(Anita, Iowa) – Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will gather in the Superintendent’s Office at the High School in Anita, Monday, for their regular monthly meeting. Their session begins at 6:30-p.m.  Some of the discussion and/or action items on their agenda include:

• Approving the placement of the Kindergarten Section for the 2022-23 School Year.
• Approval of: Contracts for the 2022-23 School Year; Contracted service for Technology; an AEA Purchasing Agreement for the coming school year, and an Iowa Local Gov’t. Risk Pool Commission, Natural Gas agreement.
• Discussion with regard to the FY23 School Calendar and Budget.

Kansas City, MO – St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America date back to the country’s founding. However you celebrate, make sure you and your friends stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day by remembering one important piece of advice: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. This means that if you plan to drink, it’s essential that you plan for a sober ride home. Law enforcement across Iowa and around the country will be on the lookout for those who are driving impaired.

Remember: A sober driver is one who hasn’t had any alcohol. To help keep your community safe, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 7 consisting of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska is spreading the message about the dangers of drunk driving. Even one drink can be one too many.

According to NHTSA, 10,142 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2019 – 612 in our region alone. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2015 to 2019 — one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes in 2019. This is why NHTSA wants to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal but also a matter of life and death. As you head out to the festivities, help us spread the word: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

“Drunk drivers are a continuing problem on our nation’s roads, especially around days like St. Patrick’s Day,” said Regional Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “People need to know that they can go out for a night of fun and return home safely by ensuring they have a sober driver take them home. Don’t be the reason someone — including yourself — doesn’t get home. Don’t let St. Patrick’s Day become an anniversary of a tragic night.”

During the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 46% of crash fatalities involved a drunk driver. In fact, from 2015 to 2019, a total of 280 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period. Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly, as lack of attention to their surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.

NHTSA Region 7 urges drivers to designate a sober driver before heading out for any celebrations. If you plan on drinking, plan on not driving. Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously — your friends are relying on you.

Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive.
If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

(Lenox, Iowa) — Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County report a traffic stop, Saturday, resulted in an arrest. A vehicle driven by 33-year-old Kevin Jungers, of Lenox, was pulled over on Brooks Street in Lenox for having an expired registration. Jungers was subsequently taken into custody for driving under suspension. Authorities say drug paraphernalia was located in plain view, allowing for a probable cause search of the car. Jungers was later released on a summons to appear in court before a Magistrate.

(Howard County, Iowa) – A young man from northeast Iowa died late Saturday night during a single-vehicle accident north of Cresco. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2009 Pontiac G6 driven by 18-year-old Alex Hanson, of Cresco, was traveling south on Willow Avenue at around 10:33-p.m. and approaching 70th Street, when the car went out of control. The vehicle rolled over, ejecting Hanson, who died from his injuries at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted by personnel from: Cresco PD; Howard County Sheriff’s Dept.; and Cresco Fire & EMS.

Red Oak, Iowa — Montgomery County Memorial Hospital + Clinics (MCMH), in partnership with Major Gen. (R) Chris Hughes, along with seven other Western Iowa Hospitals, are sending urgently needed medical supplies to Ukraine.

Russ Reynolds- MCMH Environmental Services Manager, Major Gen. (R) Chris Hughes, and Russ Cooner – volunteer from Audubon County Memorial Hospital.

Major Gen. (R) Chris Hughes, a native of Red Oak, Iowa, has been working with the non-profit organization, Nova Ukraine (https://novaurkaine.org) to find, purchase and ship urgent medical supplies in support of the Ukrainian military and citizenry. Major Gen. (R) Hughes reached out to MCMH CEO, Ron Kloewer, asking for help in identifying medical suppliers. This request led to MCMH reaching out to other Western Iowa Hospitals in a coordinated effort to supply Nova Ukraine with the medical supplies needed on the ground.

CEO’s left to right – Russ Cooner – volunteer from Audubon County Memorial Hospital + Clinics, Suzanne Cooner – CEO Audubon County Memorial Hospital + Clinics, Major Gen. (R) Chris Hughes, Barry Jacobsen – CEO Myrtue Medical Center , Ron Kloewer – CEO Montgomery County Memorial Hospital + Clinics, Brett Altman – CEO Cass Health

MCMH CEO, Ron Kloewer said “Here at MCMH we are honored and humbled to help with this effort for the people of Ukraine. I am proud of my staff and I’m grateful to the area hospitals for their tremendous effort stepping up to help coordinate gathering and shipping of the supplies. MCMH is the staging location for shipments headed to Ukraine. Seven other hospitals including; Audubon County Memorial Hospital + Clinics, Crawford County Memorial Hospital, St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Cass Health, Myrtue Medical Center, Shenandoah Medical Center and Spencer Hospital, brought medical supplies to MCMH, Friday, March 11th.

MCMH is working closely with Nova Ukraine to get the supplies on the ground in Ukraine. Nearly a dozen pallets of medical supplies were collected from this joint effort and will be heading to Ukraine.

The Iowa State Patrol reports five people were injured, Friday, during two separate accidents on near opposite sides of the State. At around 12:06-a.m., Friday, a single vehicle accident in Dickinson County resulted in a man and woman from Milford to separate hospitals.

The Patrol says a 2003 Chevy Suburban was westbound on 9th Street in Milford, when for reasons unknown, the SUV left the road, began to skid and then jumped the northwest curb at the intersection of 9th Street and K Avenue. The vehicle then hit a tree and a house at 901 K Avenue. The occupants, 35-year-old’s Rodney and Sasha Allen, were ejected in the crash. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Rodney Allen was transported to Avera Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls by air ambulance. Sasha Allen was transported by Spirit Lake Ambulance to the hospital in Spencer. The Patrol the it’s not clear who was driving the SUV.

The other accident happened at around 10:40-a.m., Friday, in Cerro Gordo County. The Patrol reports a 2019 transit bus was westbound in the north driveway at Hy-Vee in Mason City, when the driver, 69-year-old Terry Wolters, of Mason City, suffered a medical emergency. The bus went out of control and swerved to the left into the path of an eastbound 2011 Dodge Caravan driven by 76-year-old Bobby Dirks, of Mason City.

The bus and the van collided head-on. Following the impact, the transit bus hit a tree in the parking lot and came to rest against the tree, facing southwest. The van spun and came to rest facing west. Both drivers and a passenger in the van, 77-year-old Joyce Dirks, were injured. All three were transported to Mercy One Hospital in Mason City. The injured were wearing their seat belts.

(Lewis, Iowa) – A reminder to motorists in Cass County: A project to repair the bridge deck on the U.S. Highway 6 bridge over Indian Creek, just west of Lewis, requires closure of U.S. 6 from 7 a.m. Monday, March 14 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, weather permitting. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office says during this project, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using U.S. 71, Iowa 92, and Iowa 48.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.