The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past few days, with most offenders taken into custody on warrants. Among those arrested, was 29-year old Mallory Alece McCormick, of Council Bluffs, who faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Prescription drugs (Clonazapam), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a glass pipe). McCormick was arrested at around 9-a.m. Sunday, after a Pott. County Deputy noticed a pickup parked at the end of Hamlet Lane, off of River Road.

The driver of the truck was attempting to change a flat tire. A check on both subjects indicated a felony warrant had been issued for McCormick, who faces 10-counts of Forgery. A subsequent investigation determined she had the pipe and a bag of marijuana, in her bra. In her purse, the Deputy found prescription drugs, along with debit and credit cards in the name of two separate individuals. McCormick was booked into the Pott. County Jail on the Forgery and Drug charges.

And, Genevieve Kate Bartles, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Friday afternoon, on a warrant for making False Reports. The woman was taken into custody after Deputies met with her father at a residence in the 300 block of Wildwood Road. Officials say while they spoke with her father, Bartles left the home out the back door, but after Deputies searched the area, she was located and taken into custody before being booked into the Pott. County jail on the warrant.

Dozens of children were adopted in ceremonies held over the weekend in six Iowa cities as part of National Adoption Day. At the Hamilton County Courthouse in Webster City, 21 children were adopted by 15 families. Deborah and Mike Kleis from Stratford added to their family.

The Kleis family

“It was a calling from God,” according to Deborah Kleis, while her husband says: “This is our granddaughter, now our daughter. She needed us and we’re glad we were able to be there for her.”

The child, Jacey, is two years old. Mike Kleis says he’s thrilled to have her as a part of the family. “It changed our plans but we’re extremely happy,” he says. “She brings a lot of joy to us and we really like having her around.” Kleis has a recommendation to those Iowans thinking about adoption. “There’s a lot of children out there who need help and if you’re able to provide, I think it’s one of our duties to make sure these kids grow up with every opportunity and chance that they deserve,” he says.

Adoption Saturday ceremonies were held in Burlington, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Webster City. The largest ceremony was in Des Moines with 70 children being adopted. Learn more about adoption at www.iowakidsnet.com.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. On Friday, 26-year old Tyler Jason Chambers, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, on a warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $11,000. And, last Wednesday, 44-year old Laurie Elizabeth Holmes, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Holmes was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Department also investigated four incidents of theft and/or burglary over the past week.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police say two arrests and four incidents were reported over the weekend. Taken into custody on Saturday (11/19), was 26-year old Joey Baxter, and 32-year old Paul Daniels,  both of Creston. Baxter was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Solicitation to Commit a Felony, and Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Domestic Abuse Offender. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond. Daniels was arrested at his residence for Domestic Abuse/Serious Assault, and Public Intoxication/2nd offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

Last Friday, Creston Police received a report from a woman living in the 1000 block of S. Sumner Street. The woman told authorities someone siphoned gas from her vehicle while it was parked in front of her home. The loss was estimated at $18. A resident of the 500 of W. Mills Street reported to Police someone broke into her vehicle sometime between 8-p.m. Thursday and 7-a.m. Friday. Taken from the vehicle was a wallet and bank cards. The loss was estimated at $360.

A Creston man reported to Police Friday, that sometime overnight Thursday into early Friday morning, someone entered his vehicle parked in the 1000 block of W. Adams Street, and stolen two pairs of Carhart long underwear, an Under Armor infrared camouflage suit, another camo suit, and camo bibs, along with $300 cash. The total loss was estimated at $900. And, a Creston woman told Police Friday, that sometime overnight, someone entered her vehicle and took her wallet, with $360 cash inside. The incidents remain under investigation.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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An ag industry analyst says the economic downturn is hitting all sectors of agriculture and virtually all Iowa farmers are feeling the brunt. Dave Miller, director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau, says every commodity is being impacted. “Corn prices are down more than half from where they peaked a couple of years ago,” Miller says. “Soybeans are down about 60%, hogs are down 45% from two years ago, cattle are down 35% this year. It’s across the board with all of the major commodities we produce here in Iowa.”

Miller says part of the reason for the economic drop is tied to large crops globally. “We really have had very few production problems for the last four years across the world,” Miller says. “That is leading to good growth in consumption but it’s continuing to build stocks as the production has continued to outpace production and that’s putting pressure on prices.”

Miller says it’s an unfortunate reality but the situation won’t likely improve until there’s some monumental natural disaster. “There is no big new demand on the immediate horizon, such as we had with the development of the biofuels industry a decade ago,” Miller says. “Coming out of this is probably going to happen because of weather problems someplace significant around the world.”

Miller says you don’t often get five years in a row without inclement weather impacting agriculture.

(Radio Iowa)

One person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following a house fire early this (Monday) morning, in Atlantic. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon told KJAN News a woman living in the home at 204 E. 6th Street (Tammie Sempek) was transported to CCMH by private vehicle, to be checked out and treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was reported at around 1:20-a.m.

Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees acknowledged the residents’ statement that a space heater was the apparent cause of the blaze.

The structure was a total loss.

The flames were under control about 75 minutes after crews first responded to the scene. Crews were on the scene until just before 5-a.m. conducting mop-up operations. McNees said the incident should serve as a reminder to residents of the area to take precautions when using space heaters.

(He said respect the devices, have them plugged into a dedicated circuit and not extension cords. Make sure the heater is not near your bed, clothing or other combustible materials, and try to avoid leaving it running overnight.)

The incident is reminiscent of numerous fires that occurred in a short time frame a few years ago.

(He said efforts to educate the public since then were helpful, but McNeed reminds you the devices are still dangerous, even if they are brand new.)

Rolling Hills Bank and Trust in Atlantic is accepting donations for Tammie Sempeck, to help her recover from the loss of her home. For more information, call them at 243-2244, or stop by 1307 E. 7th Street.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CST

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Law enforcement and protesters are in a new confrontation on the site of the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota. The Morton County Sheriff’s Office estimated 400 protesters were on a bridge trying to go north on state Highway 1806 late Sunday evening. Law enforcement had formed a line to prevent their movement. At least one person had been arrested.

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) — When the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights began considering installing sidewalks, officials were surprised their plans prompted packed meetings and protest signs. At a time when cities are encouraging active lifestyles for residents, intense opposition to sidewalks may seem surprising, but similar disputes are raging across the country in suburban neighborhoods built in the 1950s and 1960s. They were designed to be different from larger cities and many residents want to keep it that way.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are re-examining a 15-year-old shooting because an Iowa man wounded in the incident recently died from complications related to the gunshot wounds. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports police have reclassified the unsolved case as a homicide instead of an assault. Shawn Michael North died Aug. 30 at age 45.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating after a church sign in Mason City that promoted God’s unconditional love was vandalized with spray paint. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports this is the second time in the past year that the sign outside the First Congregational United Church of Christ was vandalized.

One person is dead, two others were injured in a crash Sunday afternoon in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a 2001 Ford Windstar van, 80-year old Alice Campbell, of Hastings (IA), who was wearing her seat belt, died in the crash. The driver of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 55-year old Patti Jipsen, of Elliott, and a passenger in her vehicle, 53-year old Barbara Irwin, of Charleston, IL, were injured. Irwin, who was not wearing a seat belt, was flown by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton Medical Center, in Omaha. Jipsen, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha.

The Patrol says the car driven by Jipsen was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 4:50-p.m. in the left passing lane. For reasons unknown, her car crossed the center line of the road and struck Campbell’s eastbound van head-on in the eastbound lane. Following the crash, the van entered the south ditch and rolled onto its top, while the car came to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 34.

The accident remains under investigation.