DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Although spring storms initially slowed spring planting progress in Iowa and Nebraska, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports farmers have nearly caught up to five-year averages in the past week.

Iowa farmers have 40 percent of the corn crop planted, about three days behind the average at this point in the season. Three percent of corn plants have emerged, a slower pace than the five-year average of 9 percent.

The USDA said Monday in its weekly crop update that Iowa soybean planting is at the average of 12 percent completed. Farmers in Nebraska have 42 percent of the corn planted, near the 46 percent average. About 2 percent of the plants emerged behind the five-year average of 10 percent. Soybean planting is slightly ahead of schedule with 16 percent completed.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a semitrailer struck and killed a pedestrian along Interstate 680 on the north side of Omaha. The trucker called 911 around 4:40 a.m. Monday to report the accident. Traffic was routed off the westbound lanes as authorities investigated.

Omaha police identified the pedestrian as 25-year-old Zachary C.L. Crinklaw of Omaha. The trucker driver was 52-year-old Michael J. Stone, of Rockwell City, Iowa.
Police say the truck hit Crinklaw when he walked from the shoulder and into a freeway lane.

MILFORD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say four people killed in a crash on Interstate 80 in Nebraska were from eastern Iowa. The victims were identified Monday as 49-year-old Susan Selser, 20-year-old Cody Richardson, 20-year-old Troy Wanzek and 19-year-old Cole Austin, all of Clinton, Iowa.

Authorities say 20-year-old Madison Selser-Smith, of Clinton, was driving westbound in a 2005 Chevy Equinox when she hit rumble bars on the north shoulder,  overcorrected, crossed the center median and entered the eastbound lanes. The car was then struck by a 2010 Buick Lacerne driven by 75-year-old Anna Richert, of rural Gresham, Nebraska.

Selser-Smith and Richert were flown to a Lincoln hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities say Richert, Selser and Selser-Smith were wearing seat belts. Richardson, Wanzek and Austin were not, and were ejected from the car’s back seats.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — A North Liberty man has pleaded guilty in a murder for hire scheme involving a business associate and the person’s family. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports 38-year-old Justin DeWitt submitted guilty pleas Monday to two counts of attempted murder and two counts of solicitation to commit murder His sentencing is set for July 16.

Police arrested DeWitt in June 2016 on charges he tried to hire a hit man to kill a former business associate, his wife and their two children, then aged 2 and 4. Police say DeWitt paid an undercover agent $1,000 and agreed to pay an additional $8,000.
DeWitt also faces charges of trying to arrange hits from jail of people planning to testify against him.

ANTIGO, Wis. (AP) — The enthusiastic television pitchman who told viewers they could “save big money” at Wisconsin-based home improvement chain Menards has died. Ray Szmanda was 91. Szmanda’s son, Charles Szmanda, says his father died Sunday in home hospice care in Antigo, Wisconsin, of congestive heart failure.

Ray Szmanda was featured in advertising for Eau Claire-based Menard Inc. starting in 1976 until his retirement in 1998. He was known as “The Menards Guy.” A Milwaukee native and World War II Navy veteran, Szmanda founded a broadcasting school in Wausau. He also narrated a recording of the Bible.

Menards said Szmanda’s “friendly, enthusiastic and fun loving personality have made a lasting impression” on the family-owned company and its customers. Menards has stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office, on May 1st, received a report from a Blanchard man, who said a person or persons unknown, had burglarized a residence he was moving from in rural Braddyville. The incident happened sometime between April 30, 2018 and May 1, 2018.  An investigation determined a gun safe and freezer were stolen.  The residence was not occupied at the time of the theft.

The Gun Safe was pulled through an outside wall with a tractor, as evidenced from the tire marks, and then removed from the property. The gun safe was recovered, but is damaged.  The Freezer is still missing. Anyone with information about this burglary / theft is asked to contact the Page county Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports five recent arrests. On Monday (today), 26-year old Alyssa Marie Vesper, of Audubon, was arrested in connection with a search warrant executed April 28th. She was charged with two-counts of Child Endangerment, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to affix Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine.  Vesper was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held on $5300 bond.

Last Saturday, Audubon Police arrested 18-year old Dakota Rain Toepfer, of Audubon, for Animal Abuse, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Illegal possession of prescription drugs.  Toepfer was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he was released the following day on promise to appear by the magistrate.

On May 3rd, 34-year old Cheryle Ann Knight, of Audubon, was arrested for Simple Assault and Criminal Mischief – 4th degree.  Knight was cited and released and later pled guilty in magistrate court.

On April 28th, 21-year old Zeth Lee Petersen, of Audubon, was arrested as the result of a search warrant executed by Audubon Police. Petersen was arrested and transported to the Audubon County Jail on charges of two counts Child Endangerment, Possession of a Controlled Substance –Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, Possession with the Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Disorderly Conduct.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search.

And, on April 26th, 32-year old Robert Taylor Glidden of Audubon, was arrested for Simple Assault.  Glidden was cited and released on scene and later pled guilty in magistrate court.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports last Friday, May 4th, Deputies recovered a green 1995 Chevy pickup on P Avenue near 280^th Street (about 2 miles northeast of College Springs).  The vehicle was reported stolen from Mason City.  The pickup was towed as evidence pending release from the agency that entered the vehicle as stolen.  Anyone with information about the vehicle (such as who may have been driving it, etc.) is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193

The same day that pickup was found, another was reported missing in Page County.  At around 10-a.m., 55-year old Richard Leo Humphrey, of rural Clarinda, reported his grey 2013 Ford F150 Extended cab pickup (IA license plate AJC 702),  was stolen from a shed at his residence. Humphrey said that the pickup was stolen sometime between 10-p.m. Thursday and 8-a.m. Friday. Humphrey said that the keys were left in the unlocked vehicle when he parked it.

Anyone with information about the theft or the whereabouts of the stolen pickup, is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193.

The Red Oak Police Department reports no injuries resulted from a two-vehicle accident on Monday morning at 10:50am at the intersection of Highway 48 and West Cherry Street. When officers arrived on scene both vehicles involved were still in the roadway, so pictures were taken and then both vehicles were moved to a safer location.

After investigation it was determined that a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Jerome Morrissey of Omaha, NE was northbound on Highway 48 and was stopped in traffic at the stop light at West Cherry Street. A 2011 Chevy Impala driven by Julie Ann Newman of Stanton was also traveling northbound on Highway 48 and failed to see Morrissey’s vehicle stop. Newman attempted to swerve to the left but could not avoid a collision. The right front of the Impala hit the left rear of the Explorer.

Damage to both vehicles was estimated at $2,000 each. Newman was cited for Following Too Close.

Investigators have released the cause of a house fire that killed two people in Waterloo last month. According to Waterloo Fire Rescue officials, an accelerate was involved in the deadly blaze (536 Dawson St.) that claimed the lives of 32-year-old Ashley Smith and her 9-year-old son, Jaykwon Sallis on April 22nd. Two others were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

Investigators revealed on Monday (today) that a Waterloo Fire Rescue canine was alerted to the presence of an accelerate during the investigation. The city’s fire marshal submitted that evidence to the Iowa State Crime Lab, which determined that a flammable substance WAS involved in the blaze. No charges have been filed in the case, which remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa)