SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Residents in northwestern Iowa are cleaning up after heavy rain and strong winds downed power lines and tree limbs and knocked out electricity to thousands overnight. MidAmerican Energy says up to 13,000 customers were left without power in the Sioux City area when the storm moved through Friday night.

The utility says power was restored to about 8,000 customers by early Saturday morning. The storms also caused the partial collapse of a stage Friday night at the RiseFest Christian Music Festival in Sheldon. No injuries were reported, and festival organizers had already evacuated the area around 7 p.m. Friday because of strong wind and lighting.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Two Nebraska residents have been arrested in Iowa, accused of taking three stolen vehicles on a camping trip. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports 35-year-old Mark Berlett, of Omaha, and 26-year-old Brooke Vacanti, of La Vista, were arrested around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek.

Berlett is charged with theft and a second offense of operating while intoxicated. Vacanti is charged with theft, possession of illegal prescription pills and of drug paraphernalia. Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputies say they found a sport utility vehicle, a pickup and a travel trailer — all of which had been reported stolen — at the pair’s campsite.

Both remained at the Pottawattamie County Jail on Saturday.

(Updated 3:15-p.m.)

Atlantic Police, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident at 11:24-a.m., Saturday. The crash involved a 2016 Ford Fusion that struck and AMU power pole in the 1200 block of Chestnut Street. Atlantic Police Officer Devon Hogue said the car, driven by Doug Howard, of Atlantic, was northbound on Chestnut when, according to Howard, he reached down to change the radio, and lost control of the car. The vehicle hit a curb and then the power pole, snapping it off at the base. The car continued north on Chestnut for about half a block, before coming to rest in the middle of the road. The vehicle sustained heavy damage to the left front quarter panel and wheel well.

A crew from AMU was on the scene at around 12:15, working to remove and replace the damaged pole. Howard refused medical treatment and was transported to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, where he was subsequently charged with OWI/3rd offense and was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Striking a Fixture upon Highway. The Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Creston Police Department released details of a Thursday evening accident in Creston.  Officers were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident at 5:14pm Thursday at the intersection of Highway 34 and Elm Street in Creston.

After investigation it was determined that a 2007 Toyota Rav4 driven by 27-year-old Kimberly Caudle of Creston was westbound on Highway 34 while a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 22-year-old Caitlyn Cox of Creston was southbound on Elm Street when both came to the intersection stop signs.  Cox observed a truck turning from the inside lane on Highway 34 and thought she was okay to turn left onto Highway 34.  Caudle was sitting in the inside lane and began traveling west on Highway 34 and struck Cox’s turning vehicle on the rear driver’s side.  Caudle had an airbag deploy and was taken to Greater Regional Medical Center to check out possible injuries.  Cox was uninjured in the accident.

No citations were issued and the vehicles suffered an estimated $9,000 total damage.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Villisca man early Saturday for driving while suspended.  At approximately 2:30am Saturday deputies arrested 49-year-old Shawn Allen Graham of Villisca for Driving While Suspended.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on bond.

Police in Red Oak say a local man was arrested Friday afternoon on a Theft charge. 43-year old Chris Allen Taylor, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 3:50-p.m. on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials say they have used Iowa’s safe haven law to take custody of a newborn baby whose mother turned over care of the girl to a hospital. The Department of Human Services announced Friday the infant was given to an Iowa hospital June 7 and then released to the custody of the state agency.

A man who failed to return to the Fort Des Moines Work Release Facility (WRF), has been placed on escape status. 27-year old Deron Michael Humes II was placed on escape status Friday (today), after he failed to return to the WRF from his place of employment.

Humes was placed on Work Release status May 10th, 2016. He had been serving a 10-year sentence out of Polk County for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and was transferred to Work Release under the authority of the Iowa Board of Parole. 

Humes is an African American male, 6-feet 2-inches tall, weighing 226 pounds. He was tattoos on his left hand, left forearm and left hand finger. Anyone with information on his location should contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or Des Moines Police Department

A deer ran into the side of an SUV Friday afternoon, causing substantial damage and injuries to the driver of the vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol says 65-year old Jack Allen Garrett, of Groton, CT, was traveling south on Interstate 29 at around 3:25-p.m., when a deer ran onto the road and hit the left front side of the 2015 Subaru Forester.

The impact caused damage to the left front, hood, windshield, interior, as well as the driver’s side front and rear doors. The extent of Garrett’s injuries were not disclosed in the report.

The Patrol was aided at the scene by deputies with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and Crescent Rescue.