The alleged use of a stolen credit card to obtain money from an ATM resulted in an arrest Tuesday evening, in Red Oak. Police say 29-year old James Harlan Rosencrans III, of Red Oak, was taken into custody a little after 7-p.m.  He faces seven counts of credit card fraud. Rosencrans was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

The funding source for state grants to help finance installation of equipment that dispenses higher blends of renewable fuels will end next year. Grant Menke of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says his group will lobby legislators to continue the program. “Investments like this program not only benefit the Iowa economy and the Iowa environment, but Iowa consumers as well,” Menke says.

Governor Branstad has signed legislation that ends a one-cent-per-gallon state tax on motor fuel on December 31st of this year. The tax was established a couple of decades ago to finance clean-up of old underground petroleum storage tanks that were leaking, but that project is complete. Until June 30th of next year, three-million dollars generated by that tax will be spent on fuel pumps that dispense biodiesel and ethanol at higher blends.

“Iowa consumers can look forward to more choices at the pump for E15, for E85, for higher biodiesel blends,” Menke says. “It’s going to save them money. It’s going to burn cleaner.” State grants from the Iowa Renewable Infrastructure Program can cover up to 50 percent of the cost for retailers installing these kind of blender pumps. The retailer must agree to sell the higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel for at least three years.

Supporters hope to convince legislators next year to find another source for the three-million dollar annual cost of the program.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say an officer used appropriate force when he cracked a man’s ribs during a March arrest. Police Chief Dana Wingert made the final decision this week after a review. Police say Officer Cody Grimes kneed 61-year-old Charles Young in the ribs after Young, who was on the floor, refused to put his hands behind his back. Young claims his hand was trapped and he couldn’t move it.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The president of a Christian charity in Iowa admitted that he stole nearly a half-million dollars in donations and used the money to fuel a sex addition, among other things, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Jon Petersen, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty Monday to a count of filing a false tax return, which is punishable by up to three years in prison. Prosecutors say he diverted nearly all the group’s money to his personal checking account between 2010 and 2014.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines County jury has found a Burlington man responsible for killing his 22-day-old son, although he will avoid a first-degree murder conviction. The jury on Monday found 24-year-old Randall Payne guilty of involuntary manslaughter and two child endangerment charges. The jury rejected prosecutors’ request to convict Payne of first-degree murder. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old has been sentenced to prison in the drug death of Sioux City high school student. A judge on Tuesday sentenced Rose Mouw, of Sioux City, to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance. Mouw admitted to selling synthetic marijuana to Austin McCloud, who was a senior at West High School. He died in April 2015 after smoking the drug.

Officials with the Iowa DNR said Tuesday, that they had received an anonymous complaint of an overflowing manure pit in Taylor County. When the DNR investigated, they found evidence of a manure spill at Barrans Farms, a small hog finishing farm about three miles southwest of Lenox. The outdoor pit that collects manure from buildings at the site was not overflowing during the investigation.

However, DNR field staff saw a path where manure flowed into an unnamed tributary of the East Fork of the One Hundred and Two River. Field tests showed elevated levels of ammonia in water flowing into the tributary, but DNR staff did not find any dead fish. The DNR is continuing to investigate the incident and will consider appropriate enforcement action.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A government wildlife researcher says he’s found that rabbits and skunks can become infected with the bird flu virus and shed it enough to infect ducks, evidence that small mammals could contribute to the spread of bird flu on farms.

National Wildlife Research Center biologist Jeff Root says his experiments have shown striped skunks and cottontail rabbits in captivity in his laboratory have indirectly transmitted a strain of bird flu to mallard ducks after they’ve shared food and water sources. Root says it’s important now to figure out how likely it is such transmission across species happens in the wild.

Last year bird flu resulted in the death of 48 million birds in 15 states. Scientists hope to find how it gets from wild birds to farms and spreads.

The Danish Windmill in Elk Horn says “It’s going to be a big ceremony at one of the world’s smallest chapels and everyone’s invited.” “Generations of Love,” is the theme for the 36th annual celebration of Danish heritage, Tivoli Fest, which takes place Memorial Day weekend in the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa.

Couples are invited to participate in a mass wedding vow renewal ceremony that will be performed by Mayor Stan Jens outside of Morning Star Chapel, a tiny chapel built by a Danish immigrant carpenter, Charles Johann Walensky, in 1951, when he was 83 years old. The Chapel was originally located on Walensky’s property in Waterloo, Iowa, as a place for people to meditate, pray, and relax. Since 1951, there have been more than four hundred wedding ceremonies held at the Morning Star Chapel. The Chapel now stands on the historic Danish Windmill’s grounds.

The festivities will kick off Friday night with a Bachelor and Bachelorette Party at the Elk Horn Fire Station featuring the Iowa Craft Beer Tent and live music by Diego Garcia.

Saturday there will be a collection of wedding dresses and Danish immigrant wedding portraits on display at the Elk Horn Town Hall where you can sample a Danish Smørrebord. That evening is the Rehearsal Dance featuring the Iowa Craft Beer Tent and live music by Darla Hansen and her band Local Suspects.

A wedding brunch with Æbleskiver and Medisterpølse is planned for Sunday morning. A Danish Kransekage wedding cake competition will be held immediately following the vow renewal ceremony.

This event is strictly for vow renewals only and you don’t have to be Danish to participate. Each couple will receive a Tivoli Newspaper of events and a special vow renewal certificate. A small contribution of $10.00 per couple is requested to go to the Chapel’s maintenance fund. Register online at http://www.danishwindmill.com/tourist_info/renew-wedding-vows.asp.

Enjoy a weekend of Danish festivities featuring a fun run, parade, fireworks, Strøget Danish Walking Street, Viking encampment, folk dancing, food and more! Download the Tivoli Fest schedule of events at http://www.danishwindmill.com/pdf_docs/Tivoli-2016.pdf.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old has been sentenced to prison in the drug death of Sioux City high school student.  A judge on Tuesday sentenced Rose Mouw, of Sioux City, to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance.

Mouw admitted to selling synthetic marijuana to 18-year-old Austin McCloud, who was a senior at West High School in Sioux City. He died in April 2015 after smoking the drug. Mouw previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, but her Tuesday sentence was part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a public ceremony to dedicate the Loess Hills Wildlife Area, Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon State Park, and a 42 mile section of the Loess Hills (including the Loess Hills National Natural Landmark) as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on Friday, June 3rd, at 3-pm.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, at the Loess Hills Wildlife Area/Loess Hills Prairie Seminar grounds, located at the intersection of 178th St. and Oak Ave., about three miles northwest of Castana.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting the dedication that will include brief presentations and the unveiling of a special Bird Conservation Area sign. There will be refreshments, and following the ceremony there will be a short hike within the adjoining Sylvan Runkel State Preserve.

This unique area is one of western Iowa’s most species-rich grassland/savanna/forest habitats. Bruce Ehresman, DNR wildlife diversity program biologist, says “Designating this complex as a Bird Conservation Area will add to its recognition by indicating its importance for nesting and migratory grassland, savanna, and forest birds. It provides important nesting habitat for declining grassland birds, such as grasshopper sparrow, western meadowlark and northern bobwhite; for declining savanna birds like red-headed woodpeckers and state endangered barn owls, and for declining forest birds like wood thrush and yellow-billed cuckoos; plus the area provides migration stopover habitat for a large number of other bird species suffering nationwide declines.”

This area also is rich in cultural history, from the extended time period when it was inhabited by American Indians to the time when Euro-Americans, including Mormons, arrived and settled. It is anticipated that this new BCA will attract bird enthusiasts from throughout the region and beyond. Watching wildlife is a $318 million industry in Iowa, and more birders visiting this area will support the growing local tourism economy and encourage investment in local bird conservation.

The public is welcome to attend this event and is encouraged to stay to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, a weekend of learning and fun. Bird appreciators and all wildlife conservationists are asked to help celebrate the dedication of this important Bird Conservation Area and also to promote the conservation of birds and their habitats.

Connections Area Agency has announced that the state is continuing the Farmers Market voucher program for older Iowans.  With this program, seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce.  If you have questions about eligibility, please call 800-432-9209 ext. 1010. The Cass County Distribution of Farmer’s Market vouchers will be held on Tuesday, June 14^th from 9:30am-12:30pm at the Cass County Extension office located at 805 W. 10^th Street in Atlantic.

If you are interested in obtaining a booklet of vouchers, please plan to be at the distribution.  There are a limited number of booklets, so distribution will be on a first come, first served basis.

Program Criteria:

• Must be at least 60 years of age or older
• Annual income must be less than

$21,978          Single

$29,637          Married

• Only one original application allowed per individual.  No photocopies or duplicate applications allowed.  Married couples can jointly apply on one application.