Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal mobile home fire in the southwest Iowa town of Blockton. Seventy-four-year-old Kenneth Leroy Nielsen died of smoke inhalation according to an autopsy report. John Ticer, a special agent with the State Fire Marshal’s office in Council Bluffs, says two mobile homes on the property were destroyed in the fire, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of the fire.

“However, during the investigation one of the things that was determined was that a lot of the electrical service for the home that was being lived in was being run off of extension cords throughout the structure,” Ticer said. “Additionally, we know he had up to eight space heaters that were plugged into those extension cords.”

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Two robbery suspects are in jail, thanks to an alert Davenport police officer. It started with the armed robbery of a pizza delivery man a little before two on Tuesday morning in central Davenport. Police say the man went into a building to deliver a pizza and was confronted by two men. One had a handgun and they demanded money and car keys.

The victim gave them the money but refused to give up his keys. The suspects took the money and the pizza and fled on foot. Moments later, a police tactical operations officer saw two people running in the area. One was carrying a pizza box. The officer followed the pair to a nearby house. When the 9-1-1 call came in regarding the robbery, other officers went to the house. They spoke to the occupants and saw evidence linked to the robbery.

Twenty-year-old Demetrius Shorter was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery. Twenty-two-year-old with Jawaun Shorter was arrested on unrelated warrants. 

 In the spring of 2008, a Des Moines pizza deliveryman was fired from his job after he shot a man with a gun who tried to rob him. The pizza deliveryman had a valid gun permit. The man he shot was charged with first-degree robbery.

By Phil Roberts, Davenport

Authorities say a northeast Iowa man continues to recover after a weekend accident where he struck a cow while riding a snowmobile. The accident happened Christmas evening in rural Fayette County north of Clermont.

A Ski-Doo snowmobile driven by 49-year-old Kevin Mack of Fayette was southbound on a snowmobile trail when a cow crossed onto the trail and was struck by Mack. Mack was taken by ambulance to the West Union hospital to be treated for unspecified injuries. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the accident.

Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein