MARENGO, Iowa (AP) — The Pride of Iowa sandwich-making facility in east-central Iowa has been destroyed in a fire. Television station KCRG reports that firefighters were called to the plant in Marengo around 9 p.m. Saturday for the fire. Officials say the facility was closed and that no one was working in the building at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials say crews were able to salvage one freezer, but the rest of the plant was destroyed. The Pride of Iowa makes sandwiches for sale in vending machines and at convenience stores.

Here’s a reminder from Xi Beta Phi, a $500 Reanne Gruhn Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an Atlantic High School graduate who benefited from Resource Room Services in the Atlantic Community School District, or is planning a career in education. The scholarship was established by Xi Beta Phi Sorority in 2003 as a memorial to their sister, Reanne Gruhn.

Reanne was an outstanding educator in the Atlantic Schools, specializing in Resource Room education. This scholarship is a tribute to her dedication and continuous love for all students. All graduating seniors or alumni are encouraged to apply for the scholarship.

More information can be found on the AHS Guidance link on the website-atlanticiaschools.org. Applications must be turned in by March 29, 2021

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has a very brief report today (Monday). Vandewater said 24-year old Cody A. Wilson, of Carlisle, remains held without bond in the Adair County Jail, on a State of Wisconsin arrest warrant. Wilson voluntarily waived extradition on Feb. 26th before a Union County Judge, and agreed to go back to Wisconsin when they male arrangements for his transportation.

Wilson had been arrested Feb. 23rd on warrants for Disorderly Conduct, Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, and felony charges of Battery or Threat to a Judge, Prosecutor or Law Enforcement Officer, along with Throwing/Discharging Bodily Fluid at a Public Safety worker or Prosecutor.

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines police are now releasing the name of the man who was shot to death over the weekend in the capitol city’s first homicide of 2021. Des Moines police were called to a residential neighborhood near Drake University late Friday night to investigate a report of shots fired. First responders found 52-year-old Darrell Merriwether, of Clive, suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the hospital early Saturday morning. Police say they’re interviewing witnesses, examining evidence and following leads, but as yet, no arrests are made.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests. On Feb. 27th, 39-year old Ronald Wayne Reid, of Omaha, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 56-year old Kevin Lynn Nicks, of Clarinda, was arrested on a Page County warrant for two counts of Failure to Appear.

On Feb. 25th, 24-year old Billie Jean Fouts, of Weeping Water, NE., was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Harassment. And, 35-year old Matthew Paul Dennis, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Driving While License Denied or Revoked. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Feb. 24th, 27-year old James Aloysius Maschka, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, with bond set at $2,000.

With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced its 20^th Take Back Day will take place April 24th. At its last Take Back Day in October, the DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency, but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.

The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites which will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed. A collector site locator tool will be included soon on the website www.deatakeback.com.

Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths. Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey shows continued economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders expressed concerns about rising inflation and bottlenecks in the supply chain causing delays. The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions for February released Monday came in at a strong 69.6 from January’s 67.3. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth, while a score below 50 suggests recession.

But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, said more than eight out of 10 supply managers reported supply bottlenecks and delays of up to five months. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

ELK HORN – Danish Windmill Manager Lisa Steen Riggs, Monday (today), announced that the organization has contracted with Acme Sprinkler Company of Omaha, to install a new fire suppression system in the historic 1848 windmill museum. The project is being funded in part by grants from the Shelby County Community Foundation, the Mike and Lou Howard Endow Iowa Fund and generous donations from members of the community.

Representative Greg Higginbotham from Acme Sprinkler Company reviews the blueprints for the Mill’s new fire suppression system. (Photo submitted)

Riggs said “We are very excited to launch this project. The old dry pipe fire suppression system functions by compressed air, rather than water, being forced through a dry pipe that runs throughout the 60-foot windmill, museum and gift shop on the interior and exterior of the buildings.” Dry pipe sprinkler systems are advantageous for protecting collections and other water sensitive areas, as well as areas that are exposed to the cold where freezing is possible. The biggest concern is that corrosion can cause a sprinkler system to fail.

According to Riggs, “Research shows that 73% of dry systems have significant corrosion issues in only 12.5 years and our system is 32-years old. The number and frequency of repairs has increased in the past few years, so a new system is needed as an item of permanence to protect this valuable Western Iowa icon. “

The Danish Windmill was built in Denmark in 1848. In 1975, the community of Elk Horn purchased the mill, dismantled it, moved it and reconstructed it to working condition as a tribute to the area’s Danish ancestral farmers. To learn more about the Danish Windmill and how you can support the organization and about the projects, visit danishwindmill.com or contact the Danish Windmill at 712.764.7472.