A Mason City man is under arrest after a motorcycle pursuit early this (Monday) morning that went through three counties. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department says they attempted to stop a motorcycle southeast of Mason City shortly before 12:50 AM. The pursuit lasted for several miles on rural county roads, reaching speeds of at least 125 miles per hour. 31-year-old Robert Hartkopp was arrested near the intersection of State Highway 3 and Keystone Avenue in Butler County.

Hartkopp had a warrant out for his arrest in Cerro Gordo County and was charged with eluding law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended, and other misdemeanors. Hartkopp is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. The Iowa State Patrol as well as the Butler and Franklin County Sheriff’s Departments assisted in the pursuit.

(Radio Iowa)

A weekend crash south of the Twin Cities killed one Iowa woman and left another hurt.
The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV was on the wrong side of the highway early Sunday morning near Lonsdale in Rice County and hit a car head-on. The car was driven by 29-year-old Kacy Merseal of Des Moines, killing her. A passenger in the car, 30-year-old Tanya Von Weine of Story City, was injured.

Troopers say alcohol was a factor in the crash as the driver of the SUV, who was injured, had been drinking. He’s identified as 29-year-old Brandon Dellwo of Shakopee. Merseal, the Iowan who died in the crash, was reportedly a lawyer and she was engaged to be married next year.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa College Aid today (Monday) announced that Macy Evans, Elizabeth Smith and Hannah Dagel are recipients of the 2017 Gov. Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes outstanding Iowa high school seniors who have actively participated in the Iowa State Fair and plan to attend an Iowa college or university.

Macy Evans is a graduate of Creston High School and will attend Iowa State University. In her scholarship application, Macy related her experience with osteochondromas, a condition that causes benign bone tumors. She exhibited at the fair last year wearing a walking boot after major reconstructive surgery on her foot. “The Iowa State Fair gave me a newfound confidence,” Macy wrote. “I was able to prove to myself and those around me that my bone condition does not mean I am not capable.”

Elizabeth Smith is a graduate of Decorah High School and will attend Iowa State University. Hannah Dagel is a graduate of home schooling and will attend Dordt College. Hannah’s application characterized the three key qualities of the Iowa State Fair: achievement, discovery and hope.

This year’s three winners will receive their awards during the Iowa State Fair. Each will be presented a certificate of recognition by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Saturday, August 12, at 7 p.m. on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage.

Iowa College Aid will also exhibit in the Varied Industries Building at the fair. Free publications will be available, and prizes will be given to fairgoers who participate in an interactive display. Iowa College Aid staff will be on hand to answer questions about preparing and applying for college, obtaining financial aid and succeeding in college.

Find more information about the Gov. Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report three people were arrested and two accidents were investigated over the past week. On Saturday, 32-year old Gary Richter, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. On July 29th, 42-year old Brandon Shadden, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. And, on July 30th, 27-year old Justin Jacobs, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Atlantic Police said also, there were two, non-injury accidents, Friday. The first happened at around 11:15-a.m. at 6th and Chestnut, where vehicles driven by Carol Smith, of Atlantic, and Twila Christensen, of Wiota, collided, causing a total of $7,250 damage. Officials say Smith failed to yield to Christensen’s vehicle. No citations were issued. The second accident happened at around 5-p.m. Friday, near 13th and Chestnut, in Atlantic. Authorities say Tyler Johnston, of Atlantic, was pulling into a private driveway, when his vehicle struck a parked vehicle owned by Michael Andersen, of Atlantic. Damage from the mishap amounted to $2,000.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The Linn County auditor says the last four digits from thousands of voters’ Social Security numbers accidentally have been emailed to four email addresses. Auditor Joel Miller blamed a computer error by a worker fulfilling a legal request for voter data from the Linn County Republican Party. The mistake occurred Friday morning.

Miller says his staff has reached people at three of the four email addresses. They told his staffers that the emails have been deleted. He says the fourth address could be that of an inactive email account. The state secretary of state’s office has been notified.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Federal authorities have accused a contractor employee of altering and submitting false invoices that resulted in nearly $808,000 in overcharges to the Iowa Transportation Department. The Sioux City Journal reports that Jenna Wilson is charged with making false statements. Court records say she filed notice Thursday that she intends to plead guilty at a hearing scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City.

The records say Wilson raised the per-unit price on polystyrene fill used in the 2016 reconstruction of the Interstate 29 interchange at Salix. The polystyrene fill was properly invoiced by its original supplier.

The Creston Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision that caused a total of $11,000, Friday. Vehicles driven by 64-year old Sandra Peterson, of Corning, and 42-year old Carrie Lynn Adamson, of Huxley, collided at the intersection of Townline and Lincoln Streets, at around 2:30-p.m.

Officials say Peterson was traveling east on Townline, while Adamson was traveling south on Lincoln Street. Peterson said she saw a vehicle stopped at the next intersection and someone walking around it. She was watching the other vehicle and entered the intersection against a red light. Peterson’s 2005 GMC Envoy struck Adamson’s 2010 Toyota broadside.

Authorities cited Peterson for Failure to Obey a traffic control device.

The Creston Police Department reports a man from Adair County was arrested Friday morning on drug and other charges. 49-year old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, was arrested at around 10-a.m. in the 200 block of S. Peterson Street, in Creston, for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Driving While Revoked. Davis was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.  40-year old Kerry Lee Starlin, of Creston, was arrested at around 2:45-a.m. Sunday, for Simple Domestic Assault. The woman was later released from the Ringgold County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 9:15-p.m. Sunday, 50-year old Michelle Schell, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for 5th Degree Theft. Schell was cited and released on a Promise to Appear in court.

The Creston P-D says also, two residents of the community reported break-ins, Saturday. A person residing in the 1000 block of N. Birch Street, told police that at around 12:30-a.m. Saturday, someone broke a window on the south side of his residence. And, a woman living in the 100 block of E. Irving Street reported to police that someone broke the driver’s side rear window out of her vehicle, while it was parked outside her home. The two incidents resulted in a combined loss of $400.