Red Oak Police arrested a local teen Thursday evening for Providing False Information to Police, a simple misdemeanor. 17-year old Jason Lee Sarabia, Jr., of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 7-p.m. He was cited into Juvenile Court and released to his parents.

Two Montgomery County men were arrested on drug charges Thursday night after deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at  210 East Market Street, in Red Oak. Authorities say 35-year old Travis Lynn Sickels and 33-year old Ryan Michael McDougall, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 9:35-p.m.

Officials say Sickles was faces felony charges that include: 4 counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine/3rd offense, and Possession of Meth/3rd offense. He also faces misdemeanor charges of Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition, Sickles was wanted on a warrant out of Cass County for Failure to serve a jail sentence. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $50,000 cash bond.

McDougall was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,000. Deputies were assisted at the scene by officers with the Red Oak P-D and Montgomery County K9 Unit.

Two people were injured during an accident Thursday afternoon about two-miles north of the intersection of Highways 34 and 71, in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Department says the driver of a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country mini-van, 29-year old Amanda L. Johnson, of Shenandoah, was transported by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, following the crash. A passenger in the vehicle, 4-year old Havyn E. Johnson, received treatment at the scene for minor injuries.  Neither of the occupants were using a seat belt.

Officials say the van was northbound on Highway 71 just before 4-p.m., when for reasons unknown, it crossed the centerline and left the road across the west shoulder before entering a ditch. The van traveled for about 400-feet in the ditch until it hit a depression in the ditch, the impact of which caused the van to become airborne for about 25-feet. It crashed into the ground, hitting a rise in the terrain, resulting in the left front wheel to be shoved back about 9-inches from its original position.

The van continued to travel for about 335-feet before coming to rest in a field to the west of Highway 71. Authorities say while Johnson may have suffered from a medical condition that caused her to lose control of the van, the accident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, Villisca Fire and Rescue, Red Oak Rescue, and Grant Fire.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a slain 5-year-old Iowa girl says she recalls the search that ensued after she discovered her daughter was missing. Noel Miller and officials involved in investigating the girl’s death testified yesterday in the trial of 35-year-old Casey Frederiksen, who is charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault. Prosecutors allege Frederiksen sexually abused Evelyn Miller and stabbed her to death while babysitting her in 2005. He was arrested in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of posing as an actor from the “Twilight” movies to entice girls in Iowa has pleaded guilty to federal possession of child pornography charges. U.S. Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt says 33-year-old David LaVera of San Diego, entered his plea deal yesterday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The parents of a detainee killed after escaping from an Iowa State Patrol car have filed a legal claim alleging a trooper violated policy in leaving him unattended. Attorney Joe Cacciatore said yesterday the claim with the State Appeal Board seeks to hold the patrol accountable for errors that contributed to Matthew Lentzkow’s November 1st death.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Senior forward Aaron White arrived in Iowa City as a scrawny kid that few outside of suburban Cleveland, Ohio had ever heard of. He’ll leave as one of the greatest players the Hawkeyes have ever had. White and the Hawkeyes host Northwestern Saturday in search of their first six-game Big Ten winning streak in 28 years.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say the County will be implementing additional security measures at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs, beginning Monday, March 9th. Sheriff Jeff Danker said in a Press Release, that in an effort to provide a safer workplace and place of business, an x-ray machine and walk through metal detector have been installed in the first floor lobby of the courthouse.

The machines will screen individuals and personal belongings for weapons and other contraband not allowed into the building. Prohibited items include firearms, knives or any other weapons, including items which could be used as a weapon as determined by the Sheriff’s Office. In an effort to expedite the screening process Danker says you should only bring required or necessary items with you into the courthouse to conduct your business.

A collision between a pickup and a van last week in Cass County caused $6,200 damage, but no one was injured. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies had responded just before 4-p.m. on February 25th, to a report of a two-vehicle accident in Anita. Officials say a 2013 Ford F350 pickup driven by 24-year old Shane Michael Suhr, of Anita, was eastbound on Locust Street when a 2000 Dodge Caravan owned and driven by 35-year old David Joel Case, of Anita, backed from a driveway in front of Suhr’s vehicle. Suhr attempted to stop but was unable to due to road conditions. Case was cited for Failure to Have Insurance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic woman was arrested Thursday on three Cass County warrants. 56-year old Mary Helen Adams faces charges that include: Delivery of Methamphetamine (C Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense (Aggravated Misdemeanor), Prohibited Acts (Aggravated Misdemeanor), Possession of Marijuana (Serious Misdemeanor), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Adams was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $10,000 bond.

And, in Tuesday (March 3rd) deputies in Cass County arrested 27-year old Aaron Lee Ihnken, of Atlantic,  on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Ihnken was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

A mother and two children escaped a residential fire in Atlantic, Thursday afternoon.

Photo submitted

The call about smoke coming from 103 Cedar came in at around 4:20-p.m. from a motorist passing by. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said when the first crews arrived there was smoke coming from the roof.

Photo submitted

Photo submitted

McNees said it appears the fire was caused by electrical wiring between the ceiling and floor joists. He said the whole top floor is destroyed and the house sustained extensive water damage. The house was a rental property occupied by Dusty Jones and her seven month old and nine-year old children. The family was being assisted by neighbors and the Red Cross.

The court dates have been set for a former Cass County man who faced sexual abuse allegations. According to the Cass County Attorney’s Office, an arraignment hearing for 56-year old Roger Allen Ericksen is set for March 16th, followed by a Pre-Trial Conference on April 6th, and Trial on May 27th. Ericksen faces 10 counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, which is classified as a Class-B felony.

Ericksen, who was living in Underwood, was arrested by Cass County Sheriff’s deputies on Feb. 23rd, and remains in the Cass County Jail on $25,000 bond. A complaint filed in Cass County District Court says a Cass County Deputy interviewed a juvenile at Project Harmony, in Omaha, who alleged she was sexually assault by Ericksen several time in 2011. In an interview with the Cass County Deputy, Ericksen admitted to having sexual contact with the female.

In Dec. 2012, Ericksen pled guilty to Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree, stemming from a prior case.  In the previous case, Ericksen was given a 10-year suspended sentence and ordered to register was Sex Offender. He was also ordered to live in a residential correctional facility.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Layoff notices are going out to employees at a state mental health institution in Mount Pleasant that is slated for closure. Department of Human Services spokeswoman Amy McCoy says Thursday that notices had gone out to 36 workers. The layoffs will be effective April 6. There currently are about 74 people working at the facility.

Under Gov. Terry Branstad’s proposed budget, funding would be eliminated for mental health facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. Branstad says the hospitals are old and that people can seek mental health treatment from other providers, including two state mental health institutions in Cherokee and Independence.

Democratic lawmakers say the Republican governor is ignoring the fact that the Legislature appropriated money for the institutions. A Branstad spokesman says the change will lead to better care.