Sheriff’s officials in Cass County have released the name of the truck driver whose vehicle, equipped with a crane, rolled onto its side into a ditch Tuesday morning, south of Wiota. Authorities say 50-year old Wesley Nicholas, of Essex, was driving a 2017 Peterbilt truck with a crane attached, when the vehicle slipped onto the shoulder of Cass County Road N-28 (690^th Street), at around 9:45-a.m. Nicholas had reportedly been adjusting the cab’s heater control knobs as wasn’t paying attention to the road, when the accident happened just south of Lansing Road.

Cumberland, Massena and Wiota Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, along with Medivac Ambulance, the Cass County Emergency Management Agency, and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies. Cumberland Fire Chief Sean South told KJAN News Nicholas had to be extricated from the cab by crews using the Jaws of Life (a mechanical extraction tool).  Nicholas was conscious and breathing, and talking with rescuers before he was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac.

Both lanes of N-28 were blocked for a time. Damage to the truck and crane, which was owned by Bruce Supplies of Red Oak,was estimated at $500,000. Authorities cited Nicholas Failure to Maintain Control.

(Radio Iowa) — A 21-year-old who was living with his 66-year-old grandmother in rural western Iowa has been charged with killing her. In late June, Cheryl Stowe’s co-workers asked the Monona County Sheriff to do a welfare check at her home near Castana. She wasn’t there, but her grandson was and authorities arrested Eliot Stowe on an outstanding warrant.

He had threatened a parole officer and court records indicate he was charged in early June with false imprisonment and assault. A day later, officers went back to the area and found Cheryl Stowe’s body about one-and-a-half miles from her home. The state medical examiner has now classified her death as a homicide.

On Tuesday, Eliot Stowe was charged with first degree murder. He’s being held at the Monona County Correctional Facility on a one-MILLION dollar cash bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A state audit says the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been mismanaging a multimillion-dollar fund set up to help oversee Iowa livestock farms and their manure. The audit report issued Tuesday said the agency improperly transferred money from a fund meant to finance oversight of livestock farms. “We did not identify any unallowable expenses,” Auditor Mary Mosiman said. “It’s just the way they were transferring the money violated Iowa law.”

The $1.6 million in fees collected annually from livestock farms is required to be used only for the program to ensure compliance with manure management and barn construction laws. Under the law, the money cannot be used or appropriated for other purposes, and the DNR is barred from transferring money “from the compliance fund’s assessment account to another fund or account, including but not limited to the fund’s general account.”

So the audit doesn’t confirm the allegation that money was being diverted for other uses. The program’s former manager, Gene Tinker, said he believes the money was being misused, and he is appealing losing his job last year. “I’ve always had questions on how they managed this fund because they were very secretive,” said Tinker, whose appeal has been on hold while the audit was being done.

The DNR said the money from the fund was used to enforce the rules and regulations for large livestock farms. State Sen. David Johnson, the Legislature’s sole independent lawmaker and a dairy farmer, requested the audit. Johnson said he hopes the agency will change its practices, so taxpayers can easily see how the money is being spent.

“It’d be better if there was more transparency in how that money is being spent,” Johnson said. The auditor’s office also recommended that the DNR review the amount of the fee it charges livestock farms annually to ensure that it is collecting enough to enforce state regulations.

Iowa farmers had 23.6 million hogs and pigs on September 1, which was a new record and 4 percent higher than last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the state’s chicken population includes 54 million hens, and more than 1 million cows are in Iowa feedlots.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans need to beware of a holiday gift exchange called “Secret Sisters” that’s popping up on Facebook and other social media sites. Jeff Niebaum, with the Better Business Bureau in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says it sounds like a great way to get a sleigh full of gifts in the season ahead for a modest investment, but don’t be tempted.

“It’s a post that claims participants will receive up to 36 gifts in exchange for sending just one gift, valued at $10,” Niebaum says. “The users are encouraged to invite others to participate.” It translates to an illegal pyramid scheme, he says, and if you get the email, just delete it. Do not send them your information and don’t send a gift — as you won’t get one back, let alone 36 gifts.

“Those who have reached out to us at the Better Business Bureau have told us they’re kind of unsure of what’s going on,” Niebaum says. “They participated, they sent their information and they sent a gift but they never received anything.” If you get a message from a friend asking you to take part in this exchange, let them know it’s a scam and not to share your data with the crooks.

“They’ll ask for the person you’re sending it to, their information, and your information,” Niebaum says. “Once you give them that, they’ll have your mailing information, your name, and they’ll contact you in the future with other scams.” Niebaum says this hoax may be considered illegal gambling and could result in participants facing some sort of charge.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are telling people to avoid eating romaine lettuce because of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 32 people in 11 states. The Food and Drug Administration says it’s working with officials in Canada, where people are also being warned to stay away from romaine lettuce. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year, but it appears similar to one linked to leafy greens last year.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency doesn’t yet have enough information to request suppliers issue a recall. But he says suppliers can help by withdrawing romaine products until the contamination can be identified.

No deaths have been reported. The last illness was reported on Oct. 31. Most E. coli bacteria are not harmful, but some produce toxins that can cause severe illness.

The Harlan Police Department today (Tuesday), said 33-year old Terri Lynn Hallas, of Harlan, was arrested Nov. 17th, following a traffic stop. Hallas was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while barred and failure to prove security against liability.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in finding the driver of a stolen vehicle that was involved in a pursuit this (Tuesday) morning. Authorities say that around 8:10-a.m., an officer in an unmarked car located a stolen vehicle driving in a reckless manner South on Harrison Street. The officer followed the car until a uniformed patrol car could get the car stopped.

The vehicle continued to drive recklessly and struck a vehicle at 2nd and West Broadway. The stolen vehicle continued to Peirce St. where a second unmarked car located the vehicle until a uniformed patrol car caught up to the suspect vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle continued to elude officers and eventually crossed over into Omaha.

Omaha Police located the suspect vehicle in the area of 30th St. and Interstate 480. The incident remains under investigation, if you have any information please contact crime stoppers at 712-328-7867.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests took place, Monday. At around 11:15-a.m., 29-year old Christopher Lee Peterson, of Glenwood,  was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Peterson was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, at around 11:40-p.m., 39-year old Shad Edward Mahanke, of Council Bluffs, was arrested near 195th Sttreet and Highway 34, for Driving While Barred ($2,000 bond), and two warrants out of Pottawattamie County.

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Officials say some of the nearly 170 dogs seized from a puppy mill in northern Iowa are being placed with shelters and rescue groups across the Midwest. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced Tuesday that dogs have been sent to Iowa shelters in Mason City and Waterloo; to the Wichita Animal Action League in Wichita, Kansas; and to the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha, Nebraska. The ASPCA says the other dogs will remain at an undisclosed shelter where experts can assess them in the investigation.

The dogs rescued Nov. 12 — all Samoyeds — were described as “fearful and undersocialized.” Officials say the dogs were kept in kennels that provided minimal protection from the elements and that they had no access to clean water. Animal neglect charges are pending against the owner.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A longtime Roman Catholic priest in Iowa has been removed from the ministry for a year after a girl complained that he improperly touched her. The Diocese of Sioux City says the fourth-grader alleged that the Rev. Brian Danner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Humboldt rubbed the top of her leg while taking her confession. Diocese lawyer Michael Ellwanger says the girl’s parents were “extremely upset” and complained. Church officials reported the incident to the county attorney and indefinitely revoked Danner’s ability to function as a priest.

Ellwanger says a diocese review found that Danner’s actions were inappropriate but didn’t constitute sexual abuse. Authorities did not pursue a criminal investigation after a representative for the girl’s parents indicated they were unsure whether they wanted to move forward.