The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous vehicles were broken into during the late evening hours Friday (3/29) in the downtown Atlantic area.  Some of the break-ins discovered have not been reported by their owners yet as of early Saturday morning.  Numerous items were taken from the vehicles.

The Atlantic Police Department is asking the public to report anything they might have seen to assist in finding the subjects involved.  They are also urging the public to keep their vehicles locked and not leave valuables in their vehicle.

Red Oak Police responded to an accident at 1:03pm Friday (3/29) afternoon in the 300 block of Oakwood Avenue.  Officers determined a 1996 Chevy Blazer that was being operated by 29-year-old Mikal Dwayne Johnson of Red Oak was traveling eastbound on Oakwood Avenue up a steep incline when the vehicle stalled.   The Blazer then began to roll backwards down the hill and was unable to stop before striking a utility pole owned by Mid American Energy.  The impact of the collision broke the pole in half causing the power lines to come down over the street.

No injuries occurred during the incident and the vehicle had been moved prior to officers arrival.  The vehicle was owned by Megan Renee Johnson of Red Oak and sustained $2,500 damage.   Damage to the utility pole was estimated at $3,500.

The Red Oak Police Department was assisted at the scene by deputies of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Fire and Rescue.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a 20-year-old Harlan man at 7:44pm Friday (3/29) night on a methamphetamine charge.  Jesse Lee Harrison of Harlan was arrested at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

The warrant stems from an incident that occurred on December 27, 2012.  Harrison’s bond was set at $50,000.

Authorities in Cass and Shelby Counties were investigating two separate accidents that occurred early this (Saturday) morning. The first happened on Atlantic’s southwest side, on 29th Street, just west of Highway Six, just after 2-a.m.  According to dispatch reports, a vehicle rolled over. By the time Atlantic Police and Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, the driver of the vehicle had taken-off on foot. Atlantic Police tried to track the subject but were called back, and a Cass County K-9 unit began the search. A passenger in the vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance also assisted the scene. Additional details concerning the accident are also not available.

Then, at around 2:50-a.m., Defiance Rescue was dispatched to assist Irwin Rescue with a rollover accident on Shelby County Road M-47, just south of Irwin. The vehicle’s cab was said to have been crushed in the crash. Additional details can be found in updated story above.

And, at around 4-a.m. Medivac ambulance was dispatched to 1104 19th Street in Harlan, where a vehicle had struck the home at that location. No injuries were reported. Additional details are also not available on that incident. Harlan Fire assisted at the scene.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The body of a homeless man who was found in the woods near Lake Manawa Tuesday afternoon has been identified. Authorites told the Daily NonPareil 52-year old Kelly Carroll, a transient, died from natural causes.  Sgt. Dave Dawson with the Council Bluffs Police Department told the paper the state Medical Examiner’s Office wouldn’t have a full report for a few weeks, but preliminary information shows what police originally suspected, that the death was not suspicious in nature.

A Council Bluffs Police officer found Carroll’s skeletal remains while chasing a suspected shoplifter near the Manawa Centre and Metro Crossing, on the city’s southeast side. When the suspect ran into the woods, an officer discovered Carroll in a tent which had the top blown off. The area where the tent was located was a popular site for transients.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety say there aren’t many answers yet with regard to the death of a prisoner in Woodbury County. The State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy of 35-year oldAnthony R. Josta Thursday, March 28th, at their office in Ankeny.  Preliminary autopsy results indicate there is no evidence of foul play related to Josta’s death.  The cause and manner of death will be determined once toxicology tests are completed.  Those test results could take six to eight weeks.

On March 26, 2013 at 7:35 PM, Woodbury County inmate Anthony Josta, of Sioux City, was found alone in his cell, unconscious and unresponsive.  Siouxland Paramedics responded, but attempts to revive Josta were unsuccessful. Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew immediately requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  Three agents responded and conducted an investigation into the death of Josta.

It’s routine practice for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct investigations into critical incidents involving the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.  The State of Iowa Jail Inspector also received notification. There is no other information being released at this time.

Atlantic native Randy Burke is set to release his third album, “Money, Heart and Soul,” next month.

The cover of Randy Burke’s latest CD.

The album from his band Randy Burke and the Prisoners,comes eight years after their second album, “Down to this,” and will be available at a special event on Friday, April 12th, at the historic SF Martin House Bed and Breakfast, in a listening room type setting. The album release will come with dinner, and signed CD’s for the price of admission, which according to Burke’s website, is $50-to $75.  The show starts at 7:30-p.m. A similar album release will take place in Des Moines Saturday, April 13th at Gas Lamp. Tickets for that event are seven-dollars at the door.

The new album features renowned country studio musicians from across the globe, including Greg Leisz, Dennis Caplinger, Randy Ray Mitchell, Taras Produniuk, Teddy Andreadis, Dave Raven, and Atlantic native, Jared Hall. The 40-year old Burk, has been touring for over 12 years with the Prisoners delivering music in the rich tradition of artists like Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, and Dave Alvin.

For more information on either the Atlantic or Des Moines album release, go to: www.reverbnation.com/randyburkandtheprisoners.

Residents in Shelby County shouldn’t be surprised to see a huge amount of smoke coming from a field in the next couple of weeks. Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency report on their Facebook page, that sometime within the next 14-days, the Harlan Fire Department will be conducting a large (74 Acre), training burn. The exact date has not yet been chosen, due to possible changes in weather conditions. Firefighters who would like to be notified of the date should private message the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency through its Facebook page.