COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa store where a clerk was attacked with a stun gun in robberies just days apart is now under police scrutiny.  Exotic Gifts in Council Bluffs and other stores with similar names in the Nebraska cities of Omaha and Lincoln were raided Thursday by agents with the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau. The Council Bluff store’s clerk was led away in handcuffs during the raids.  Federal authorities would not say what agents were seeking in the raid, but several boxes were seen being removed from the stores.  Only two weeks earlier, the clerk had been repeatedly shocked with a stun gun in back-to-back robberies. Two Omaha men have been arrested on suspicion of burglary in those robberies.

Officials with the Iowa National Guard say the 132nd Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard will be conducting an Operational Readiness Exercise, beginning this weekend. The exercise, scheduled to take place Sept. 15^th through the 21^st, is designed to increase the unit’s readiness for future domestic and combat operations at the Des Moines Airbase, which is located at the Des Moines International Airport.

F-16 fighter

In addition, increased flight operations will be conducted during the exercise in a temporary Military Operating Area (MOA) designed to provide realistic training. The MOA is situated in northwest Iowa and extends west from Carroll to Charter Oak, north to Sanborn, east to Whittemore, then southwest to Carroll. F-16 aircraft will be flying extended hours of operation, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., and at altitudes as low as 4,500 feet. Given the lower altitudes, aircraft may be visible and audible throughout the temporary operating area.

Authorities in Montgomery County and Mills Counties are investigating the theft and destruction of a vehicle taken from Red Oak.  The father of 29-year old Jessica Appley told KJAN News his daughter was notified about the incident early this (Friday) morning, by the Red Oak Police Department. Officials in Red Oak had been contacted by authorities in Mills County, who indicated Appley’s fire damaged 1999 Chevy Cavalier was located just south of the former Ponderosa Truck stop/Cafe, on Highway 34, east of Glenwood. The vehicle sustained extensive damage, and appeared to have been a total loss.

The incident remains under investigation by the Red Oak Police Department, along with the Mills and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments.