(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Tuesday. At around 9-p.m., 15-year-old Hayden Avada Coffman, of Guthrie Center, was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am northbound on Frontier Road, when she came over the hill, and saw a vehicle from the opposite direction was in her lane. The teen took evasive action, which caused the car to go out of control. The vehicle went across Frontier Road and into the west ditch before rolling over and catching fire. Coffman refused medical treatment at the scene. She said she was wearing her seat belt. The car was a total loss due to the crash and fire.

And, at around 8:45-a.m., Tuesday, a 2012 Chevy Sonic driven by 36-year-old Jack LaVoy, of Guthrie Center, was traveling north on Cherry Avenue from 240th Street, when the vehicle went out of control and rolled into the south ditch. Authorities say LaVoy was traveling too fast for conditions. His car sustained $3,500 damage, and was considered a total loss.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Following a public hearing, during which there were no comments, the Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning in Greenfield, voted to pass a Resolution to approve an Ordinance (#28B) re-precincting the County, with regard to Supervisors representation and voting. Details about the changes can be found on the County’s website (The proposed changes prior to the vote and which are now in effect, can be found here https://www.adaircounty.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Public-Notice-ORDINANCE-NO-28B-reprecincting.pdf)

Re-precincting map

In other business, the Board took under consideration for when it comes to their FY 23 budget, a request from Courthouse Maintenance worker Rich Wallace, who wears several “hats” when it comes to maintaining the grounds and interior of the courthouse, aside from cleaning, most of which he does by himself.

Wallace said while others have union or other forms of representation, such as the Conference Board, he feels like as an individual, he’s being “Left out,” when it comes to a wage increase.

The Board agreed he does a great job, and took no issue with determining a revised wage for Wallace when it comes time to formulate their budget, amid other requests and considerations.

In other business, Adair County Treasurer Brenda Wallace discussed computer bids, since her DOT computer ceased to function last week.

She asked four separate companies for bid, but only three responded to date. The other company refused to issue a bid due the changing price structure. Two of the companies said the couldn’t get the DOT specifications in a timely manner. Mainstay was the only company who issued a quote.

Unfortunately, the company couldn’t guarantee a delivery date: It could be as soon as five-weeks or as late as five-months, but the price wouldn’t change. In the meantime, the DOT approved using their program on an InfoMax PC temporarily, until the new computer arrives and is set-up. Infomax will charge $100 to install the program. The Board approved her request to replace the computer at the quoted price.

The Adair County Supervisors also set the date for a Public Hearing on a FY22 Budget Amendment as 9:30-a.m., January 12th. County Auditor Mandy Berg said the total expenditures in the amended budget amount to $78,464, while the revenue is $856,000. The Board discussed and agreed to use part of the American Rescue Plan Act funds – amounting to $142,385 – for COVID relief, to digitize county real estate records. They also discussed the OSHA vaccine and testing machine mandate, but since the County has, by all accounts, less than 100 employees, it does not meet the thresh-hold for the mandate.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle accident on Monday at the intersection of 240th Street and Orange Avenue. Deputies discovered a 2006 Freightliner that was traveling southbound had entered a ditch on the east side and crashed. The driver was identified as William Joseph Parmenter of Kent, IA and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Autoposy results are pending to determine that cause of Parmenter’s death.

The Adams County Sherriff’s Office was assisted by Corning Fire Department and Iowa Department of Transportation.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today (Wednesday), nominated Iowa students from across the state to the United States’ Service Academies. Ernst says  “As a mother of a West Point cadet and a company commander who served over 23 years in uniform, one of the Senate duties I enjoy most each year is nominating outstanding Iowa students, and America’s future leaders, to our nation’s Service Academies,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “Every single one of this year’s bright applicants have demonstrated their skill and hard work, and I’m so pleased to support them as they take the next step in their journey and begin down the path of serving our nation.”

Ernst Nominates Iowa Students for America’s Service Academies

Here are the (area) Iowa students who were nominated by Senator Ernst to attend U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2026:

United States Military Academy

• Sebastian Vasquez, Red Oak

United States Naval Academy

• Michael Davis, Treynor
• Alizia Frieze, Council Bluffs
• Tyler Shelton, Harlan

Every year, Ernst nominates Iowa students to America’s Service Academies, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for students to apply. To learn more about the service academy nomination process, click here.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and discussed matters pertaining to finances, and the teacher shortage. Superintendent Dave Henrichs says Dan Rold, School Business Official reviewed the ending Fiscal Year financial information, which was very positive and opens the door to increased pay to retain teachers/staff.

There was no formal action taken, but discussions will continue to attract, retain and reward staff members. The Board also discussed the possibility of offering soccer to students.

The Griswold School Board approved an application to the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool for Natural Gas for six-months, January through June, with a review and possible renewal of the agreement from July 2022 through June 2023.

The Board also acted on personnel matters, including resignations…

The also approved several new hires…

During the November 2nd School Elections, there were four seats open. All four Griswold School Board members were unopposed. Dave Henrichs said the Board welcomed back Rob Peterson and Aaron Houser as Directors At-Large, Scott Peterson was re-elected as Director of District 3, and Don Smith was re-elected as Director of District 4. As part of the re-organization meeting, the Board elected to retain Rob Peterson as President and Don Smith as Vice-President. In addition, the Board voted to leave their regular Board meeting dates and times unchanged, which means they will continue to meet on the third Monday of each month at 5:30-p.m.

And finally, the Griswold School Board discussed their baseball field maintenance options. Superintendent Henrichs said there are several upgrades they’d like to see, but there are rules that will require more steps in the process.

More area, and state News from Ric Hanson.

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Des Moines, Iowa — An Iowa man previously charged in connection with his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was arraigned Tuesday on a new federal indictment that includes a felony count that could carry up to 20 years in prison. KCCI reports 36-year-old Leo Christopher Kelly, of Cedar Rapids, who has been free on pretrial release, appeared via video for his arraignment. His attorney, Kira West, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The most serious of the seven charges Kelly faces is obstruction of an official proceeding. Two other charges of entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct in a restricted building carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The remaining charges are misdemeanors carrying up to six months in prison.

A plea agreement apparently is no longer under consideration, according to the information that prosecutor Michael Gordon James provided Judge Royce Lamberth during the hearing. James said “The parties have discussed a negotiated plea but that will not occur in this case so this matter should be set for trial.” Lamberth said he will set at trial date later. He scheduled a status update hearing for Feb. 25.

Kelly was arrested in Iowa on Jan. 18 after participating in an internet interview with members of an anti-abortion organization. Kelly said he followed the Jan. 6 crowd into the U.S. Senate chamber, where he said he remained for 30 minutes to an hour. Kelly said he was caught up in the moment, but that he wasn’t armed and didn’t vandalize anything.

He was released Jan. 19 by a federal magistrate who noted his extremely limited criminal history. Federal prosecutors issued a new indictment on Dec. 3rd.

Area News, broadcast at 7:08-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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(Bartlett, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the Fremont County K9 Unit, Tuesday, stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Waubonsie Ave and Bluff Road, near Bartlett. The driver, 29-year-old Ambriea Chandler, of Sidney, had an active Fremont County warrant for Theft 4th Degree. The warrant was in connection to a stolen cell phone at a business in Sidney on December 9th.

During the arrest, the Fremont County K9 “Roby” was deployed for a narcotics sniff. A subsequent search uncovered methamphetamine. Chandler was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Ambriea Chandler

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man for OWI, Tuesday night. Authorities say at around 10:36-p.m., 49-year-old Vincent Matthew Kesterson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 2300 block of N. Broadway Street, for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.