DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines say a suspect has been arrested in the death of a 71-year-old woman who was the victim of a hit-and-run as she crossed a Des Moines street last month. Police say in a news release that 41-year-old Isaias Flores-Morales was arrested Thursday in Illinois on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal crash, escaping custody and other counts in the death of Stephanie Markert.

Markert died a week after being hit on Jan. 30 near the Drake University campus, where first responders found her in the street with critical injuries. Police say she was the house mother for Delta Gamma sorority at Drake.

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports, the Party’s Distribution of Winter Clothing in December had to be postponed due to illnesses, weather, and lack of transportation. “But WE’RE BACK!”

Toelle says the Final Distribution of the clothing will take place in March, at two sites, on a first-come, first-served basis:

• Lewis Community Center—Saturday, March 14th, from 3 PM to 4 PM.
• Care & Share Food Pantry—Wednesday, March 18th, from 4 PM to 5:30 PM.

The items are open to all communities in Cass County. If the clothing is not given away as of March 18th , remaining items will be taken to West Central’s Community Action Building in Atlantic.

Red Oak Police report the arrest of 32-year-old Brandon Michael Houghtaling of Red Oak for Public Intoxication on Friday night. Houghtaling was arrested at 9:35pm in the 100 block of West Elm Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a person wanted on multiple active warrants was taken into custody in Carroll County on Friday. 33-year-old Sara Batten was wanted on three warrants for Failure to Appear for a pretrial conference and one warrant for Probation Violation on an original charge of Theft 3rd Degree. Batten was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $6,500 bond.

DIKE, Iowa (WOI-TV) — Iowa authorities say a wooden box containing the cremated remains of a Dike man that was stolen in a home burglary has been recovered. Grundy County sheriff’s deputies had reported that the cremains of 65-year-old Daniel Evanson were stolen during a break-in at his rural home sometime late Feb. 14 or early Feb. 15.

Evanson died Feb. 6. Evanson’s family members had taken to social media to plead for the public’s help in finding the remains and the ornate wooden box holding them. Grundy County Sheriff’s Department told WOI that a jogger Friday morning found the box of cremains on a trail in Cedar Falls, which is about 12 miles northeast of Dike.

WATERLOO, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — Deere & Co. plans to lay off 42 workers in Waterloo — the latest round of layoffs in the state the farm equipment maker has announced in recent months. The Des Moines Register reports that the company told Waterloo workers Friday that the layoffs will take effect May 4.

It would be the fifth round of layoffs at Iowa offices and plants since November, including 113 workers in Davenport in November, 23 Des Moines workers in December, and 57 more workers in Davenport in January. The company also announced earlier this month that 105 Dubuque workers will be laid off in April.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has reduced the compensation a northeast Iowa man received from a jury to a fraction of the verdict awarded him in a lawsuit against an insurance company in a workers’ compensation case. Even though the court found the American Interstate Insurance Company’s treatment of Toby Thornton “reprehensible” the justices left him with a judgment Friday of $558,000.

Earlier, one jury had awarded him $25 million and another $7 million. The 42-year-old Thornton was involved in an accident while driving a truck in June 2009 for Clayton County Recycling. He was left paralyzed below the chest.

The Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Cass County ISU Extension encourage those considering vending at Cass County farmers markets in 2020 to attend the Farmers Market Pre-Season Vendor Workshop. The free workshop will be held at the Cass County Community Center on March 16 from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

The pre-season workshop has been designed to cover topics of interest to both experienced vendors and those just starting to consider participating in farmers markets. Experts in the areas of food safety and market licensing requirements, farmers market insurance, and resources from the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship will present at the workshop.

During the last 30 minutes of the workshop vendor information will be provided for Cass County Farmers Markets, including the Anita Farmers Market, the Atlantic Farmers Market, and Produce in the Park.

While there is no cost to attend, those interested in attending the workshop are asked to RSVP by March 15 to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at 712-249-5870 or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu, or to the County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

A man and woman from Missouri were arrested early this (Friday) morning on drug charges, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports that at around 3:50-a.m., deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 2006 Chrysler Town and County for several traffic and equipment violations at the 21-mile marker, southbound, Interstate 29 near Thurman.

During the traffic stop, K9 Roby was deployed, and he indicated and alerted to the presence of controlled substances coming from the vehicle. During a subsequent search, deputies discovered over 5 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and equipment used to distribute and package-controlled substances. Deputies also discovered over $5,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

The driver, 33-year old Michael Arthur Tyson, of Albany, Missouri and 23-year old Laura Jean King, of Grant City, Missouri, were both placed under arrest. Both were charged with Conspiracy to Distribute over 5 grams of Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, Tyson received citations for speeding in a construction zone and Failure to Provide Financial Liability.

Both are being held at the Fremont County Jail, awaiting initial appearance with a Fremont County Magistrate. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Fremont County K9 Unit with the call.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman reports that at approximately 1:28-p.m. today (February 28th), the Montgomery County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from the Villisca Good Samaritan Nursing Home at 202 Central Ave in Villisca reporting a possible gas leak in the building with evacuations taking place.

Upon investigation of the source of the odor, it was determined that an outdoor bulk tank nearby was being filled by a vendor who had a mechanical failure and caused a small amount of product to drift into the atmosphere which caused a small amount of product to enter the air handling system of the nursing home causing them to initiate their emergency response protocols. The nursing home was cleared by both Villisca Fire and Alliant Energy and no hazards were found.

38 residents and 17 staff members were ultimately evacuated to the Villisca Wellness Center as a precaution. 1 resident was treated on scene by Villisca EMS for a small abrasion. All residents were transported back to the nursing home approximately 1 hour after the 9-1-1 call was made.

Villisca Fire & Rescue was assisted on scene by Montgomery County Emergency Management and Alliant Energy.