One person died and another was injured during a collision Friday afternoon, in Benton County. The Iowa State Patrol says 90-year old Arlene A. Erusha, of Cedar Rapids, was driving a 2014 Hyundai SUV when she attempted to cross Highway 30, while traveling north on 32nd Avenue, when her vehicle was struck by a westbound 1994 Freightliner semi. Erusha died at a local hospital. The driver of the semi, 69-year old William L. Butterfield, of Tama, was injured and transported by ambulance to St. Lukes Hospital. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The accident, which occurred at around 4:45-p.m. Friday, remains under investigation.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people have died in a two-vehicle crash in northeastern Iowa. The crash happened around 5 p.m. Friday at an intersection east of Charles City. Investigators say a pickup truck driven by 28-year-old Jacob Allen Mahnesmith, of Nashua, ran a stop sign and collided with another pickup. The Iowa State Patrol says Mahnesmith and a passenger in his truck, 28-year-old Shane Allen Wiltse, of Charles City, as well as the driver of the other pickup were killed in the crash.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the third person killed. The patrol says 29-year-old Thomas John Parcher, of Marble Rock, who was a passenger in the second truck, was injured.

Two people were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop late Friday night, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s Officials report 63-year old Jeff E. Mendenhall, of Corning, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)/Methamphetamine. And, 46-year old Kerry Lynn Pace, of Villisca, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond, each. The Montgomery County K9 Unit assisted in making the arrests.

Also arrested Friday night on a separate charge, was 32-year old Chad Mitchell Gaiser, of Kellerton. He was taken into custody for Failure to provide SR-22 insurance. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond. And, 60-year old Jim Junior Hyde, of Kellerton, was arrested at about the same time, on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car Friday evening at the Thurman exit on I-29, for traffic violations. During the stop the driver identified as 41 year old Alison Kay Burford of St.Joseph MO, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Burford was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center being held on $1,000.00 bond. The Fremont County K9 Unit assisted in the arrest.

Alison Burford

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A combination of fees and parking difficulties could be prompting many food truck operators to abandon Des Moines and instead rumble off to the suburbs. The Des Moines Register reports the city of Des Moines has issued only three mobile vendor permits this year. That’s down from 15 permits last year and 21 permits in 2016. Food truck owners must pay $1,750 in permitting and parking fees to Des Moines annually and can only operate in specific locations.

That has led some vendors to leave downtown for suburban business parks where parking is free. Kevin Gollhofer says he gave up on street sales from his barbecue truck and has focused on catering. He says people like to see trucks downtown but don’t buy from them consistently.

An Atlantic resident, upset about a stolen cement yard ornament she’s owned for about 30-years, says if the person who took it returns it, undamaged, she won’t press charges. The woman, who resides in the 600 block of Elm Street, told KJAN News the 12-inch tall, black statue of a female “Hillbilly,” was taken sometime April 10th or early April 11th. And, while it’s only worth about $30, the sentimental value means much more to the woman from whom it was stolen.

The incident has been reported to the Atlantic Police Department, and the victim says a neighbor has surveillance video of the thief that police are reviewing. The woman promises that if the thief returns the statue in one piece, or can direct authorities to where it is, no charges will be filed.

A two-state pursuit Thursday that began in Fremont County, ended in Nebraska with the suspect crashing into three sheriff’s department vehicles and an arrest. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Jay Rickman, of Eagle, NE., was finally arrested with the assistance of a Fremont County K9 Unit. The incident began, when the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible wanted subject staying at a hotel in Percival, Iowa. Deputies were advised the subject was possibly armed, and had made statements that he would kill law enforcement if they attempted to arrest him.

Deputies attempted to stop a 1999 Chrysler Sebring at the intersection of 195th Street and Highway 2, when the vehicle fled the area and traveled west on Highway 2 reaching speeds of about 115mph. The vehicle continued west on Hwy 2 into Nebraska, where Otoe County deputies began leading the pursuit. The vehicle attempted to turn north on Highway 43, west of Palmyra, NE., when it went out of control. The vehicle then rammed an Otoe County Deputy’s vehicle, causing disabling damage. The car then rammed a Fremont County vehicle, causing minor damage, and rammed a second Fremont County vehicle, causing extensive damage to the deputy’s vehicle and disabling the suspect vehicle.

Charges against Rickman are pending in Fremont County for Felony Eluding from law enforcement.

An update is expected this (Friday) afternoon on the search for a missing autistic boy in northeast Iowa. Law officers involved in the search, centered in Black Hawk County, are holding a news conference at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Reports indicate there is -no- news on the whereabouts of 16-year-old Jake Wilson. He walked away from his home in LaPorte City almost two weeks ago, the night of April 7th. Hundreds of volunteers had joined in the search, which was scaled back in recent days.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — A former football coach and teacher accused of sexually assaulting a child in northwest Iowa has been imprisoned for a similar crime in Nebraska. Court records say 39-year-old Kyle Ewinger was sentenced Thursday to 55 to 85 years and credited for 105 days already served. In January a jury in Omaha found him guilty of sexual assault of a child. Prosecutors say he assaulted the 9-year-old son of a woman he was dating in 2012 and 2013.

Osceola County District Court records in Iowa say the former Sibley-Ocheyedan coach was fired after the district superintendent found him sleeping in his classroom next to a 10-year-old in October 2015.
Ewinger has pleaded not guilty. His trial start was set to begin April 10 but was delayed until Aug. 28.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office said today (Friday), that 39-year old Jacob Benjamin Tuttle, of Omaha, was arrested late Thursday morning in Neola, on a Sarpy County, Nebraska, warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice.  Tuttle was taken into custody after a Pott. County Deputy responded to a residence in the 200 block of 4th Street in Neola, to assist the DHS with a Child welfare check investigation. Altogether, three people were charged with gathering where drugs are used and one person was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.

Tuttle was additionally charged with Hosting a Drug House and Possession of a Controlled Substance. A resident of the home, 36-year old Staci Lynn Ashley, of Neola, was charged with hosting a drug house, and 28-year old Danni Jo Bohnenkamp, of Council Bluffs was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Authorities found 1 gram of methamphetamine and 12.9-grams of marijuana during their investigation into activities at the home.