SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Eight of 69 cats taken in October from a Sioux City house are ready for adoption. The Sioux City Journal reports that the cats, all males, are being made available after they tested negative for feline leukemia. Cindy Rarrat with Sioux City Animal Control says another of the cats was adopted last week.

Rarrat says the nine cats were the lone survivors of 69 caught and trapped at a Sioux City house in October. Most were euthanized because they were too ill or unsocial for adoption. Officials say the house was covered with feces and extremely unsanitary. About 20 dead cats were removed from the property.

Homeowner Mark Lanning has been charged with 14 counts of animal neglect, all misdemeanors. His case is still pending.

NELIGH, Neb. (AP) – A northeast Nebraska man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend from western Iowa, and her new husband, has waived his preliminary hearing.  Sioux City, Iowa television station KTIV reports 33-year-old Matthew Hinrichsen was in Antelope County, NE., Court on Tuesday, where he waived the hearing and faced the families of those killed. Hinrichsen has been charged with arson and two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 25-year old Victoria Lee and her husband, 30-year-old Alex Vargas, of Missouri Valley.

Investigators found the bodies of the newlywed couple in a burned-out mobile home, near Ewing. Authorities say the couple were shot before the mobile home was set on fire.  Hinrichsen’s arraignment has been set for Jan. 30.  Court documents say Hinrichsen had been having problems recently with Lee, who was his ex-girlfriend.

The Atlantic City Council will hold its last regularly scheduled meeting of the year tonight (Wednesday). During their session at City Hall, which begins at 5:30-p.m., the Council will hear a report from Nishna Valley YMCA Director Dan Haynes,  and they’ll hold discussion with regard to the tax abatement/tax rebate programs.

City Administrator Doug Harris says Mayor Dave Jones asked for the matter to be on the agenda, so that the Council can come together and give the Community Development Committee some direction, as the Committee reviews the subject and prepares its recommendations for the Council.  Jones has said there are many good things going on in Atlantic, and he’s interested in finding ways of encouraging property owners to improve their properties and revitalize neighborhoods. In addition, officials with CADCO (the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation)m have stated that Tax Abatements are an additional incentive tool they would like to see the City offer.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on approving the appointment of Mike Waters to the Library Board. His appointment would, if approved, fill the unexpired term of Luther Gillett, through July 1st, 2014. Prior to adjournment, the Council will enter into a closed session for the annual evaluation of City Administrator Doug Harris.

Fire has struck a cruel blow to the southwest Iowa man who was trying to make Christmas merrier. Firefighters from Villisca Monday responded to a fire at a two-story Nodaway residence serving as a storage facility and workshop for Vince Else, who has collected, restored and provided toys for distribution to children for decades.

Corning Fire Chief Donnie Willet served as investigating officer for the fire, which was located next to Else’s residence. Willet says the structure was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived at 12:30 a.m. Eventually, fire officials decided it was not safe to continue battling the fire and allowed it to burn itself out. Willet says the house is a total loss. Fortunately, Willet says not all of the toys Else collected were destroyed.

Many of the toys to be distributed this Christmas were taken to the Nodaway Community Center before the fire. However, Willet says the fire has struck a severe blow to Else’s efforts in the future.

(Mike Peterson/Radio Iowa – Shenandoah)