Two Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies were involved in a pursuit early this (Sunday) morning that resulted in damage to a sheriff’s vehicle and an arrest. Deputy Kyle Quist told KJAN News that just before 1:20-a.m., Sheriff’s Deputies in Pottawattamie County were pursuing a 1999 Ford Explorer that was making its way toward Cass County on Highway 92 near 480th.

The pursuit continued into Cass County, with speeds reaching 80-to 90-miles per hour through Griswold. The chase went east to Highway 71, where Deputy Ben Bartholomew was waiting with “stop sticks” deployed. The SUV hit the sticks at around 1:30-a.m. and entered a field, came back out of a ditch and rammed into the rear of Bartholomew’s cruiser.

The SUV continued into the intersection at Lyman, where Pott. County Deputies performed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle. The vehicle continued and eventually struck Deputy Bartholomew’s cruiser on the front and nearly struck Quist’s SUV. The suspect continued to drive south on Highway 71 for a couple of miles before the vehicle became disabled.

The suspect, 37-year old Joseph Lee Ray Bartlett, of Council Bluffs, was then taken into custody. Bartlett was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he faces multiple charges in that county, as well as Cass County. In Cass County, the charges will include assault on an officer, using a vehicle as a weapon. Quist said Bartlett was also wanted on warrants out of Montgomery County for felony Burglary and Theft.

Deputy Bartholomew’s vehicle was still functional after the impacts. He told KJAN News the push bumper on the front of the car prevented more serious damage to the radiator, engine and suspension. The rear quarter panel also sustained some damage. No injuries were reported following the incident.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office late Saturday night released more information about a fatal house fire that took place in Casey Friday afternoon. Officials say 53-year old Melody Bole, of Casey, died in the blaze. Her husband, Duane Nelson, suffered significant burns to his upper body and arms, and was transported to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and subsequently transferred to Iowa City, where he was released from care, Saturday. In addition, two dogs survived the fire while two other dogs perished.

The incident began at 3:21- p.m. Friday, when the Guthrie County Dispatch Center took multiple reports of house fire with possible human entrapment at 205 W. 1st St. in Casey. Fire departments from Adair, Casey and Menlo were dispatched to the scene along with Adair and Stuart Rescue.

When the fire was reported, a concrete crew was working on a cement project in the back yard of the same property. Members of the concrete crew attempted a rescue but were unable to reach the trapped party. A member of the concrete crew was a Casey volunteer fire fighter and was able to get equipment to the scene rapidly.

Duane Nelson entered the residence in an effort to find his wife but was unsuccessful. When law enforcement arrived on scene, heavy smoke was coming from the residence. After a majority of the fire was rapidly extinguished by fire personnel, the body of Melody Bole was found inside the residence.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Guthrie County Medical Examiner. The investigation is now being handled by the State Fire Marshall’s Office. The results of an autopsy are pending at this time.

Residents of Audubon are being asked to conserve water until at least noon, Sunday. Ed Mahlstadt, with the City of Audubon Public Works said crews are still working on replacing a water line that has a long split in it. The 32-inch split is in the line that comes down from the water tower and circles back toward the water plant.

Crews have temporarily patched the split, but the water flow has been shut off to the water tower. Until a permanent repair is made, residents are asked to conserve water where possible. Mahlstadt said the water is safe, they just need people to continue use water sparingly until the repair is made.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to be leery of traveling salespersons.  Citizens have recently reported that door to door salespersons have become “pushy” in attempts to enter residence to attempt to sell their items to residents.

If residents do not wish to be shown any of the products it is advised to tell the person to leave the property without letting them into the residence.  If persons do not leave the property immediately, call the proper Law Enforcement agency for assistance in removing the person.  It is not advised to let them into the residence even to use the phone for a ride, once they have been told to leave.

Some of the towns in Page County have ordinances against door to door salespersons without a permit.

Residents of Audubon are being asked to conserve water effective immediately. Ed Mahlstadt, with the City of Audubon Public Works, said at 5:55-p.m., there was an issue with the water plant in Audubon, and until the matter is resolved, please conserve water. He said a 10-inch main coming down from the water tower that circles back toward the water plant, has a 32-inch split in it. Crews have excavated a hole and a replacement pipe is being readied to install. In the meantime, residents are asked to conserve water where possible. Mahlstadt said the water is safe, they just need people to conserve usage for about three hours.

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found northwest Iowa man guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of an Emmet County man. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that the verdict was for a lesser offense than the first-degree charge prosecutors had brought against 19-year-old Lee Christensen. Christensen was found guilty in the June 2015 shooting death of 19-year-old Thomas Bortvit at the Christensen farm in the Estherville area.

Defense attorneys acknowledged that Christensen killed Bortvit, but argued that it was a killing in the heat of passion over Bortvit’s girlfriend, whom Christensen had once dated. Prosecutors said Christensen planned the killing and tried to cover up his crime. Christensen’s sentencing is set for Sept. 16, when he faces up to 50 years in prison.

A boating collision that resulted in one vessel sinking to the bottom of the Missouri River is being investigated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The collision occurred just after 10 p.m. Friday when a 24-foot boat operated by 45-year old Corey Fuller, of Omaha, Neb., collided with another boat being operated by 43-year old Anthony Wilson, of Bellevue, Neb.., on the Missouri River near Council Bluffs.

The boat operated by Fuller sunk to the bottom of the river following the collision. Fuller and a passenger on his boat, 42-year old Kristine Schwab, also of Omaha, Neb., were rescued from the water by another boat. They were not wearing life jackets, but did have life jackets with them. Anthony Wilson’s wife, 37-year old Deanne Wilson,  suffered minor injuries in the collision and was treated and released from Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Neither of the Wilsons were thrown in the water as a result of the collision.

Alcohol was not a factor in the collision. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.