The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office said Tuesday, it received many reports over the past several days about loud explosions or gun shots being fired. Authorities say the noises appeared to have originated in the northwest part of Guthrie Center. Late Monday night, officers were able to pin point and identify the source of the explosions.

Guthrie Center Police Chief Rod Pavelka, says Rose Acre Farms is using a device intended to keep the migratory birds away from their water treatment lagoons due to the Avian Flu spreading closer to the County. This device uses propane and fires off a burst, which is essentially a small explosion. The location of the device is high enough on the hills behind Rose Acres that the sound travels easily into town and echoes off of our many metal buildings.

Pavelka says the device will primarily be used during dawn and dusk periods  during the day. These explosions pose no danger to our citizens, but are a minor irritation from the noise. The explosions are fairly random, but are harmless.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports deputies arrested 41-year old Lisa Jennifer Holtz , of Westboro, Mo., Monday, at the Page County Courthouse. Holtz was taken into custody on a Page County Warrant for charges of unauthorized use of a Credit Card, and Theft in the 4th Degree. Holtz was unable to post the $2000.00 bond and is currently being held in the Page County Jail.

Also on Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for 59-year old William Alfred Hale Jr., of Shenandoah. The warrant, issued by the Page County District Court, charges Hale with Forgery, Identity theft under $1000.00, and Theft 4th Degree. Hale had failed to appear for sentencing in the District court on April 27th and was arrested at 809 Vista in Shenandoah that same day. He was transported to the Fremont County courthouse for sentencing in the District Court. Hale was sentenced to two 5-year prison sentences to run concurrently, and ordered to be transported to the Oakdale Medical Classification Center for intake into the Iowa Prison System.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The first dog flu case in Iowa has been confirmed in Sioux City. Dr. Kyoung-Jin Yoon with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University says samples from a sick dog treated at the Perry Creek Animal Hospital are believed to be the latest strain of canine flu, H3N2. He says the specific strain hasn’t yet been confirmed.

The virus has swept the Midwest in recent weeks, sickening more than 1,000 dogs and killing five between January and March. Dr. David Ray, the veterinarian who first treated the sick dog April 20 in Sioux City, says the owners reported his health was improving as of Monday. He says about half of animal clinics in the area have reported dogs with flu-like symptoms, including fever, nasal discharge and a dry cough.

An investigation by authorities in Shelby County has led to the arrest of the City Clerk in Defiance. The Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Kristin Wagner, of Defiance, allegedly used the city’s credit/debit card to make numerous purchases of merchandise for her personal use. The purchases exceeded $5,000. The loss was discovered following a review of bank transactions associated with the city’s credit/debit card, which revealed several misappropriated withdrawals. It’s not clear when the purchases began and what Wagner allegedly bought with the card.

Wagner was taken into custody Monday and charged with Felony 2nd degree theft. She had since posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a Lorimor man reported Monday afternoon, that sometime in the past week, someone entered his machine shed and took a 3 point log splitter used with a tractor. The loss was estimated at $1500.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Court officials say jury selection will be getting underway Tuesday in a Sioux City courtroom for the trial of the second man charged with killing two elderly people in Crawford County. A judge granted a venue change for 20-year-old Jayden Chapman because news coverage of the case.

Another man charged in the slayings of 80-year-old Marvin Huesling and 81-year-old Alice Huisenga, 27-year-old Michael Schenk, was sentenced last month to two life terms for his role in the killings.

Authorities say Schenk and Chapman shot the pair at a trailer home in Deloit in March 2014 and then set it on fire. Investigators have said Schenk and Chapman probably were on the property to steal scrap metal.

As fires from overnight riots in Baltimore still burn, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s considering calling on the U-S Justice Department to review all cases where minorities die at the hands of police. Grassley, a Republican, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and he says all options are on the table as these cases appear to become more frequent, with very violent public reactions.

(R-IA) Sen. Charles Grassley

“We’re in the early stages of looking at what the committee can or should do, perhaps it’s a hearing, perhaps it could be legislation or it could be nothing. We just don’t know yet,” Grassley says. “I think we need to be very judicious in any response.” Starting with the Ferguson, Missouri, case last summer, there have been multiple, high-profile incidents in recent months in many states, including New York, Maryland and South Carolina, where lethal force was used by law officers against minorities. Grassley says he’s not sure about any of the options as possible solutions.

“There have been many suggestions, including one by my friend, Senator (Tim) Scott of South Carolina, who is a minority, that would require the federal Justice Department to review any deaths of minorities by law enforcement.” The latest case involves 25-year-old Freddie Gray of Baltimore, whose funeral was Monday. Gray died earlier this month while in police custody, sparking riots that culminated overnight with dozens of large fires, more than 200 arrests and at least seven police officers injured.

“People have every right to protest peacefully, but the looting and unrest only shows disrespect for Baltimore and disrespect for Mr. Gray’s family,” Grassley says. As the law now stands, the Justice Department can involve itself in instances where it’s believed federal laws may have been violated, but an investigation is not mandatory in all cases involving police-involved minority deaths.

(Radio Iowa)