For the second time in nearly two years, a bronze sculpture has been stolen for its pedestal in downtown Sioux City. “The Goddess of the Grapes” was taken in September of 2015, but less than a week later it was back in place. Todd Behrens, the curator of Sioux City’s Art Center, says the sculpture vanished again a couple of months ago.

“We held off making some kind of public announcement because the last time it happened, as mysteriously as ‘The Goddess’ was taken, she reappeared,” Behrens says. “And so, we thought: ‘Well, let’s just give it some time. Maybe the person who took this time will have the same change of heart as the person did two years ago.” The Art Center has now filed a police report on this latest theft.

“Two years ago, after it was returned, we worked with the artist to create something a little more secure, so there would have been a little more of an effort required to have taken her this time,” Behrens says. “Obviously, it’s still not as secure as it needs to be, so when she returns we’ll have to rethink both how she’s displayed and where she’s displayed.”

The sculpture depicts a woman who’s holding grapes and reaching to the sky. The statue, which is 18-inches tall, is worth about four-thousand dollars and was purchased seven years ago by a non-profit group that placed sculptures in Sioux City’s downtown area.

(Radio Iowa)

The Regional Autism Assistance Program is losing 70-percent of its funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Advocates worry it will impact services for families whose children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Kris Steinmetz, executive director of the Autism Society of Iowa, says not having a local point person to help families access services close to home could make things more challenging.

Steinmetz says, “A lot of families are really worried about the cut of losing their family navigator, which is just a lifeline to services and sometimes they’ll even go to the school to help.” She fears the slashed program budget will impact that important local resource for people with autism.

“When you have a family navigator that’s specific to your area, especially if you live in rural Iowa, it’s really really important to have that person,” she says. A spokesman for University of Iowa Health Care — which runs the program — says the details of dealing with this budget cut aren’t yet final and declined further comment.

(Radio Iowa, with reporting By Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

An investigation into an accident Wednesday in Shenandoah led to the arrest of two men. The Shenandoah Police Department reports officers responded to a single-vehicle accident in front of the Eagles in the 700 block of West Thomas Avenue. The K9 Unit conducted an investigation, and K9 Officer Argo was deployed. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a controlled substance and paraphernalia equipment.

After further investigation by officers, the driver, 19-year old Max Mitchell, of Farragut, was arrested for OWI 1st offense, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. The passenger, 19-year old Zachary Higgins, of Shenandoah, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Mitchell and Higgins were taken to the Page County Jail where they are being held on $5,000 bond.

(Correction issued to victim’s name by C. Bluffs PD – name is Kadie Clark, NOT Kadie White) —  A shooting incident is under investigation in Council Bluffs. Authorities say 23-year old Kadie Clark, of Glenwood, was transported to Nebraska Medicine where she underwent emergency surgery for a gunshot wound. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

According to Bluffs Police, officers responded to the American Inn (2717 South 24th Street) at around 3:33-a.m. today (Thursday) after receiving word a woman had been shot in the face. The incident remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers (712) 328-7867.

Firefighters from Red Oak and five other communities responded to a residential fire at around 7:15-p.m., Wednesday. Fire Chief John Bruce told KJAN News the blaze appears to have started in a garage next to the home at 211 W. Reed Street, in Red Oak, which had been converted into three apartments.  The Chief says the first crews on the scene saw flames shooting out of the garage, which extended into the two-story residence. Two people resided in one of the apartments, but they were able to safely escape.

He said because the building had gone through numerous renovations, there were three voids, or spaces between the apartments, that made the fire hard to fight. The Chief said fighting that type of fire exhausts firefighters, which is why Red Oak Fire  requested assistance from other area departments.

That included Elliott, Villisca, Essex, Fire & EMS, Emerson and Stanton Fire, and assistance from several emergency agencies, such as the Red Oak Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County EMA, and the American Red Cross. The Chief wants to thank all the firefighters and others who assisted at the scene.

Crews were on the scene for five-hours. No injuries were reported. Bruce said unfortunately, it appears the home was a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County today (Thursday), released more information on an alleged abduction attempt in Menlo, Wednesday. Authorities say at 11:51 am, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a possible child abduction attempt in Menlo.  An 11 year old female child said she was walking near Panora St. and 4th St. when a vehicle approached her and asked for directions to Omaha.

When the young female approached the vehicle, a white male wearing a black ski mask and a Green Bay Packers ball cap exited the passenger side of the vehicle and grabbed the victim by her shoulder. The victim reacted appropriately and put up a fight and was able to run to a neighboring house where 911 was called.

The vehicle was described as a white 2000’s model SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe, with rust near the passenger wheel wells. The Stuart Police Department responded initially due to the sheriff’s office being occupied with Wednesday’s other arrest. Later in the afternoon, the sheriff’s office conducted a multi-hour investigation into the incident reviewing surveillance cameras around town and interviewing numerous witnesses. The vehicle is no longer believed to be in the Guthrie County area.

Information regarding the situation has been passed on to law enforcement state wide. If anyone in the Menlo area has additional information about the vehicle or its occupants, authorities want to speak with you. Call the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at (641)747-2214. The sheriff’s office does believe this is a valid report and urges parental caution when children are traveling alone in the public.