A fire late Saturday morning in Cumberland has heavily damaged a welding business that was closed for the day. According to reports, the fire happened at Dan’s Welding (215 Main Street), at around 11-a.m. It was called-in by a neighbor. Cumberland and Massena Fire responded to the scene. Officials said the flames were under control in about 20-minutes but the building was a total loss, along with some ag equipment parked outside the structure.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

DES MOINES – More than 60 students from across the state took top honors at the National History Day in Iowa contest this past week, earning a trip to the NHD National Finals at the University of Maryland to compete for scholarships and prizes. Among them was: Mia Kawamitsu, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln School – Senior Individual Documentary, “A Ray of Hope”; Isabel Solivan, Clarinda Community School – Senior Individual Performance, “Audrey Hepburn: Taking a Stand with UNICEF”, and Anna Boes, Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln – Senior Individual Website, “Wokiksuye.”

National History Day is a year-long academic enrichment program that challenges students to research, develop and present papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performances about historical issues, ideas, people and events related to an annual theme. This year’s theme is “Taking a Stand in History.”

This year’s 66 national qualifiers included students from 21 different schools – a new record – plus two home-school students from Spencer. For more information, go to: www.iowaculture.gov/history/education/national-history-day/contests/state-contest/awards

Red Oak, IA – On June 2, 2017 Montgomery County Extension and Outreach will be
partnering with the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to host a babysitter workshop from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the lower level conference center of the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Youth in grades 5 through 11 are welcomed to participate in the workshop to gain the proper child care skills.

Join the Montgomery County Extension staff in a busy day of hands-on activities while learning to be a responsible, trustworthy, safe and fun babysitter. The objective of the babysitter workshop is to teach the skills and techniques required to be competent babysitters and develop the confidence needed to handle situations that may occur when caring for a child.

Registration is required for the workshop. Registration forms can be found on the Montgomery County Extension website or at the extension office. All forms must be to the extension office by May 26. There is a $10 charge due at time of registration for each participant. Financial assistance is available through the extension office.

If you have any questions or for more information, contact Rachel Bergren, County Youth Coordinator at Montgomery County ISU Extension and Outreach, at 712-623-2592 or rbergren@iastate.edu.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – What’s being billed as the world’s largest vintage truck show will be held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines later this month. American Truck Historical Society director Jim Poage says more than 1,000 vintage trucks will be on display and will include “some of the first trucks ever produced in the world.” The trucks will range from early 1900’s high wheelers to large, vintage 18-wheeler-type trucks. The show will run from May 25 through May 27.

The show, along with the national convention of the society, is an annual event that moves to different locations each year. In addition to the trucks, there will be almost 100 different craft and food vendors, a swap meet, and a competition truck pull.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A 14-year male suffered from a possible broken shoulder and clavicle, following an dirt-bike accident Friday evening on Lansing Road, between Wiota and Cumberland. The unidentified teen, who was wearing a helmet, was exiting his rural driveway to head west on Lansing Road at around 4:50-p.m., when he struck his dog and was thrown off the motorcycle into a ditch.

The teen was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Authorities say the dog suffered minor injuries during the incident.

Red Oak Police report a man was arrested early this (Saturday) morning in the 300 block of HillTop Avenue in Stanton, on a charge of Obstruction of Emergency Communications. 41-year old Duane Alan Sundberg was taken into custody at around 12:45-a.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where his bond was set at $300.

A head-on crash in east central Iowa’s Powesheik County has claimed two lives. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 4:10-p.m. Friday, on Highway 146, just south of Interstate 80. Officials say a 2015 Toyota Sienna was traveling north on Highway 146 and a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero was traveling south, when for reasons unknown, the Toyota crossed the center line and struck the Oldsmobile.

Three people were injured in the crash: 69-year old Thomas Taylor, who was driving the Toyota, 67-year old Lourdes Taylor and 59-year old Gloria Smallwood. All three are from Oskaloosa.

The driver of the Oldsmobile, 31-year old Randall Paul, of Grinnell, along with Rosa Santos, of Oskaloosa, died from their injuries at the hospital in Grinnell. All of the victims were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Utilities Board is defending its decision to spend thousands of dollars sending five employees to a conference in Portland this week. A list of attendees to the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys shows Iowa and two other states sent five employees. The majority sent none, one or two. The four-day conference, which concluded Wednesday, charged $400 per employee in fees, plus hotel, airfare and meal charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has decided to keep open a longtime research center, though he still plans to remove its funding. Branstad used his veto power Friday to cut language in a roughly $7.2 billion state budget that would have eliminated the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. But he kept plans to redirect a tax worth roughly $1.5 million that helps pay for the center. The governor’s staff did not give a reason for the setup.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has rejected the University of Iowa’s request to delay the upcoming trial in a lawsuit filed by former women’s field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum. Judge Eliza Ovrom says Griesbaum’s trial will go ahead June 5 as scheduled. Griesbaum alleges she suffered discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation in Athletic Director Gary Barta’s decision to fire her in 2014.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Top lawmakers in Minnesota and Iowa are trying to work out an arrangement allowing Iowa residents to immediately start buying medical marijuana from their northern neighbors. Iowa’s Legislature passed a tightly controlled medical marijuana program but it is still awaiting Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature. With Minnesota’s approval, Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says the arrangement could give sick Iowans immediate access while the state sets up its own program.