A traffic stop in Red Oak at around 3:50-p.m., Friday, resulted in the arrest of 36-year old Gary O. Smith, of Red Oak, on a trio of charges. Smith was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, Driving While Suspended, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana/3rd or subsequent offense. Smith was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond

(Please note, the ORIGINAL report from the Iowa State Patrol indicated there were TWO fatalities in this crash. The report was subsequently revised to indicated ONE of the drivers had passed away.)

A young woman is dead following a crash Friday afternoon in Montgomery County, near Villisca. The Iowa State Patrol identified the victim as 19-year old Sara R. Venatta, of Elliott. The driver of the other vehicle, was identified as 62-year old Robert Drake, of Corning.

Officials say Venatta was traveling west on Highway 34 in a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, while Drake was heading east on 34 in a 1991 Ford F-150 pickup. The van went out of control and crossed the center line of Highway 34 into the eastbound lane, where it was struck on the right side by the pickup. The van came to rest on its right side in the south ditch. The pickup came to rest partially on both the eastbound lane and shoulder.

Venatta, who was wearing her seat belt, died at the scene. The Patrol says Drake, who was not wearing a seat belt, was flown by Life Flight helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha where he was being treated for his injuries. The accident, which happened at around 12:20-p.m., remains under investigation. Villisca and Red Oak Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says she is still reviewing the Senate health care bill that was unveiled Thursday. She was asked at an event today (Friday) what she would say to Iowans who are afraid they would lose their Medicaid coverage under the bill. “I would say we’re still going through this bill, we’ll have some lengthy discussions, but I wouldn’t say we are losing it. We do need to go through the bill — but we want to make sure Iowans are protected,” Ernst says.

She says Medicaid will be part of the discussion when they return to work on Monday. “I think we are thoroughly vetting the bill and we will continue to move through that process. We will have a lot of time committed to speaking just about the health care bill. It’s up to leadership when they call that up for a vote ,”ERnst says. “But, we will continue to hear from our constituents, and we are already.” Ernst says she can’t yet specifically say what parts of the bill she would support or oppose.

“It was just released yesterday, so we have 142 pages to go through. And just as we did with the A-H-C-A that came over from the House, I want to make sure that I have time to go through it, talk to my staff, talk to folks around Iowa and understand what the impacts of the bill are,” Ernst says. Ernst says the senators who put the bill together understand the issues facing Iowa.

“They are very aware of Iowa’s situation,” according to Reynolds, “but again we have to talk through this. Now that we have the draft — and again it is just draft text — to make sure it is workable for Iowa.” Ernst made her comments during an event at the Iowa State Capitol on another issue.

(Radio Iowa)

A foot pursuit that was part of a search for a man wanted on warrants, caused injuries to the suspect and a Council Bluffs Police Officer. The incident leading to the arrest of 37-year old James David Yopp, Jr., began at around 11-a.m., Friday. Bluffs Police say officers went to a residence in the 2500 block of Avenue in an attempt to locate Yopp Jr., of Council Bluffs, who was wanted on outstanding arrest warrants for Domestic Abuse and Violation of a No Contact Order.

As the officers approached, Yopp ran from the area. After searching the neighborhood for approximately an hour, Yopp was located hiding in the 2500 block of Avenue H. He was taken into custody and booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

During the initial foot chase with Yopp, a CBPD officer sustained a knee injury; the officer was treated and released from a local hospital. A full recovery is expected.

Yopp

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a northwestern Iowa man has been charged with attempted murder and other counts after police say he stabbed two people. Spirit Lake police told the Sioux City Journal on Friday that 29-year-old Nicholas Thompson, of Spirit Lake, had been charged. Police were called at 5 p.m. Thursday to a home for a report of that a person had been stabbed.

Police say two people were injured. Their names have not been released. One person was taken to a local hospital and later flow to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital. The other person declined medical treatment.

Thompson, who remains in the Dickinson County Jail, has been charged with attempted murder and going armed with intent.