Two people are dead and one man is in custody, charged with two counts of Homicide by motor vehicle, following an accident Friday morning, in Fremont County. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says Deputies were notified at around 6:14-a.m., that a man who was taken by a private vehicle to an area hospital, was possibly involved in a motor vehicle accident at an unknown location in Fremont County.

Deputies, along with Iowa DNR Officers, Iowa State Patrol Troopers and an airplane with the Iowa State Patrol assisted with the search. At around 9:44-a.m., authorities were contacted by the man’s family members, who located the vehicle, partially submerged in the East Nishnabotna River, in the 3100 block of 250th Street, west of Riverton.

Duane Michael Struck

Rescue workers discovered two occupants, 29-year-old Somia Star Moore, and 19-year-old Jonathan Lee O’Hearn, both of Hamburg, were inside the vehicle, deceased. The driver, 21-year old Duane Johnathaon Mickael Stuck, also of Hamburg, was placed under arrest for two counts of Homicide by Vehicle, (OWI) Class B Felonies, and one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, resulting in Death, a Class D Felony.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident. The State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska City Police Department, Riverton Fire and Rescue, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Sidney Rescue, Benefiel Towing, and the Midwest Regional Dive Team assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

The investigation is ongoing at this time and more charges are pending.

(Radio Iowa) – The number two leader at the University of Illinois will cross the Mississippi River and take over the top spot at the University of Iowa. The Board of Regents selected 63-year-old Barbara Wilson today (Friday) to become the 22nd president. Regents president Michael Richards called for a motion to approve Wilson following a closed session to review the four finalists. Richards says her term will start on July 15th and go through June 30th of 2026 at an annual salary of 600-thousand dollars and also includes a five-year deferred compensation plan with annual contributions of 400-thousand dollars.

Barbara Wilson

Wilson spoke after the board voted unanimously to approve her. She thanked the board and says they will have a great working relationship. Wilson wore a gold jacket as she talked to the board. “I am excited, I am ready to roll up my sleeves, I am wearing the right color, I am really delighted, this is such a great honor,” Wilson says. She says she is anxious to get to work.

“We’re going to make the University of Iowa as good as it can be and even better,” she says. Wilson will replace Bruce Harreld, who is retiring She has served as executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs for the University of Illinois System since 2016.

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends critical regulatory relief for an additional 30 days to those on the frontlines of COVID19 recovery. The order, which does not require masks or social distancing, was set to expire Sunday. It has now been extended until May 30th.

The proclamation continues to strongly encourage Iowans, businesses, and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The proclamation also continues to extend the waiver on transportation restrictions for overweight loads.  The proclamation can found online here.

Two people were arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 Thursday evening. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year-old Joseph Dean Wallace, of Bedford, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance, Driving while Revoked and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $4,300. And, 28-year-old Aundrea Theresa Clay, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Page County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. Her bond was set at $1,000. The duo were taken into custody at around 5:22-p.m.

Atlantic Community School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Friday, updated the district’s status with COVID-19. His letter to parents, students and patrons, follows:

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously voted to give prosecutors another legal tool to crack down on human trafficking. Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says it targets people who set up businesses like nail and hair salons, spas and massage parlors, with workers who are actually victims of human trafficking. “This bill establishes a crime for knowingly letting your property be used for human trafficking,” Jones says. “…One really interesting part of this bill and I really appreciate this that the victims’ advocates brought this forward is that it provides restorative justice as a form of restitution.”

Victims of human trafficking will be able to avoid charges if they’re caught being forced to work in one of these businesses. Senator Brad Zaun of Johnston says the bill makes it harder to try to run an illicit spa or massage business using forced labor.  “We are in the state of Iowa to have Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 which brings a lot of business to the state of Iowa,” Zaun says. “Unfortunately, it brings a lot of despicable human beings that are abusing other humans in regards to human trafficking. This bill really just clamps down on the landowners that own these businesses that know what’s going on.”

The bill first passed the House on March 8th. The Senate gave it final approval this week. The bill also calls on the Iowa Public Safety Commissioner to establish a task force on human trafficking to understand the scope of the problem in Iowa and identify services for victims.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has sided with the State Auditor in a subpoena request from the University of Iowa. State Auditor Rob Sand sought information from the U-I on its plan to lease out its utility system for the next 50 years for lease payment of more than one BILLION dollars. The University and Board of Regents fought the subpoena request, saying the auditor was not engaged in a legally authorized audit.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled it does not need to decide the exact moment the request for information turned into an audit. It says the State Auditor has wide latitude to audit state agencies — and had the right in this case to subpoena the information.

(Radio Iowa) – A southern Minnesota restaurant owner who was wanted by authorities for pandemic-related violations has been arrested after hiding out in Clear Lake. Melissa Hanson is the owner of The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro in Albert Lea and was wanted by Minnesota authorities on outstanding warrants for failing to appear for a court hearing . Hanson is facing criminal charges in Freeborn County for allegedly opening up her business in violation of Minnesota coronavirus restrictions.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Department says they were working with the Albert Lea Police Department in monitoring an Airbnb location in Clear Lake, with Clear Lake police arresting her on Thursday after being seen leaving the rental property.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Five Q on Thursday April 29th, 2021. Ambassadors were introduced to new staff members and learned about the company’s services and expansions. Chad Williams, owner of Five Q introduced the two newest members of Five Q, starting with Alex Tarr, an Atlantic native that came on board two months ago and took on the role of Office Manager. He also introduced Rachel Czaja who started as an intern while attending Wheaten College in Chicago. Rachel moved to Atlantic in May 2020 and took on the role of Marketing Coordinator.

Photo courtesy the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce.

Five Q started in 2004 with the mission to help their customers multiply their digital impact through website building, design, mobile app design, Amazon Alexa skills, and 501c3 ad grant management. Five Q specializes in helping nonprofit organizations market and fundraisers. And, with their new personalization platform called “Journity,” the customer can create a digital marketing campaign in a short amount of time and get their message out on to the web faster.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass County Public Health (CCPH) report the agency, and local pharmacies, still have COVID-19 vaccine appointments available for anyone age 16 and older.

·         HyVee has Pfizer vaccine for those 16 and older at their pharmacy. To sign up, go to hyvee.com/covidvaccine.

·         For residents 18 and older interested in receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, please call Cass County Public Health at 712-250-8008.

More information about coronavirus in Iowa can be found at coronavirus.iowa.gov.