One person died and four others were injured during a collision late Saturday morning, in central Iowa’s Story County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 1998 Nissan pickup driven by 68-year-old John Paulson, of Radcliffe, crashed into a 2000 Dodge pickup driven by 38-year old Michael Manke, of Nevada (IA), after Paulson failed to yield the right-of-way.  The accident happened at the intersection of 170th Street and 55th Avenue in Gilbert, at around 11:30-a.m.

The Patrol says Paulsen failed to yield. A passenger, 68-year old Marcia Olson, of Story City, died at the scene. Paulson, Manke, and his passengers, 37-year old Christina Wittrock along with a three-year old boy both of whom are from Nevada, were injured in the crash. All were wearing seat belts. They were transported to area hospitals.

Law enforcement and Rescue crews were called to the scene of what apparently started out as a two vehicle accident about a mile west of Stuart on I-80 westbound. Since the first calls went out at around 3-p.m., (Saturday), numerous other incidents have been reported.

Stuart Fire was requested to send more personnel for traffic control. Additional details are currently not available.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is seeking to clarify his assertion that if the Senate subpoenas him to testify in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, he will defy the order. But he’s still not made it clear what he would do. In Iowa on Friday, the Democratic presidential contender told The Des Moines Register that he stood by his position that he would defy an order from the Republican-controlled Senate to be a witness in the proceedings.

On Saturday, he tweeted what he called a clarification. He said he’s always complied with lawful orders. Yet he also said any such subpoena would not, in his view, have “any legal basis.”

Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were called to the scene of a residential fire at 1810 Main Street in Anita, late Friday night. Crews were dispatched at around 11:55-p.m.  When they first arrived on the scene, there was smoke, but no fire. Wiota Fire was then told to disregard the call.

According to former Chief Josh Peach, Fire Chief Eric Steffenson spoke with the occupant of the home, who had managed to extinguish the flames before firefighters arrived. The home sustained minor damage.  Crews were on the scene for just under two-hours.

No other details are currently available.

WARREN COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources say that at around 3:15-p.m. Friday (Dec. 27), the Warren County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a call about two people that had gone through the ice at Summerset State Park, and were yelling for help.

When Warren County Sheriff’s deputies, Indianola Fire and Rescue and a DNR conservation officer responded to the scene they witnessed that Ryan Nesselroad, of Carlisle, had fallen through the ice, approximately 40 yards from the shore. A second man, Gary Anderson, of Venice, Florida, had also fallen through the ice while attempting to rescue Nesselroad.

Rescue crews used throw bags to rescue Anderson and pull him to shore. Nesselroad was farther out in the lake and was rescued by Indianola Fire and Rescue teams and was suffering from hypothermia. Both men were transported to a Des Moines area hospital to be treated.

The Iowa DNR reminds everyone to beware of ice conditions and depth. Obey all posted signs and any warning flags around lakes. Due to the recent unseasonably warm weather, it is best to avoid going onto lakes and small ponds, especially around the edges where the ice is likely very thin.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• There is no such thing as 100% safe ice.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
• There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so check ice thickness as you go out.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Safety items in the bucket: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen people have applied to fill a vacant seat on the Iowa Supreme Court left by the sudden death in November of Chief Justice Mark Cady. Court officials say the State Judicial Nominating Commission will conduct interviews on Jan. 9 of the applicants.

Those interviews, to be held in in the Iowa Supreme Court courtroom in Des Moines, are open to the public. Following the applicants’ interviews, the commission will select three nominees to be forwarded to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Republican governor will then have 30 days to appoint the new justice from the three nominees.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide while driving recklessly in the June death of a bicyclist. The Sioux City Journal reports that 37-year-old Edy Guevara entered the plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court. He also pleaded not guilty to operating while intoxicated.

Authorities say Guevara had alcohol and marijuana in his system when the vehicle he was driving hit 64-year-old Charles Fluharty on June 13 in Sioux City. Police say Guevara later told officers he was texting on his phone when he hit Fluharty, who died a week after the crash.

Bullets from a .40-caliber gun struck a house early last Sunday morning, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office says that at around 2:37-a.m. on Dec. 22nd, authorities received a call about bullets hitting a house at 1465 Highway 2. The residents said they heard something strike the house., and upon investigation, found bullets had struck a chair in the residence. The bullets were recovered from the residence, and casings were found on Highway 2.

Officials say it appears that unknown persons had fired at a road sign along Highway 2. The bullets traveled through the sign and into the residence. The signs on the highway had been replaced within the past couple of weeks. Evidence from the scene will be sent to the DCI Crime Lab for further analysis and possibly identifying suspects.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement Agency. The case is eligible for the CrimeStopper’s Tip program. A reward of up to $1000.00 will be given to a person providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) involved in this incident. The person giving information can remain anonymous.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a busy week of arrests, incidents and accidents. On Dec. 22nd, 54-year old Joseph Larry Martin, of Clarinda, was arrested in the 2200 block of Highway 71, for O.W.I/2nd Offense. His Bond was set at $2,000.

Taken into custody last Tuesday (12/24), was 46-year old Kyle Lee Woldruff, of Clarinda, who was arrested in a Timber area located in the 2600 block of 250th street. He was wanted on Page County warrant for Failure to appear for a Probation Revocation Hearing. Woldruff was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,600 altogether.

Christmas Day, 59-year old Jimmy Wayne Blank, of Shambaugh, arrested in Coin, for Driving while Barred. Bond was set at $2,000. On Thursday, Page County deputies arrested 37-year old Jonathan Lynn Gray, of Shenandoah, on Page County warrant for Probation Violation. Gray was also being held on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Escape from Custody. His cash-only bond was set at $5,000.

Friday, 21-year old Dawson Lane Sams, of Maryville, MO., was arrested in the 1900 block of Highway 59, for O.W.I./1st Offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

Two people were injured in a single-vehicle accident Friday, in Page County. Authorities say 80-year old Thomas Joseph Pedersen, of Clarinda, was driving a 2017 Buick Enclave westbound on a Highway between Avenue’s K & L, when for unknown reasons his vehicle crossed the center line and went into the south ditch.

Pedersen was transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, 49-year old Melissa Renee Pedersen, also of Clarinda, was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center for treatment of unknown injuries. Damage to vehicle was estimated at $3,500. Charges are pending. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Clarinda Ambulance Service and Clarinda Fire Department.

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

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