Police in Red Oak are investigating an incident of vandalism in the City’s Legion Park. Employees with the Parks and Rec Department notified police late Tuesday evening, that four park tables had been damaged by vandals. The incident happened sometime Monday or Tuesday. The damage was estimated at $450.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500.

A teen accused of killing his 5-year-old Atlantic foster brother last year would throw things and hit inanimate objects during temper tantrums. The Omaha World-Herald says 18-yearold Cody Metzker-Madsen‘s foster mother said in a 2011 email, that he didn’t understand the difference between right and wrong when he was playing and that he didn’t comprehend that if he copied the wrestling moves he saw on TV, that it could hurt him or someone else. Even so, 53-year old Julie Coolman, of rural Logan, said she didn’t believe Cody was a threat to her family. She said he was never aggressive toward them.

The testimony came Tuesday during the first day of Metzker-Madsen’s first-degree murder trial in the death of Dominic Elkins. The teen has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Metzker-Madsen, who was 17 at the time, killed Dominic as the two were playing outside Aug. 31, 2013.

Dominic’s body was found in a wooded ravine. An autopsy determined that he died from blunt-force head injuries and drowning. Dominic’s mother earlier this month sued the Coolmans, accusing them of negligence in her son’s death.The lawsuit filed by Dominic’s mother accuses Don and Julie Coolman of failing to properly care for and supervise Dominic and Metzker-Madsen; failing to protect Dominic from harm or unreasonable risk of injury; failing to respond quickly to the incident and Dominic’s injury; and leaving the boys in the care of a juvenile female.

Julie and Don Coolman were away from home at the time of the attack alleged by authorities, leaving the two boys under the supervision of one of the Coolman’s twin daughters; the girl was 12 at the time.

Metzker-Madsen’s attorney is using an insanity defense. Public defender Michael Williams contends that his client suffers from “certain mental health disorders.” Earlier this year, a psychologist and a psychiatrist who examined Metzker-Madsen testified that he showed symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome. The psychiatrist, Dr. Arnold Andersen, said in a hearing in April that Metzker-Madsen’s mother used methamphetamine while pregnant with him.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — Residents in a southern Iowa county have been creating works of art from hay bales for Halloween. Lucas County’s annual hay bale art contest features more than 30 entries in three towns this year. The roadside pieces include a large gray and white cat, a caterpillar famed for its hunger, and a character from the Disney movie “Cars.”

Lyle Asell, committee chair for the three-year-old contest, says the pieces boost tourism. Visitors have been spotted snapping photos of them and chatting with their creators. Asell says people were skeptical of the contest in its first year, but that the number of entries continues to grow.

Members of the community vote for their favorite pieces, which have been on display for more than a month. The winners will be announced Saturday.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is campaigning with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst today (Tuesday). Rubio, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, spoke to a crowd of about 100 in Pella. “We desperately need people not just in the Senate, but in our party who understand how a strong America makes the world a better place,” Rubio said. According to Rubio, America is poised to dominate another century, but Rubio says Democrat Harry Reid, the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, is an impediment.

“We can’t start that new American century as long as people like Barack Obama occupy the highest office in the land and that’s why these election’s matter,” Rubio says. “Not only is the person running for the U.S. Senate here, Joni Ernst, a spectacular and special candidate, but the vote here for the senate isn’t just a vote for senator, it’s a vote on who is going to be the next majority leader of the United States Senate.”

Rubio is the keynote speaker this evening (Tuesday) for the Scott County Republican Party’s fall fundraising banquet in Bettendorf.

(Radio Iowa)

Jack Hatch and Monica Vernon, candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Iowa respectively, will be in Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 3rd, at 1:45-p.m. The pair will stop at the Cass County Democratic Headquarters at 511 Chestnut as they travel the state on the “Fresh Start Tour,” a six-day statewide tour across Iowa before the election.

Hatch served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993. In 1993, he accepted the position of State Director with US Senator Tom Harkin. He returned to the Iowa House after winning election in November, 2000, and then won his first term to the Iowa Senate in 2002 where he still serves. Presently, he is Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Budget Subcommittee.

Vernon was named by Hatch as his running mate on June 17th. She has served on the Cedar Rapids City Council since 2007, and earlier this year was a candidate for Congress in Iowa’s First District. Cass County Democratic Chair Sherry Toelle says Vernon spearheaded local efforts to raise $1.7 million to build a local shelter for homeless women and children. She has also been an advocate for jobs and economic development, civil and human rights, affordable housing, diversity and inclusion, education, neighborhood safety, and other quality of life issues affecting the region.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend Monday’s event. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

SALIX, Iowa (AP) — The driver of a semitrailer was sent to a hospital after his vehicle struck an Interstate 29 overpass in Iowa. The crash happened Tuesday morning at the Port Neal Interchange near Salix. A sand silo being carried by the semitrailer struck the bottom of the overpass.

The silo went into the median and struck two parked cars. The semitrailer continued on for about 100 feet and hit a construction crane. The driver was taken to a local hospital, but additional information was not released. The crash affected traffic for the southbound lanes for several hours.

A Red Oak man was arrested this (Tuesday) afternoon after he turned himself in to authorities. 28 year old Aaron Lucas Allen was taken into custody on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for first degree burglary. Allen was being held on 25-thousand dollar cash only bond at the Montgomery County Jail.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man on two charges following an incident that occurred at around 8:25-a.m. today (Tuesday). 53-year old Jose’ Gusman, of Council Bluffs, faces charges that include Robbery in the 1st Degree and 2nd Degree Attempted Kidnapping. He was arrested after allegedly robbing 19-year old Jessica Donnelly, of Council Bluffs at knife point in the parking of the Wal-Mart Store, at 3201 Manawa Center Drive.

Officials say Gusman, who was dressed in female clothing, was followed on foot by witnesses to the incident. Two of the witnesses had detained the man. After speaking with Donnelly and the witnesses, police was learned that Gusman had approached the woman as she was opening the door to her car. He then wrapped one arm around her and placed a knife to her thigh, demanding that she get into her car. Donnelly was able to push away from Gusman and run from the area, yelling for help. Witnesses in the area heard the victim and began following Gusman, who was walking south through the parking lot. Two of the witnesses physically detained Gusman near the entrance to Sams Club, which is located at 3221 Manawa Center Drive.

Gusman was then taken into Police custody. Donnelly was not injured during the incident.

From October 5th through October 10th, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 Unit participated in the Heart of America Police Dog Association’s certification process in Manhattan, Kansas. Certification was attended by approximately twenty five K9 teams from Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.

Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Gries and his K9 partner “Rage.”

During the week, the K9 team consisting of K9 Rage and Deputy Kent Gries were certified in numerous areas of police work including: tracking, narcotics detection, article search, suspect search, obedience and handler protection. Rage and Deputy Gries passed all of the certification scenarios without issue.

On the last day of certification, two certified K9 judges created a difficult scenario involving a barricaded subject inside of a commercial building structure.

The K9 teams were tasked with safely apprehending the barricaded subject while navigating obstacles presented to them throughout the scenario. Upon completion of the scenario, the judges graded each team’s performance and awarded first, second and third place trophies. K9 Rage and Deputy Kent Gries were awarded 2nd place for their efforts.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank all of the donors to the K9 unit and appreciate all of the well wishes that have been offered after Rage’s recent emergency surgery. Rage is doing well and is back to full duty.