THOMPSON, Iowa (AP) — The remains of a World War II soldier killed in action have returned home to Iowa after more than 70 years buried as an unknown at an American military cemetery in France. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Iowa Army National Guard members fired a 21-gun salute on Saturday to honor Army Pvt. Donald Brown, who was buried at a cemetery in Thompson. Brown died in 1944 when his tank was destroyed by enemy fire near Cambernon, France. But his remains were unable to be identified. His name was recorded alongside other missing veterans at an American Battle Monuments Commission site in France.

Brown’s remains were accounted for in June after family members submitted DNA for testing. His niece, Alison Conrad, says she regrets that no one from Brown’s generation could see the burial.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Sunday, arrested a Clarinda man. 19-year old Austin Ray Gardner was taken into custody on an Adams County Warrant for Controlled substance violation. He was arrested during a traffic stop on Highway 2, about seven-miles east of Shenandoah. Gardner was processed at the Page County Jail and then transported to the Adams County Jail because he was unable to post a $5,000 cash-only bond.

Austin Gardner

HUXLEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman and her son were rescued from a house fire that killed a man in central Iowa. Station KCCI reports that the blaze erupted around 6 a.m. Sunday in Huxley. Two other people in the house had escaped unharmed by the time firefighters arrived, but rescuers had to break a bedroom window to free the 44-year-old woman and her 17-year-old son.

Fire officials say 47-year-old Brett Van Ersvelde died at a Des Moines hospital. The woman and her son were taken to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation. It’s believed the fire started in the kitchen. The cause is being investigated.

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests took place, Sunday. 42-year old Kevin Cavin, of Creston, was arrested at around 3:20-a.m. for OWI/2nd offense. He was later released on a $2,000 bond. And, 32-year old Ryan Weis, of Creston, was arrested at around 11:30-a.m. Sunday for Driving While Revoked. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

And, 34-year old Amber Smith, of Creston, was cited Saturday evening for allowing an animal to run at large. She was released on the citation.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — Today (Monday) is the first day “early” voting is allowed in Iowa for the November election. Iowa Democrats are holding “First Voter Rallies” in a dozen counties. Troy Price, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, will be speaking at events in Indianola, Ottumwa and Burlington. Price previewed his message to Democrats on Saturday during a party fundraiser in Des Moines. “It’s so important for each and every one of us to step up and leave nothing on the field thisNovember,” Price says.

Fred Hubbell, the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor, delivered a similar message to the 11-hundred Democrats who attended Saturday’s event in Des Moines. “We need you on the front lines. We need you knocking doors. We need you to spread the word and we need your vote,” Hubbell said.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, says the stakes are clear. Democrats have lost the last two gubernatorial elections. There’s just one Democrat left in Iowa’s congressional delegation and Donald Trump easily won the state in 2016. “The trend line is clear. We’ve got to change that. We have the opportunity to do it, but the question is: ‘Will we?'”

The Iowa Republican Party has no special events planned today (Monday) to mark the kick-off of early voting.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The remains of a Nebraska sailor who died at Pearl Harbor and a Nebraska soldier killed in during a World War II battle in Germany have been identified and are being returned for final burial.
Pentagon officials say 19-year-old Bernard Doyle died Dec. 7, 1941, aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Doyle joined the Navy in 1940, soon after graduating from high school in Red Cloud. His remains will be buried Saturday in Lake City, Iowa, where one of his sisters moved after the war.

The officials say Melvin Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Army a few months after the Pearl Harbor debacle. He and another soldier died Nov. 25, 1944, when a German artillery shell struck their tank destroyer. Anderson’s remains will be buried Friday at Omaha National Cemetery.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Sherry Toelle of Atlantic was awarded the title of “2018 Outstanding County Chair” during a Third District Hall of Fame Dinner in Des Moines on Friday, October 5th. The award was presented by the Third District Democratic Party Central Committee. Toelle was cited for the local party’s community outreach–food drives, school supplies drive, and clothing drives–as well as her commitment to the Cass County Democrats.

Cass Co. Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle

Upon accepting the award, Toelle said, “Thank you all for the honor. While there is no “I” in “team”, there is an “I” in “family” and we are a family who work together toward a common goal–electing Democrats to office and serving the public. So many people say we are bleeding heart liberals but we don’t offer a hand out; we offer a hand up!” She also stated that her motto, since becoming County Chair in mid-July, 2008, has been “we may be small, but we are mighty!” That motto has been repeated often by the party’s accomplishments within Cass County as well as within the Democratic Party. “I have a strong core group of volunteers and party activists that I rely on throughout the year so I want to share this award with them,” she concluded.

There are sixteen counties in the Third Congressional District which ranges from Council Bluffs to Des Moines.

DONNELLSON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people died after a head-on collision in southeast Iowa. The crash occurred about 11:50 p.m. Saturday on Iowa Highway 2 between Donnellson and Fort Madison. The Iowa State Patrol says a westbound sport utility vehicle crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car. Both drivers were fatally injured. The patrol identified the car driver as 47-year-old Vincent Seaver, of Hamilton, Illinois. The SUV driver’s name hasn’t been released.