LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A trail system connecting Plymouth and Woodbury counties is being the latest among an array of Le Mars community betterment projects. The Le Mars Daily Sentinel reports that the PlyWood Trail involves 16 miles connecting the existing trail heads from the north end of Leeds to the south end of Le Mars.

The $20 million project is in its infancy, with trail mapping expected to be complete in June 2016. To date, $60,000 has been raised through donations by cities along the trail including Sgt. Bluff, Sioux City, Hinton, Merrill, and a private donation from Wells Enterprises.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says the newly approved state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program will make it among the nation’s most transparent, but some health advocates remain skeptical. State officials are also beginning to determine plans for organizing and delivering some information required under the oversight.

The Iowa Department of Human Services is expected to submit quarterly and annual reports. The reports will detail how three private insurance companies are running the state’s roughly $4.2 billion health care program for poor and disabled residents. Various groups will also monitor the program, which switched to private management on April 1.

The companies will submit raw data to DHS. The department will provide analysis of the data for clarity to the public. Health advocates argue raw data should also be posted online.

These pictures were taken by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson at around 7:45-a.m. today of the smoldering remains of a home at 319 N. Main Street, in Bridgewater. The fire was reported at around 8:51-p.m. Saturday. Crews remained on the scene late this morning. (See earlier post for more information. To view the full screen image of the home, click on an image. A new page will open. Click on the for wider view)

Sheriff’s deputies from Cass County assisted deputies from Montgomery County and Red Oak Police, in making an arrest Saturday night, in Red Oak. Authorities say Red Oak Police stopped a vehicle driven by 19-year old Brittney Elizabeth Hampton, of Tekamah, NE, at around 11:30-p.m., in the 2400 block of N. Broadway Street, in Red Oak.

Hampton was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and OWI/Drugged – 1st offense. She was also cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Hampton was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

A report of an erratic driver Saturday afternoon in Fremont County resulted in the arrest of three people. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was called to Tabor at around 3-p.m., and stopped a Dodge Stratus matching the description of the vehicle described as driving erratically, near the intersection of Vine Street and Center Street in Tabor.

The driver of the vehicle, 21-year old David McConahay, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, and other traffic offenses. A passenger in the vehicle, 23-year old Timothy Jennings, of Glenwood, was arrested for Open Container and Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense.

Randall Ray Dexter

Timothy Jennings

David McConahay

Deputies were contacted by the vehicle owner, 23-year old Randall Ray Dexter, who was on foot in the area, and who was subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts (Causing Bodily Injury), and Possession of Marijuana. All three individuals were being held at the Fremont County Jail. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Tabor Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

Firefighters from Bridgewater, Fontanelle, Adair and Greenfield responded to a structure fire at around 8:51-p.m. Saturday, in Bridgewater. A dispatcher with the Adair County Sheriff’s Office told KJAN News, the two-story home at 319 N. Main Street in Bridgewater, was fully engulfed in flames by the times crews arrived. The structure was a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

The home did not have any working electricity. Flames coming from the Eve’s of the roof were still visible late Sunday morning. A crew from the Bridgewater Fire Deptartment remained on the scene well into the late morning.

A cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

One person died while another was injured during a collision between a car and a motorcycle Saturday evening, just east of Bedford, in Taylor County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 56-year old George Peter, of Clearmont, MO., was traveling north on Lake Road behind a group of motorcycles that had stopped at the stop sign for the intersection of Lake Road and Highway 2, when Peter drove around the other motorcycles, and failed to stop.

His cycle was hit by a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by 71-year old Sandra Wakefield, of Bedford, as she was traveling west on Highway 2. The Patrol says George Peter  died at the scene. Wakefield, who was wearing her seat belt, was injured, and transported by Bedford Rescue to a hospital in Maryville, MO.

The accident, which took place at around 5:25-p.m., Saturday, remains under investigation.

A Nebraska man who was being pursued by law enforcement Saturday evening in Fremont County, ended up in the hospital after crashing the car he was driving. The Iowa State Patrol reports 23-year old Jeffrey Jivey, of Omaha, was driving a 2005 Toyota Scion southbound on Interstate 29, at around 5:55-p.m., Saturday, when, in an attempt to elude authorities, he exited I-29 at the Hamburg exit.

The vehicle went off the end of the off-ramp and crossed Highway 333 at a high rate of speed before entering the ditch on the other side. The car came to rest on the drivers’ side. Jivey, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Hamburg Rescue to the hospital in Hamburg.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CDT

At least two people were injured during a collision that took place about 2 1/2 miles south of Elk Horn, Saturday evening. The crash was reported to have occurred on Highway 173 at the intersection of 400th Street, at around 5:37-p.m.  Elk Horn Rescue, as well as Medivac Ambulance crews from Atlantic and Harlan were called to the scene. Dispatch reports indicated four persons were involved in the accident, with airbags having been deployed, but as of the latest dispatch, only two were injured. The injured were transported to CCMH in Atlantic.

Additional information is not currently available.