(Dickinson County, Iowa) – Two people died (including a one-year old male) and four others were injured, during a crash late Saturday morning, south of the Iowa/Minnesota border. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Hyundai Accent driven by 29-year-old Mariah Nelson, of Jackson, MN, was eastbound on Dickinson County Road A-15/120th Street, and coming to the intersection with Highway 71. At the same time, a 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 63-year-old Allen Weinzetl, of Jackson, MN, was traveling south on Highway 71.

When Nelson failed to stop at the posted intersection, her car was struck by the pickup on the driver’s side of the car. Both vehicles then entered the ditch southeast of the intersection. Nelson and the one-year-old male suffered fatal injuries. A five-year-old female and a six-year-old female, Allen Weinzetl, and 58-year-old Teresa Chonko, all from Jackson, MN, were injured and transported by Lakes Regional EMS to the hospital.

All of the crash victims except Teresa Chonko were wearing their seat belts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is the placing of a resolution of vacation of a portion of a roadway back on the table for discussion, followed by possible action on Vacating about 500-feet of 570th Street contained within the State of Iowa right-of-way (under Interstate 80).

Other action items include:

• Compensation for precinct election officials and medical examiner expenses.
• Approval of a contract with Motorola for the Chair to sign, with regard to the ISICS Project
• Establish a Cass County Economic Development Fund & Debt Service Fund for the ISICS Project.
• Discussion & possible action with regard to American Rescue Plan funding – use of funding, etc., including consideration of a request regard the COVID-related use of the Cass County Community Building, and a request regarding radios and repeaters for Fire/EMS service providers.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will discuss Board and commission appointments to fill vacancies, and those appointments to be made or renewed in Jan., 2022. They’ll also act on the Second Tier of a Canvass of the Nov. 2nd City/School Election for school districts lying in more than one county, and combining the Cass County vote counts with those from other counties and declare persons elected and the pass-or-fail of public measures.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Members of the Audubon School Board will meet 7-p.m. Monday in their Board Room at the High School, with some members meeting for the last time. During the meeting of the Retiring School Board, they’ll discuss Warrants and Financial Reports, Act on accepting the Canvass of Votes from the County Auditor, approve the Annual settlement of Accounts and the first and final reading of Board Policy Review for two 500 series policies.

Afterward, an organizational meeting of the new Audubon School Board will be Called to Order, with the Board Secretary sworn-in as President Pro-Tem, followed by the Administering of Oath to newly elected members Sarah Asmus, and Heath Hansen, and the election of officers, along with their Oath of Office. The person chosen as President of the Board will preside over the remainder of the meeting.

Action items for the new board include (But are not limited to);

• Approve snow removal contract
• Set the date/time for the November 29th Special Board meeting on the sale of bonds.
• Approve Strength and Conditioning Coach position
• Approve Early Retirement Plans and Dates
• Resolution approving the sale of Sales Tax (SAVE) Bonds.

In the “Communications and Updates” portion of the Board meeting, they’ll discuss:

• School Board Convention logistics
• Building Project update
• Update on the Sale of Bonds – Bond rating and sale results
• the Transportation report
• and Principal’s reports.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Action items and/or New Business on their agenda include:

• Park restrooms
• Assistant Park and Rec Interviews
• Sunnyside Pool Shade
• Cedar Court update
• Winter Activities

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen will discuss:

• The “Tour de Parks” bike ride
• The “Turkey Hunt” and “Scarecrow Contest”
• and the “Festival of Trees.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing will be held during this Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, in Atlantic. The hearing is with regard to the sale of city-owned property at 901 Birch Street, a dilapidated home with a large retaining wall, broken windows, a bad roof and other issues. City Administrator John Lund notes the Personnel and Finance Committee has met with the potential buyer, Charles (CJ) Adams, who proposed buying the lot and building for the fair market value of $5,350. The Council meeting takes place 5:30-p.m. inside their Chambers at City Hall.

Mr. Adams intends to “flip” the property (rehabbing the home to make it saleable and profitable). Lund said selling the lot would yield a triple-profit for the City: Cash up-front; Increased property value if Adams chooses to sell it; and a serious liability property would be removed from the City’s books. He recommends the Council approve the sale.

In other business, a representative with Fox Engineering (designers of the City’s wastewater treatment plant) will present Councilman Jim Behrens with a check for $500. Behrens won the funds during the annual Iowa League of Cities Conference in Coralville. The Council will hear a presentation from Kristine Stokes, Community Development Specialist with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), with regard to a Community Development Block Grant – CARES (CDBG-CV) opportunity for the City’s Food Pantry, to help them pay for food in 2022.

The Pantry currently serves more than twice the number of people it did before the pandemic, and more than tripled their food expenses. SWIPCO would serve as the applicant on behalf of the food pantry, which makes the pantry a sub-recipient of the grant funding. If the Council approves the opportunity, the food pantry would be on the Council’s meeting agenda in December to conduct a public hearing for the food pantry’s application for the CDBG-CV.

No injuries were reported following an accident involving one active and three parked vehicles in Red Oak on Friday. Red Oak Police report the accident took place on Friday morning at approximately 11:44 a.m. A 1996 Chevy C1500 pickup driven by 38-year-old Terence Chevy MaGill of Red Oak was traveling eastbound in the 400 block of West Coolbaugh Street and was distracted by use of an electronic device. The pickup side swiped a legally parked 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage and then proceeded to rear end a 2015 GMC Acadia that was then pushed into a 1993 Dodge D150 pickup. All vehicles were legally parked and unoccupied.

MaGill was not injured during the crash and was issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control and Use of an Electronic Device While Operating a Motor Vehicle. Officers said it was apparent MaGill was traveling over the posted speed limit at the time of the crash as well.

The Chevy pickup was a total loss at $6,000 damage. The Mitsubishi sustained an estimated $300 damage, the GMC Acadia $9,000, and the Dodge $2,000.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Council Bluffs man following a traffic stop on Highway 34 near Q Avenue. 37-year-old Erik Jacobs of Council Bluffs was arrested at about 7:15 p.m. Friday and charged with Driving While Revoked and Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense. Jacobs was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The owners of The Franklin Market and The Picker’s Parlor, in Atlantic, are spreading the word about their “Adopt A Soldier” program. Amanda Graham said in a post on social media, that her husband was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-11, and during this time, she served as his unit’s Family Readiness Group leader. Graham said “One of my favorite roles of this position was putting together care packages to send to our unit.

This year, The Franklin Market and I are hoping to help others make care packages for our local Veterans in need. We are challenging our community and local businesses to take part in our ‘Adopt a Soldier’ program. Between now and December 10th, anyone may nominate a local Veteran who could use something- maybe it’s food or clothing, maybe it’s household goods, or maybe it’s gas cards to get to doctor appointments, help with lawn care, snow removal services, roof repair, auto repair, etc. Maybe it’s a hot, fresh meal once in awhile. Maybe it’s someone to walk their dog. Or maybe it’s someone who is lonely or depressed and could use their spirits lifted.”

Graham says you can simply stop in at 402 Chestnut and fill out a nomination form, or email them to request one sent to you. The forms are available now (Nov. 12th through December 10th. Amanda says also, “The Veteran’s name and personal info will NOT be shared with anyone except the person adopting that Vet, if needed for services. The donor and person nominating may choose to send a card with the gift and include their name and contact info if desired. Gifts can be dropped off at The Franklin Market and we will deliver all gifts the week before Christmas. At the current time, the Veteran needs to reside within 20 miles of Atlantic. We will extend this if able.”

The business will hang information about Veterans who available for “adoption” on a tree in the entryway (a description of what is needed will be on the tree, no names). You may take one if you commit to providing what is needed. “Please see us at the counter to officially adopt that Vet. We will begin hanging the ornaments as soon as we receive them, so just stop in to adopt,” Graham says.

She said also, “You may also provide a monetary donation to help cover services needed or Veterans who may not be adopted by Dec 10th, so that we can ensure everyone gets something they need.”  If you are a business that provides a service and would be willing to donate your time, please let Graham know, so she can hook you up with a Veteran should that service be needed.

There are reports one person is pinned under a vehicle as the result of a multi-vehicle crash this evening on Interstate 80 eastbound, at mile marker 76, near Adair. No further details are available. Anita Fire Rescue and other agencies were responding as of 4:47-p.m. The road is blocked.