The Creston Police Department reports 46-year old Alex Cellan, of Red Oak, was arrested Wednesday night. Cellan was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation on the original charge of Theft 2nd. Cellan was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting bond hearing.

Authorities said also, a Des Moines woman reported to the Creston Police Dept., Tuesday, that at a mailbox had been destroyed on property she manages at 107 N Maple Street. The incident happened sometime between 8-a.m. Sept. 1st and 8-a.m. Sept. 3rd. The loss was estimated at $250.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa woman accused of lying about killing her husband has entered a plea. Plymouth County District Court records say 35-year-old Becky Hebert, of rural Akron, entered a written Alford plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Her sentencing has not been scheduled.

She’d originally been charged with second-degree murder for the Oct. 6, 2017, shooting death of 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert. The charge was dismissed just weeks later. Deputies reported that she said numerous times that she’d shot her husband — statements that they later concluded were lies.

No other arrests for the slaying have been reported.

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne will kick-off her 16-county tour for September today (Thursday), with stops in Warren, Madison, Dallas, Guthrie, Cass and Adams Counties. Rep. Axne will start the day by hosting a “Connect with Your Congresswoman” (CWYC) in Warren County. She will then head to Madison County to tour a local farm with the Conservation Districts of Iowa (11:30 AM – 12:15 PM). Next, she will tour the Adel Historical Museum in Dallas County (1:30 PM – 2:15 PM) and the Saints Center in Guthrie County (2:45 PM – 3:30 PM ).

Rep. Axne will spend the afternoon at the Produce In the Park/Atlantic Famers Market in Atlantic (4:30 PM – 5:15 PM) , and will end the day with a second CWYC town hall in Adams County (6:15 PM – 7:00 PM).

Axne’s CWYC town hall events provide an opportunity for constituents to meet the Congresswoman, ask questions regarding her work in Washington, and discuss concerns facing local communities.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s auditor is calling on other state officials to join him in refusing to pay appeal costs in a lawsuit filed against former Gov. Terry Branstad, who was found by a jury to have discriminated against a former state official. Auditor Rob Sand says in a letter to the Iowa Executive Council he plans to vote against any appeal costs in the lawsuit filed by former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey against Branstad.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines group is announcing preliminary plans for a public market at the downtown site of a high-profile but struggling arts organization. The group, which includes business organizations, the city of Des Moines, Polk County and Drake University, announced Wednesday it would study how to turn the Des Moines Social Club’s building into a public market featuring food, art, entertainment and educational programs. For decades, the building was headquarters for the Des Moines Fire Department.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The FBI has named a 20-year veteran of the bureau as the new special agent in charge of the Omaha Field Office, overseeing Nebraska and Iowa. A news release Wednesday from the FBI named Kristi Koons Johnson as the new special agent in charge of the two-state office. She had been serving as chief of a section that investigates transnational criminal organizations at FBI Headquarters in Washington.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say they’ve arrested a woman suspected of being an accessory after the fact in the May shooting deaths of two teens in Cedar Rapids. The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Alexandra Lanee Nicole Smith was arrested Monday on the charge. Police say Smith helped a man charged in the May 18 shooting deaths of Matrell Johnson and Royal Abram, both 18, outside the Iowa Smoke Shop in Cedar Rapids.

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Wednesday, arrested a Red Oak woman on an active Montgomery County warrant. Authorities say 33-year old Sara Sue Batten was taken into custody on the warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred, charge. Batten was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Members of the City of Atlantic’s Community Development Committee received a proposal for consideration, for a Housing Rehab Project from non-profit Shift ATL founders Jessie Shiels and Alexis Fleener, during their meeting Wednesday evening.

Alexis Fleener (Center) & Jessie Shiels (right) speak with the Atlantic CDC

The organization purchased the former Downtowner Restaurant building on 4th Street, with hopes of converting into office space on the lower floor and an apartment or BNB-type living area, on the top floor. They recently demolished some of the building’s interior in preparation for renovation.

During their meeting with the CDC, Alexis Fleener said the Downtowner was purchased as just the first step in furthering community development, involvement and economic development.  She said in speaking with City Administrator John Lund, Mayor Dave Jones and Councilman Pat McCurdy, “it was brought-up that the City may have some funds available to put towards housing, but we didn’t know how to move forward or approach that.” City Administrator John Lund said there is $36,000 in LMI (Low-to Moderate Income Housing) money that may used as seed money, along with $55,000 from the sale of the Senior Center that could be used for the pilot project. He said in all, there is more than $20,000 and less than $100,000 that might be available.

She said their are other, similar organizations across the State that are addressing housing, economic and retail development. Shift ATL aspires to model itself after those models in establishing a housing rehab project for their growing organization and its partners to become involved with. The rehab project would focus on older housing stock available for sale.

Shiels said housing stock for young professionals looking to make Atlantic their home is in short supply, especially in the $100,000 to $150,000 range (dual-income family), which realtors have told her they would have a list of 10 potential owners ready to jump on a home in that price range. The organization hopes the City will be willing to chip-in with the seed money.

Shift-ATL is working with T-S Bank for the financing of a low-interest loan to purchase the house plus construction cost. You can learn more about Shift ATL during a block party/fundraiser planned for October 26th on 4th Street, between Chestnut and Walnut. There will be a band, food truck, beer garden and more. Expect further details in the weeks ahead.