Arraignment hearings will be held this morning in Cass County District Court, for three men facing Willful Injury and Going Armed with Intent charges, associated with a stabbing that occurred late last month. 18-year old Bryce Baker, 21-year old Austin Nelson, and 23-year old Mykel Thorn, all of Atlantic, are scheduled to appear in court on the felony charges.

The charges are connected to the stabbing of 43-year old Robert Leslie, of Atlantic, during the early morning hours of January 28^th. Police responding to the vicinity of 1011 Birch Street after receiving a call about a fight in progress, found several subjects in the area, and fleeing the scene. Soon thereafter they discovered Leslie, suffering from puncture and slashing wounds. He was hospitalized, but has since been released.

Two of the suspects were taken into custody at the scene, while the third was arrested later, following the execution of a search warrant at 900 Hickory Street, in Atlantic. Baker and Thoren were released from custody on $15,000 bond each, last Thursday. Nelson bond was set at $15,000. All three are scheduled to appear for their trials on March 26^th.

A storm will arrive Tuesday morning in southern Iowa and lift northeast during the day.

Forecast graphic from the National Weather Service in Des Moines (2/25/13)

Moderate to heavy snowfall is still expected across the southeast half of the state with the heavier totals in the southeast and over Missouri. High pressure over the northern Plains may reduce some of the storms snowfall over the region and a slight shift in the track may also cause some adjustment in snowfall amounts. Even with those uncertainties strong north winds will cause blowing snow and reduced visibility over the southeast and portions of central Iowa. Interested persons are urged to check the latest forecasts today and tonight.

Nominations are now being accepted for the title of “Iowa’s Best Burger.” The award is handed out each year to one restaurant by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Iowa Beef Council spokesperson Michelle Baumhover says judging from past winners, the key may be keeping the burger basic. “I know when we’ve reviewed the judges’ comments, that’s what comes to the top…when it’s a really high quality burger, you don’t need a lot of additives,” Baumhover said.

Last year’s winner of the Iowa’s Best Burger contest: The Coon Bowl Burger.

The Coon Bowl, a diner and bowling alley in Coon Rapids, won last year’s competition. Co-owner Cindy Heydon noted they don’t mix anything into the half-pound burger, not even salt. Nominations for this year’s contest will be accepted through March 10. The top 10 restaurants that receive the most nominations will be announced on March 25. “Then we turn the contest over to an anonymous panel of judges who will go out and try the burgers,” Heydon said. “They will select a burger based on presentation, appearance, taste and safety – making sure it’s at that ‘medium’ 160 degrees.”

The 2013 winner of Iowa’s Best Burger contest will be announced on May 2. In addition to The Coon Bowl last year, previous winners of the award were The Rusty Duck in Dexter (2011) and the Sac County Cattle Company in Sac City (2010).
More information about the contest rules and how to submit a nomination is available at: www.iabeef.org

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 12-year-old Des Moines girl who went missing after her mother drove her to school earlier this month has been found safe.

Missing 12-year old girl found Sunday night, and the suspect in her disappearance.

Officials say18-year-old Sergio Lopez faces two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and is jailed without bond in Polk County. He’s also charged with violating a no-contact order involving Karina Rodriques-Resendiz . Lopez was wanted for failing to appear in court on one of the sexual abuse charges.

The girl went missing after her mother drove her to school February 8th. She was found Sunday in a house on southeast 9th Street in Des Moines. Authorities brought her to Mercy Medical Center around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, and Lopez was arrested Sunday night. Police had said in announcing the girl’s disappearance that they believed she was with Lopez.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest early Sunday morning of a Red Oak man on an assault charge. 20-year old Justin L. Marsden was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, after deputies investigated an incident that allegedly took place at around 12:45-a.m., in Coburg. Marsden was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 12-year-old missing Des Moines girl may be with a wanted man. Des Moines television station KCCI-TV says Karina Rodriquez Resendiz was reported missing by her parents. Police say the girl has been missing for two weeks, when she failed to show up for class after her mother had taken her to school. Police believe she may have willing gone with 18-year-old Sergio Lopez, whom police say is wanted on a sexual abuse charge. He also has been charged in a warrant for failing to appear in court on the sex abuse charge. Police say they believe Lopez has violated a protection order prohibiting him from contacting the missing girl

w/Marissa Hovde

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Deputies with the Red Oak Police Department responded to Hope’s Bar in Montgomery County last (Friday) night on a call of two men involved in an altercation. Dean Glen Heideman Jr. and Rodney Lynn Vanderhoof were both arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. They are both being held on $300 cash bond.