Deputies in Page County responded to a single-vehicle accident Tuesday. The Sheriff’s Office reports a 2011 United Parcel Service (UPS) Workhorse utility truck driven by 47-year old Brad Duane Ross, of Clarinda, was traveling north on F Avenue at around 3:55-p.m. about two-miles north of Northboro, when the vehicle drove over a rough spot in the road and went out of control. The truck entered the east ditch,  where it struck a metal tube before impacting a field entrance and started to roll onto its passenger side across the road. The truck finally came to rest on the passenger side, facing northwest in both lanes of travel, blocking the road. No injuries were reported. 

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $10,000. No citations were issued. The Page County Sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Coin Fire and Rescue.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Governor’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council has awarded 13 new STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) projects across Iowa for a total of 50 since 2014. Among the 2018 STEM BEST program awardees, is the CAM and Woodbine Community School Districts in the Southwest STEM Region, and the Sioux City Community School District in the Northwest STEM Region.  The STEM BEST Program fosters a learning environment where students are able to participate in real workplace projects designed by business professionals and teachers and apply K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics to skills, knowledge and behaviors needed for STEM careers.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, STEM Council co-chair, said “STEM BEST opens the door to outstanding STEM careers that can transform lives, communities and our state’s economy. I appreciate the collaboration by educators and employers that makes this extraordinary public-private partnership successful. It’s in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school by 2025.”

The STEM Council Executive Committee voted unanimously to award 13 of 23 proposed new or expanded partnerships up to $25,000 each. Employer partners contribute a dollar-for-dollar match or, in some instances, well beyond a 50 percent cost-sharing commitment. Awards are used for equipping collaborative workspaces, educator training and development in workplace-classroom integration and curriculum development and coordination. Each STEM BEST Program awardee submitted an in-depth proposal, considering factors like education driven by industry need, rigorous, relevant and dynamic STEM curriculum, authentic partnerships and connection to post-secondary education or training. Each awardee will serve as a model to share unique perspective, strengths, demographics and program focus with others schools across the state.

To learn more about the STEM BEST Program and all 50 partners, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/STEMBEST.

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Office have released the procession route for the funeral of Earling Fire Chief Tom Henrich. The procession will start from the church in Earling, go South on M16 to F32, West on F32 to Hwy 191, then back North on 191 to Earling. An update on parking information will be provided later today or early Friday. Henrich fell ill at a fire scene last Saturday and died at the hospital in Harlan. (click on the image to enlarge)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday) reported that at around 10-p.m. Sunday, deputies were dispatched to 504 Main Street in Blanchard, for a Domestic situation. During the investigation, 20-year old Hayden Allen Taylor, of Blanchard, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, a simple misdemeanor. Taylor was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 33-year old Laurel Curtis McDonald, of Exira, was arrested Monday evening, October 22nd, on three-counts of child endangerment. The charges are the result of an investigation in the 2000 block of 290th Street. McDonald was released the following day after his appearance before the magistrate. 32-year old Skielynn Laverne Stephens, of Audubon, was charged Thursday, October 25th, with 17 counts pertaining to Violation of a No Contact Order. She is currently in the Audubon County Jail serving time on a unrelated case.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man has been given two years of probation for lying to Medicaid about care he provided for his father. The Telegraph Herald reports that 35-year-old Nicholas Brown also was recently sentenced to a two-year prison term, suspended, and told to pay more than $1,000 in damages to the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. He’d pleaded guilty to fraudulent practices and tampering with records.

Court documents say Brown was a caregiver for his father who documented his services in order to be reimbursed by Medicaid. The documents say that, between Oct. 22, 2016, and Sept. 19, 2017, Brown submitted records that falsely claimed he performed certain duties for his father.

A report of a reckless driver Wednesday morning in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports just before 10-a.m., a deputy was notified by dispatch of a reckless driver on 290th and Highway 92, driving west bound. Caller then stated that the vehicle, a black Jeep was pulled over on 220th Highway 92. Upon further investigation, 23-year old River Dean Pecha-Nichols, of Griswold, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

An inmate at the Pott. County jail faces additional charges after he allegedly communicated Wednesday, with a woman from Atlantic, against the rules of an Order of Protection filed against him.  34-year old Jeremy Thomas Reed, of Omaha, was charged with Violation of an Order/Contempt of Court. Bond on the charge was set at $2,000.

And, a man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a “General Purpose Complaint,” after a deputy on patrol in the area of Terrace Street and West Main Street in Treynor, noticed a Brown F150 Truck traveling eastbound on West Main Street. The vehicle had a defective windshield and a damaged rear license plate, both in violation of Iowa Code. The deputy later initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 31500 Block of Highway 92 and arrested the driver, 35-year old Cody Miller-Bittner Carrigan, of Henderson.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that Atlantic has been recognized as a “Neighborhood Champion” for the fifth year in a row by American Express. Atlantic will participate in the 8th Annual Small Business Saturday on November 24th, to support small businesses. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said, “We’re excited to partner with all of the Atlantic Area businesses to create shopping incentives and activities to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support our community. American Express created the Neighborhood Champion Program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country. Participating organizations include: the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), the International Downtown Association, the Latino Coalition, the National Main Street Center, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Smith says American Express recognizes communities that have strong participation. The on-going Shop Local Initiative, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, and overall community support has helped Atlantic achieve the national recognition. She added “It’s a great opportunity for Atlantic to receive positive, national exposure. Atlantic has everything you need and this day is just an added reminder for the community how important their support and participation in shopping local is to keeping Atlantic a vibrant place to live.”

November 24th marks the 8th annual Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small business owners can learn more about taking part in Small Business Saturday and download free marketing materials on www.shopsmall.com. Consumers can visit www.atlanticiowa.com to find merchants to shop at on Small Business Saturday.