(Updated with additional details)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports two people were arrested this (Wednesday) morning on theft charges associated with missing vehicles. 41-year old Shelly Dawn Race, of Shenandoah, and 48-year old Carl Allen Race, of Clarinda, were taken into custody following a traffic stop. They were each charged with two counts each of Theft in the 2nd degree. Carl Race also faces a Violation of Protection Order charge, for which there is no bond. Shelly and Carl Race’ bond on the other charges was set at $10,000 each.

The couples’ arrested stems from an investigation into the theft of pickup. The Page County Sheriff’s office says it was notified that a  1993 Chevy 2500 Standard Cab pickup owned by David Mellencamp of rural Clarinda, which was reported stolen Tuesday, had been recovered this (Wednesday) morning, during the traffic stop in Mills County.  Also found with the stolen pickup was a 2007 Suzuki DR-650SE motorcycle that had been reported stolen Tuesday. The cycle is owned by Larry Athen, of rural Shenandoah. 

Sheriff Lyle Palmer said the motorcycle’s information was not released to the press, as an investigation was being conducted and a press release could have compromised the immediate investigation.  Both vehicles were entered as stolen through the NCIC system for Law Enforcement when they were reported.

In other news, deputies in Mills County deputies arrested 26-year old Mackenzie Ann Meggison, of Malvern, Tuesday, on a warrant for being a fugitive from justice, issued out of Omaha. Meggison was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

(12-p.m. News)

The Harlan City Council, Tuesday, approved a change order to the Harlan Police Department’s construction project. The Council approved an $11,000 addition to the new structure for a basement along with $1,500 for radon detection. The Council had previously discussed the cost of the basement at their last meeting, August 20th. The council approved costs because it was relatively low, and will give the Police Department extra room on the main floor.

Also discussed at that meeting were the private donations given to the city of Harlan towards the Harlan Community Foundation. The item was forwarded to City Attorney Todd Argotsinger who informed the Personnel and Finance Committee on August 30th, that it was perfectly legal for the city to accept the funds and pay the funds to the Foundation.

At the same Committee meeting, Superintendent Justin Wagner gave the city an update on the Harlan Community Education Foundation fundraising efforts. Wagner told the committee the Music department has raised half of their goal, $50,000 while the STEM program is fully funded with $456,000 raised out of $450k needed. The Merrill Field Renovation Project is sitting at $823,000 out of $1.5 million. The Foundation is meeting with the Vision Iowa Grant board on Wednesday, September 11th. Any money from the Vision Iowa Grant will be used on the Merrill Field Project.

During the City Administrator’s report, Terry Cox told the Harlan City Council the 2013 RAGBRAI awards money has been divided up to organizations. The city returned $10,000 to the Hotel/Motel Committee, $5,000 to the Shelby County Fair Board, Education Foundation and the Harlan City Parks/Pool. The SCCO, little league, Concerned Inc. and West Central Community Action received $2,000 while the Harlan Police Reserves $1,000. In all a total of $37,730 was awarded to 22 organizations.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, introduced a new deputy to the force. During a meeting of the Shelby County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Mark Hervey introduced Nathan Pigsley to the board. Pigsley is a certified officer and worked for one year at the Audubon County Sheriff’s Department. Hervey said Pigsley worked at the Shelby County Communications Center when Pigsley was going to college so he knows the department and is from the area. Deputy Pigsley’s first day on duty was Tuesday.

In other business, the Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator, Bob Seivert was on hand at the meeting to give a report on GEO Communication software. The County is working on upgrading their software and technology in order to track motor graders. The software will cost $57,956 along with installation and annual maintenance. The tracking device would be used in 13 vehicles. Iowa 9-1-1 funds will cover 50 percent of the cost through grant funding. The Supervisors approved the software and technology upgrades.

And, Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart gave another update on the closure procedure in process to close a portion of 1800th Street. The Shelby County Supervisors approved October 1st at 9-am for a public hearing for the closure. The Supervisors then moved into a closed session to hold a negotiation strategy meeting.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A pursuit Tuesday afternoon in northwestern Pottawattamie County ended within an hour, when a teenaged runaway from Nebraska surrendered to authorities near the Missouri River. Pott. County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman, Sgt. Dwayne Richie says the incident involving the 17-year old male driver of a 1996 Nebraska plated Nissan sedan began at around 4:10-p.m, at the 130th Street Exit off of Interstate 680.

He says the vehicle continued north onto 145th Street at speeds in excess of 70-miles per hour, once the deputy engaged in the pursuit. Other deputies also engaged in the pursuit, including one who was running northbound, parallel to the Nissan. Another deputy was behind the car. The chase continued onto Meadowlark Loop and northbound onto 140th Street, where the car entered a private drive and drove off into a grove of brush. Once the teen ditched the car, he took off on foot. Omaha Police helicopter Able 1 was contacted to search for the teen.

After some time, the vehicle was located about a mile from where deputies broke off the pursuit. Able 1 was able to locate the driver. Deputies proceeded in that direction and found the driver, who surrendered by the river, without further incident. The teen was missing one of his socks and shoes when he surrendered to deputies. While his parents were contacted, the teen was brought to the Juvenile Detention Facility in Council Bluffs.

Sgt. Richie says the young man faces numerous charges, including Failure to Stop, Careless Driving, Eluding or attempting to Elude a law enforcement vehicle, and criminal mischief in the 3rd degree.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Police in Red Oak report the arrest of a Red Oak resident, 50-year old Joseph Olis Loudermilk. Loudermilk was taken into custody at 2301 Eastern Avenue in Red Oak, at around 10:15-p.m.  He was arrested for Breach of Peace and was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Clerk of court offices throughout Iowa are again open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff shortages caused by budget shortfalls caused clerk offices to close every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon since the fall of 2009.

With the $167 million Iowa Judicial Branch budget approved by lawmakers in June, the Iowa Supreme Court authorized more than 40 additional positions for the state’s clerk of court offices. That allows all the offices to be open to the public full time.

In northwest Iowa, 29 offices opened full time July 15 while the remaining clerk offices and the clerk of appellate courts office opened full time on Sept. 3. In small counties some court offices may still close during lunch hours.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A criminal complaint says a 17-year-old accused of killing a 5-year-old in western Iowa led family members to the body. The complaint released Tuesday says the teen led family members to the body at the bottom of a rural Harrison County ravine. The boys had lived at the same foster home for nearly three weeks.

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Trial begins Oct. 30 for a 39-year-old Northwood man accused of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 30-year-old woman. Tyrone Washington filed a written plea of not guilty Tuesday in the Aug. 5 death of Justina Marie Smith. Smith was found severe injuries at a Northwood park, and authorities say she identified Washington as her alleged attacker before she died.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman trying to get onto the field before the University of Iowa’s opening season football game had a blood alcohol content more than four times the legal limit to drive. The university’s Department of Public Safety says 22-year-old Samantha Lynne Goudie, of Iowa City, was unsteady on her feet and a preliminary breath test showed her blood-alcohol level was .341.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo police officer has been treated at a hospital following a pit bull attack. Police say officers responded to a report Tuesday morning in Waterloo of a loose pit bull dragging a chain. One of the officers was then bitten by the dog on the left forearm before another officer used a Taser on the animal.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday afternoon of 54-year old Robert Anthony Marron, Jr., of Red Oak,  on an assault charge. Marron was taken into custody at around 2:55-p.m. on a Montgomery County warrant for Domestic Assault with Injury. He was being held in the jail on $1,000 bond.