The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on Sunday afternoon. At 1:25pm Officers arrested 64-year-old Sheryl Lynne Franzen of Red Oak on 2 counts of Shoplifting and Cited for Trespassing. She was arrested at 1605 North Broadway Street in Red Oak. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (The Gazette) — Closing arguments are expected Monday in the trial of a man accused of killing an Iowa high school student more than 40 years ago. Testimony has concluded in the trial of Jerry Burns. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko on Dec. 19, 1979, in Cedar Rapids. His defense called only one witness. A forensic consultant testified that he didn’t know whether the DNA that prosecutors say came from the killer came from blood or from another bodily fluid. A rebuttal witness called by prosecutors said the only biological fluid screened was blood from Martinko’s dress.

The Creston Police Department reports one, recent arrest. At around 2:13-a.m. Sunday, 36-year old Clay Pettit, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle. Pettit was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

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

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(Radio Iowa) – The Internal Revenue Service is looking for several people in Iowa — to pay them — not take money from them. Spokesman Chris Miller explains: “The I-R-S hopes to hire up to 150 new seasonal employees to work at our call center in West Des Moines,” Miller says. He says they are taking applications right now. “Both the seasonal and permanent employees at the call center will earn just under 17 dollars an hour. And seasonal employees generally will work the tax season from around March through September. And many return year-after-year to work these seasonal jobs,” according to Miller.

Miller says only one other tax center is hiring as many employees as the one in Iowa. “The call center employees will be reaching out to taxpayers across the country — not just in Iowa — to help them resolve unpaid tax bills,” Miller says, “by giving them the help and the tools to meet their responsibilities.” Miller says you don’t have to be an accountant to get one of these jobs. “Certainly we will train employees so they understand how to do the call center job. You do not have to have a financial background,” Miller says. “We base hiring on relevant work experience and education or a combination thereof. And so people should not think that they have to have special qualifications to apply for these jobs.”

He says you can apply on-line.”Anyone interested in working at the West Des Moines call center can go to U-S-A jobs-dot-gov, and search for open positions in the Des Moines area,” Miller says. The jobs will be open for applications until February 28th.

A woman from Adams County was arrested at around 5:30 this (Monday) morning, in Red Oak. 41-year old Joleen Mary Most, of Nodaway, was arrested in the area of Circle Drive and Summit Street, for Driving While Barred, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Most was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on a $2,000 bond.

Firefighters from Anita responded at around 12:40-a.m. today (Monday), to a car fire. The blaze was reported just north of 207 Rose Hill Avenue. When firefighters arrived, the vehicle was already engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished within 10-minutes. No injuries were reported. Additional information was not immediately available.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier) — Several people have been rescued after breaking through ice on Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls. Authorities say rescue crews responded three times Sunday. In the first incident, other people in the area had already helped to safety three who’d broken through into the water while ice fishing. Rescue workers later returned to the lake after another person broke through, but he was able to get himself to safety.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that around 6:15 p.m., rescue workers were sent to help two teenagers. Rescuers donned buoyant suits and then used a sled to get the teens back to shore.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Sunday, following the execution of a search warrant at a residence north of Red Oak, in the 1600 block of Highway 59. Authorities say 59-year old Terry Joe Halvin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County felony warrant for Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $100,000. And, 27-year old Johnathan Tyler McAlpin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Parole. He was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a man whose body was found wrapped in a sheet near the city’s downtown. Prosecutors say 36-year-old Dubol Koat was convicted last week in the death of 35-year-old William Josephtong Dut. Dut’s body was found Oct. 28 wrapped in a sheet. Koat was arrested nearly a month later. Police said Koat and Dut were roommates and co-workers.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Woodbury County leaders hope voters will approve building a new $50.3 million jail on the outskirts of Sioux City. The new larger jail would replace a building built in 1987 that is dealing with a number of mechanical problems. Consultants have identified $22 million in upgrades that are needed in the current jail’s heating and cooling system. County Supervisor Keith Radig says it makes sense to invest in a new facility instead of repairing the current jail. Voters will decide March 3 whether to build a new 110,000-square-foot jail that could house 440 inmates. The current jail holds roughly 230 inmates.

ADAIR, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says two boys have been killed in a head-on crash just northeast of Hebron in central Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Friday when a large sport utility vehicle collided head-on with a small sedan on a rural road in Adair County. Investigators say a woman and child inside the SUV both suffered serious injuries. The two boys killed were in the car. The patrol has not yet released the names of those killed or details of what caused the crash.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The American Queen Steamboat Co. says its fourth cruise boat has passed its second sea trial and will make its first cruise in April from New Orleans to Memphis. The company based in New Albany, Indiana, says the 245-passenger American Countess went through the Intracoastal Waterway from Houma to Morgan City, Louisiana, as part of its trial. A news release says the ship will move to New Orleans in late February for four weeks of finishing touches. The American Queen was built on the hull of a former casino boat from Iowa, but was lengthened by 60 feet.