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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Democrat Presidential hopeful Cory Booker will ring in the New Year with five events in Iowa, including in Union and Page Counties. On Tuesday, Dec. 31st, the New Jersey Senator will hold a “Noon Year’s Eve” house party at the home of Rep. Heather Matson, in Ankeny, followed a couple of hours later by a house party in Johnston. On Wednesday, Sen. Booker will hold a “Meet and Greet” in Creston, at Adams Street Espresso, beginning at Noon (doors open at 11:30-a.m.), and he’ll be at the Depot Restaurant & Lounge in Shenandoah for a Meet and Greet, beginning at 3:30-p.m., Wednesday (doors open at 3-p.m.).

He rounds out the year in Dallas County, with a “Conversation with Cory,” in Perry. The public is asked to reserve their spot at those events via the Booker campaign website.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar visited Emmet, Kossuth and Humboldt Counties Friday, then spoke to a crowd of about 500 people in Des Moines Friday night. “I made this promise to visit all 99 counties before I may knew just how far apart some of them really were, but the point of this is you should learn something about me: I kept my promise,” Klobuchar said, to applause and cheers. “More than that, it was a statement of purpose for me and that is believe we need someone for president who’s going to be the president for not half of America, but all of America.”

Klobuchar says her record in passing bills as a U.S. Senator shows she can do the “unglamorous work” of striking compromises to advance key policies, but she also emphasizes the need for the next president to make a rhetorical shift. “Just imagine if we had a president who works to heal this country instead of harming it,” Klobuchar said. “…A president sets more than policy for this country, but also the tone, the civility for this country.”

Klobuchar drew cheers when she mentioned the Affordable Care Act and called for a “return to sanity” in U.S. foreign policy. She delivered a 30-minute speech, sketching out some of her ideas for addressing mental health care needs and the high cost of prescription drugs. “Real plans, not pipe dreams,” Klobuchar said. She closed by telling the crowd she’s a progressive with a practical streak. There will be other 2020 presidential candidates will be campaigning in Iowa this weekend and through New Year’s Eve.

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County were called to the 2000 block of 145th Street in Elliott, early this (Saturday) morning, for a reported physical domestic assault. Upon further investigation, 40-year old Joshua Lynn Franzen was taken into custody, and charged with Domestic Assault/1st offense. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held without bond.