UPDATE – 7-25-2022: Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman, today (Monday) reports “After a joint investigation by the Red Oak Fire Department and Iowa State Fire Marshall’s Office, the cause and manner of the apartment fire has been determined to be an accident and electrical in nature.”

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At approximately 2:14pm, Sunday, the Montgomery County Communications Center received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting an upstairs apartment fire at 615 N 3rd Street in Red Oak, located just north of the downtown square. Officers of the Red Oak Police Department arrived on scene immediately and confirmed all occupants were out of the structure prior to Red Oak Fire arriving on scene. Red Oak Fire arrived on scene within 4 minutes of being paged and requested a second alarm structure fire response bringing additional crews from the Stanton Fire Department, Elliott Fire Department and additional aerial support from the Glenwood Fire Department.

Photos courtesy Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management.

Fire crews made an immediate and aggressive interior attack of the fire and were able to contain the fire to the origin apartment. Smoke and water damage is throughout the entire structure.
The American Red Cross was contacted to assist five displaced adults due to the fire.

No injuries to any occupants or firefighters on scene however two cats were located deceased and unable to be revived at the scene after attempts were made

The state of Iowa has about six-hundred doses of monkeypox vaccine. Due to the limited supply, officials say those who’ve been exposed to the virus are being prioritized for vaccination. The vaccine can prevent or limit the severity an infection. Dr. Aneesa Afroze of MercyOne in Des Moines says they have one patient with symptoms consistent with monkeypox and they’re awaiting test results. “Providers are watching patients presenting with any kind of rash,” she says.

People with monkeypox may have a fever, chills or a rash. According to the Centers for Disease Control, six cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Iowa. Dr. Afroze (ah-FROZE) says the virus is not easily transmissible like COVID-19, but people should still be aware of it. “Primarily it spreads between people through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs or body fluid,” she says. “Sometimes lesions, sores can be in the mouth or the throat and they can be coughed and spread via droplets or very close contact, like kissing.”

This weekend, the World Health Organization declared the spread of monkeypox a global health emergency. More than 16-thousand cases have been confirmed in 75 countries. As of Sunday, more than three-thousand cases had been confirmed in the U.S., including two cases in children.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katie Peikes)

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests. Friday night (July 22nd), a traffic stop in Adair resulted in the arrest of a woman from Greene County. An Adair Police Officer stopped a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Tamra Jean Mills, of Rippey. While questioning Mills, the Officer noticed a clear plastic bag under her leg. The bag appeared to contain marijuana. A search of the vehicle recovered the bag, plus two bags of a marijuana shake, a substance believed to be methamphetamine, and a pipe used for smoking meth. Mills was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd offense, and Poss. of Paraphernalia. She was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $3,300 cash or surety bond.

On July 21st, 29-year-old Joseph Colt Chinberg, of Dexter, was arrested at around 6:33-p.m. on Seattle Avenue, near Bridgewater. He was taken into custody on a Department of Corrections warrant for Violation of Parole, and held without bond in the Adair County Jail. The warrant was based on charges in Polk County. Also arrested on the 21st, and at around 3-p.m., was 39-year-old Stacy Jean Quakenbush, of Lincoln, NE. She was taken into custody in Greenfield, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Violation of Probation. Her bond was set at $2,000 cash or surety.

On July 19th at around 8:45-p.m., Greenfield Police arrested 32-year-old Kenny Joe Cunningham, of Creston, for Driving While Barred. He was cited at the scene and released. And, at around 7:17-p.m. on July 19th, Adair County Deputies arrested in Fontanelle, 35-year-old Kevin James Jungers, of Lenox. He was taken into custody for Driving While Barred and Operating a vehicle without Registration. Jungers was released at the scene with a citation.

(Atlantic) Online court records indicate the second trial on numerous charges for 30-year-old Anthony Asay, of Atlantic, has been moved to September. The request for a continuance was filed Friday, by Asay’s Attorney, Robert J. Engler. Asay’s trial was set to take place August 2^nd in Cass County District Court.

Asay stands accused of Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His new jury trial date is September 27^th at 9:30 a.m., with a Pretrial Conference on September 19^th.

The charges stem from an alleged stabbing incident on Cedar Street in May. Nearly two weeks ago, a separate jury found Anthony Asay Not Guilty on the charges of Attempted Murder, Arson 1^st Degree and Assault Causing Bodily Injury in connection with a house fire on Cedar Street on May 4^th.

(Adair, Iowa) – A teen from Stuart suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during a rollover accident Thursday evening, about six-miles west of Adair. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports 16-year-old Landon D. Osberg was traveling south on Quail Avenue in a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup, before turning west onto 350th Street. An investigation determined the vehicle had been operated in “a careless manner,” before it skidded into the south ditch off of 350th, and rolled onto its top. The accident happened at around 6:26-p.m.

There were four people in the pickup, in addition to the driver. No other injuries were reported. Authorities say Landon Osberg suffered minor injuries to his leg. The pickup sustained $10,000 damage. Osberg was issued a citation for Careless Driving.