Officials with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating last Friday afternoon’s explosion and fire at the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) plant, located at 10868 189th Street in rural Council Bluffs. The explosion and fire happened at around 3:30-p.m., while a fuel tanker truck was being loaded with fuel. The driver of the truck was severely injured by the explosion and was flown by LifeFlight to the University of Nebraska Hospital’s Burn Unit. The victim is in critical but stable condition and continues to be treated at this time. The name of the victim will be released by his company (CHS) when all family members have been notified.

The Lewis Township Fire Department, along with fire departments from Council Bluffs, Treynor, Offutt Air Force Base, and approximately seven (7) other fire departments responded to the explosion.

Authorities say this is an on-going investigation by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) State Fire Marshal Division (SFM), the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, and the Council Bluffs Fire Department.

Currently, there is no specific cause has been determined for the explosion/fire.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says a Bridgewater woman was arrested Friday night on multiple drug charges. 31-year old Sherrece Patricia Kilgore was taken into custody at around 7:10-p.m. for: Theft in the 5^th degree; Trepass with intent to commit a public offense (at KC’s Tavern in Bridgewater); 9 counts of Prescription Drug Violation, for having in her possession without a prescription, varying amounts of Alprazolam, Diazepam, Baclofen, Prednizone, Gabapentin, Naproxen, Vyvanse, and cyclobenzaprine; Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine; and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (multiple meth and marijuana pipes).

Kilgore was brought to the Adair County Jail and released Saturday morning on $2,000 bond. 51-year old Mark Elmer Steil, of Bridgewater, was arrested Oct. 5^th on an Adair County warrant for felony Theft in the 2^nd degree. Steil was being held in the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, 31-year old Tanya Jo Bakalar, of Greenfield, was arrested Oct. 3^rd on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was released the next day on her own recognizance after making an initial appearance before a magistrate.

A traffic stop in Audubon County Sunday afternoon resulted in the arrest of three men on drug charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says the traffic stop took place in Brayton at around 2:30-p.m., Sunday. Taken into custody was 19-year old’s Verlyn Duane Richardson, Jr., and Kyle James Hernandez, both of Des Moines, and 44-year old Verlyn Duane Richardson, Sr., of Audubon.

Hernandez and Verlyn Richardson, Jr., were charged Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. Verlyn Richardson, Sr., was charged with Possession of Contraband, Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The trio was booked into the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before the Magistrate.

The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program through Cass County Public Health is looking for young families to enroll in their program. PAT provides home visits to help young children grow up healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The PAT educators help communities partner with parents to do a better job of preparing children for a stronger start in life and for greater success in school.

PAT Educators Nancy Gibson and Victoria Means provide monthly home visits to families with young children—from prenatal visits through entering Kindergarten. During those visits, they work on getting a complete health history, doing developmental screenings to catch any delays as early as possible, check on immunizations, and much more. Children in the program also have access to free vision, hearing, and dental checks.

Gibson says “We’ve been in Cass County for 18 years, and we are a credentialed, evidence-based program. We provide support to the parents and kids. It’s not just for the children—it’s about the whole family.” The families are very active in deciding the goals for the program. Maybe it’s a goal for the child, but it might be a goal for the parent. Gibson says “We also provide activities that are specifically chosen to meet a need for that family – maybe it’s a game that works on fine-motor development. Or we’ll work on discipline strategies and techniques, language, or healthy back-to-school routines. If it’s a goal or concern for that family, then that’s what we are going to work on together.”

Literacy is a major component, and PAT offers a “traveling library.” The educators will bring a selection of books with them for the family to read during the next month, when a new batch of books will be swapped out. Parents who are interested in the program can contact Nancy Gibson at 712-243-7475. Referrals are also welcome—anyone who knows of a family that could benefit from participating is encouraged to call.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says a rural Braddyville man reported late last week, that sometime over the past two months, someone stole two cows and a bottle of alcohol from his property. The cows include a two-year old, and a Longhorn brindle cow. One of the cows, a calf, weighed 350-pounds.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193.

A Glenwood man was arrested Sunday, on a felony assault charge. According to Glenwood Police, 50-year old Carl Galvan was taken into custody for felony Domestic Abuse Assault, and, unlawful possession of Prescription drugs. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Also arrested Sunday in Glenwood, was 39-year old Lance Cole, of Glenwood, who was charged with Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.