beating down on you, so you have to stay hydrated.”

Robertson says inner tubes can be difficult to control, especially with all of the recent rain and the swift-moving water. “You have your hands and you have your feet, you don’t have a paddle, so you’re basically at the mercy of the current when you’re in a tube,” he says. “Some of these rivers that are really high in the state right now, you have no business being on anyway, and if you’re on a tube, chances are you’re gonna end up in some of that debris.”

Robertson says higher water levels often hide downed trees and branches. He says river users can enjoy the scenery but need to keep an eye downstream to avoid any hazardous surprises. He also suggests bringing along a buddy and letting those at home know where you’re going.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Pat Blank, Iowa Public Radio)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:00 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two people killed in a Waterloo collision between a car and motorcycle. Police say the crash occurred around 5:40 p.m. Saturday, when the northbound car turned left into the path of the southbound motorcycle. Police say the motorcyclist and a passenger in the car died. The motorcyclist was identified as Courtland VanArsdale, who lived in Waterloo. The car passenger was identified as Tyah Hoskins, who lived in Cedar Falls.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — A Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives has resigned to take a flying job. Rep. Ken Rizer, of Marion, will be piloting jet aircraft out of Des Moines for a private air travel company. Rizer was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. He’s not seeking re-election this year. A special election won’t be required to replace Rizer in the 68th House District, because the Legislature has ended its annual session.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say publicity around high-profile child abuse cases in Iowa has caused a surge in such reports. The Des Moines Register reports that confirmed child abuse cases in the state increased 26 percent last year, from almost 8,900 in 2016 to more than 11,200. Lawmakers say they believe media coverage of the starvation deaths of Natalie Finn in 2016 and Sabrina Ray in 2017 increased public awareness of the issue.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of people lost power when a powerful thunderstorm swept through several communities in northern Iowa. Howling winds of up to 70 mph were reported Monday evening as hail pounded the Clear Lake-Mason City area. No injuries have been reported. Alliant Energy says the outages peaked at just over 10,000 customers.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Tuesday evening, released additional information about an apparent drowning that occurred at Lake Manawa Monday afternoon.

The drowning happened in the swimming area near the Lake Manawa beach around 1:15pm, when 16-year old Edgar Gregorio Loarca Garcia, of Omaha, Nebraska went under the water and did not resurface. It is believed that Garcia was a non-experienced swimmer.

Officials say while his death does not appear to be suspicious, an autopsy will be conducted. The swimming area at the Lake Manawa beach will likely be closed for the remainder of the week, while the investigation into this apparent drowning continues.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Parks Bureau and Law Enforcement Bureau were assisted by the Council Bluffs Fire Department, Omaha Fire Department Dive Team, Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department and Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue was called to the scene of a residence at 408 Front Street, Tuesday evening, for what appeared to have been a lightning strike. The call came in just before 6-p.m. Fire Chief Mark McNees said there was smoke in the attic, but there was no obvious sign of a lightning hit.

There was burned wiring traced back to an extension cord that was connected to coupling that was plugged into a pool pump in the back yard. The pool pump exploded, causing the breaker box to trip. He said there was a bunch of wiring that was not connected to a junction box, but should have been. Regardless, there was no structural damage to the home. The power was cut off until an electrician can effect repairs sometime on Wednesday.

Later, McNees said a firefighter who lives nearby saw lightning in the area. It’s believed a bolt struck somewhere near the pool, possible finding a path to the wiring. Firefighters removed the smoldering insulation from the attic and ventilated the home. The residents and their animals got out safely.

Firefighters were on the scene for nearly an hour.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Carson was arrested Tuesday (today), on drug & other charges. 36-year old Justin Kyrle Lawton was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and an additional charge of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense. Lawton was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 36-year old Clayton W. Carver, (no address listed) on a charge of Consumption of Alcohol in Public Place. Carver was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 62-year old Mark Allen Hoegh, of Redmond, OR, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Hoegh was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $1,000 bond.

Last Thursday, 41-year old Kristal Ranna Fulk, of Atlantic, and 43-year old Brad James Smith, of Knoxville, were arrested in Cass County on one charge each of Disorderly Conduct. Both parties were taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on their own recognizances.

And, on May 21st, 48-year old Kevin Boyd Canter, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Canter was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

A woman from Nebraska was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by EMS, Saturday afternoon, following a single-vehicle accident brought on by a medical condition. The accident happened at around 3:30-p.m. near the intersection of 290^th and M Avenue. The investigation showed that Dixie L Allbery of Gretna, NE was driving a 2010 Jeep Compass Sport SUV northbound on M Avenue just south of 290^th Street, when a medical condition affected her ability to drive. Her SUV went into the ditch and continued traveling through two cornfields before coming to rest. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000. The corn fields sustained an estimated $1,500 damage. No citations have been issued.