SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman accused of abducting her three daughters in northwest Iowa has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges. The Sioux City Journal reports that 25-year-old Danica Arzaga entered a written plea Thursday to three counts.  Authorities say Arzaga took the two 8-year-olds and the 4-year-old from their home in Royal on Sept. 19. The children were found abandoned in Sanborn later that day. She was arrested Sept. 20 in Sioux City. The children previously been removed from Arzaga’s custody and placed in another relative’s care.

A northwest Iowa woman who was a victim of the mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1st will be laid to rest Saturday. The funeral for 33-year old Carly Kreibaum, of Sutherland, will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 at the R.L. Johannsen Center in Sutherland, with burial at Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland. Visitation with the family will be held today (Friday) from 4:00 until 8:00 pm, also at the R.L. Johannsen Center.

Kreibaum leaves behind a husband and two young children. A Fundraising Dinner for the Kreibaum family will be held Sunday from 10:30 until 1:00 at the Johannsen Center in Sutherland. In addition, Security State Bank in Sutherland has opened an account for donations to the family.

(Radio Iowa)

About a dozen people who are buried in the Clarinda Cemetery will be revived by historic re-enactors this weekend as Page County residents portray everyday citizens from the community’s past. Trish Okamoto, curator of the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum, says this year’s cast of characters includes three Civil War veterans who survived the Andersonville, Georgia, prisoner-of-war camp where the Confederate Army held Union soldiers.  “They’re buried about two sections away from each other, the three gentlemen,” Okamoto says. “Halfway in-between, there will be an old card table, like an old wooden table out on the front lawn, as old men used to do, sit around telling stories. So, the three gentlemen will be there telling their story and as the story progresses, of course, the gentlemen pass through history. So that one will get up and walk away, and there will be one left.”

Okamoto says 11 former residents will be featured during the cemetery walk. She says doing the research on each of the departed takes about a year.  “And the stories come from various places,” she says. “Old obituaries, old records, to crumpled up pieces of newspaper that come in with other artifacts into the museum that we open and there’s a story.”

Okamoto will be portraying a country school teacher from the 19th century named Phoebe Griffith who claims to have met a mermaid while touring Bermuda. A sea maiden may or may not make an appearance this weekend. Okamoto stresses this is not a scary event. The annual cemetery walk, a fundraiser for the museum, includes no ghosts or zombies.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Sarah Boden, Iowa Public Radio)

A U-S District Court Judge in Council Bluffs, Thursday, sentenced a western Iowa man to a little more than 5 1/4 years in prison for possessing child pornography. 32-year old Matthew P. Goodside, of Shelby,  was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following his imprisonment and comply with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements.

Federal and state authorities began investigating Goodside in July of 2014 with regard to the suspected distribution of synthetic marijuana from his residence in Avoca. During a search warrant that was conducted at the Avoca residence in January of 2015, several laptops and pieces of computer equipment were recovered. A later forensic examination of the computers revealed the presence of several images and videos reflecting child pornography that had been downloaded using a peer-to-peer file sharing program.

The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Avoca Police Department, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Taskforce. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State lawyers say a lawsuit brought by a fired Iowa criminal investigator should be delayed until former Gov. Terry Branstad completes his service as ambassador to China. The Iowa attorney general’s office filed a motion Wednesday asking a judge to suspend proceedings in Larry Hedlund’s lawsuit indefinitely or to alternatively delay the trial scheduled for Dec. 4. The filing says Branstad will be unable to attend, and his “vital duties to this country make it extraordinary difficult” to participate in his defense.

Hedlund is the former Division of Criminal Investigation agent who was fired in 2013, days after reporting speeding by Branstad’s security detail. He’s suing Branstad for defamation and Department of Public Safety supervisors for wrongful termination. Branstad has said Hedlund’s firing had nothing to do with the speeding complaint and the department says Hedlund was fired for insubordination.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police say officers have arrested a Marion man who left his baby son in a crash-damaged van at a Cedar Rapids restaurant parking lot before returning hours later. Station KGAN reports that Trevor Brickson is charged with child endangerment and other crimes. Jail records say he remained in custody Friday. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Police say Brickson pulled into the lot Wednesday afternoon, spent 20 minutes hanging around the restaurant and then left without the van. Police say it was damaged in an accident earlier Wednesday. Police say a restaurant worker found the baby crying in the van 15 minutes after Brickson left. A pry tool was used to get the baby out. Officers arrested Brickson when he returned a couple hours later.

Cass County youth interested in learning about robotics to solve real-world problems should be aware Cass County 4-H is forming a First Lego League group for 4-8th graders interested in getting hands-on experience with science. Guided by a team of adult Coaches, FIRST LEGO League* teams (up to 10 members, grades 4-8) research a real -world problem such as food safety, recycling, energy, etc., and are challenged to develop a solution using robotics and problem solving skills. Working as a team, members design, build, and program a Lego MINDSTORMS EV3 Robot to complete specific tasks on a table-top 8’ x 4’ Challenge field using LEGO MINDSTORMS® kits. Teams will also identify a community project and plan a presentation to share a creative approach to a solution.

An informational meeting for parents set for this Sunday, October 15th at 5-p.m. It will be held at the Cass County Extension office in Atlantic. Any local youth in grades 4-8 can join First Lego League. When you join, you will register for 4-H since FLL is part of Cass County 4-H.   The team will meet at least once a week from Mid-October through December. Please call the Cass County Extension office at 243-1132 or email shelbyrw@iastate.edu to register your spot for this informational meeting. Any parents or other adults interested in coaching are also encouraged to contact the office; technology experience not required.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program, created by FIRST® and LEGO® , designed to get young people interested in and excited about science, technology and engineering. Every year, FIRST releases a new challenge that engages the teams in hands-on robotics design and scientific research. The theme for the challenge is different each year, allowing teams to learn about a variety of subjects.  This year’s theme is: HydroDynamics – learn about how we find, transport, use and dispose of water!

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County today (Friday) released an updated list of charges filed against two men allegedly involved in theft of numerous vehicles and other property. 25-year old Brandon J. King, of Scranton, KS, and 30-year old John P. Detimore, of Burlingame, KS, were arrested early Thursday morning, following a chase that began on Interstate 80 westbound, near Beebeetown. King faces charges that include: 1st and 2nd Degree Theft (Motor vehicle related); Eluding; Possession of a Concealed weapon (Handgun); Theft in the 4th Degree (stolen property); Interference with Official Acts, and Reckless Driving.

Detimore was charged with: 1st and 2nd degree Theft (Motor Vehicle related); Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of a Concealed weapon (Handgun); Attempt to commit murder; Theft in the 4th degree – stolen property; and Interference with official acts. Both men remain in the Pott. County Jail.

Evidence recovered following the crash, includes a 2008 Chevy Cobalt, a 2014 Ford F-250 diesel pickup, and 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country pickup, and a .9-millimeter Ruger handgun. The vehicles were stolen from registered owners in Seneca, KS, Neola and Shelby.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson today (Friday) released a report on arrests that have taken place since Sept. 23rd. The report shows two men were arrested on separate drug charges: This past Wednesday (10/11), 44-year old Joseph King, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, on Sept 24th, 32-year old Aaron Rebarcak, of Atlantic, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on a Fremont County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree.

Three men were arrested on assault charges in Atlantic: 22-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury. 25-year old Samuel Martines-Alvarado, of Atlantic, was arrested last Sunday for Simple Assault. And, last Saturday, 30-year old Ruben Eram, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

On Oct. 3rd, 45-year old Jesse Simmons, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. And on Sept. 23rd, 29-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree.

Each of those men was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report a Carroll County man was arrested at around 9-p.m. Thursday on an outstanding Audubon County warrant. 19-year old Drew Matthew Schultz, of Lanesboro, was arrested on a warrant for Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor. The charge is the result of an investigation into Schultz allegedly sending obscene nude photo’s to a minor’s cell phone. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation and arrest.

Schultz was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later posted a cash bond before being released. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday Oct. 16th, at 9-a.m.