(Updated 3:37-a.m.) – At least seven fire departments responded to a large fire in Stuart Sunday evening. The blaze at the Stuart Sale Barn (523 Front Street) was reported at around 6:40-p.m.  The building is used for auctions, and often to sell livestock and farming equipment.

Firefighters from Stuart, Menlo, Casey, Adair, Dexter, Redfield and Earlham fought the wooden structure’s flames, but the empty and unoccupied building was nearly completely engulfed by the time the first crews arrived.

Authorities closed Highway 6 leading into Stuart and re-routed traffic while firefighters were on the scene and during the mop-up. A cause of the blaze had not been determined as of late Sunday evening.

A separate fire Sunday evening in Walnut was suspected to have been caused by a lightning strike. The owners told officials they heard a pop at around 6:15-p.m., and soon after smelled smoke. An investigation found wiring had burned through in an attic at 907 North Street caused some minor flame and smoke damage to the home. No injuries were reported. Earlier in the day, Sunday, a lightning strike is suspected of causing a fire at a motel in Council Bluffs.

The Audubon Police Department reports four arrests. On April 6th, 55-year old Joyce Hueton of Audubon, was arrested on an active warrant from Carroll County. Hueton was transferred to the Carroll County Sheriffs Office. On April 10th, 34-year old John C, Ruon of Omaha, was arrested for OWI – 2nd offense, Open Container, and Driving Without a License. Ruon was transported to the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 13th, 36-year old Spencer Reigh Lile, of Manilla, was arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. Lile was transported to the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office. And, on April 21st, 26-year old Andrew Roland Petersen of Audubon, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Petersen was cited and released.

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A program that offers new dentists help paying off their students loans is helping attract dentists to small towns in Iowa. Since the program started in 2002, 28 of the 31 dentists who received grants through the program have remained in Iowa.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman Sunday morning (4/24)  for making a false report to law enforcement. 57-year old Martha Lorene Freeman, of Villisca, was taken into custody for reporting on April 19th, that her vehicle had been stolen. After a brief investigation, it was determined the vehicle was in fact, NOT stolen.

Freeman was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Villisca man was arrested on an assault charge, Sunday afternoon. 44-year old Christopher D. Vannausdle, was taken into custody at around 1:45-p.m. for Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury. The charge is the result of an investigation into an incident that took place at around 10:45-a.m. Sunday, where an alleged victim in Villisca contacted authorities and reported an assault had occurred. The victim was said have had a minor injury that did not require medical treatment.

Vannausdle was located at his residence and arrested without incident. He was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail pending an initial court appearance.

An accident Saturday evening in Montgomery County resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man. Sheriff’s officials say a 1986 Ford Econoline van owned by Ann Luther and driven by 51-year old Douglas Dean Erickson, of Massena, was traveling east on 190th Street northeast of Red Oak at around 5:50-p.m., when Erickson looked back into the driver’s side mirror, and failed to notice the van had crossed the center line of the road. The mirror hit a stop sign at M Avenue. The impact knocked the mirror off the van.

The vehicle continued into a ditch and then drove out, heading east to O Avenue. Deputies stopped the vehicle at 201st and O Avenue, and took Erickson into custody for Driving While Revoked. He was also cited for No Proof of Insurance and Failure to Maintain Control. Erickson was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

Damage to the van was estimated at $100. The stop sign and post sustained $500 damage. No injuries were reported.