The Audubon Area Chamber of Commerce held its “Celebrate Audubon” awards program and banquet, Saturday night. During the dinner and awards show at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center, awards were presented to Dan Madsen, for 2018 “Citizen of the Year,” and Grace Christensen, 2018 “Junior Citizen of the Year.”

In announcing Dan Madsen as their Citizen of the Year, the Chamber said he keeps very busy running his farm that features crop and livestock, as well as always finding time to help the community. Madsen: Is a member of the Audubon County Fair Board; serves on the Cattleman’s and T-Bone Committees; volunteers to coach the Warriors Football team, and is President of the church council at Our Saviour’s  Lutheran Church, and serves hundreds of people a warm meal at church every year, on Christmas morning.  His faith compels him to make sure future generations know the importance of having a strong faith. Madsen is also “A silent hero by donating food to businesses for children and the elderly.” It was also noted that he paid expenses for the less fortunate, or for those in a time of need. Madsen, they said “Will go out of his way to help a neighbor regardless of the sacrifices he has to make.”

As 2018 Junior Citizen of the Year, the Audubon Chamber of Commerce noted Grace Christensen is very active in volunteering, community service, school and church activities. During a recent volunteer FFA visit to Haiti, she and seven other members of the organization, along with their sponsor Joe and Brittany Elmquist, built Sukup Safe-T-Homes, volunteered at an orphanage, and worked with Haitians, in teaching them garden plots, small animal production, waste management and food safety. In the past also, Grace has passed out sack lunches for Farmer Appreciation, packaged Meals for the Heartland and Adopt a Family, shopping.

As a member of the National Honor Society, Grace Christensen has helped with community clean-up and the Red Cross Blood Drive. In the Student Senate, she helped serve a Project 60 Dinner and the Veteran’s Day Dinner. She plays her saxophone at the Friendship Home for the residents, sings at her church, and helps with the Christmas play. Christensen has been a class officer every year in high school, and currently serves as the Student Senate President, and FFA Chapter Secretary. She’s active in her 4-H Club and in sports, and is a straight-A student. She was recently selected to be part of the All-State Band in Ames. After graduating this Spring, Grace Christensen will attend ISU. Grace is the daughter of Jason and Tracie Christensen. She has two sisters, Clare and Sophie.

Police in Red Oak, Saturday, arrested a man following a traffic stop. 28-year old Logun Matthew Hughes, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street at around 10:06-p.m.  He was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and charged with OWI/1st offense. Hughes’ bond was set at $1,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:52 a.m. CST

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Fatalities were reported following a collision between two SUV’s southeast of Fort Dodge, Saturday evening. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2003 Jeep Liberty was southbound on Webster County road P-59 just north of Highway 20, when, due to icy road conditions, the vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2006 Nissan Murano. The accident happened at around 5: 10-p.m.  The Patrol did not release the number of victims or their names, pending notification of relatives. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Otho and Ft. Dodge Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Snow fell on parts of Iowa, Saturday, snarling traffic as the snow blanketed roads. The southbound lanes of Interstate 35 near Clear Lake were blocked midmorning Saturday after a semitrailer jackknifed and tipped over amid the winter storm around 2:30 a.m. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that a passenger bus then hit the overturned semi, leading to minor injuries for one bus passenger.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man has won $300,000 in a state scratch lottery game. Jonathan Moss claimed the first of eight top prizes in the Iowa Lottery’s “$300,000 Platinum Cash” scratch game that debuted last month. . Moss bought the winning ticket at Hy-Vee gas station in Altoona and claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Clive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines say they’ve arrested a suspect in the death of a man at a homeless camp on the city’s north side. Police said in a news release Friday that 21-year-old Donterius Jamar Bomar, of Des Moines, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of assaulting a business employee and stealing the employee’s car within hours of being released from jail on a separate attempted murder charge. Police believe Bomar was driving the stolen car when he hit 69-year-old Charles Michael Childs.

Firefighters from Griswold, Red Oak and Elliott responded to reported house fire early this (Saturday) afternoon. The fire began in the fireplace and spread through the floor and into the attic of a home at 14753 535th Street (south of Highway 92 off 535th Street). Crews were dispatched to the scene at around 12:33-p.m. The occupants of the home were able to escape without injury prior to firefighters’ arrival. The home was declared a total loss.

(Pictures courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator)

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections reports Cody Michael Gibbs, convicted of two counts of Robbery 2nd Degree and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report to his place of employment as required yesterday.

Cody Gibbs

Gibbs is a 22-year-old white male, height 5’8″, and weighs 193 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on October 25, 2018.

Persons with information on Gibbs’ whereabouts should contact local police.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Snow continues to fall on the lower half of Iowa, snarling traffic as the snow blankets roads. The southbound lanes of Interstate 35 near Decatur City remained blocked mid-morning Saturday after a semitrailer jackknifed and tipped over amid the winter storm around 2:30 a.m.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that a passenger bus then hit the overturned semi, leading to minor injuries for one bus passenger. Seven passengers were on the bus at the time of the crash.
Some reports show 10 inches of snow had fallen spots in the southwestern corner of Iowa, and the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for a large section of the state near the Missouri border until 6 p.m. Saturday.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man has won $300,000 in a state scratch lottery game. Jonathan Moss claimed the first of eight top prizes in the Iowa Lottery’s “$300,000 Platinum Cash” scratch game that debuted last month. Moss bought the winning ticket at Hy-Vee gas station in Altoona and claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Clive. The game is a $30 scratch ticket. More information on it and the number of prizes still available can be found online at www.ialottery.com .

The Iowa Lottery says that since its start in 1985, players have won more than $4.2 billion in prizes. The lottery also has raised more than $1.9 billion for state programs, including support for public schools and veterans and their families.

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

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

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