SPENCER, Iowa (Sioux City Journal) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa have identified a man whose body was found inside a burning home. Spencer Fire Department Deputy Chief Mark Stover said Tuesday in a news release that 70-year-old Larry Classon died on Feb. 13 in a fire at his Spencer home.

The Sioux City Journal reports that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Stover says Classon died of smoke inhalation. Classon’s body was found the morning of Feb. 13 after firefighters were called to his house and arrived to find the home in flames.

The Villisca Fire Department reports a barn in rural Villisca was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning, and a number of livestock were lost. Officials say crews were dispatched to Gale Fisher’s property at 2778 265th Street around 6:32-a.m., following a report of a barn on fire. When crews arrived, they found a large barn was fully engulfed in flames. Additional help was called for from the Stanton and Grant Fire Departments for the use of their tankers.

Photo via the Montgomery County Emergency Mgmt. Agy.

Authorities say the owners were unable to get a small number of livestock out of the barn and the animals perished in the fire. While the barn was a total loss, firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to a nearby second barn and a house.

No injuries were reported. Official said it’s believed that an alternative heat source for the livestock may have started the fire. Crews were on the scene for about 3 1/2 hours.

Villisca Fire was assisted at the scene by Villisca Rescue, the Grant…Stanton and Red Oak Fire Departments, Montgomery County Sheriff’s office, and Montgomery County EMA. The Villisca Fire Department also thanked the Fisher family for their assistance at the scene.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced Monday tot two-years in prison for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. A District Court Judge also sentenced 29-year old Jacob Allen Washburn, of Council Bluffs, to a three-year term of supervised following the completion of his sentence.

On July 3, 2019, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that Washburn was sitting in a vehicle parked in a homeowner’s driveway. When law enforcement responded, Washburn produced a valid Iowa Driver’s License and identified himself, however, he did not have any registration or ownership paperwork for the vehicle. Authorities say Washburn appeared to be disoriented, and did not know where he was when questioned. While investigating, deputies saw a digital scale in the vehicle and Washburn was detained.

A pistol was found in Washburn’s left front pocket. The vehicle also contained a Remington Model 870 Express 12-gauge shotgun, and a Marlin Model 60 .22 LR semiautomatic rifle. Additionally, a bag containing 5.3 grams of methamphetamine was found in Washburn’s pocket, and a bag containing 17.4 grams of methamphetamine was located in the vehicle. Washburn admitted that he had a prior felony conviction.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement and the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Atlantic, IA — As part of an effort to make Cass County Health System’s building more secure for patients, families, and employees, officials with CCHS announced today (Tuesday) that two exterior doors will be closed for public use beginning March 1, 2020.

“We have an obligation to our patients and staff to do everything we can to protect their safety and privacy,” said Lee Wyman, Plant Operations Director. “We are locking two doors on the southeast and southwest sides of our building, which are generally used only by staff. We recognize that several long-term patients occasionally use these doors so we do want to let people know about this change.”

All patients and visitors should use one of three public entrances:
· The Main Entrance located next to parking lot A.
· The Emergency Department entrance located next to parking lot C.
· The Rehabilitation Services entrance located next to parking lot C.

“We also feel that it is safer for the public to use only these three entrances. In case of emergencies, these entrances are more likely to have staff close at hand or monitoring them via cameras,” said Wyman.

With the addition of AMC Rapid Care, the previous Evening Clinic entrance is now closed. All Atlantic Medical Center and AMC Rapid Care patients should use the Main Entrance.