DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation today for Madison, Marion, and Warren counties in response to Aug. 20 severe storms and tornadoes.

The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for these three counties.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

Iowa residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested three people who they say weighted down the body of woman and put her in a southern Iowa river to conceal her drug overdose death.

The Iowa Public Safety Department said in a news release Tuesday that 27-year-old Cody Vancenbrock, 34-year-old Holly Kelly and her husband, 28-year-old Nicholas Kelly, face a variety of charges, including abuse of a corpse. Mahaska County court records don’t list lawyers for any of them.

The department says 24-year-old Ashley Shafer died after Vancenbrock injected her with methamphetamine on Aug. 5 at the Kellys’ Oskaloosa apartment.

The department says her body was driven to a rural area of Mahaska County, weighted down and put in the South Skunk River. The body was found and recovered the next day.

Charges against Vancenbrock include involuntary manslaughter.

A two-vehicle accident resulted in no injuries on Tuesday in Red Oak. Red Oak Police report the accident occurred at about 7:10am on Tuesday at the intersection of N 8th Street and E Joy Street.

After investigation it was determined that 36-year-old Jana Marie Rolofson of Red Oak was driving a 1998 GMC Sierra northbound on N 8th Street approaching E Joy Street. A 2003 Ford F150 driven by 54-year-old Julie Biggerstaff of Red oak was heading eastbound on E Joy Street approaching N 8th Street. Biggerstaff failed to see the northbound GMC and proceeded into the intersection and was struck in the passenger door with the front of the Rolofson vehicle.

There were no reported injuries at the scene and both vehicles were driven away. Biggerstaff was cited for Failure to Obey a Yield Sign and her vehicle sustained an estimated $5,000 damage. Rolofson’s GMC sustained an estimated $3,000 damage.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Tuesday.

At 10:44am Deputies arrested 42-year-old Michael Leon Boren of Malvern on a Warrant for Harassment 1st, 3 counts of Child Endangerment, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Contempt. He was booked in to the Mills County Jail on $20,000 bond.

At 10:42pm Mills County Deputies arrested 43-year-old Jason Vaughn Young of Silver City for OWI 3rd Offense, Eluding, Driving While License Revoked, and Interference with Official Acts. He was booked in to the Mills County Jail on $11,300 bond.

The Clarinda Police Department reports an arrest has been made following an investigation of the theft of alcoholic liquors from the Clarinda Fareway Grocery Store. The investigation began on August 9th and an arrest was made on Tuesday, August 20^th.

Arrested was 59-year-old Cristobal Mercado Serna of Clarinda on one count of felony theft. Serna was arrested without incident at his residence in Clarinda. Serna is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $2,000 bail.

Reports concerning the incident have been submitted to the office of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Creston Police Department reports one arrest and an incident of vandalism on Tuesday. At 2:29pm Officers arrested 22-year-old Brandon Tull of Creston on a Union County Warrant for Violation of No Contact/Protective Order-Contempt. He was booked in to the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

Also at 8:00am on Tuesday a resident at 604 North Birch Street in Creston reported that sometime during the night someone had vandalized her home with eggs. The damage was estimated at $30.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Tuesday of 21-year-old Tyler Austin Sowers of Clinton on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man has been convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of a Des Moines resident.

Polk County District Court records say a jury found 47-year-old William Burton III guilty last week. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2.

Authorities say Burton shot 39-year-old Cory Channon on Jan. 9 last year at Channon’s home. Burton and Crystal Purdy had gone there to confront Channon about a gun Burton thought Channon had stolen from him.

Purdy pleaded guilty last September to burglary and conspiracy and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

LEON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say that for the second time in four days, an Iowa cemetery has been the target of vandalism.

The Des Moines Register reports that the last case happened at a cemetery in Leon, a town of fewer than 2,000 people about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) south of Des Moines.

A post on the city’s Facebook page Monday showed gravestones toppled and damaged in Leon Cemetery, as well as damage to structures and statues at an adjacent veterans’ memorial.

Last week, police in the eastern Iowa city of Manchester reported that nearly 30 gravestones were damaged in the city’s Oakland Cemetery.

Police in both cities are asking the public to report any information on the vandalism.