COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A vacant western Iowa warehouse might be redeveloped into an arts and entertainment center in Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that supporters of the project are raising money now with hopes of opening the center in late 2018.

Judy Davis with the Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment organization says the project seems to be on schedule. The plans call for converting the building into a space for traveling exhibits, rehearsal space for plays and classrooms and a theater and public gathering space. The project would complement the Harvester Lofts apartments nearby that are geared toward the artistic community.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities says its plan for a new two-year budget system will bring more predictability to tuition expenses for students and their families, but the unpredictability of available state funding could complicate that effort.

COLLINS – A fish kill south of Collins near the Jasper-Polk County line is being investigated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  Officials say the fish kill was reported late Saturday morning along Wolf Creek. Approximately six miles of stream was affected and the kill consisted of smaller fish species.

Field testing did detect high amounts of ammonia along portions of the stream. Wolf Creek is a tributary of Indian Creek which did not appear to be affected.

Red Oak Police arrested a woman on an OWI charge early this (Sunday) morning. 32-year old Rebecca Marie Peterson, of Stanton, was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. for OWI/1st offense, at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Reed Streets. Peterson was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and held on a $1,000 cash bond.

Police in Council Bluffs say an altercation near the Missouri River resulted in two Council Bluffs men suffering stab wounds and a search for two suspects. Officers were called to the area of N. 41st Street and Avenue C just after 1-a.m. They located two victims. The first victim was identified as 26-year old Joel D. Perdue. Perdue was suffering from stab wounds to both sides of his chest. He was transported to Creighton Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The second victim was identified as 43-year old Michael P Straka. He suffered minor stab wound to his right hand. Straka received medical treatment at the scene by rescue personnel and was released.

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An investigation so far indicates that a group of people were at the Missouri river edge at a gathering. As the group was walking towards the levee, an altercation occurred between two suspects within this group and both of the victims, during which the victims suffered their injures.

The first suspect in connection with the incident, was described as a black male with facial hair, 20-to 25 years old, approximately 6’feet tall and with a thin build. The second suspect was a white male with a beard and mustache, 20 to 25 years old, 5’9” tall and with a stocky build.

The investigation is ongoing by the Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with any information that was in the area at the time of this incident is encouraged to contact this Division at 712-328-4728 or they may call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop this (Sunday) morning resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska woman. Tisha Caston, of Omaha,was arrested after she was found to be under the influence of alcohol. She was charged with OWI/1st Offense and brought to the Fremont County Jail, where her bond was set at $1,000.

Police in Council Bluffs say officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of S. 7th Street early this (Sunday) morning, for a reported home invasion. Officers were notified at around 12:15-a.m. a resident of the home discovered a man in her apartment. The suspect fled from the scene, carrying numerous items. Police checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6 foot tall with a black rag on his head. Anyone with information with regard to the incident is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328- STOP (7867).

PAWNEE, Okla. (AP) – Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in Pawnee County after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck northwest of Pawnee.
The earthquake struck at 7:02 a.m. Saturday and was felt throughout the Midwestern United States, including here in Atlantic. No severe damage or serious injuries were reported. The quake ties a 2011 earthquake for the strongest earthquake in recorded state history.

Fallin’s order allows state agencies to make emergency purchases for disaster relief and is the first step toward asking for federal assistance, if necessary. Fallin said in a statement that information is still being gathered and will be reviewed by her coordinating council on seismic activity.

The state of emergency lasts for 30 days and additional counties may be added.

Police in Red Oak, Saturday evening, arrested a woman who has a long history of arrests. 46-year old Shelby JoAnn Olivares, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:30-p.m., on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. She was arrested in the 200 block of 2nd Street, in Red Oak, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Olivares was being held without bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop early this (Sunday) morning just north of Villisca, resulted in a drug-related arrest. 27-year old Zachary Allan Colebank, of Hopkins, MO., was pulled over at around 1:05-a.m. and subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Colebank was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. The Montgomery County K9 Unit assisted in conducting the arrest.

And, at around 12:30-p.m. Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 41-year old Justin Woods, of Stanton, on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. Woods was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.