Iowa?

I opened up the AP "Odd News" category at Yahoo News and was more than a bit surprised to see three stories pop up that originated from Iowa. Heck, one a week datelined Iowa is unusual. (Unless it is political near election time, of course.) But these were just odd items. We have an instant trifecta! Item: The SUV in the river:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A sport utility vehicle stuck in the Missouri River in Sioux City will have to stay put — for now. There are no plans to move it, and there's a question of who's responsible for getting it out.

The SUV went into the then-frozen river last February in what police call a botched suicide attempt.

Police contacted the owner, and authorities left it in the river because no one was trapped inside. According to police, the SUV became frozen in the ice and it became the owner's responsibility to hire someone to get it out.

There's a lesson here somewhere. The authorities left it because nobody was in it. But now they can't get it out – too stuck in the mud, apparently. Maybe next time get it out before it settles into the river bottom? Next item: Early Warning Cat:

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A cat named Oreo is being credited for nipping a carbon monoxide leak in the bud. Jeanie Probst said her cat began to act strangely since she began using her heater in the past couple of weeks.

"He came out here yelling," Probst said.

Oreo would run in circles under the vent or jump onto the back of a chair, stare at the register and make loud noises, she said.

Eventually, they figured out that something was badly wrong. A technician from the local utility found the problem and stopped the carbon monoxide leak that could have killed them all. Cat included. Last item: Late warning dog. (The warning was on time. Sadly, though, the hero did not make it out.)

CARTER LAKE, Iowa – Bryan Smith has pictures of his dog in his coat pocket, a reminder of the pet that sacrificed itself to save him from his burning house.

It was Tuesday night when Storm jumped on the slumbering Smith and alerted him to the growing smoke and flames outside his bedroom.

Smith says he grabbed his curtains, wet them for a mask and grabbed his puppy Daisy while the older dog ran ahead.

It was the last time Smith saw Storm.

The man ran to a neighbor's home to call the Fire Department and noticed too late that Storm had not escaped.

Smith says he nearly lost his own life going back for Storm. Two Carter Lake firefighters had to pull him out the back door, where he collapsed while trying to save his pet.

"I know it was stupid, but … people with pets understand," he said.

Yes, we do. Smith was very lucky to have survived – and very lucky in his choice of pets as well. Smith figures it was Storm paying him back, having been rescued by Smith about seven years ago. This is the saddest story of the bunch. That's it for Iowa tonight, though. Now back to your regularly scheduled flyover.