The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said today (Tuesday), “Per Earling Fire Department the Earling Standard [shop] will be smoldering for the next few days. They are actively monitoring this and calling 911 if you see smoke or small flames isn’t necessary. However, if you see large flames and fire spreading please call 911. They also would like to give profound gratitude to all those that helped, and continue to help during this event.”

The shop exploded at around 8:25-a.m., Monday, hurling debris for blocks. Fortunately, two men inside escaped with non-life threatening injuries. The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to hold a dial-in/electronic meeting, 9-a.m. Wednesday. On their agenda is a MMP (Manure Management Plan) update, a response to Wind Turbine Complaints, and a Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) COVID-19 Survey.

County Conservation Officer Dominic Johnson will present a Conservation and Parks update. Gary Metzger & Matt Swanson, with the City of Orient, will discuss with the Board, an Orient City Wind Turbine and TIF (Tax Increment Financing). Weed Commissioner Nathan Jensen will report on approval of Weed Notices. And, the Adair County Supervisors will hear updates on, and then discuss, COVID-19, and a Telework Policy.

The meeting may be accessed by calling 605-313-6157, and using access code 526272#.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Saturday on a trio of charges. 42-year old Heith LeRoy Schmidt, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 9-a.m., on charges that include OWI/1st offense, Eluding, and a citation for Speeding. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $2,000.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is warning laid off workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work. Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving to partially reopen 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday, relaxing restrictions that were intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants, some bars, malls, fitness centers, and retail stores are expected to open their doors for the first time in weeks.

The reopening comes as Iowa experiences one of the nation’s fastest growth rates in coronavirus cases. Iowa Workforce Development is warning that failing to return to work out of fear of catching the virus will be considered a voluntary quit, which disqualifies workers from receiving unemployment benefits.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We plan on having live audio of the presser as well on KJAN which is set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

EARLING, Iowa (KETV-TV) — Two men who were inside a gas station and auto repair shop in Shelby County when it was leveled by an explosion, Monday morning, are expected to recover from their injuries. Television station KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, reports that Dan Grote, co-owner of Earling Standard Shop, has already been released from the hospital, where he received stitches for cuts. Grote says his brother-in-law, Don Bruck, who was also in the shop when it exploded early Monday, is expected to be released soon from an Omaha hospital. Investigators say the explosion damaged nearby homes and blew debris up to six blocks away. The Iowa State fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the explosion.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests. A man and a woman from Creston were arrested at around 2:30-this (Tuesday) morning, in the 100 block of N. Elm Street. 21-year old Brianna Lawson was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. Lawson was being held on a $2,000 bond, in the Adams County Jail. 22-year old Brandon Tull was arrested for Violation of a Protection Order, and Possession of Burglary tools. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

Monday afternoon, Creston Police served 25-year old Austin Jones, of Creston, with two Union County warrants for Violation of Probation. The warrants were served at the Union County Jail, where Jones was already being held.

And, 18-year old Elyice Bolin Stow, of Creston, was arrested Monday at the Creston Police Dept., on a Union County Warrant for Sexual Abuse 3rd.  Stow was being held in the Union COunty Jail without bond, until seen by the judge.