Police in Red Oak arrested two people on separate charges, Thursday night. 46-year old Sonya Gail Smith, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Child Endangerment without injury, after she was pulled over at around 10:15-p.m. for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated. And, since there was a child in the vehicle, Smith was charged with Child Endangerment. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

At around 10-p.m., Thursday, Red Oak Police arrested 40-year old Dean William Beck, of Garnavillo. Beck faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $1,000. Beck and Smith were both arrested in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:00 a.m. CDT

Atlantic, Iowa (KJAN) – A 13-year old female from Anita who disappeared with a 17-year old male wanted in Georgia, was found safe Thursday night, in Colorado. The father of Gracie (Grace) Hensley said in a social media post late Thursday night, that he would be driving to Denver to bring Gracie home. She was last seen Wednesday morning, heading off to school.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Colorado engineer who split a lottery jackpot in 2005 has filed a lawsuit alleging that his prize should be bigger because the other two winners were part of a nationwide conspiracy to rig drawings. Amir Massihzadeh has filed a lawsuit against the Colorado State Lottery, alleging he should be declared the sole winner and that his $800,000 cash prize should have been tripled. Massihzadeh’s lawsuit seeks about $4 million from the lottery for what it calls a breach of contract.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An organization dedicated to open government will honor an Associated Press reporter and a former newspaper executive. The Iowa Freedom of Information Council on Thursday night will present its annual Friend of the First Amendment award to AP reporter Ryan J. Foley and Michael Gartner, who has held numerous leadership roles at newspapers and broadcasters and now is principal owner of the Iowa Cubs baseball team.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – The owner of a boarding school for teenagers has been released from an Iowa jail while he awaits trial on sex and child abuse charges. Former Midwest Academy director Benjamin Trane left the Lee County jail Thursday after a judge reduced his $500,000-bond to $50,000. Trane had been jailed since surrendering last month to face charges of third-degree sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a counselor and child endangerment.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) – A motorcyclist has died after a crash with a tractor in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says the motorcyclist was traveling south Thursday morning on Highway 136 about a mile south of Dyersville when the crash happened. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the tractor, which was also southbound, was pulling a wagon when it attempted to turn left into a farm lane. Investigators say the motorcycle then collided with the tractor.

(Corrects timeline of announcement from Wed. to Thursday)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office alerted the media at around 8:40-p.m. Thursday, that a 13-year old female missing from Anita was located safe, in Colorado. The father of Gracie (Grace) Hensley said in a social media post at around 11-p.m. Thursday, that the family is grateful to the social media community, friends, law enforcement, the CAM School District, and others who helped to search for and spread the word about the missing teen.

Grace Hensley

Gracie was believed to be with 17-year old Zach Calhoun from Georgia when she disappeared. Calhoun was wanted by authorities in Georgia. The pair was traveling in a white Ford pickup belonging to Hensley’s grandmother. Calhoun’s parent’s vehicle was found abandoned in near Anita. On Thursday, Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren said the case was not considered to be an abduction. The incident remains under investigation.

Grace’ father Wesley Hensley said late Thursday night, he was on his way to Denver, CO., to bring his daughter home. He said neither he nor Grace’s mother Claressa had any idea their daughter would run away from home with a boy she met online. He said “Wednesday morning she skipped school and went with a boy she met online from Georgia. I have never heard of this boy at all( and we do check her accounts from time to time).”

He warned parents to “Please please keep an eye on what you kids are doing online,”and said the family will work with Grace to put their lives back on track.

DES MOINES, IOWA – An official with Iowa Workforce Development say the agency has launched the Rapid Response program to serve the 215 individuals who will be losing their jobs with the closing of the Ferrara Candy Company in mid-December. The Rapid Response team will provide dedicated services to ensure affected employees receive all of the available benefits and have access to important resources for securing future employment.

Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development say “Our number one priority is making sure the workers affected by this transition have the access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about the way forward.” Townsend says “Our team of dedicated professionals will work to develop a customized service plan specific to the needs of the individuals impacted by this unfortunate event.”

Wayne J. Pantini, Executive Director of the Union County Development Association, said “We are working with local and state service providers to engage with management at Ferrara Candy Company. Our goal will be to assist the employees in finding new employment or pursue additional skill training to meet the needs of the current job market.” Pantini said also, “We are optimistic that the majority of those affected can find suitable employment by other regional employers and will remain in the community.”

Following notification and confirmation of a layoff, the IWD Rapid Response Team arranges an on-site meeting with the company, union officials (if applicable) and service providers in the area. Employee information meetings are conducted to provide information about services available at IowaWORKS offices which include:

• assistance finding new employment
• resume workshops
• career counseling
• training in a new career
• assistance filing unemployment insurance (UI) benefits

Other state agencies or community-based organizations are invited to participate in the meetings. These services are fully funded by the Department of Labor through the State of Iowa under the Dislocated Worker Program.

The IowaWORKS office in Creston is collecting a list of businesses who would like to be in contact with the Ferrara Candy Company employees. Once the plan of services is developed, these businesses will be notified with dates, times and opportunities to meet with the impacted employees. If you are interested in being placed on this list, please contact Pam Varner at pamela.varner@iwd.iowa.gov or 641-782-2119 ext. 24.

Classes were disrupted at several Iowa schools this week by threats of violence. At least one person has now been arrested – but only for a threat that led to the closing of Algona schools on Wednesday.

A 16-year-old Algona youth has been charged with “Threat of Terrorism,” a class D Felony. The teen is believed to have made a threat of violence in a social media post on Tuesday evening. Algona schools were closed on Wednesday because school officials and police believed that the threat was directed towards the school district. No other suspects are being sought in the case.

Three other schools in north-central Iowa were put on “lockdown” for a while on Wednesday — Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Eagle Grove and Belmond-Klemme.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department is warning the public of a recent scam that has entered the area. If you receive a flyer from MarketResearch.com in reference to a secret shopper program at Wal-Mart, it is a scam.  This has been found to not be a legitimate business so their correspondence should be disregarded.

The scam asks people to participate in a secret shopper survey for the local Wal-Mart store and then use the MoneyGram Transfer service to send money back to the phony company. The instruction letter tries to make victims believe that the wire transfer is just a part of the evaluation process.  The scam promises participants $300 in compensation which comes in the form of a phony check.

Once again if you receive this proposition from this company please disregard.

Police in Shenandoah say a vehicle was reported stolen early this (Thursday) morning. The vehicle, a black, 1997 Dodge Ram extended cab 1500 pickup with Iowa license plate BUX 240,, was reported stolen around 4:30 a.m. It was taken from the 200 block of East Thomas Street. Anyone with information on the location of the vehicle is urged to contact the Shenandoah Police Department at (712) 246-3512, or your local law enforcement agency.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for children under 13 and surveys find many Iowans don’t know how to properly install or use a child car seat. Tammy Fleshner, spokeswoman for the Butler County Department of Health, says car seat misuse in Iowa is tracking as high as 95-percent. “If your child’s car seat has expired — because they have expiration dates — if they’ve been in a crash and show signs that they definitely need to be replaced, or maybe it’s just the totally wrong seat your child,” Fleshner says. “The state has definite laws about child passenger safety and what type of seat they should be in, but that’s not always the best practice.”

Several factors contribute to so many misused car seats, including the high number of different vehicles on the roads today. Fleshner says misuse isn’t intentional, but it needs to be addressed to save lives. “It might be perfect for them today and in six months from today, it’s not,” Fleshner says. “We know our caregivers, our parents, our grandparents want to do the best thing, it’s just that they don’t have the knowledge to make sure it’s right. There’s a lot of us out there pushing to make sure the kids our safe. They’re our most precious cargo. We want to make sure they stay safe.”

Potential car seat buyers should be wary of car seats at garage sales. One instance from a garage sale remains in Fleshner’s mind.  “The gentleman says, ‘That’s a really good seat, it saved my grandson’s life,’ and we found out it was in a car crash, the car was totaled,” she says. “Yes, the child was saved, but now that seat is no longer good. Car seats are made for one crash only.”

Many county health departments and law enforcement agencies across Iowa offer free car seat inspections, typically by appointment.

(Radio Iowa)

A new study shows Iowa remains one of the top states for deer collisions. State Farm’s 2017 deer-collision study shows Iowa drivers have a 1-in-69 chance of hitting a deer, elk or moose. The data is based on insurance claims. Drivers in West Virginia are at the greatest risk with a 1-in-43 chance of hitting a deer with their cars. Iowa is fourth on the list behind West Virginia, Montana and Pennsylvania.

(Radio Iowa) – will be updated

A traffic stop Sept. 27th in Cass County resulted in the arrest of a man from Florida. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year old Jerome Thomas Jones,  of Miami, FL, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense. Jones was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

And, one person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following an accident at around 7:20-p.m. Tuesday, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened on White Pole Road near 740th Street, when one pickup rear-ended another. A 1998 Ford F150 pickup owned and driven by 37-year old Travis James Armstrong, of Cumberland, was eastbound on White Pole Road when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2000 Chevy Tahoe owned and driven by 36-year old Lisa Renee Sherwood, of Guthrie Center.

After the impact, Armstrong’s vehicle ended up in the south ditch, while Sherwood’s vehicle was able to stop on the road surface. One passenger from the Tahoe was injured and transported to CCMH by Anita Rescue. Damage to Armstrong’s vehicle is estimated at $3,000. Sherwood’s vehicle sustained about $5,000 damage.

Armstrong was subsequently arrested for OWI 1st Offense.  He was also cited for Open Container and Failure to Maintain Control.