(Guthrie Center, IA) – Authorities in Guthrie County reports one person and a dog died during a shed fire early Saturday morning in rural Guthrie County. Guthrie Center Fire Chief Cory Campbell said in a news release, the Guthrie Center Fire Department and Panora EMS were paged to a secondary structure fire at 2094 Hickory Avenue, at around 5:17-a.m., Saturday.

Upon arrival, crews found a shed fully engulfed in flames. The flames were threatening a nearby residence. The occupants of the home were alerted and safely evacuated. Firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to the residence, and extinguished the blaze. Upon putting out the fire, responders located a deceased victim and canine within the structure. The scene was then turned over to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.

The name of the victim was not immediately released.

Aside from those previously mentioned, agencies responding to the incident included: The Coon Rapids and Bayard Fire Departments, and the Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency. In a social media post, Chief Campbell said “The Guthrie Center Fire Department would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to the families impacted by this tragic incident.”

(Villisca, IA) – Officials say a malfunctioning water heater was the apparent cause of  fire Sunday afternoon in rural Villisca. Accordng to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce, firefighters from Villisca, Grant, Red Oak and Stanton responded to a reported basement fire at 2374 Union Avenue, or about two-miles north of Villisca, at around 12:40-p.m., Sunday.  Soon after they arrived, crews safely evacuated the lone occupant of the residence.

Firefighters were then quickly able to extinguish the fire in the basement. Chief Bruce says the fire apparently started by a mechanical malfunction with a water heater that ignited combustible materials nearby. Family and friends were assisting the homeowner in finding a temporary means of shelter.

No injuries were reported, and damage to the home was limited. Other agencies assisting during the incident included: Villisca Ambulance; Montgomery County Communications; The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and MidAmerican Energy.

(Radio Iowa) – Two candidates from Odebolt are running in Tuesday’s special election for an open seat in the Iowa House. Republican Representative Mike Sexton of Rockwell City resigned from the seat in September after President Trump appointed him state director for U-S-D-A Rural Development. Wendy Larson, the Republican candidate, ran against Sexton in a G-O-P Primary last year and lost by just 53 votes.

Trump won the district with nearly 75 percent of the vote and the latest data shows for every Democrat in the district, there are more than three registered Republican voters. “And they want a conservative leader who has their values and their beliefs,” Larson said, “and will represent them the way that they believe and the way that they want.” Larson is a stay-at-home mom with a background in sales.

Rachel Burns, the Democratic candidate, says some Iowans are really struggling and she’s been able to connect with voters. “GOP control of Iowa over the past several years — things are not going well,” Burns said. “Things are not getting better for rural Iowans.” Burns is a speech-language pathologist and volunteer firefighter and E-M-T. The district covers Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac Counties and part of Webster County, to the west of Fort Dodge.

This is the fifth of six special elections scheduled this year to fill vacancies in the Iowa House and Senate. The final special election will be held December 30th to fill a seat in the Iowa Senate that had been held by Democrat Clair Celsi, who died in October.

(Anita, IA) – The CAM Community School District (CSD) Board of Education will hold their Annual and Organizational  Meeting of the retiring and newly elected School Board, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, beginning at 6:30-p.m. The meeting takes place in the CAM High School Media Center, and begins with a Public Hearing on the District’s Instructional Support Levy (ISL). During their meeting last month, the Board held discussion with regard to the voted PPEL and ISL were held. A special election for renewal will be held in March.

The Annual Meeting of the Retiring CAM School Board will follow. The Consent Agenda includes action on approving: Open Enrollments; Personnel matters, such as resignations and contracts, along with other administrative matters. The Board will hear from Mrs. Brahms, with regard to the STEAM/TAG programs.

Once the Annual Meeting concludes, an Organization Meeting of the new Board will be called to order, and includes the Election/Oath of Office to the (elected) Board President, who will then preside over that portion of the meeting. There will also be an election for the Board Vice-President along with administering of the Oath of Office, and the appointment of the School Board Secretary/Treasurer.

The new Board will vote on establishing the date, time and location of their future meetings, and act on several matters to come before them, including: Snow Removal Bids; a Carpet Bid, and other matters. See the full agenda here: 4.1 December 8, 2025 Public Hearing and Organizational Meeting Agenda

(An IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH report) – Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have expanded Iowa public lands access with two parcel acquisitions in Fremont County. The 350 acres abut existing public lands owned by state and federal agencies and will be enrolled in the Iowa Habitat and Access Program to allow public hunting access while employing habitat management practices to improve the prairie.

The Iowa Habitat and Access Program is managed by wildlife biologists at Iowa Department of Natural Resources who help to improve the quality of wildlife habitat on a property. The first parcel is a 174-acre addition to the Copeland Bend Wildlife Area. The conservation groups’ acquisition connects multiple tracts of the existing public lands northeast of Nebraska City. The second parcel, also 174 acres, is a few miles southeast of the first site and connects portions of the M.U. Payne Wildlife Area along the Missouri River. The groups said the site will improve access to the northern end of the existing wildlife area.

The acquisition of the sites was funded by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area program. The program has led to permanent protections and publicly accessible land for more than 243,000 acres in 17 states since 1982, according to a news release from the nonprofit organizations. The news release said the newest parcels add habitat for the game birds in areas that are “heavily utilized” by Iowan and Nebraskan hunters.

In 2024, hunters bagged an estimated 460,000 roosters, or male pheasants, and 27,500 quail in Iowa. Quail Forever acquired another Iowa parcel in August that similarly connected several areas of public land, near Centerville, managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Iowa DNR.

(Union County, IA) – No injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon (12/6), northeast of Kent, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a pickup truck driven by 38-year-old Jacob L. Hubbard, of Creston, was traveling west on 240th Street at the same time a Chevy Cruze driven by 40-year-old Juaneber De La Cruz-Ruiz, of Kent, was traveling north on Clover Avenue.

Authorities say when De La Cruz-Ruiz failed to stop at the posted stop sign intersection, his vehicle struck the pickup truck on the left rear, causing the pickup to turn and hit the other stop sign before ending-up in the ditch. The Chevy Cruze came to rest on the roadway. The collision happened at around 2:30-p.m.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene, with the damages estimated at $8,000 altogether. The Sheriff’s report said there were no citations issued at the scene, but that De La Cruz-Ruiz would be issued a citation for running the stop sign, and the citation would be sent through the mail.

(Greenfield, IA) – In an update to our social media posts Friday morning, with regard to a two-vehicle accident in northwestern Adair County, a report from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office said 16-year-old Kason Jene Calhoun, of Anita, was injured in the crash that occurred at occurred at around 8:15-a.m., in the 1700 block of Brown Avenue (near 170th Street).

Sheriff’s officials say a 2012 Dodge Durango SUV driven by Kason Calhoun was traveling northbound on Brown Avenue at the same time an end loader driven by 35-year-old Kyle Christian Jorgensen, of Anita, was traveling southbound. The SUV and end loader met at the crest of a hill. Calhoun swerved to the right and drove into snow on the side of the roadway. The SUV lost traction and veered to the left the driver’s side of the before it struck the end loader.

The SUV then entered the east ditch and rolled an undetermined amount of times before coming to rest on its wheels. Jorgensen told authorities he swerved to the right in order to try and avoid the collision. Calhoun was found outside of the SUV. Authorities believe he may have been ejected.

Calhoun was transported by Anita Fire and Rescue to Cass Health in Atlantic (CCHS) before being flown by Lifeflight 3 helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to be at half-staff in honor of those wounded or killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Reynolds has ordered flags to be lowered in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Flags will remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on December 7.

Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 17, 1941. It claimed over 2,400 lives and led to America’s entry into World War II.

“On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the thousands of servicemembers and civilians who were killed and wounded in this horrific attack on our country,” Governor Reynolds said. “This day is a solemn reminder that our freedom isn’t free, and we are grateful for every American who serves in uniform.”

The State Capitol Building and flag displays in the Capitol Complex will be at half-staff. All public buildings, grounds, and facilities will also fly flags at half-staff in Iowa.

GRINNELL, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – Grinnell College is launching a new scholarship program aimed at Iowa’s high-performing students. The private university announced the new Iowa Dean’s Scholarship — an annual, renewable $50,000 scholarship — Thursday in a news release. Students from Iowa need to have earned a 4.0 or higher grade-point average or “have succeeded in the most demanding curriculum offered by their schools” to qualify for the scholarship, the release stated.

“Iowa has always been home to Grinnell College, and Grinnell College champions Iowa. We are grateful for the support and advocacy that we receive from the state, the Grinnell community, and all of the people who make Iowa home for these outstanding students,” President Anne Harris said in the release. “This scholarship recognizes that support and the impact that Iowa’s top students can have at the College and as they go on to professional success and community leadership in our state.”

The Iowa Dean’s Scholarship will become available to students in the fall 2026 semester, the release stated. It joins other financial aid programs offered by the college, including the full-tuition Iowa Access Initiative for students coming from households earning less than $100,000 annually, according to the release, and the $20,000 Founders Scholarship for all admitted resident students. According to the college’s website, 92% of Grinnell College students receive financial aid, and 100% of “demonstrated need” is met by the college without requiring students to take out loans.

Grinnell College Dean Ruth Feingold said in the release that the university “brings bright, engaged students from around the world to live and learn in Iowa” and fosters a campus where students can join the intellectual community and learn from more people than just their teachers. “Our new Iowa Dean’s Scholarship is our way of extending a clear welcome to high-performing students from our home state: come join us here,” Feingold said in the release.

(Adel, IA) – Reports out of Dallas County indicate a Cass County man was arrested Wednesday (Dec. 3rd) in Adel, in connection with an incident that took place Oct. 22nd. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reports say 40-year-old Delaney Luke Pace, of Atlantic, was arrested by Adel Police and booked into the Dallas County Jail on a charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree – an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

According to court documents, Pace allegedly threatened to harm an Adel man and his friend, during a confrontation at a residence in Adel. His alleged victim told Police about the incident on Nov 14th, during which Pace allegedly threatened to snap his and his friend’s necks” during the confrontation. Two witnesses told Adel Police that they heard Pace make the alleged threats.

Pace was being held in the Dallas County Jail without bond.

Delaney Luke Pace (Dallas County Jail photo)

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.