MARSHALLTOWN– The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 26-year old Andrew Brasean Buchanan, a black male convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Polk County, failed to report back to the Marshalltown Residential Facility as required Wednesday night. Buchanan is 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighs 156 pounds. Buchanan was admitted to the work release facility on February 17, 2020.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact local police.

Andrew Buchanan (IA DOC photo)

The Creston Police Department reports 37-year old Nicki Jones, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Jones was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was later released from the Union County Jail, on a $300 bond. And, 43-year old April Gross, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday morning, on a Union County warrant for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. Gross was also later released from the jail on a $300 bond.

SIGOURNEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a deer sent flying when it was hit by a car in southeast Iowa crashed through the window of a second car, killing its driver. The accident occurred a little after 7 p.m. Wednesday on Iowa Highway 92, just west of Sigourney. The Iowa State Patrol says the deer went onto the roadway from the north ditch and was struck by a westbound car. The deer was knocked into the air and then went through the windshield of an eastbound car. The dead driver was identified as 45-year-old Donald Burdick, who lived in North English.

A grain processing plant in Red Oak sustained what was described as heavy damage during a fire Wednesday evening in the exterior processing stacks. The blaze at the Bungee plant was reported at around 5:40-p.m. Fire crews battled the flames for about two-hours. Officials say the fire occurred due to a malfunction in a computerized processing system. That resulted in the over-heating of processed grain. The fire was contained to the outside stacks.

No injuries were reported. Montgomery County Emergency Management provided assistance at the scene.

A chain reaction accident Wednesday night, in Red Oak, caused a total of $6,500 damage, but no one was hurt. Red Oak Police say the accident happened at around 8:24-p.m. on Red Oak High School property, just off N. 4th Street. Officials report a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 18-year old Kaitlyn Ruhl, of Minot AFB (Air Force Base) in Minot, ND. (and owned by Allison Ruhl, of Red Oak), followed too closely, and struck the rear of a 2010 Buick LeSabre, driven by 46-year old Michael Brown, of Exira (and owned by Todd Brown, of Exira).

The impact caused Brown’s car to be pushed into the rear of a 2018 Kia Optima, driven by 40-year old Barbara Ann Lombard, of Red Oak. All vehicles were able to be driven from the scene. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who live in mobile home parks are appealing again to Iowa lawmakers, asking for new legal protections against what they describe as predatory owners. Carrie Presley lives in Table Mound Trailer Park in Dubuque and is president of the tenants’ association. “These corporate entities are coming after us like a virus and we don’t have the time for a cure,” she said. “You guys are it, so please — help us.”

Presley spoke at a news conference, just hours after key legislators announced bills that would have limited mobile home park rent increases are tabled. Angela Smith-Stoltz lives at Park Plaza Mobile Home Park in Muscatine and she says if lot rents get too high, mobile home owners cannot afford to move their home to another location. “It infuriates me on a personal level because these are my neighbors,” she said. “We are average, everyday, hard-working people just trying to get by and have a life.”

The bills that have been tabled would have addressed complaints about “no-fault” evictions from mobile home parks as well. A woman who gave her name as Laura lives in the Gulf View Mobile Home Park in North Liberty. “Last Wednesday, while I was sitting in my living room, someone from the trailer park taped an eviction notice to my door because they lost my rent check. I quickly ran back and got my signed receipt saying I had paid my lot rent,” she said at the news conference, as she started to cry. “…I live in fear now that my house is going to be taken away. I’ve lived there 15 years. This shouldn’t happen to people.”

According to advocates of the bill, 36-thousand Iowans live in mobile home parks. Republican lawmakers say they’re not going to impose in price controls when it comes to rent on mobile home lots, as it could prevent owners from maintaining the property. The bills that have been sidelined would have limited rent increases to the rate of inflation in most cases.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21st), at 7:30-a.m., in the Middle School Media Center. During the meeting, the Board will enter into a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. When they reconvene in an open session, the Board will take action with regard to a contract recommendation for the Head Boys Track Coach position.

During their meeting Feb. 12th, the Atlantic School Board tabled a decision on offering a contract to Abby Becker for the boys track coach position. No reason was given for their decision at that time.