COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a 40-year-old Council Bluffs man with kidnapping and sexually abusing a teenage girl. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 40-year old Fednol Garly St. Cyr was charged Friday with first-degree kidnapping, third-degree sexual abuse and indecent contact with a child. St. Cyr could face life in prison if convicted of the kidnapping charge.

One person died and another was injured during a collision Saturday morning between a pickup and a semi, in Polk County. The Iowa State Patrol report 31-year old Michael Eric Wright, of Waukee was injured in the crash that happened on Interstate 80 westbound, at the east mixmaster on Des Moines’ northeast side. A passenger in the pickup, 44-year old Susannah Dryer Thompson, of Waukee, died at the scene. Both occupants of the pickup were ejected during the crash. Neither was wearing their seat belts.

The accident happened at around 12:45-a.m., when Wright changed lanes his pickup hit the westbound semi’s trailer. Following the collision, the pickup slid into the median guardrail and went airborne. The pickup came to rest between the guardrails.

Wright was transported by ambulance to Broadlawns Hospital for treatment. A report on his condition was not immediately available. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

(In an update to our earlier post) A man from Atlantic was injured during a single-vehicle accident this (Saturday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1993 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 66-year old Charles Sievers, of Atlantic, was traveling east on Casey Road at around 9:40-a.m., when Sievers reached down to pick up his cell phone. In the process, his pickup left the road and entered the south ditch, where it hit an embankment and came to rest upright. The accident happened not far from the intersection with Highway 71.

Sievers, who was not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in the pickup and reported suffered from a broken leg. He was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Medivac Ambulance.

One person suffered a reported broken leg during a single-vehicle accident this (Saturday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. According to scanner reports, a car went into a ditch just south of “The Valley,” on Highway 71 near Casey Road. The accident happened at around 9:40-a.m. The male victim of the crash was said to have been trapped in the vehicle. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac responded to scene.

No other details are available.

w/ Chris Parks

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A man from Cass County was arrested early this (Saturday) morning on OWI & other charges, in Adams County. Sheriff’s officials say a vehicle driven by 36-year old Shawn Jespersen, of Cumberland, was pulled over at around 2-a.m. near the intersection of Fig Avenue and 165th Street near Carbon. Upon further investigation, Jespersen arrested for OWI 2nd Offense, Driving While License Revoked, Interlock Device Required, and SR-22 Required.  Jespersen was taken into custody and held on $3,600 bond.

Shawn Jespersen

A collision between a pickup and a mountain bicycle Friday evening in Carroll County has left one person dead. The Iowa State Patrol says 60-year old Joleen Marie Stork, of Glidden, died in the crash that happened in a rural area northeast of Lidderdale, at around 6:40-p.m.

Authorities say 83-year old Walter James Wenck, of Carroll, was heading west on Carroll County road E-26, just east of Sycamore Road, and failed to see the westbound Mongoose mountain bicycle Stork was riding.

Wenck’s 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup struck the bike from behind, causing Stork to be thrown from the bicycle. She landed in the north ditch and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Carroll County Coroner.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:37 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers in the split Iowa Legislature haven’t reached agreement on several issues needed for adjournment this session, and it means they’ll be back next week. The Republican-majority House and Democratic-controlled Senate have made advancements on several bills that will make up the nearly $7.35 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins in July. But many bills remain unfinished as each side adds funding and projects to the pieces of legislation.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — Prosecution and defense lawyers have finished presenting witness testimony in the trial of a man charged with killing a woman at a Coralville mall. Lawyers concluded testimony Friday in the first-degree murder trial of Alexander Kozak. He is charged in the June 12 shooting death of Andrea Farrington, who was working at the Coral Ridge Mall. Lawyers will make their closing arguments Monday, and the jury will begin deliberations. If convicted, Kozak faces a mandatory life in prison sentence.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Iowa and Minnesota lawmakers are exploring a system to allow Iowa residents to buy medical marijuana oil from their northern neighbor, lawmakers from both states have told The Associated Press. As Iowa’s Legislature barrels toward adjournment, legislative leaders are still struggling to expand a 2014 law that legalized marijuana oil for certain patients suffering seizures but left them nowhere to buy it.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has handed a victory to the Iowa Department of Human Services in a dispute over cuts in payments made to some Medicaid service providers in 2011. Justices said the Legislature’s intent in passing a 2010 bill to cut payments was clear, even if the department neglected to include wording in its administrative rules to specify those cuts.

Sixteen non-profit agencies in Cass County have received grants from the Cass County Community Foundation (CCCF) amounting to more than $107,700. The organizations received their checks this (Friday) afternoon, at the Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic. Those organizations had submitted their grant application requests to the CCCF by the February 1st deadline. All grantees met the criteria as Cass County non-profit agencies with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible for the grants.

Among the top four grant recipients was:

• The Nishna Valley Family YMCA, $18,000 to install a divider wall to increase class space.
• The Heritage House, $13,219, to double the current trail length, add exercise stations, signage and benches.
• The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department, $12,000 to resurface the basketball court, new goals, and add-or-update play components, at the Harl-Holt Park.
• Kids Come First received a $10,000 grant for the installation of a kitchenette.

Other grant recipients (those receiving anywhere from $2,000-to $9,000), include: The Anita Child Care Center; Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center; The Atlantic Rock Island Society (ARISE); Atlantic Youth Sports Organization; Cass County Conservation Board and Cass County Historical Museum; Friends of the Griswold Public Library; Griswold Fire Department; Lewis 1^st Responders and Firefighters Assoc.; The Lewis Public Library, and Marne Firefighter & Rescue Association.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation, call Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director, a 1-800-794-3458.

Five non-profit agencies in Audubon County have received grants from the Audubon County Community Foundation (ACCF) amounting to more than $107,700. The organizations received their checks at noon today (Friday), at the Rose Theater, in Audubon. Those organizations had submitted their grant application requests to the ACCF by the February 1st deadline. All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County non-profit agencies with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible for the grants.

Among the grant recipients was:

• The Audubon County Community Cinema, which received $50,000 for interior and exterior renovations of an historic building.
• The Audubon County Recreation Foundation and Exira Community Club, each received $20,000 for the construction of a recreation center building in Audubon and Phase 3 to add a storage area and new entrance, respectively.
• The Audubon County Agricultural Society received a $10,000 grant to add a permanent concession stand and restrooms to the Audubon County Fairgrounds.
• And, the Audubon County Conservation Club received a grant amounting to $7,719, for the building of a maintenance workshop and storage facility.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation, call Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director, a 1-800-794-3458.