The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A man convicted earlier this month on murder, attempted murder and arson charges associated with a fatal fire in Guthrie Center, was sentenced Friday to serve two-life sentences. According to reports, a District Judge handed down the sentence for 27-year old Patrick Thompson for murdering his step-sister, 12 year-old Paige Exline and her cousin, 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham. The Judge also ordered Thompson to pay $150,000 to each family.

On Oct. 8^th, Thompson was found guilty by a Monroe County jury, of two counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and arson. The May 2017 fire in Guthrie Center resulted in the deaths of the girls, and injuries to their grandmother Shirley Exline and their uncle William Long III.

Thompson’s step-father James Exline was sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter Paige in Greene County before her death. Thompson’s step-brother Noah is facing seven felony charges for allegedly sexually abusing Paige. And, while his trial is currently set for October 30^th, court documents indicate plea negotiations are underway.

(Radio Iowa) — Vice President Mike Pence rallied with about 200 of Republican Congressman David Young’s supporters Friday afternoon, in Des Moines. Pence told the crowd the race in Iowa’s third congressional district may determine whether Republicans retain majority control of the U.S. House or Democrats take over. “This race is going to be critical to whether we’re going to be able to continue with the momentum that we have,” Pence said.

Pence returned to that theme several times during his 24 minute speech. “The fate of the Republican majority in the House might just go through Iowa 3…It’s a choice between two different futures, one future under a Republican majority in the United States House of Representatives and another future where Nancy Pelosi is speaker of the House again,” Pence said and the crowd booed.

Pelosi’s name was mentioned often during the event. Young spoke less than seven minutes and mentioned Pelosi’s name seven times. “Now again Nancy Pelosi and her hand-picked candidates want to take us back,” Young said, eliciting boos from the audience. “We can’t have that.”

Pence cited Young’s work on veterans issues, then mentioned Cindy Axne, the Democrat who’s challenging Young’s bid for a third term. “The choice between his opponent is so clear. You know, his opponent Cindy Axne — I know the president called her ‘Cindy Tax-Me’ and there’s a good reason why. Cindy Axne said the first thing that Democrats need to do if they retake the majority in the congress is to repeal those tax cuts. You know, there’s a term for repealing a tax cut. It’s called a tax increase and we’re not going to let it happen.”

Pence praised Young for supporting President Trump’s agenda in congress. “He’s been there, standing with this president every step of the way,” Pence said. The vice president drew the largest burst of applause when he promised that Trump would withhold aide from Central American countries if a caravan of four-thousand asylum seekers winds up at the southern border.

An accident west of Massena yesterday (Friday) claimed the life of a Cass County man. The Iowa State Patrol has not officially released the names of those involved in a head-on collision on Highway 92, but Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic reports 22-year old Patrick L. Schultz, of Wiota, died Friday “near Massena.” 38-year old Jeremiah Juhl, of Fontalle, posted on the KJAN Facebook page that he was the other driver involved in the crash.

Initial reports from law enforcement indicated one person had died and another was injured in the crash that happened at around 6:45-a.m., about two-miles west of Massena. In his post, Juhl said he’s “Going to be okay, for anybody wondering.”

Highway 92 was blocked for more than three-hours after crash, while the accident was being investigated and the vehicles removed from the scene. The State Patrol had not yet released their report on the crash, as of this (Saturday) morning.

Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports his office was contacted by a parent this past week (Oct. 15th-19th), who said that while waiting for their child to get off a school bus, the parent was approached by a person who said they were gathering information for a “kid’s safety network,” or had child safety kit information. The parent was asked to give the child’s information and finger prints. The parent requested the person who contacted them return, when both parents were home, however there was no return visit.

Chief Rhamy said the Red Oak Police Dept. has been unable to verify with any groups in town that would be conducting this type of event or solicitation. There is not enough information, he said, to determine conclusively that the company is bogus or legitimate, but the Chief requests your help in the matter. If you are, or have been approached in a similar incident or questioning, please contact Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center at 712-623-6500, so an officer may respond and verify the validity of the company or individual.

Rhamy reminds parents that they should never give out any information on a child or adult to a source that you do not know, or have properly researched ahead of time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No one won the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to a staggering $1.6 billion. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $1 billion grand prize in Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 7. The next drawing will be Tuesday. The estimated jackpot for that drawing would tie the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of winning the jackpot aren’t good. The chance of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is one in 302.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Nebraska man died during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday night, south of Glenwood, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Alberto Iban Herrerra, of Bellevue, NE., died when the 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving, left the road and entered the median before rolling over nearly twice. The accident happened at around 9:42-p.m. on Highway 34, just west of Levi Road.

Herrerra, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene of the crash.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions numbers that could win an estimated $1 billion jackpot have been announced. They are 15 23 53 65 70 and Mega Ball 7. The jackpot is the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. lottery history. As of early this morning, officials had still not announced if there was a winner or winners of the jackpot.

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa officials say a teenage girl has died after becoming trapped in her burning, crashed car. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were sent to the scene of a crash Friday morning when 16-year-old ShyAnne Larsen, of Honey Creek, reported that her car had crashed and had caught fire. She told dispatchers she was unable to get out of the car. Her body was later found in the burned out car.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A prominent youth basketball coach in Iowa has admitted to possessing nude photos and videos of 400 boys, including former players and their friends. Former Iowa Barnstormers Coach Greg Stephen pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually exploiting minors and possessing and transporting child pornography. He acknowledged in a plea agreement that police discovered files on his hard drive containing videos or photos including images of the boys undressing, showering and sleeping.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a guard was punched and kicked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The Iowa Corrections Department says the attack occurred Friday morning when an inmate confronted the officer. The guard was taken to Fort Madison Community Hospital for treatment and then released. The names of those involved haven’t been made public. A department spokesman says the inmate didn’t suffer any major injuries.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced her appointments of Margaret Reyes and Craig Dreismeier as district court judges in the Fourth Judicial District. Reyes, of Pacific Junction, received her undergraduate and law degrees from Creighton University. She currently serves as an assistant county attorney in the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office. Reyes fills the vacancy that was created when Gov. Reynolds appointed Justice Susan Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court earlier this year.

Dreismeier, of Council Bluffs, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his law degree from the Creighton University Law School. He currently serves as a district associate judge in the Fourth Judicial District.

The Fourth Judicial District includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

The Cass County Conservation Service says “Due to lack of site sign-ups” they are “regretfully cancelling the Lighted Halloween Campground including the Birthday Party. You may turn in the Birthday geocache tokens into our Office on both October 25 and 26^th during office hours,” or call the CCCB to make other arrangements.