A combine which had not been used since last Fall was consumed by flames late Tuesday night, south of Atlantic. According to the Atlantic Fire Department, crews responded to the Glen McFadden Farm at around 11:30-p.m., after receiving a report of a combine on fire. 

When the first firefighters arrived, the machine – which had not been used since last Fall due to mechanical or electrical problems – was fully engulfed in flames. Fire Chief Mark McNees said he believes the cause of the fire was electrical in nature, possibly due to a short in the battery.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within about 10-minutes, but the combine was a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds are OK after their SUV hit a deer on Interstate 35 in central Iowa. Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says Branstad, Reynolds and longtime aide Margaret Hough (huff) were returning to Des Moines from an event in Eldora Wednesday afternoon when the accident happened north of Story City.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislative leaders say an agreement has been reached on education spending and a bill could be ready for debate as early as Monday. Most state lawmakers took the day off Wednesday as conference committees continue to work in closed-door meetings on the major state budget bills. The education bill is one of the largest portions of the state budget, spending more than $850 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Airways flight has safely returned to the Des Moines International Airport after a warning light indicated a wheel problem. Airport officials told The Des Moines Register that Flight 2747 left Des Moines for Phoenix Wednesday afternoon but returned after its nose steering indicator light came on. Airport spokesman Kenneth McCoy says the plane circled the airport for about 30 minutes to burn off some fuel before it was able to land. McCoy says the flight, which had 54 people on board including crew members, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Officials think the problem may have been with the warning system, not the actual landing gear.

A diner and bowling alley has landed this year’s title for “Iowa’s Best Burger.” The award is handed out annually by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. This year, judges selected The Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids. Cindy Heydon, co-owner of The Coon Bowl, says their half-pound burgers are basic.

Coon Bowl Burger wins Iowa's Best Burger Contest

“We actually don’t do anything to them,” Heydon revealed. “We don’t salt them. We don’t mix anything into the hamburger. Nothing. Just a plain old hamburger on the grill.”

Judges noted the “juiciness” of the champion burger. Heydon credits the 80/20 blend of ground Iowa beef and the use of a flat-iron grill for the juicy factor. She also credits a loyal, local customer base for nominating her business for the award. “And I have people who travel through here who will stop more than one time…they come back,” Heydon said. The Coon Bowl dining area can seat around 80 patrons. The business also features an eight lane bowling alley and a small game room. The basic burger at The Coon Bowl costs $4. The most expensive burger, the bacon cheeseburger, is just $4.80.

The other top ten finalists for this year’s top burger award were the Ankeny Diner, Ankeny; Drake Diner, Des Moines; Farmer’s Kitchen, Atlantic; Ferg’s Lounge & My Tighe’s Restaurant, Grand Junction; PerXactly’s Bar and Grill, Maquoketa; Rosco’s, Norwalk; Rube’s Steakhouse, Montour; Sac City Bowling Center, Sac City; and The Ritz, Arnold’s Park. This marked the third year for the best burger contest.

Last year’s winner was The Rusty Duck in Dexter, while Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City won the inaugural event in 2010.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The black Chevy Tahoe that ferries the governor and lieutenant governor around Iowa was damaged Wednesday in a deer-versus-vehicle crash. At the time of the wreck both Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds were riding in the S-U-V, which was being driven by a state trooper. Tim Albrecht, the governor’s press secretary, says the accident happened at about 1:40-p.m., on southbound Interstate 35.  “Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds were traveling back from an event at Pine Lakes State Park in Eldora,” Albrecht says. ”

At mile marker 126.5 — just north of Story City — two deer crossed the path of the S.U.V. in which they were traveling. A third deer was struck by the S.U.V. and the vehicle sustained damage, but everybody’s o.k.” The deer was killed on impact according to Albrecht, and the trooper was able to drive away from the scene. “The SUV was still driveable. It did sustain quite a bit of damage on the driver’s side and the driver’s door is actually unable to be opened at this point,” Albrecht says. “The vehicle is fixable and it’ll be in the shop a few days we imagine.”

Iowa law requires the state’s governor to be driven by a state trooper. The law was passed over half a century ago after an Iowa governor who was driving himself was killed in a car wreck. Governor Bill Beardsley was killed on November 21, 1954, during his third term as governor. U.S. Senator Richard Louis Murphy of Dubuque, Iowa, was killed an a car wreck in Wisconsin in 1936.

(Radio Iowa/O. Kay Henderson)

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1250 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 228 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE…. ADAMS CASS FREMONT MILLS MONTGOMERY PAGE POTTAWATTAMIE & TAYLOR.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Audubon Police Department reports 36-year old Shawn Michael Vetterick, of Audubon, was arrested Monday, on a charges which include 1st offense Domestic Abuse Assault, Interference with Official Acts, Obstruction of Emergency (911) Communications, and Trespassing. Vetterick was booked into the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

A two-vehicle accident in Lewis Tuesday afternoon caused $5,000 damage, but no one was injured. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 1:50-p.m., at the intersection of 1^st and Walnut Streets, in Lewis. Officials say a 2006 Lincoln Town Car owned and driven by 73-year old Julia McNees, of Atlantic, was traveling northbound on 1st Street when it was hit by a 2007 Hyundai Accent, owned and driven by 55-year old Cynthia Jean Koontz, of  Lewis.  The collision occurred as Koontz attempted a left-hand turn from the southbound lane. Koontz was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Left Turn.

Four southwest Iowa people were arrested Tuesday on drug charges in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office says the residents of a Hamburg apartment, 40-year old Randall Larson and 22-year old Samantha Hull, along with 39-year old Adam Blackman, of Malvern, and 35-year old Clinton Robinson, of Hamburg, were taken into custody following the execution of a search warrant at 409 F Street, in Hamburg. Authorities say after an active methamphetamine lab was found in the apartment during their search, agents with the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement processed the scene to secure the evidence, and remove hazardous materials.

Each of the four suspects were charged with Conspiracy to Manufacture 5 grams or more of Meth. They were being held in the Fremont County Jail on $100,000 bond each. Officials say additional charges are expected, as their investigation remains ongoing.

w/ Ric Hanson

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