A Red Oak man was arrested Sunday by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputies for permitting under 18 years of age individuals to consume or possess on his property.  At 7:30pm Sunday Deputies arrested 47-year-old Ronald Benjamin Updegrove II.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and later released on citation.

The Iowa Highway Patrol estimates nearly a quarter of the damage done to its vehicles comes from collisions with animals. Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says the majority of the crashes involve deer, but last year a trooper had a close encounter with a wild turkey. “It was coming through the windshield and it basically destroyed the whole inside of his car all the way to the backseat,” Ludwig says. “It took out his computer, it was quite the mess. All of the expensive equipment in our cars, any more damage than what’s done to a regular car is going to be exponentially more.”

Ludwig says the patrol is working with Iowa State University researchers to identify areas in the state that are known as “carcass crash corridors.” He says several dead animals along the road likely mean those are places where they need to be especially watchful. “We have about 350 state patrol cars in our fleet, so, what we’re trying to do is basically mitigate the cost to the taxpayer and try and identify these problem areas,” Ludwig says. “We are always on the lookout for animals on the road but if we know we’re in a specific spot, we’ll really be on the lookout.” Ludwig says the goal is to have the data programmed into the vehicle’s on-board computer system. It could be programmed to alert the officer when they enter a so-called “animal hotspot.”

(Radio Iowa/IPR)

(In an update to our reports Sunday) The Iowa State Patrol says four people were hurt during a crash scene that spanned nearly one-half of a mile late Saturday night, in Shelby County. The Patrol says a 1996 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 27-year old Joshua Edgecomb, of Harlan, was traveling north on Highway 59 at around 10:50-p.m., when the pickup crossed the centerline of the road south of 800th Street and entered the southbound lane.

The pickup struck three other vehicles, including a 1999 Ford F-350 pickup driven by 44-year old Troy Fudge, of Corning, a 2009 Buick Enclave, driven by 35-year old Rachelle Brown, of Omaha, and a 2013 Ford pickup driven by 44-year old Scott Brown, also of Omaha. The GMC then came to rest in the west ditch off Highway 59.

Edgecomb, and his passenger, 51-year old Timmy Edgecomb, of Harlan, Rachelle Brown, and 14-year old Dakota Holderness, of Council Bluffs, were injured in the crash. Timmy Edgecomb, who was not wearing a seat belt, and Joshua Edgecomb, were flown from the scene by Life Net helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha. Brown and Holderness were transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital, in Harlan.

The Patrol says Joshua Edgecomb is under investigation for OWI.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of people convened on the western Iowa town of Sac City this weekend to construct the world’s largest popcorn ball. The Sioux City Journal reports a ball of popcorn estimated to weigh 10,000 pounds was constructed Saturday at the Noble Popcorn plant.

Sac City first claimed the largest popcorn ball in 1995, when people came together to make one weighing in at 2,225 pounds. The enormous treat traveled all over the Midwest and to the Iowa State Fair to promote Sac County’s claim as the “Popcorn Capital.”

But as the record was defeated in following years, Sac City kept building bigger popcorn balls, its last one coming in at 5,000 pounds in 2009. Saturday’s effort is intended to be noted in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreations Department’s Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting Monday evening in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. On the agenda for the 5:15-p.m. session, are updates on: The Sunnyside Park Kiddie Korral water foundation and East Shelter House renovation; Swimming Pool renovation; A Schildberg Rec Area Lake #2 Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Grant; the Vision Iowa Grant; updates as well on the Harl-Holt Park basketball court, Movies in the Park, and Schildberg Rec Area Boat Ramp.

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring will provide an update on the Sunnyside Park Summer Block Party, a report on a park bench donation, updates on the Summer Programs, and information about group exercise classes at Sunnyside Park and the Schildberg Rec Area.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a Sioux City teen they say stole a Coca-Cola delivery truck, then gave away the goods inside. The Sioux City Journal reports police believe the 18-year-old stole the truck as the driver was inside a business making a delivery Monday. Police say the teen then drove to a construction site in the Dakota Dune and gave away $1,000 in merchandise from the truck.

Police say he then came back to Sioux City in the truck and fled on foot when officers attempted to stop him. Police say that upon his arrest, he was found with prescription pills that were not in his name. The teen has been charged with theft, drug possession, reckless driving and other counts.

One person was injured Sunday morning when a vehicle struck and ATV, west of Cumberland. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around 9:20-a.m. near 650th and Quincy Road. A 59-year old male was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, suffering from side pain and an abrasion to his head.

No other details are currently available.

A call with regard to a beer party involving persons under the legal age resulted in the arrest of 10 people late Saturday night, in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Office said those taken into custody at around midnight, for Minor In Possession of alcohol include:

• 16-year old Joseph Michael Hastie, of Council Bluffs.
• 18-year old Spencer Douglas Calkins, of Corning.
• 19-year old Cesar Alejandro Cepeda, of Shenandoah.
• 19-year old Isaac Burt Huber, of Omaha.
• 19-year old Jerod James Kubly, of Villisca.
• 19-year old Jacob Lee Mattox, of Sidney.
• 20-year old Caleb Diehl Count, of Shenandoah.
• 20-year old Lincoln James Gilchrist Mason, of Shenandoah.
• 20-year old Chase Paul Palmer, of Elliott, and
• 20-year old Josie Blue Peterson, of Red Oak.

Each of those individuals were transported to Montgomery County Corrections, booked-in, and later released on a citation. An investigation into the party is ongoing. Authorities say additional charges may filed. Red Oak Police assisted in handling the incident.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a Guthrie County man was arrested early this (Sunday) morning on a warrant out of Audubon County for Probation Violation. 41-year old David Elliott, of Bayard, was taken into custody at around 2:40-a.m., following a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 34 and Willow Avenue, in Adams County. Elliott was brought to the Adams County Jail and held, pending transfer to Audubon County.

David Elliott