An Agency man has been arrested after allegedly leading Wapello County deputies on a high-speed chase, fleeing a traffic stop, and assaulting a deputy.

According to the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped a Chevy Trailblazer in the 10000 block of River Road just before 8:10 PM on Wednesday due to expired tags. According to court documents, the vehicle’s driver, 42-year-old Kevin Cantu, was traveling 90 mph in a 35 mph zone and did not have a license. The chase entered Ottumwa’s city limits before coming to a halt at a house on South Davis St.

Cantu attempted to flee the pursuing deputy on foot but was restrained until the Ottumwa Police Department arrived on the scene.

The deputy allegedly hurt his left hand, right forearm, and left knee during the altercation.

According to court filings, a loaded handgun with a removed serial number fell from Cantu’s pants as he got up.

Cantu was arrested and transported to the Wapello County Jail where he has been charged with Eluding, three counts of possession or custody of a handgun by a felon, driving with a suspended license, and interference with official acts. Cantu’sbond has been set at $16,000.

A Burlington man has been charged with theft for stealing copper piping, and other items from an area residence.

On April 29th, 2023, Des Moines County Sheriff’s deputies took a report of a burglary at 6871 Highway 61.  The victim reported copper piping was cut and stolen from the residence between April 20th and 29th.

The estimate to repair the copper piping was over $11,000. There were also some miscellaneous items stolen from the residence including a set of antique wrenches.

In May, detectives learned that 32-year-old John Stanley Kephart Jr. of Burlington had taken about 250 pounds of copper and mixed brass to a local recycling center only days before deputies took the report of the stolen property.

The video surveillance from the recycling center showed Kephart Jr. scrapping two antique wrenches along with over 50 2-3-foot long sections of copper piping and couplings during those two visits. The victim identified the antique wrenches as being stolen from the residence.

On Tuesday, August 8th, detectives met with Kephart Jr. at the Des Moines County Correctional Center.

Kephart Jr. was charged with Theft 1st Degree, a C Felony. The investigation into the burglary of 6871 US Highway 61 is ongoing.

The Burlington Fire Department confirms no one was injured in a house fire that occurred last Saturday.

At about 7 PM Saturday, the Burlington and West Burlington Fire Departments responded to a reported structure fire at 417 ½ S. Marshall St. in Burlington.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the attic of a two-story residential duplex.

The building is owned and operated by Boom Rentals LLC and was occupied by first-floor tenant Babette Boulton and second-floor tenant Stephanie Moore. Both occupants were home at the time of the fire and were alerted to the fire by working smoke detectors.

The cause of the fire has been ruled as undetermined and appears to be electrical in nature. No one was injured.

The exciting news of the weekend, Miss Sweet 16 of 2021, and your 2023 Henry County Fair Queen 18-year-old Kalayna Durr of New London is now your reigning 2023 Iowa State Fair Queen.

Durr was chosen out of 104 competitors from across Iowa, were all contestants were previously crowned queen of their respective county fairs. Durr was inspired to run for State Fair Queen this year by Kelsey Smith, one of the Henry County Fair Queen organizers, 2013 Iowa State Fair Queen, and Durr’s 4-H Clover Kids leader.

Durr is the daughter of Tony and Ann Durr, Daniel Hester and Deana Boecker.

In addition to her crown, sash and trophy, the title of State Fair Queen comes with a few extra bonuses: Durr received a total of $9,000 in scholarship money, plus a floral bouquet from Boesen the Florist, a $600 gift card, a pair of diamond earrings, cowboy boots and an Iowa State Fair Brick from the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Durr will serve as Fair Queen until the next Iowa State Fair, which will take place Aug. 8-18, 2024.

Also representing Henry County at the Iowa State Fair, Delaney Anderson made it through the 1st round of the Bill Riley Talent Competition singing “Country Roads Take Me Home” acapella. Delaney is a 6th grader this year and holds the winning title from the Henry County Bill Riley Sprouts competition.

(2023 Iowa State Fair Queen Kalayna Durr, photo courtesy of Iowa State Fair’s Facebook)

Des Moines, IA- The Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation is over, and Henry County’s own Kalayna Durr of New London is 2023’s Iowa State Fair Queen.

Durr was one of 104 women that competed in this year’s Iowa State Fair Queen competition with Taylor Bartholomew of Washington County earning 3^rd Runner Up.

Durr was named Henry County Fair Queen nearly a month ago, which included an unprecedented call-back to the stage for a second question after an afternoon full of interviews, formal wear presentations, and onstage interviews.

If you would like to watch the event, Iowa PBS recorded the entire event, and it will premier tomorrow, August 13^th, at 1 pm.

Update from the search in Lee County. An intense search was conducted on Highway 2 between Fort Madison and Donnellson in search for Kelly Barlow Friday, utilizing drones, dogs, and UTVs but we are happy to confirm Kelly Barlow has been returned to her home safely.