Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Omaha World-Herald is reporting that the former Fire Chief in Missouri Valley plead not guilty, Monday, to simple misdemeanor charges of interference with official acts and reporting false information. The charges against 44-year old Johnnie Walker were with regard to allegedly false statements Walker made to Missouri Valley police, as authorities investigated a fire earlier this month at an abandoned house. Walker has stated he wasn’t available to fight the March 7th blaze at 105 W. Superior Street, because he was ill, and that he was not completely focused because of his illness, when he spoke later with police.

Investigators would not say what Walker told them or why they suspect he tried to mislead them. He has since resigned as chief of the volunteer department. John Ticer, an investigator with the State Fire Marshals Office, has said the fire on Superior Street might be connected to fires set in October in an abandoned house on the northeast corner of 10th and Granite Streets, on Missouri Valley’s south side. Missouri Valley Police Chief Edward Murray said each fire has a separate suspect, neither of whom is Walker. No arrests had been made as of Monday.

During Monday’s hearing, the judge told Walker that if he pleaded guilty he probably would be fined rather than receive jail time. The maximum sentence for each charge is 30 days in jail. Walker’s trial date was set for May 8th.

High winds fanned grass fires across parts of the KJAN listening area, Monday afternoon. Two fires were reported at separate locations in Pottawattamie County, while a third was fought in Union County. The Daily NonPareil reports crews from Macedonia, Carson and Treynor responded to a fire in the 3500 block of Aspen Road at around 3-p.m. They stuck around for a while once the flames were put out, to make sure there were no flare ups.

Council Bluffs firefighters were called to a brush fire at around 3:30-p.m., near the Union Pacific Railroad track a little bit south of the Pott. County Jail, off of North 16th Street. Crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, but remained for a while to extinguish some hot spots.

In Union County, a fire on the northwest side of Afton, between Lake Afton and St. Edwards Cemetery, kept firefighters busy for hours. Afton Police Chief John Coulter said on his social media page, that the fire was started deliberately, but they don’t know who did it. Several large bales of hay smoldered into the evening once the flames were put out.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests.On Sunday, deputies arrested 21-year old Renee Katherine McConahay, of Thurman, for Possession of Controlled Substance, Eluding and Speeding. Her bond was set at $2,000, and 41-year old Ronald Loren Gray, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Violation of Protection Order. Gray was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

On Saturday, deputies in Mills County arrested 53-year old Debra Lynn Decair, of Glenwood, for Driving While Revoked, Leaving the Scene of Accident and having No Insurance. Her bond was set at $1,000. And last Friday, 38-year old Charles Curtis Kephart, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a Warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $20,000.

State and federal officials are urging Iowans to think about their pets when making emergency plans for floods, tornadoes and other severe weather. Phil Kirk, a preparedness coordinator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says FEMA has learned through painful experience the importance of including pets in any preparations.  “There have been countless examples where citizens refused to evacuate their homes in the face of danger because they didn’t have a way to take their pets along or a place to bring them to safety,” Kirk says. “Sadly, those decisions cost some people their own lives as well as the lives of their pets. Additionally, our first responders were faced with even greater risks of trying to save those lives.”

Kirk suggests pet owners try to acclimate their pets to Midwestern storms, whenever they might roll through.  “During storms in this part of the country, take them out when there’s lightning and thunder and get them exposed to it so when it really happens and there’s a need to leave, it’s not the first time that they’ve dealt with it,” he says. Kirk says FEMA has found it must include pets in any emergency preparations a family makes.

“They go hand-in-hand,” Kirk says, “because there are people who will not leave without their pets and I understand that. So, we need to try to do what we can to make sure that everybody can leave and be safe.” Kirk suggests putting together an emergency kit for the pets — as well as the family — so everyone in the home is ready to respond. He says a family needs to have non-perishable food, bottled water, medications and other material together to last for the first 72 hours of an emergency.

(Radio Iowa)

A Glenwood man was arrested Sunday on a drug charge. The Glenwood P-D reports 30-year old Logan Lingle was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $1,000. On Saturday, 30-year old Tare Shannon, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood for Driving While Barred. Her bond was set at $2,000. And last Friday, Glenwood Police arrested 48-year old David Craigmile, of Glenwood, for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.

It’s happening again. Jamie Park, branch manager of the Wells Fargo Bank in Atlantic, told KJAN a scam aimed at getting your personal information is making rounds in the area. Park said at around 11:15-a.m. today (Monday), a bank customer called to report they had received a text message warning that the person’s “Check/Debit Card-is SUSPENDED! Please respond.” The message included a link to a website that instructs you to fill out information. Again we remind you: This is an attempt by scammers to gain access to your personal information. DO NOT RESPOND TO THE TEXT OR ACCESS THE WEBSITE ATTACHED TO THE TEXT.

Earlier this month, similar texts went to persons who have Wells Fargo accounts, as well as those who have no accounts at the bank. Among those who received the fake text were persons in County government and local law enforcement officials.

Remember, never respond to unsolicited text messages claiming to be from your or any other bank, that asks you for your personal information. If there is ever any doubt about the status of your bank account, call or stop by your local bank branch.

No injuries were reported following an accident Saturday morning at the Casey’s General Store in Atlantic, Saturday morning. Authorities say a vehicle driven by Alison Bruckner, of Atlantic, was pulling away from the pumps at the Casey’s central location (701 Poplar), when a vehicle driven by Todd Schroeder, of Atlantic, came up on the right side of Bruckner’s car heading west, and turned in front of the Bruckner vehicle.

Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500. No citations were issued.

Two men were arrested on drug charges, Saturday, in Atlantic. The A-PD reports 56-year old Glenn Keller, of Council Bluffs, and 52-year old Ronald Keller, of Massena, were taken into custody. Glen Keller was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Cocaine – 1st offense; Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Open Container. Ronald Keller faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance Violation, OWI -2nd offense, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Driving under suspension, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Prohibited acts. Both men were booked into the Cass County jail.

On Sunday, Atlantic Police arrested 29-year old Albert Johnson, of Atlantic, on an Ida County warrant for Contempt of Court. He has since bonded-out of jail. And, 20-year old Nick Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports a local teen was arrested last Tuesday (March 24th, on a drug charge. Officers arrested 16-year old Alyssa Leigh-Anne Stevens, of Audubon on a Possession of Marijuana – 1st offense, charge. Stevens was released to her parents and will be referred to the Juvenile Court.

And on Saturday, Audubon Police arrested 29 year old Shawn Leroy Schmidt, of Audubon. Schmidt was charged with Aggravated Domestic Abuse – 2nd offense. He  was being held on $5000 bond in the Audubon County Jail.