A woman from Creston suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during an accident Tuesday afternoon on Cromwell Road. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year old Colleen Ann Reed was traveling westbound at around 2:50-p.m., when a vehicle crossed the center line and she swerved to avoid hitting it. Her 2002 Buick LeSabre entered the south ditch and apparently rolled over before coming to rest. Reed – who was wearing a seat belt – became trapped in the car and was extricated by mechanical means before being transported by Medic 1 EMS to the hospital in Creston.

Her car sustained about $6,000 damage and was declared a total loss. Reed had a suspended driver’s license, but was not issued a citation at the scene.

Sheriff’s officials in Sac County report the second of two inmates who escaped from the Sac County Jail Friday afternoon, was apprehended Tuesday evening in Walnut. Authorities say Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 25-year old Shawn Patrick Freier at a residence in Walnut at around 6:30-p.m., Tuesday. He was found in an upstairs area of a garage, taken into custody without incident, and transported to the Pott. County Jail. Freier was set to be transported by Sac County Deputies to the Sac County jail sometime today (Wednesday).

{Previous story} The Sac County Sheriff’s office said Saturday, that at around 4:25 p.m. Friday (Oct. 9th), two inmates in the Sac County Jail over powered a female correctional officer. Authorities say 35-year old Joseph Lee Sly,  of Rockwell City, was being moved from the main cell area back to a holding cell after a shower. As the correctional officer was opening the main cell door, she was grabbed by 25-year old inmate Shawn Patrick Freier, of Lake View.

Joseph Sly

Shawn Freier

Freier and Sly pulled the correctional officer in to the main cellblock and shut the door locking the correctional officer inside. The two inmates then ran down the stairwell. A courthouse custodian heard the correctional officer screaming and opened a locked door at the bottom of a staircase. Joseph Sly pushed the custodian out of the way and ran down the hall. Sly exited the building. Shawn Freier at the bottom of the stairway enter the kitchen area through an unlocked door. Freier jumped out a first floor window.

Freier ran south from the jail and Sly ran north. Law enforcement officer from surrounding areas responded to assist in looking for the two. A drone with thermal imaging capabilities was used as well as Sac County Sheriff’s K-9. The ground search was called off after dark. On Saturday, October 10th, an off-duty Lake View Police Reserve officer was traveling through Sac City, and spotted Joseph Sly around 7:28-a.m., walking on North 5th Street. The off duty reserve officer was able to take Sly in to custody without incident and return him to the Sac County Jail.

Freier was serving time for domestic violence charges. Joseph Sly faces charges in Calhoun County for domestic violence and sex abuse charges. Both men are now charged with escape from custody. Additional charges are expected. No injuries were reported.

U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan of the Northern District of Iowa and U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum of the Southern District of Iowa announced Tuesday, nearly $662,000 in Department of Justice grants to the Iowa Department of Public Safety to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.

OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan said “Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades. These investments in crimefighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”

Attorneys Deegan and Krickbaum said “Our offices are committed to prosecuting dangerous and violent offenders. This investment in the Iowa Department of Public Safety will allow our state and local law enforcement partners to better investigate violent crime and bring justice to victims across the state.” Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and more information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – Several people are in custody after a shooting early this (Wednesday) morning in Carroll. Police Chief Brad Burke reports the incident occurred right around midnight in the 500 block of E. 18th Street. One male victim was transported to St. Anthony Regional Hospital and later transferred to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

More details will be released later today.

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

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(Radio Iowa) – A three-member state panel agrees the Iowa economy is headed in a positive direction, but the group cautions state tax revenue won’t quite rebound to pre-pandemic levels over the next three quarters. Holly Lyons of the Iowa Legislative Services Agency says the pandemic and damage from the derecho as well as uncertainty about the election and another federal stimulus payments are all a drag on the Iowa economy. “How do you adjust to an ever-changing situation where the new normal seems to be indefinite uncertainty?” Lyons asks.

Lyons and two other members of the Revenue Estimating Conference predict state tax collections will be down two-tenths of a percent in the current state fiscal year. David Roederer, the governor’s budget director, says there are modest signs of strength in Iowa’s economy, helped by the unprecedented six BILLION dollars in direct federal aid to Iowa businesses. “I think the key is at what pace will the economy reenergize and rebound from a pandemic that refuses to leave us or be vaccinated away,” Roederer says. “All wonder when our lives are going to get back to normal, but maybe better yet how are we even going to define normal.”

David Underwood, a C-P-A from Clear Lake, says there’s reason for optimism. “The adaptability of Iowa’s businesses and non-profit organizations to adapt to the new abnormal has just been tremendous,” Underwood says. The group acknowledges losses in the restaurant, bar and hospitality industry, but cites increases in e-commerce and spending to outfit home offices. The panel predicts state tax revenue will surge four percent higher in the NEXT state fiscal year.

Officials with the Creston Police Department Wednesday (today), report the arrest at around 5:40-p.m. Tuesday, of 32-year old Corry D. Johnston, from Creston. Johnston was arrested in the 800 block of Laurel Street, on the charges that include Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $3000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic School Board will hold their regular monthly session in-person this (Wednesday) evening, in the High School Media Center. The session begins at 6-p.m., and will include a Special Presentation from ACSD Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, with regard to a Connectivity Update for the District’s online students and others. The Board will also receive an update on the District’s Athletic Facilities.

Superintendent Steve Barber said Tuesday that because construction work continues on the all-surface four-lane track that surrounds the playing field in the Trojan Bowl, the Bowl will be closed to the public from today (Wednesday, October 14), to Tuesday, October 20th. The new asphalt has cured, and now it’s up to crews from Midwest Tennis and Track to finish the work. Construction continues as well on the baseball and softball fields, the soccer field, and track at the high school.

The Atlantic School Board will also consider and act on the purchase of an Summer/Winter Operations and Maintenance vehicle from Deter Motor Company. The one-ton pickup will support the district’s snow plow and salt/gravel applicator. The truck comes with a price tag of $29,165. Superintendent Barber says if the Board approves the truck purchase, the District will need to purchase a flatbed that would support the salt applicator as well as grounds work in the summer.

In other business, the Board will discuss and act on:

• SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) Modified Supplemental Amounts for a Special Education Deficit ($639,584) and LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Excess Costs ($71,601).
• Appointing a representative for the IASB Delegate Assembly on Nov. 17th
• A pay application for work completed on the Atlantic Athletic Facilities Project ($613,816.55).
• Proposal requests with regard to the Athletic Facilities Project (credit for not installing a conduit for internet connections [wireless will be used instead]; changes required for the USTA grant (re: tennis courts)
• and, 13 TLC Facilitator contracts (@ $2,500 stipend per employee, plus FICA/IPERs). According to Mr. Barber, approving the contracts would allow the district to meet its goal of having 25% of the teaching staff serve in a leadership position.

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke, Tuesday, released information with regard to applicants to be considered for the District 1 Montgomery County Supervisor’s seat. Burke says according to the Code of Iowa, the Montgomery County Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer (Supervisor Appointing Committee) intend to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in the office of Montgomery County Supervisor District 1 at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in the basement meeting room at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Red Oak.

Burke says the following candidates will be considered, as they submitted all the requirements by the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on October 13th:

• Steven Berendes
• Steven Masters
• Troy Preston
• Charla Schmid.

Interviews of all eligible candidates will be conducted by the SAC 5:30-p.m. October 20th,  in the courtroom at the Courthouse in Red Oak. The meeting will be open to the public and also available via Zoom.

The appointment made by the committee on October 21st, will be valid until January 1, 2023. The citizens of Montgomery County may request a special election to fill the vacancy by filing a petition with the Montgomery County Auditor containing 80 signatures of eligible electors within 14 days after the publication of notice, or within 14 days after the appointment is made.