Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A discarded cigarette that blew up under some siding caused a smoldering-type fire this (Tuesday) afternoon, at a motel in Atlantic. The incident at the Super 8 Motel on east 7th Street was reported just before 4:30-p.m.   The manager had tried to put the embers out with a couple of fire extinguishers, but was unsuccessful, and notified the fire department. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News the cigarette managed to make its way into a crevasse between the siding and the concrete foundation, that was not much bigger than 1/4 to 1/2-inch wide. It started smoking between two layers of siding, and the smoke began to filter into a suite on the east side of the Motel.

Guests in the room noticed the smoke and notified the manager. No injuries were reported. McNees said there was some damage to the siding and smoke inside the motel room, but the damage was not major. If the fire had gone unnoticed for a great length of time, there could have much more significant damage to the structure. Fire crews were on the scene for less than 30-minutes.

A reminder to area high school seniors and those currently pursuing a career in the field of health: several scholarships are available to area students through Cass County Health System and its affiliate organizations…

• Cass County Health System offers a $1000 scholarship to southwest Iowa students pursuing a four-year degree in a health-related career.  Deadline is April 5, 2013.
• Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary provides two, $1000 Grant-in-Aid scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career.  Deadline is March 31, 2013.
• Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation offers two, $5000 Louie and Elsie Hansen Memorial scholarships for graduates of a Cass County high school who will be attending a medical or nursing school leading to an MD, RN, or LPN degree.  Deadline is April 1, 2013.

Applications are available on the Cass County Memorial Hospital website, www.casshealth.org, and can be turned in to the CCMH Human Resources Office or Cass County High School guidance offices by the respective deadlines listed above.  For more information, contact Sara Nelson, Director of Public Relations, 712-243-7408.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office K9 teams say they are honored to accept the donation of two K-9 vests for the County’s k-9’s, “Kane,” and “Mufasa.” The vests will protect the dogs in dangerous situations, and are made possible thanks to a nationwide Groupon event sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

An example of the k-9 vest on a police dog in New Hampshire. (Vested Interest k-9’s, Inc. photo)

Groupon Grassroots is currently running an animal-related campaign to outfit police K9’s with bullet- and stab-protective vests through midnight on March 20th, 2013. Persons interested in purchasing a protective vest for k-9’s units across the country, can do so by donating $10 online at www.groupon.com/k9. 100-percent of the donations will benefit Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc., a non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. Your donation is tax deductible, and is made through a secure website. A partner  insurance company will match all donations up to $20,000. All proceeds will go towards protective vests for the law enforcement dogs who put their lives on the line for the community and their human partners.

The goal is to raise over $95,000 by the end of the event at midnight on March 20th, 2013, which will allow Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc., to outfit 100 police dogs with vests throughout the United States. The vests typically cost a little over $1,000 each, and each lasts for about 5-years.

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About Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc.: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., is a 501c(3) all-volunteer charity located in East Taunton, MA, whose mission is to provide bullet- and stab-protective vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a five-year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life-saving body armor for their dog K9 officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., provided 66 police dogs with protective vests in 2012. In September 2012, the non-profit hit a milestone of donating $100,000 worth of protective vests to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

The organization orders the US-made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA, who also does the custom-embroidery on the body armor. New K9 graduates as well as K9’s with expired vests are eligible to be added to the organization’s waiting list.

President Sandy Marcal began working with law enforcement agencies in 2000 to coordinate efforts between various law enforcement agencies, vest sponsorships, fundraising events and the media within Massachusetts. In 2011, efforts were expanded to assist police dogs throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., currently has a list of over 20 police dogs needing vests. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax-deductible donations and event listings are via the website www.vik9s.org.

A traffic stop in Cass County Tuesday resulted in the arrest on drug charges, of a Nebraska woman. Sheriff’s officials report 54-year old Grace Ann Miodowski, of Omaha, was taken into custody charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2^nd Offense, Prohibited Acts, and OWI 1^st Offense. Miodowski was brought to the Cass County Jail where she was being held on $5000 bond.

The Iowa State Patrol this (Tuesday) afternoon released additional details about an accident that happened earlier in the day, on Interstate 80. Officials say 58-year old Elizabeth Ann Brecht, of Clive, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic by Anita Rescue, after the 2012 Ford Fusion she was driving collided with the rear of a 1998 International semi and then rolled over, coming to rest on its roof in the right lane of I-80 westbound, near the 67-mile marker, or about three-miles east of the Wiota Exit. Brecht remained trapped in her vehicle until rescue crews could free her. The accident happened at around 7:15-a.m.

The semi driver, 56-year old Gerald Eugene Weikel, of Ossian, IN., was not injured during the collision.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday evening of a woman wanted for probation revocation. 22-year old Justine Sheree Powers, of College Springs, was arrested in Montgomery County, just after 5-p.m.   She was brought to the Page County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond. Powers is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.