The American Red Cross held a successful blood drive Tuesday in Elk Horn, in honor of a young cancer survivor. The event was held at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in honor of Noah Petersen, of Walnut. Noah is a cancer survivor and went through numerous blood transfusions while having chemotherapy treatments.

The goal for the drive was to inspire more people to come donate blood and become a regular blood donor. The American Red Cross placed a goal of 41 units for the blood drive and co-director of the drive Ann Nelsen said the drive collected 51 units.

Nelson said “It’s a very wonderful community. They care about each other tremendously. They were all so involved when Noah was sick and he is presently doing great and not sick. They had all kinds of fundraisers. His father is on the school board and his mom has a business in town. They are imbeded in the community. It’s been a great showing.”

Exira Elk Horn Kimballton Superintendent Dean Schnoes was one of the persons who showed-up, rolled up his sleeve, and donated blood.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A western Iowa man was convicted Tuesday for sexually abusing a 12-year old female. The Omaha World-Herald reports 65-year-old David Anderson, of Carter Lake, was found guilty of 1^st degree sexual assault, after a one-day bench trial.  He’s scheduled to be sentenced in Sarpy County, NE., District Court, in March.

The victim, a Bellevue, NE girl, was 12-years old when she told her parents that Anderson was the second man to molest her. She said she has also been raped and molested from age 6 until 11 by another man in Douglas County. That man was sentenced in 2012 to at least 30 years in prison.

(Summary of earlier reports and updates on losses)

Authorities in four southwest Iowa Counties are investigating a rash of recent church burglaries. At least 10 churches were targeted. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says burglaries occurred at two churches near Lyman, sometime between Jan. 6^th and the 9^th. Churches in the Montgomery County towns of Villisca and Stanton were the target of thieves sometime last Thursday or Friday. Authorities in Page County are investigating numerous church burglaries in the county, and one in Clarinda. The incidents are believed to have occurred over the last five days, with the most recent one on Monday. And two more church burglaries took place in Taylor County, one of which also happened on Monday. Area law enforcement agencies are working together to try and solve the crimes, which are believed to be related. Cash appears to be the primary motive, according to the authorities, but electronic equipment is also a target

In Cass County, authorities say a person or persons unknown entered the Noble Center United Methodist Church in rural Lyman, by prying the lock from the back door. Burglars took a Power Point projector, a microphone, and an amplifier, with a combined value of $1,500. St John’s United Church of Christ, near Lyman, was also targeted, with thieves grabbing a latte machine, six boxes of flavor packets and about 20 bottles of water. The loss was estimated at $200. Anyone with any information regarding these break-ins is encouraged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at 712-243-2206.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer is asking area residents to call his office or your local law enforcement agency if they see something suspicious. All but one of the break-ins in Page County and Clarinda involved forced entry to the Churches. A Cash reward of up to $1000.00 is available for information leading to the arrest and indictment of person’s involved. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

In Montgomery County, Sheriff Joe Sampson says the Presbyterian and Mamreland Lutheran Churches in Villisca and Stanton were hit, with damage and losses amounting to about $2,000. At the Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Stanton, thieves got away with electronic equipment. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says one of the burglaries was reported Saturday at a church in Guss, where $250 in audio equipment was stolen. Another incident was reported Monday at a Siam church, which sustained approximately $300 in damage.

Authorities are recommending churches make sure the building is locked, not to keep cash on the premises, and secure electronic equipment, when possible.