IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A sheriff says hunters discovered the bodies believed to be two missing cousins in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles from where they vanished in July.  Bremer County Sheriff Dewey Hildebrandt said Thursday the bodies were found in Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, a county-maintained park along the Wapsipinicon River that is popular for hunting and fishing.

Hildebrandt says investigators from his office, the FBI, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies are processing the crime scene.   Authorities said hunters on Wednesday discovered bodies believed to be 9-year-old Elizabeth Collins and 11-year-old Lyric Cook. They vanished while riding their bikes in Evansdale on July 13.

The bodies have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for identification, and authorities hope to release more information Thursday.

A social media posting from the mother of one of two missing northeast Iowa girls confirms the two bodies found are those of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins. Black Hawk County Sheriff’s deputies announced yesterday afternoon that hunters had discovered a pair of dead bodies in a wooded area, and authorities believed the discovery was related to the disappearance of the young cousins from Evansdale. Chief Deputy Rick Abben however, would not say that the bodies were those of Collins and Cook.

Late last night, Collins’ mother Heather posted on Facebook that the bodies found were those of her daughter and niece, who have been missing since July 13. Collins posted “We have been so blessed by…all the prayers and support tonight with the gut wrenching news that my beautiful daughter and niece’s bodies were found by hunters today.” Collins added that while the discovery was not the news they were hoping to receive, the “nightmare of where they are and what is happening to them has been answered.” That posting has since been deleted.

The two bodies discovered yesterday have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office for identification and autopsies. Authorities are expected to release more information at a news conference scheduled for four o’clock this afternoon.

(Radio Iowa)

As pleasant as the holiday season can be, it often becomes a time of high stress, unrealistic expectations and financial challenges. It’s the time of year when many people may spend more than they should. But the holidays don’t have to mean drained savings accounts and bills to pay in January, says Kim Brantner, family life program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“We expect more of the season, and of ourselves, than can possibly be delivered. We are bombarded by television advertising and holiday displays for months,” Brantner says. “Try to avoid letting the material aspect of the holidays overshadow the spiritual and traditional aspects. Keep the holidays in perspective — especially a financial perspective.”

She says it isn’t the price tag, flashing lights or how big the box is that counts. Often the simple things in life mean the most. For example, an oatmeal container, some scrap flannel material and cotton balls can create a doll cradle, blanket and pillow and fond memories for a young child.

In the spirit of the season, Brantner offers a few gift ideas for the kids for not a lot of green:

• Visit thrift stores and resale shops. Find wild dresses, uniforms, hats and jewelry. Put these treasures in a decorated cardboard box for games of “dress up.”
• Draw a picture of a special activity to do with the kids a few days after the holidays, like roller skating or sledding. Wrap it up and put it under the tree. “Your children will look forward to spending time with you after the holiday rush is over,” says Brantner.
• What kids wouldn’t like to get a coupon saying Mom or Dad will clean their room on demand? Then the next time you nag them to clean their room, they can hand you the coupon.

“It is OK to simplify your life, especially around the holidays. Doing so may save you some stress and some money — and help to put things in perspective,” according to Brantner.

For more holiday tips and resources, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10^th St in Atlantic. You can also find information on parenting, holiday resources and more at www.extension.iastate.edu.

w/ Ric Hanson

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – An ad for a fast food restaurant back in the mid 1980’s asked the question “Where’s the Beef?”  These days, people in the Midwest are asking, “Where’s the snow?”  Cities all across the region are setting records for the lack of the white stuff.  Lincoln, NE, is seeing its 297th day in a row without measurable snow. The former record was 295 snow-free days in 2004.

The National Weather Service says the 285 snowless days as of Wednesday in Omaha breaks the record 284 days that ended Dec. 30, 2006.  The Des Moines, Iowa, record of 277 days set in 1889 is being matched today (Thursday).   Elsewhere in the Midwest, Chicago and Milwaukee have yet to have their first measurable snow of the season.

But good news may be ahead for winter wonderland fans: The service says snow is in the forecasts for Saturday night or Sunday in Nebraska and Iowa, the next day in Chicago.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Friday, December 7th, 2012, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A routine traffic stop early Tuesday morning in Lenox resulted in a chase and arrest. According to Lenox Police, an officer tried to stop a Cadillac at around 1-a.m. Tuesday, for failure to have a license plate. Immediately afterward, the car sped-off on 120^thStreet. During the ensuing chase, speeds exceeded 80-miles per hour.

A.J. Miller (Photo courtesy Lenox P-D)

The pursuit ended in Ringgold County after deputies from Taylor, Ringgold and Union Counties assisted in setting up a road block. The driver of the car, 35-year old A-J Miller, of Shannon City,  was arrested for driving with a suspended license, failure to have insurance, fail to obey traffic control devices, speeding 80 MPH in a 55 zone, felony eluding and operating a vehicle under the influence of narcotics.

Miller was brought to the Taylor County Jail, while the vehicle was impounded.

A traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Cass County Monday morning resulted in the arrest of two people on drug charges. Trooper Wayne Brosam with the Iowa State Patrol told KJAN News he stopped a 1996 conversion van with Illinois plates for speeding on I-80 at around 7:55-a.m., about two-miles east of the exit to Highway 71.

During conversations with the driver, 34-year old Tramaine McCray, in Brosam’s patrol  car, the Trooper says he observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. At the conclusion of the traffic stop verbal consent was given to search the van. During a hand search of the vehicle, approximately 16.5 pounds of high grade marijuana was located in a natural void in the headliner of the conversion van.

McCray, and a passenger in the van, 34-year old Demetrius Johnson, were taken into custody on charges that include Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver, Prohibited Acts and violation of the Drug Stamp Tax. They were later released from the Cass County Jail on $5,000 bond each.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Board of Regents President Craig Lang says the University of Iowa is not doing enough to protect students and employees from sexual misconduct in light of the resignation of a former athletics department counselor. Lang said Wednesday during a board meeting that the regents overhauled campus policies after a high-profile assault case involving Iowa football players in 2007.

Lang said one change required employees to participate in sexual misconduct training, and Iowa’s handling of the Peter Gray case shows the school “is not doing a good enough job in this area.” Lang says he expects the university will address “the obvious breakdowns” the case exposed. Gray resigned last month after he was accused of improperly touching athletes for years, conduct that allegedly dated back to the 1990s.