The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Hastings was arrested Sunday night, following a stolen dog report in Mills County. Deputies were called to Dollar General in Sidney, where the dog had been tracked to by the owner. Deputies made contact with 26-year-old Jaymie Ilene Rowe, who was allegedly in possession of the stolen dog.

Rowe was placed under arrest for Theft 2nd Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The dog was returned to the owner, unharmed.

Jaymie Rowe

Rowe is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $6,300 bond. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the case. More charges are pending.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope Reports:

At around 7:30-p.m. Sunday, Fremont County Deputies were called to the 1900 Block of Park Street in Hamburg, for a report of a possibly intoxicated female driving recklessly in the yard of a church.

The vehicle, a 1998 Dodge Dakota, driven by 32-year-old  Ashley Frost, of Hamburg, fled the scene prior to deputies’ arrival. Witnesses advised the vehicle was traveling at an extreme high rate of speed southbound on Washington Street at E Street, where it collided with a southbound 2021 Dodge Ram, operated by Charles Mincer of Lake Toxaway, NC. Frost’s vehicle then left the roadway, entering a culvert at Washington and D Street.

Mincer and his passenger were treated and released at the scene. Frost was transported to Grape Community Hospital with serious injuries. Alcohol and speed were factors in the accident. Multiple charges are pending.  Deputies were assisted by, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Riverton Fire and Rescue, and Lifenet.

(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of a 2011 Chevy Impala was arrested following an investigation Sunday, into a property damage accident, in Creston. According to Creston Police, the car left its lane as it was on Cherry Street, just south of Howard, and struck a legally parked 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup that was by the side of the road. The accident happened at around 2-a.m.

Police determined the driver of the Impala, 46-year-old Kevin Joel Cavin, of Creston, was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for OWI/3rd offense, and cited for Failure to stay in the proper lane.

Damage to the vehicles amounted to $1,700 altogether. There were no injuries.

(Waverly, Iowa) – A crash between a pickup and a semi tractor-trailer, Saturday night, resulted in the death of a man from Cedar Rapids. The Iowa State Patrol, Sunday, said 52-year-old Eric Stenseth died in the Bremer County crash on Highway 218, at around 8:15-p.m.  Stenseth was driving a 1999 GMC pickup northbound on Highway 218 and exiting at mile marker 195 to Janesville, when his vehicle left the road and struck a parked and unoccupied 2005 International semi-trailer on the shoulder of the off-ramp.

Stenseth – who was wearing a seat belth – was transported by Waverly Ambulance to the U of I Hospital in Iowa City, where he died from his injuries.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Two Public Hearings will be held Monday, prior to the start of the regular Audubon School Board meeting. The hearings, at 7-p.m., are with regard to the FY 23 School Budget and School Calendar.

Action items during the regular meeting include approval of:

• The FY 23 School Budget for Certification
• A Budget Guarantee Resolution
• The FY 23 School Calendar
• The Purchase of an off-lease bus from the General Fund
• Approval of an Elementary HVAC Project (Pending approval of a Rebate)
• Approval also, of:
  • a Teacher Salary Settlement;
  • Salaries (For staff not included in the Bargaining Unit);
  • An increase in Substitute and Activity Bus Driver pay
  • Bonuses – Licensed staff not included in the Governor’s Teacher Retention Bonuses.
• Other Personnel matters.
• Other Administrative matters.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday, beginning at 5:30-p.m., with a Public Hearing on the 2022-2023 Budget. The session takes place in the Conference Room at the High School. Following a presentation and public input on the Budget, the Griswold School Board will move into a regular hearing, during which they will discuss and/or approve Baseball Field Maintenance Bids.

Other action items include:

• Consider & Approval of a Resolution authorizing the redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2017 (Dated 11/1/17), and Levying a Tax for the Fiscal Year 2023 for the redemption of said bonds.
• Consider & approval of the 2022-23 Budget.
• The Board will receive a presentation on and possibly act to approve, a Student Club.
• They will consider & act on approving Mowing Bids.
• Act on Master Contracts for 2022-23, to include: GCEA; A School-based Interventionist; A Technology Coordinator; Non-Certified Staff.
• Act on Contract Renewals for: Certified Staff, Coaches/Sponsors, Administration, Quasi-Administrators, and Support Staff.
• Approval of:
  •  The 2022-23 Elementary Guidance and School Business Official Sharing Agreements with the Riverside CSD.
  • The 2022-23 Transportation Director & Industrial Technology Sharing Agreements with the Atlantic CSD.
• Consider and act on approval of a Staff Retention Bonus.
• and other administrative matters.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Dept. will meet via Zoom at 5:15-p.m., Monday (Mar. 21). Action and/or New Business on their agenda includes:

• Sunnyside (Park) Tennis Courts
• An update with regard to Bull Creek improvements
• The Mollett Park Community Gardens (E. 3rd St. Place)
• Inclusive Playground Equipment
• Summer Programs.

In his Director’s Report, Bryant Rasmussen will touch on several topics, including:

• The Easter Egg Hunt
• Doggy Bone Hunt
• Easter Egg “Cruise”
• Summer Employees
• and the “Bags to Benches” program.

The meeting is being held electronically, while Rasmussen and Assistant Parks Manager Jeff Christensen, are in Dubuque, attending the Iowa Parks and Rec Conference.

(Stringtown, Iowa) – A traffic stop on a speeding vehicle Saturday afternoon east of Stringtown, in Adams County, resulted in two arrests. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the vehicle was pulled over at around 3:13-p.m., at Highway 34 and Union Avenue.

Upon further investigation, the driver, 41-year-old Lakisha Boston, and her passenger, 34-year-old Caitlin Larabee, both of Lincoln, Nebraska, were arrested. Boston was charged with OWI/1st offense, and Child Endangerment. Her cash bond was set at $3,000. Larabee faces two counts of Child Endangerment, with her cash-only bond set at $4,000.

Southwest Iowa’s public transit service recognized drivers for their service and will deliver gift bags filled with treats to drivers over the next week.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) celebrated Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 18th. The unofficial holiday, observed each year on March 18, recognizes the men and women who ensure safe travel for millions of Americans. This year’s celebration comes on the heels of the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been especially stressful for essential workers due to the increased risk they encounter on the job and their roles enforcing state, federal, and local safety measures to keep their passengers safe.

“Transit Driver Appreciation 1” – (Left to right) Transit Coordinator Kristen Templeton, SWITA Driver Brian Elliott, Transit Dispatcher Kersten Abild.

“SWITA is showing appreciation for our drivers this week with goodie bags put together by the staff in the transit office,” said Transit Coordinator Kristen Templeton. “Our drivers go above and beyond daily on their routes getting people to their destinations. Please pause to say thank you when you board or exit a bus or other mode of public transit—today and every day.”

During the pandemic, southwest Iowa’s transit drivers assumed risks others were able to avoid—even transporting patients who had tested positive for COVID-19—because despite the pandemic, people still needed to go to important medical appointments or other essential services. And between spring 2020 and summer 2021, Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) drivers delivered more than 1,900 meals through a volunteer-run program for homebound or at-risk residents.

In the coming week, transit office staff will visit drivers in all corners of the SWITA service area to deliver the gift bags and show gratitude to the more than 70 drivers who operate SWITA’s fleet of vehicles.

SWITA offers affordable, safe public transit services throughout southwest Iowa and is available to all residents of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties.

“Transit Driver Appreciation 2” – (Left to right) Transit Coordinator Kristen Templeton, Transit Dispatcher Kersten Abild, SWITA Driver Jo James, SWITA Driver Garry Marcellus, and Transit Dispatcher Cindy Johnson.

(Anita, Iowa) – The male driver of a Volvo suffered from a head injury following a collision with a Jeep early this (Sunday) morning, in Cass County. The accident happened at around 4-a.m. on I-80 eastbound near the 68.5 mile marker.

Firefighters and rescue personnel from Anita and Wiota, as well as Cass EMS and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene.

Reports indicated one of the vehicles went off into the ditch and caught fire. The fire then spread to an adjacent field. The female driver of the vehicle was able to escape without apparent injury, prior to firefighters’ arrival. The flames were quickly extinguished. The driver of the Volvo was transported to Cass Health.

No other details are currently available.