A residence southeast of Oakland was destroyed by fire early this (Friday) morning, but the family was able to escape without injury. According to reports, the blaze at 18333 450th Street, occurred at around 4-a.m. Residents were alerted to the situation when they heard popping and cracking noises.

Crews with the Oakland, Carson and Hancock Fire Departments responded to the scene and upon arrival discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from the basement and first floor areas.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Firefighters from Minden, Underwood  and Neola responded to an outbuilding fire in rural Pottawattamie County, Thursday morning. The call came in at around 8:30-a.m. Upon arrival at the farm west of Minden, crews reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure. Crews battled windy and cold conditions for about an hour.

Photos from the Minden Fire & Rescue Dept.’s Facebook page.

Minden fire was assisted at the scene by crews from the Neola and Underwood Fire and Rescue Departments. There was no immediate word on what caused the blaze. No injuries were reported. Additional details are currently not available.

Two Creston residents were arrested Thursday for allegedly shoplifting items from the Creston Wal-Mart store. Creston Police says Loss Prevention officials at the store detained 33-year old Cynthia McIntosh and 33-year old Raymond Davis. An investigation determined the pair allegedly tried to take a stocking cap valued at slightly more than two-dollars. McIntosh and Davis were arrested for 5th Degree Theft. Both were later released from the Union County Jail and given a summons to appear in court.

NEW KENT, Va. (AP) – Two Iowa residents are charged with abduction with intent to defile in New Kent County. WTKR-TV reports that Aldair Hodza and Laura Sorensen of Clive, Iowa, were arrested Tuesday after a truck driver called the New Kent Sheriff’s Office reporting suspicious activity around an RV at a gas station. Police found a man and two females inside the RV.

According to court records, one of the females seemed afraid and malnourished. She was taken outside and questioned. She said she was being abused and held against her will, and she begged police not to let her go back in the RV. Hodza and Sorensen are scheduled to appear in New Kent County General District Court on Feb. 11.