Fire and water destroyed a home in rural Mills County, Saturday morning. According to reports, the blaze at a residence located along 370th Street, north of Hastings, may have been caused by a wood burning stove, but the incident remains under investigation. Firefighters from Hastings, Malvern and Emerson responded to the blaze, which was initially dispatched as a 1st floor chimney fire. The call came in at around 6-a.m. Officials said firefighters needed to knock out a wall in order to control the spread of the flames from the first floor to the upstairs area.

None of the home’s five occupants nor their pets, or firefighters were injured, but the home was declared a total loss due to the amount of water and smoke damage.  American Red Cross volunteers responded to assist the family in finding shelter and other necessities.

With KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson….

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Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday evening of 39-year old Eric Michael Huffstutlear, of Villisca. Huffstutlear was taken into custody at around 6:20-p.m., following a traffic stop at the intersection of north 5th Avenue and east 1st Street, in Villisca. He was charged with OWI/3rd offense, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $5,000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Adair County have released additional details about a fatal ice fishing accident we first told you about Saturday afternoon. Authorities say 62-year old James Alan Wallace, of Casey, died after falling through the ice while fishing on a private farm pond about six-miles southwest of Menlo.  Wallace’ family members had reported him missing to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office after he failed to return home from ice fishing Friday afternoon.

Following  a search of the area where Wallace was believed to have been fishing, an Adair County Sheriff’s deputy located the man’s vehicle near a farm pond, and shortly thereafter saw Wallace’ body in the water. He was pulled from the pond by rescue personnel and pronounced dead at the scene, by the Adair County Medical Examiner.

Deputies with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, officers with the Stuart Police Department Adair County Conservation officers, Menlo Fire and Rescue and the Adair County Ambulance all assisted in the search and recovery efforts.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Firefighters from Griswold were called to the scene of a house fire southwest of there early Sunday morning. Dispatch reports indicated the residence at 69191 540th Street was fully engulfed in flames just after 2-a.m.  Authorities said the home, which was owned by Orlan Cain, was believed to have been unoccupied, and had been the target of recent thefts.

A neighboring residence was safely evacuated as a precaution. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office called to assist in determining a cause. Firefighters were on the scene for a little more than two and one-half hours. They returned late Sunday night after authorities were notified about a gas leak, which was initially termed a “very dangerous situation” by Mid American Energy crews on the scene. Authorities were told an evacuation of nearby homes was necessary shortly after the call was received at around 8:45-p.m., but that turned out not to be the case.

(updated) 423 AM CST SUN FEB 10 2013

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR  MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT & PAGE COUNTIES.

BRISK SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS THIS MORNING WILL SHIFT TO WEST AND NORTHWEST AND INCREASE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON…AND CONTINUE STRONG INTO THE EVENING. WIND SPEEDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH IN THE MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING HOURS.

THESE STRONG WINDS WILL MAKE DRIVING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING…ESPECIALLY FOR LIGHT WEIGHT OR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS BETWEEN 45 TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

The City Council in Audubon is set to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2013-2014 budget. The review takes place during a regular meeting of the Council, which begins at 7-p.m. Monday. In other business, the Council will discuss an abatement notice, bid results for water tower repairs and improvements, and act on a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a notice of award and contracts relating to the project. The council will also decide on the color of the water tower, and, discuss and/or possibly act on mowing contracts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is seeking $6 million from the Legislature as part of changes in how the state helps domestic abuse victims. Miller asked a judiciary subcommittee last week for the money as his agency seeks to reduce its emphasis on shelters seen as underused and expensive.

The attorney general’s office, which oversees domestic abuse and sexual assault programs, wants to close up to 12 of the 20 shelters. Money saved by that move would go toward hiring 98 more advocates, adding to the 271 people who now help victims.  Advocates would focus more on helping people find permanent housing and support.

Some lawmakers and shelter administrators say the change could be hard on women in rural areas, where there are few housing options.