The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says three, non-injury accidents occurred during last Friday’s snow/ice event. Just before 8-p.m., a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup owned and driven by 45-year old Robert James Bagshaw, of Massena, was eastbound on Tucson Road when the vehicle went out of control on the icy roadway. It crossed into the north ditch and rolled onto its top, sustaining an estimated$5,000 damage.

At around 6:15-p.m. Friday, a 2004 Chevy Express van driven by 29-year old Devon Andrew Bretey, of Atlantic, was northbound on Highway 71 when the vehicle went out of control on the slick roadway, entered the west ditch and came to rest on its side. The damage was estimated at $4,000.

And, at around 2:15-p.m., Friday, a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup owned and driven by 38-year old Troy Niehaus, of Carroll, was northbound on 750^th Street when the vehicle went out of control on the icy road. It entered the west ditch and rolling onto its top, sustaining about $10,000 damage.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two people face drug charges following a recent investigation. On February 27th, Cass County Deputies arrested 18-year old Dominick Gene Gramkow, of Atlantic, on felony charges that include Distributing Drugs to Person Under 18 Years of age, Use of a Minor in a Drug Trade, Possession with Intent to Deliver/Marijuana, and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. Gramkow also faces a simple misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $45,000 bond.

And, 17-year-old faces a felony, Possession with Intent to Deliver/Marijuana and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp felony charges. The minor was taken to Juvenile Detention Center pending hearing.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Brian Donnell Taylor, of Des Moines, was arrested Wednesday evening at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Taylor was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for probation violation.  He was being held in the Union County Jail without bond until being seen by a Judge.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with the Creston Police Department say a woman residing in the 700 block of Hickory Street reported Wednesday evening, that sometime between 8-and 8:30-pm on Feb. 25th, cash was taken from her purse at her place of employment at 807 W Taylor. The loss was estimated at $60.

And, the Creston P-D says 23-year old Rebecca Holbrook, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Decatur County Warrant charging her with False Information for a Citation. Holbrook was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Members of the Exira-EHK School Board will meet during a work session this evening, beginning at 6-p.m. During their session in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn building, the School Board will discuss, but take No Action on, the Estes Construction Facility Assessment.

Two Public Hearings are set to take place this (Thursday) evening, in Walnut, as part of a regular meeting of the Walnut City Council. The first hearing is with regard to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18 Budget. The second pertains to a 2017 Amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan. Later on in the meeting, the Council will vote on a Resolution Adopting the FY 2017-18 Budget and Urban Renewal Plan.

In other business, the Walnut City Council will act on giving permission to a local couple for the use of the City Park during “Walnut Junk Fest,” a request for an additional residential driveway entrance, and two separate requests for financial participation in residential sidewalk replacement.

Among the discussion items on the agenda, are those pertaining to: The Well Project; Billboard repair; Planting Boxes on Atlantic Street; Concession Stands at the City Park; and the Walnut Antique Show.

The Walnut City Council meeting will be held at City Hall in Walnut, beginning at 5-p.m.

Governor Branstad is appointing a couple of EX-state legislators to serve on the panel that governs the three state-supported universities. One spot on the Board of Regents opened up when Bruce Rastetter, the board president, announced in early February he would not seek another term. The governor on Tuesday selected three people to the nine-member board. They include Nancy Boettger, a former Republican state senator from Harlan, and Nancy Dunkel, a Democrat from Dyersville who served one term in the Iowa House.

Branstad is reappointing Sherry Bates of Scranton to the Board of Regents. Current Regent Katie Mulholland had also sought reappointment to the board, but she was left OFF the governor’s list. Branstad’s regent appointments must be confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

(Radio Iowa)

A bill to impose tougher penalties on protesters who block traffic on Iowa interstates and highways has cleared a senate committee with bipartisan support. It comes in response to a November incident on I-80. Anti-Trump protesters marched from downtown Iowa City to the interstate, blocking rush-hour traffic. Senator Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel, says the current 35 dollar penalty for participating in that kind of a protest does not “fit the crime.”

“Over the last couple of years we’ve seen this to be a growing trend throughout the United States,” Chapman said. “I would encourage my colleagues to look up some of these videos of some of these protesters…seriously getting hurt.”

All the Republicans and three Democrats on the Senate State Government Committee supported the bill. Three Democrats, including Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines, voted no. “I in no way condone people that jeopardize other people’s health or safety, but I do respect the First Amendment and I do think this is an over-reach,” Bisignano said. “And I think it’s politically motivated.”

It’s already illegal for protesters to block traffic on an IOWA highway with a posted speed limit of 55 miles an hour or more. If the bill becomes law, the new penalty for a first time offense would be up to a year in jail and a fine of hundreds of dollars. A third offense would be a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to five years. A handful of other states are considering tougher penalties for protesters.

(Radio Iowa)