OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Thunderstorms that blasted through eastern Nebraska into Iowa toppled trees, overturned semitrailers, knocked out power to hundreds of homes and businesses and spawned short-lived tornadoes. The National Weather Service says two drivers were taken to a hospital and other drivers suffered minor injuries Monday when straight-line winds topping 80 mph knocked over nine semis on Interstate 29 in western Iowa. The post office in Sidney, Iowa, lost its roof. Three farm storage buildings were destroyed three-miles south of Thurman, in Fremont County, and shingles were blown off of homes in the Montgomery County town of Coburg. In Red Oak, winds gusted to near 60-miles per hour, while in Bedford, Clarinda and New Market, winds of 60-to 70mph were reported.

Authorities say several homes were damaged in the Lake Waconda community in Cass County, Nebraska. Brief tornado touchdowns were reported near Cedar Creek, Louisville, Murray and Table Rock.
Hail the size of golf balls was reported in the Gretna area.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department arrested two men early this (Tuesday) morning. 22-year old Damon Lee Gregory, and 27-year old Larry James Snider, Jr., both of West Point, IA, were taken into custody at around 12:45-a.m. for possession of drug paraphernalia. Gregory was also cited for failure to hold a valid driver’s license, and no insurance. Both men were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond, each. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

8:21-p.m.  Tstrm wind gust est. 65-70 mph estimated by radar, 4 miles N. of New Market in Taylor County; Law enforcement report

8:30-p.m. Estimated 70 mph wind 9 miles sw of Bedford in Taylor Co.; Trained spotter report.

8:01-to 8:15-p.m.  62-68 mph gusts of wind reported in Clarinda.

7:38-p.m.  Thunderstorm winds est. at 58 mph 1 mile w/nw of Red Oak.

7:28-p.m. Shingles blown off homes in Coburg (Montgomery County). 1′ diameter tree limbs reported down.

7:15-p.m. Three farm storage buildings destroyed 3 miles s. of Thurman, in Fremont County

7:00-p.m. A total of 9 semi tractor-trailers were overturned along I-29 about 3 miles west of Thurman, in Fremont County (Storm Chaser report). Two drivers were injured and transported by ambulance. I-29 was closed in both directions; Numerous power lines were down west of Thurman and many large trees were uprooted in Thurman, where there was damage to roofs as well.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that around 1:15am today (Tuesday), Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 500 block of O st in Hamburg, for a noise complaint. Deputies made several attempts to make contact with the resident where the noise was coming from. They were finally able to locate the resident, 32-year old Isaac Hayes, who was lying motionless on the floor.

Deputies gained entrance into the home and identified Hayes to being highly intoxicated. Hayes was taken into custody for Disorderly Conduct and transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement center held on $300.00 bond. Hayes has previously been arrested twice in the last two weeks for the same incidents.

Isaac Hayes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A man has acknowledged driving drunk and crashing into a ravine near Colorado Springs, killing two of his passengers, one of whom was from Iowa.

The Gazette reports 23-year-old Wyatt Beaman, of Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault, all felonies.

Investigators say he failed to make a turn on Old Stage Road in March 2017, and his SUV tumbled down an embankment. Killed in the crash were 21-year-old Kelby Engleen, of Des Moines, Iowa; and 33-year-old Jacob Busch, of Colorado Springs. Three others, including Beaman, were injured.

Beaman is set to be sentenced Sept. 14.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says fired Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison is disqualified from collecting unemployment benefits due to credible allegations of sexual harassment. Administrative Law Judge Nicole Merrill ruled the allegations against Jamison by female subordinates haven’t been fully detailed but are credible and amount to “disqualifying misconduct.” Gov. Kim Reynolds fired Jamison in March after two of his subordinates complained about his behavior.

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A former Sioux Center private school teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child. The Sioux City Journal reports Curtis Van Dam pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a child as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He agreed to a 15-year term, which is the mandatory minimum required by federal sentencing rules. Police arrested Van Dam on Oct. 23 after the parents of an 11-year-old boy reported the teacher had contact with their son.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An appeals court has upheld lengthy prison sentences for three relatives who conspired to illegally ship guns and ammunition from Iowa to Lebanon. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments from Ali Herz, his brother Bassem Herz and Bassem’s wife Sarah Zeaiter. The court upheld prison terms of roughly 28 years for Ali Herz, 8 years for Bassem and 7 years for Zeaiter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a man in Arizona who faces a murder charge in the 2015 shooting death of a Des Moines man. Des Moines police say U.S. marshals on Friday arrested a suspect in the shooting, 63-year-old Alf Freddie Clark, in Tucson. On Monday, a 1st degree murder warrant was issued for Clark, and authorities have begun extradition proceedings for his return to Des Moines. Clark is wanted in connection with the Dec. 27, 2015, shooting death of 36-year-old Tacono Conner.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man and his wife have been accused of stealing more than $200,000 from his 90-year-old mother. Dubuque County Court records say 64-year-old Howard Derby and 50-year-old Patti Derby are charged with felony dependent adult abuse-exploitation. Court documents say his disabled mother moved in with the couple and that he has been given power of attorney for her finances and medical needs. The documents say the Derbys took money from her accounts and used it to buy cars and pay for vacations, among other things.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials and volunteers in northern Iowa are working to save a historic train depot targeted for demolition by a railroad company weeks ago. The Globe Gazette reports that Mason City officials plan to move the Milwaukee Road Depot to a temporary location. Officials will then select a permanent location along with how to repurpose the structure. Tricia Sandahl is the city’s planning and zoning manager. She says an upcoming feasibility study will help determine where the building can move to and how much it would cost.

Canadian Pacific announced plans to demolish the structure last month. Railroad spokesman Andy Cummings says the company doesn’t plan to immediately proceed with demolition. Sandahl says the company may use funds slated for the demolition to help relocate the structure.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man and woman from Montgomery County were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop at around 12:10-a.m., Friday. The driver of the vehicle, 35-year old Terence Chevy Magill, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) with the Intent to Deliver, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of a Controlled Substance and drug paraphernalia. A passenger, 47-year old Angela Kay Shetterly, of Red Oak, was arrested for PCS/3rd offense. Magill’s bond was set at $106,300. Shetterly’s bond was set at  $5,000.

During the stop, which occurred on Highway 34 near 280th Street, an investigation was conducted that resulted in about 7.4 grams of methamphetamine being taken into evidence from the vehicle. Also seized was THX wax and drug paraphernalia.

At around 2:20-a.m. last Thursday, the Mills County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation. The stop occurred on Highway 34 near Jabber Road. Upon investigation, the driver, 31-year old Jessica Rose Minor, of Shenandoah, was arrested for PCS. Her bond was set at $1,000. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 4.3 grams of meth and about $1,500 in U-S currency.

Other arrests in Mills County include: 37-year old Tyler Nicholas Blakey, of Lincoln, NE, who was taken into custody today (Monday), on a warrant for Violation of Probation, and Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $20,000; 36-year old Marco Lynear Spencer, of Lincoln, NE, was arrested Friday afternoon on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

Three people were arrested over the past few days in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Steven Mathew Behlers, of Orient, was arrested Friday evening on a Union County Warrant for 5th degree Theft. Behlers plead guilty and was released from the Union County Jail. Early Sunday morning, 40-year old Corey Matthew Brown, of Lorimor, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for violation of a no contact/protective order. Brown is being held in the Union County Jail on $300.00 bond. And 45-year old Glen Ray Hudson, of Lorimor, was arrested late Saturday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for 1st degree burglary. Hudson is being held in the Union County Jail on $25,000 bond.