Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Firefighters from three Montgomery County area departments battled two separate field fires Sunday afternoon. According to Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman, the Villisca Fire Dept.  fought the first blaze shortly after 1:50-p.m., at 170th and W Avenue. They were able to contain the flames in a short time. The second field fire happened not long after the first, near 130th and M Avenue. Elliott and Red Oak fire fighting crews were on scene for roughly 2-to 3 hours.

130th & M fire (Brian Hamman photo)

170th and W Avenue fire (Brian Hamman photo)

Fire near 130th & M in Montgomery County (Brian Hamman photo)

170th & W Avenue fire (Brian Hamman photo)

Firefighters from Atlantic and Cumberland were busy Sunday afternoon, fighting two separate fires fanned by the wind.

Atlantic Fire Fighters work to contain a brush fire Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Tim Cappel via Atlantic Fire & Rescue’s Facebook page)

The Atlantic Fire Department responded to a brush fire just after 1-p.m. Sunday, near 65597 Troublesome Creek Road (Just east of Highway 71). The fire reportedly started as a controlled burn that got out of control. And, the Cumberland Fire Department fought a grass fire at around 12:30-p.m., near 690th and Memphis Road. No injuries were reported.

And, at around 6:30-p.m., Sunday, firefighters from Massena were called to the scene of a grass fire one-mile east of Highway 148, on Yankton Road.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Sunday afternoon of 82-year old Lois Marilyn Nelson, of Red Oak. Nelson was taken into custody on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later released on $300 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a joint investigation between the sheriff’s office and Red Oak Police has resulted in the arrest of a Red Oak woman on burglary charges. 32-year old Holly Ann Kelly faces three counts of burglary in the third degree, following the execution of a search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of west 1st Avenue, in Red Oak. She also faces Red Oak P-D Serious Misdemeanor charges that include Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana.

Kelly was arrested Saturday evening brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where she was being held on $5,000 bond.

w/Marissa Hovde

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Friday of 18-year old Eligah Cole Newkirk of Red Oak on charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Burglary 3rd Degree. Newkirk was arrested and held on $2,000 bond.

Emergency Management officials in Mills County report a countywide ban on open burning will go into effect on Monday, April 8th, beginning at 4-p.m.  According Mills County Emergency Management Director Larry Hurst, the ban will prohibit open burning in all cities within Mills County until further notice, under Chapter 100 of the Iowa Code.

The decision to institute a Burn Ban on Monday came after Emergency Management officials polled the local fire department Chiefs in the county. The chiefs agreed to the plan, which was submitted to and approved by, the State Fire Marshall’s Office in Des Moines. Under a Burn Ban, residents of Mills County must discontinue the burning of yard waste, piled tree debris or other items. Small recreational camp fires will be permitted, but only if they are built in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one inch wire mesh.

An application from your local Fire District Chief can be obtained and submitted to allow a permit for open burning if your local fire official believes it’s safe to do so. After approval of permit, several county entities are informed to lessen the danger of false alarms. Violation of a burn ban is punishable by a simple citation, or, an arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.

For more information on burn bans and the law contact the State Fire Marshall’s Office at 515 725-6145

The Red Oak Police Department received a report of a burglary today (Friday) at a residence located within the 700 Block of E. Reed St. The victim, James Leroy Bourn, reported that the suspect(s) forced an exterior door open to gain entry into the residence. This caused approximately $200 damage to the door. Bourn is still compiling a list of items taken from the residence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500 or the Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 800-432-1001.

The Harlan Police Department reported to the scene of an accident at the intersection of Highway 59 and Cyclone Ave. on April 1st. Upon investigation it was determined that Kenneth Klein of Harlan was driving northbound on Highway 59 while Sarah Martin of Harlan was westbound on Cyclone Ave., and was turning south onto Highway 59. Klein failed to stop for the stop sign at that intersection and his 2006 Chevrolet struck the front driver’s side of Martin’s 2005 Hyundai causing major damage to both vehicles. Klein was cited for failure to obey stop or yield sign.