FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has died in an Iowa apartment fire. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the fire was reported just after 10 p.m. Friday in Fairfax. Smoke and flames were pouring from the apartment building when deputies and fire crews arrived. The release said the victim was found in an upstairs unit and pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in the investigation. The sheriff’s office says the Red Cross is helping displaced residents.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Saturday, reported three arrests took place this past week. On Wednesday (Dec. 16th), 42-year old Shane Robert Seagler, of Massena, was arrested by Police in Adair, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts: Marijuana & Methamphetamine); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and Theft in the 5th Degree. He was taken into custody after the Kum & Go in Adair reported a theft at around 6:50-a.m.

The clerk identified Seagler – whom she knew – and reported he allegedly stole a bottle of Black Velvet. Video surveillance backed-up her claim. Seagler initially left the store, but returned at around 2:20-p.m.  A van he was a passenger in was pulled over at 5th Street and I-80. The officer saw inside the vehicle, in plain view, the bottle of whiskey and an open can of beer. Other items, including a pipe, a glass pipe, butane torch used for smoking meth, a scale and a gum container contained meth and marijuana were found inside the van. The driver – Mathew Mitchel – was cited for open container, and released. Seagler admitted the drugs were his. He was cited and released from the scene.

Sheriff Vandewater says 20-year old Amber Mileena Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested Dec. 16th, for Driving While Barred. She was cited at the scene and released.  And, as we have previously reported, 43-year old Dixie Lou Hernandez, of Stuart, was arrested Dec. 16th by Stuart Police, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. She was transferred to the custody of Union County Deputies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has been sentenced to life in prison for beating his mother to death with a crowbar and then remaining with her body for five days before contacting authorities. The Des Moines Register reports that 33-year-old Christopher Thompson was sentenced Friday for first-degree murder in the March death of Paula Thompson.

Court documents show she had been trying to get her son to move out of her home and had confided to friends and on social media that she was frightened of him. Court records show Thompson has already asked the court to set aside his guilty verdict.

A recent break-in at a residence in Essex resulted in a foot pursuit, and the arrest of a man from Wisconsin. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Nebraska Avenue, in Essex, following a report of a man who broke into a house and then fled on foot.

Officers located a man matching the suspect description and, after a brief foot pursuit, arrested 23-year-old Cody Gregory Tschida, of Prescott, WI., for Burglary in the 3rd degree, Serious Assault, and Public Intoxication.

Tschida was unable to post a $6,300 bond, and was transported to the Page County Jail.