DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone while she traveled to Europe has pleaded not guilty. Court records say Erin Macke filed a written plea last week to four counts of child endangerment and one of transferring a firearm to a person under 21. Police said the latter charge was filed because a firearm was left at home within the children’s reach. Records don’t show a trial date.

Police have said Macke, of suburban Des Moines, tried but failed to make child care arrangements for her children — two age 12, one 7, one 6 — before leaving Sept. 20 for a vacation in Germany. Police say the father of one of the children was called by his child the next day, and he called police.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were hospitalized after a fire at their apartment building in the Cedar Rapids suburb of Marion. The fire was reported around 6 a.m. Sunday at the three-level building. Firefighters rescued one of the two from the second floor and the other from a third-story window. Their names haven’t been released. The fire displaced 11 people from 10 apartments. The fire cause is being investigated.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say 15 people were hospitalized after breathing in carbon monoxide that had built up at a central Iowa church. Medics and police officers sent around 2:45 p.m. Sunday to the Church of God in Marshalltown found several people inside complaining of headaches and breathing difficulties.

The first responders helped people out of the church for treatment and eventual trips to a Marshalltown hospital. Eight of the victims later were taken to hospitals in Iowa City and Des Moines. Authorities say they found a gasoline-powered generator in the building basement that had been running to provide heat and lights.

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — Grocery giant Hy-Vee is branching out from its food-selling roots to restore houses in a small southern Iowa town in an effort to attract and retain workers. The Des Moines Register reports that the grocery store chain is renovating at least four homes in Chariton. The company and its subsidiary Midwest Heritage Bank have given $250,000 to the Chariton Valley Regional Housing Trust Fund.

The company employs about 1,300 workers at a local distribution center and another 75 employees at its Chariton grocery store. City officials say the aging housing options in the town of 4,300 make it difficult to attract employees. Mike Armstrong is chairman of the trust fund board. He says volunteers are doing most of the labor on the first project to cut down on costs.

Voters in two Shelby County communities will have a Public Measure on their ballots.

In Elk Horn, voters will determine if a Capital Improvement Reserve fund and levy a tax not to exceed .67 ½ cents per thousand dollars of valuation, should be used for swimming pool maintenance and repair and construction for municipal buildings, for a period of 10-years.

And, those heading to the polls in Harlan, will determine whether or not the nine member Library Board of Trustees should be comprised of at least five (5), but no more than eight (8), adult Harlan residents who would be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Trustees would consist of at least one, but no more than four adult residents from Shelby County who are not from Harlan, are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Shelby County Board Supervisors.

The Measure says the position of any resident Trustee shall be vacated if such member moves permanently from Harlan. Any non-resident Trustee shall be vacated if they move out of Shelby County or into Harlan (With the exception that, if at such time that a non-resident member moves from Shelby County into Harlan, that member may serve out the rest of his/her term). The position of any Trustee will be deemed vacated if a member is absent for six consecutive regular meetings of the board, with the exception of an illness or temporary absence from the Harlan. Shelby County vacancies in the Board shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, except that the new Trustee shall fill out the unexpired term for which the appointment is made.

Defiance:

Mayor: Alan Wilwerding

City Council (Elect 3):

Douglas Schmitz, Tom Beytien, Vernon Cole,

CIty Council (To Fill a Vacancy) (elect 1):

Jeff Thuelen,

Earling:

Mayor: Janice Gaul

City Council (Elect 3): Daniel Tremel, Heath Richards, Jackie Frum, Troy Langenfeld.

Elk Horn:

City Council (elect 2): Jim McCarthy, Nolan Teegerstrom

Harlan:

Mayor: Mike Kolbe

City Council:

At Large (elect 1): Phillip Perkins, Sharon Kroger

Ward #1 (elect 1): Jay Christensen

Ward #3 (elect 1): Larry Trickel, Jeanna Rudulph

Irwin:

Mayor: James Borcher

City Council (elect 3): Lana Schweiso, William D. McMahon, Greg Gaer

Kirkman:

Mayor: Matthew K. Neilsen

City Council (elect 2) – No candidates

Panama:

Mayor – No candidate

City Council  (elect 3) – No Candidates

Portsmouth:

Mayor: William Sondag

City Council (elect 3):

Tim Blum, Craig Rau, Don Kenkel

Shelby:

Mayor: Ron Kroll

City Council (elect 2): Karen Schlueter and  Pat Honeywell

Tenant:

Mayor: James W. Brantner

City Council (elect 2): Dennis Oellerich, Write-IN

Westphalia:

Mayor: Jerry Gross

City Council (elect 3): Brian Arkfeld, Ed Goetzinger, Julie Goetzinger

A half-dozen teens in northwest Iowa are charged in a series of crimes. A three-month investigation resulted in the arrest of six teenagers by Storm Lake police. Investigators linked the teens — between the ages of 15 and 17 — to a series of burglaries, attempted burglaries, and cases of vandalism. They’re also accused of cutting down two trees and damaging a wooden sculpture in city parks. All of the suspects are from Storm Lake. Four are being held at the Youth Detention Facility in Cherokee. The other two suspects were released to a parent pending appearances in juvenile court.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department reports there were no injuries following two recent, separate accidents. Authorities say Mariano Bualuay, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign, operating a motor vehicle with an expired license, and Failure to provide proof of insurance, following an accident at around 11-a.m., Friday at 3rd and Linn Streets. Officials say a vehicle driven by Cameron Watkins, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 3rd Street and passing by Linn Street, when Bualuay, who was traveling south on Linn, failed to stop. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500.

The second accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Saturday, in the Hy-Vee parking lot. Atlantic Police say a vehicle driven by Melissa Jordan, of Griswold, was traveling north into the parking lot, and attempting to make a left turn. A vehicle driven by Kyle Wilson, of Atlantic, was behind Jordan’s vehicle, also heading north into the parking lot. Due to traffic congestion, Jordan was unable to turn left. She decided to continue north into the parking lot. Wilson saw Jordan was about to turn left and attempted to around her vehicle. At that moment, Jordan continued north and struck the right side of Wilson’s vehicle. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,500. No citations were issued.

The Atlantic Police Department reports three people were arrested over the past few days. On Friday, officers arrested 29-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. That same day, 53-year old Roger Donner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault by Impeding air and/or blood flow. And, on Sunday, 35-year old Tracy Porter, of Wiota, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson provided an update on an accident that happened at around 4:15-p.m., Sunday, at 7th and Poplar Streets. The Chief says vehicles driven by Samantha Edwards, and Chase Roller, both of Atlantic, collided when Edwards failed stop for the intersection red light. The car she was driving westbound on 7th Street, struck Roller’s northbound pickup truck on the right side, causing a total of $9,500 damage. Edwards and her passenger were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Edwards was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.