Officials with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department report a Mt. Ayr woman missing since late Friday afternoon was found Saturday by a search party.  74-year old Shirley Martin, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was located at approximately  2:00-p.m., northwest of her residence. Chief Deputy Sheriff Rob Haley says Martin was found about three-quarters of a mile from her home in a shallow hole on the edge of a corn field, surrounded by brush and timber.  She was conscious and was transported to Ringgold County Hospital and then air lifted to Des Moines, where she was later reported to be in good condition.

Martin was reported missing after she left her home at 1984 270th Avenue sometime between the hours of 12:30-p.m. and 4:30-p.m. Friday. Deputy Haley says the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the nearly 600 people and law enforcement officers who participated in the search effort. The volunteers had began to gather at around 7-a.m. Saturday at a church north of Mt. Ayr, to coordinate their search efforts.     

Authorities in southwest Iowa’s Ringgold County are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman missing from her home in Mt. Ayr.

74-year-old Shirley Mae Martin

Sheriff’s Officials say 74-year-old Shirley Mae Martin, left her residence at 1894 270th Ave of Mt. Ayr sometime between the hours of 12:30 and 4:30pm on Friday had hasn’t been seen since.  The woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was last seen wearing a pair of blue jeans, t-shirt and a sweatshirt, color unknown.

Volunteers have banded together to aid in a search for the woman.If you have seen her, or know where she is,  contact the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office at 641-464-3921, or your local authorities.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has set a record for early voting, reflecting a push by the major political parties to lock in votes from supporters. As of Friday, nearly 584,000 Iowans had voted, already exceeding the 2008 record of 545,000 early votes.  About 70 percent of the votes were absentee ballots sent by mail to the voter’s home. Another 20 percent were cast at county auditor’s offices and about 10 percent at satellite locations designated by local election officials.

A significant number of ballots remain in the hands of voters and could still be returned. Nearly 700,000 voters have requested ballots. They can be returned in person by 9 p.m. Tuesday. If they’re mailed, they must be postmarked by Monday.

State and local officials are investigating a structure fire that occurred this (Saturday) morning near Sidney, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Department says they received a call about the fire at 3061 170th Street, just before 2-a.m.  No one was in the home at the time. Firefighters from Sidney Fire and Rescue, were assisted in battling the blaze, by crews from Randolph, Tabor and Riverton. The home sustained extensive fire and smoke damage. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were on the scene for about 90-minutes. The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s Office, with assistance from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

(9-a.m. News)