WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – An uncle of the missing Iowa cousins is recovering in a hospital following an apparent drug overdose. Wylma Cook says her 32-year-old son Jeremiah Cook was in stable condition Friday at Allen Hospital in Waterloo after the overdose Thursday night. She says he’s expected to be OK. 

Wylma Cook says the disappearance of 10-year-old Lyric Cook and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins has “taken a toll” on Jeremiah, who was having trouble sleeping and eating. She says he has no children but was very close to his nieces, considering them his “prized possessions.”  The girls vanished after leaving for a bike ride July 13 in Evansdale.  Cook says her son hadn’t taken methamphetamine, cocaine or marijuana, but she declined to say what caused the overdose.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Six people are arrested and more than 210,000 packets of synthetic drugs seized in six Midwestern states as part of a nationwide crackdown. The Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday announced results of Operation Log Jam, targeting synthetic drugs like so-called “bath salts” and fake marijuana, items commonly sold at head shops and some convenience stores and often targeted at teenagers. The DEA says nearly 100 people nationwide were arrested and more than 5 million packets seized.
 
James Shroba of the DEA office in St. Louis says synthetic drugs are a growing problem around the nation, including the six states his office covers – South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois.  He says the crackdown sends a message to manufacturers and sellers that law enforcement is coming after them.

w/ Ric Hanson

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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – A 49-year-old Iowa woman has been given nine years of probation in Nebraska because she violated terms of an earlier probation sentence by living with dogs. Denise Withee, of Mapleton, was sentenced on Thursday. Her new sentence also includes a provision that bars her from owning or living with any animals. Withee had been on probation for dumping 23 dead or dying dogs in a Nebraska cornfield in 2008. She has admitted that she violated probation by living with 13 dogs at the Iowa home she shares with her mother. Iowa authorities discovered the dogs in January.  Withee’s attorney, Vicki Kenney, says Withee fits the description of an animal hoarder and described her as “an addict of animals.”

Audubon County Fair officials bestowed the Queen honors Thursday night, on Katelyn Asmus. Runner-up for the title was Taylor Lewis. Seven young ladies were vying for the title to represent the county over the course of the year, and at the Iowa State Fair. The other candidates included: Amanda Steffes, Beth Irlmeier, Clara Lauritsen, Chansea Nelson and Dani Esbeck.

Some activities scheduled for today at the fair include: the 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat show, at 8-a.m.; Judging of the Open Class static entries, at 9-am; 4-H/FFA Horse Show at 10-am; County Fair Olympics from 1-3pm; Fashion Designer’s Showcase at 4:30-pm; Decorator’s Showcase at 5:30pm; and the Figure 8 Races, beginning at 7:30-pm.

The King and Queen of the 2012 Cass County Fair were announced Thursday night, during the opening day of the fair. As you may have heard on KJAN live during the ceremony, Haley Schmidt, of Griswold, was chosen as Cass County Fair Queen, while Dexter McDermott, of Atlantic, was named Cass County Fair King. 

Other royalty include Maggi Amos, Cass County Fair Princess, and Logan Potter, Cass County Fair Prince. Potter was also named “Mr. Congeniality.” Emily Jacobsen was chosen was “Miss Congeniality.” Ryan Aupperle and Tanner Potter were finalists for the King competition, while Emily Jacobsen and Larissa Backhaus were finalists for the Queen competition.   

The fair continues through Tuesday morning. On the schedule today is: 

The Sheep/Meat Goat Weigh-in, from 8am-11am

The Rabbitt and Horse shows, beginning at 9-a.m.

The Commercial Exhibits will be on display beginning at 10-a.m.

4-H Exhibits open in the Community Center at 1-p.m.

The Feeder Calf weigh-in (2-3pm)

Feeder Calf Show (5-p.m.)

Bullride (7:30-p.m.)

Two Red Oak residents were arrested early this (Friday) morning, on drug charges. According to Red Oak Police, 19-year-old Kayla Caroline Cornelison and 37-year-old Markus Eugene Johnson were taken into custody following a traffic stop at 12:55 a.m. at the corner of West Linden and North Broadway.

Cornelison was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Her bond was set at $1,000. Johnson was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held on $300 bond.

A Union County man was arrested late Thursday night in Adams County on alcohol, and other charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year old Raymond Davis, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m., after he was pulled over for allegedly speeding on Highway 25. Davis faces OWI/1st Offense, speeding and open container charges. He was also cited for having no turn signal.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press