Man Found Dead in Stolen Burnt Car
One man is dead following a rural Guthrie County car fire this past Sunday evening.
According to Agent Mike Motsinger of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, 64 year-old Bobby Joe Knapp was found by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office inside a burnt out, stolen vehicle near the 3100 block of 248th Trail in Guthrie County around 6pm on Sunday.
According to a release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, on Thursday, March 27th, the U.S. Marshals Service put out information on a subject that had a warrant out for violation of parole status. The subject was also suspected of driving a Honda Accord that was reported stolen by the Waukee Police Department.
Following investigation by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI, it was confirmed that the burnt up vehicle in which Knapp was found was the reportedly stolen Honda Accord.
Motsinger says the cause and manner of Knapp’s death are still pending further investigation and lab testing.
The investigation by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, DCI and the U.S. Marshals Service is ongoing.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.
Update: Cause of Sunday’s Rural Guthrie County Car Fire Unknown
An update on a story we first reported Monday afternoon on Raccoon Valley Radio.
According to the Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, the cause of the Rural Guthrie County car fire that killed 64 year-old Bobby Joe Knapp this past Sunday evening is “unknown and probably will remain unknown.”
Fire Marshal spokesman Ron Humphrey says an investigator was sent to the car’s location–the 3100 block of 248th Trail about five miles south of Panora–early Monday morning, and no evidence into what could have caused the fire was gathered. Humphrey says the car was “cold to the touch” and completely burnt out when the Fire Marshal investigator arrived.
A definitive cause of the fire and manner of Knapp’s death are still being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.
Raccoon Valley Radio will continue to bring you more information about this investigation as it becomes official.
Nine Area Fire Departments Fight Large Grass Fire North of I-80
The Adair Fire & Rescue Department and several other local fire departments spent five hours fighting a large grass fire just off Interstate-80 this past Monday evening.
Adair Fire Chief Jorden Smith tells Raccoon Valley Radio his department, along with Anita Fire & Rescue, and fire departments from Casey, Menlo, Stuart, Bridgwater, Greenfield, Fontanelle and Wiota, responded to a grass fire call around 3pm Monday just north of I-80 near the 77.5 mile marker.
Smith says the fire ultimately spread about two miles, almost reaching the westbound rest area along the Interstate. He says the fire burned about 50 total acres of ground and a local farmer lost about 50 hay bales.
Three firefighters sustained minor injuries as crews worked to completely extinguish the flames until about 8pm. Two suffered from smoke inhalation and another suffered a minor cheek burn. Smith says those men are now in good condition.
If windy conditions like the ones seen Monday arise again this spring, Smith has advice for area residents.
“Please do not burn. Just use common sense, and try not to do any kind of burning until it is a calmer day out. I know there are surrounding counties that are currently in burn bans, Adair County (for example). I don’t think Guthrie County is yet, but I just ask that everyone please be safe and not burn if possible.”
Smith says he is unsure what definitively caused Monday’s grass fire, but he does speculate it originated from a cigarette that was tossed into the roadside ditch by a westbound car traveler.
Candidates Set for Guthrie County’s June Primary Election
The Guthrie County Auditor’s Office has released the names of candidates running for certain county offices in the upcoming June primary election.
Two incumbents will be challenged in the primary for seats on the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors. In District #2, Republican incumbent Clifford Carney has a challenger in Republican Todd Hambleton. Democrat Kerry Sheeder is also on the ballot in District #2.
Then in District #4, Republican incumbent Tom Rutledge is being challenged by Republican Bruce Lauritsen.
In District #3, Republican incumbent Everett Grasty is again running. Kathy Miller is the Democratic candidate in District #3.
Marci Schreck is the sole Republican who has filed papers to run for the position of County Treasurer. There is no Democratic candidate.
Democratic incumbents Jacki Sloss and Mary Benton were the sole candidates to file papers to run again for seats in their current positions of County Recorder and County Attorney respectively.
The Guthrie County primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd.
Farmer’s Market Dates Set in Guthrie Center, Stuart
The dates have been set for the first farmer’s markets of 2014 in both Guthrie Center and Stuart.
The Guthrie Center Farmer’s Market is slated to begin on Saturday, May 3rd, and it will be held as usual on the northwest corner of the intersection between Highway 25 and Highway 44. The market will run from 8:30 to 11am.
The Stuart Farmer’s Market will then begin on Wednesday, May 14th, from 4:30 to 6:30pm. It will also be in its usual spot, on the south side of Lawbaugh Park.
Both farmer’s markets are certified markets and accept Farmer’s Market Nutrition checks.
Any area residents with questions about the Guthrie Center Farmer’s Market can contact JoAnne Zieser at 515-822-4744, while questions about the Stuart Farmer’s Market can be directed toward Sue Ruden by calling her at 515-789-4228.