There were two fatal accidents in Iowa, Monday, one of which, in Tama County, happened just two days after another fatal accident in the same county. The Iowa State Patrol reports the most recent crash in Tama County took place at around 8:20-p.m. in the 2800 block of 320th Street, in Chelsea. A 2011 Dodge Ram pickup driven by 46-year old Rodney Purk, of Montour, failed to negotiate a curve and ran off the road. The pickup struck a utility pole and rolled onto its top, pinning Purk, and his passenger, 47-year old Grant L. Forrester, of Indianola, inside the vehicle. Both men were wearing their seat belts. Forrester died from his injuries. Purk was transported to a hospital by helicopter. The accident remains under investigation.

The other accident took place at around 3-p.m. Monday, in Fayette County. The State Patrol says a City of West Union Police SUV driven by 23-year old Bryson Hennigar, of West Union, was northbound from the intersection of Highways 159 and 18, while in Emergency status. A 2003 GMC Sonoma, driven by 83 year old Willys Henry Fritz, of West Union, failed to yield the right of away from a stop sign leaving the Quillans parking lot and traveling east across Highway 150. The vehicles collided in the northbound lane of Highway 150. Fritz, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from his injuries. Hennigar, who was also not wearing a seat belt, was treated for injuries and released at the scene.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa businessman Fred Hubbell has made it official: He’s in the running for governor next year. The Democrat released a video Monday announcing a formal campaign for the state’s top job. He launched an exploratory campaign in May. Hubbell has never been elected to public office, though he served as interim director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He’s a well-known philanthropist and campaign donor whose family has been involved in multiple business ventures in the state.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two men who were shot _ one fatally _ in Waterloo. Police say the men were shot in a sport utility vehicle around 3:55 p.m. Friday. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the 33-year-old passenger, Fredrick Webber, was taken to an Iowa City hospital and pronounced dead there. The wounded driver’s been identified as 20-year-old Robert Coffer. No arrests have been reported.

EARLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A former official accused of making unauthorized payments of her debts from the account of a youth sports organization has pleaded not guilty. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Kimberly Snyder, of Earlville, is charged with fraudulent practice. A state audit says the more than $8,500 in improper disbursements including more than $4,000 in utility and loan payments for Snyder’s personal residence or personal vehicle. She’d been secretary/treasurer of the Earlville Athletic Association.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has delayed a decision about the Muscatine mayor’s removal from office until receiving transcripts of private City Council meetings and other information. The Muscatine Journal reports that at a hearing Monday, Mayor Diana Broderson’s lawyers requested additional documents, including the minutes of seven of the council’s private meetings held to discuss whether to remove the mayor. After the submission of the documents, Judge Mark Cleve will decide the mayor’s appeal of her removal.

(Corrects to show agreement is for a lease) Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Board Chair Stuart Dusenberry, Parks Director Seth Staashelm and Atlantic resident Rollie Parrott, Monday evening, signed an agreement for the lease of a Parks and Rec Dept. shed, to be used for the Trojan Locker. The Trojan Locker is a non-profit organization that Parrot put together so every kid that wants to play a sport has shoes, gloves, gym shorts, etc. The locker is currently located in the Atlantic Armory.

Parrot thanked the Board for having the Trojan Locker at Sunnyside Park, adding that “It’s an ideal place for kids to see the Sports Locker. Our biggest target of kids are second graders to seventh graders….the older kids too, but a lot of those kids are out at Sunnyside swimming all the time. I think it’s really gonna be a great place for a home for that.”

Rolly Parrot (Center) signs agreement w/the Atlantic Parks & Rec Dept. for the Trojan Locker

A reminder also, if you have athletic shoes, clothing or other such sports gear that are no longer needed, and are new, or in decent shape, please can donate those items to the Trojan Sports Locker. Cash donations are always welcome. For more information, search on Facebook for Trojan Sport Locker.

Four of the state’s health and crime-fighting agencies are issuing a public warning about fake but very dangerous pain killers that have popped up in Iowa. Dr. Edward Bottei, of the Poison Control Center in Sioux City, says they’re made to look like legitimate pills. “These counterfeit tablets that have been made are containing powerful illicit synthetic opioids like fentanyl and fentanyl derivatives that have been known to cause deaths when taken inadvertently or taken in overdose,” he says. People who get these counterfeit pills may believe they’re buying oxycodone rather than fentanyl, a more powerful opioid that’s 40 to 50 times stronger than heroin.

“These counterfeit tablets are circulating, yes,” Bottei says. Just touching the pills or inhaling as a bag or bottle of the pills is opened can be serious. “These are ones that are being manufactured illicitly and that are typically being sold on the street,” Bottei says. Officials in the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation say cases involving the use and sale of these sometimes-deadly pills IN IOWA have been confirmed through lab tests, but they aren’t saying how MANY cases are under investigation.

Lab tests have confirmed the illegal drug “pink” has been sold and used in Iowa as well. Pink is at least seven times more powerful than morphine. The Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Office of Drug Control Policy and Dr. Bottei’s Poison Control Center issued a joint statement about the dangers of these drugs.

“These are very powerful opiates that most people are not accustomed to taking,” Bottei says, “and so by getting these counterfeit tables that have these powerful opiates in them, there is a very good chance that overdose or death could result from taking these.” In addition, police and first responders in Iowa are being reminded to take precautions when responding to overdoses or handling unknown pills, as the mere exposure to “pink” and synthetic forms of fentanyl can be dangerous.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report 37-year old Jared Finnell, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday on a charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. And, on Friday, officers arrested 54-year old Delilah Heuton, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse/Simple assault. Heuton and Finnell were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa businessman Fred Hubbell has made it official: He’s in the running for governor next year. The Democrat released a nearly four-minute video Monday announcing a formal campaign for the state’s top job. He launched an exploratory campaign in May, a move that allowed him to raise money.

The 66-year-old Hubbell has never been elected to public office, though he served as interim director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He’s a well-known philanthropist and campaign donor whose family has been involved in multiple business ventures in the state.

Hubbell says his priorities include improving job wages, health care and education. Several Democrats have announced gubernatorial campaigns to seek their party’s nomination in 2018. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds also plans to run and seek her own four-year term.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) reports four recent arrests. On Saturday 32-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

Last Wednesday, 19-year old Isaiah Lashawn Lagassie, of Treynor, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Lagassie was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

On July 8th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 58-year old Terry Lee Ranney, of Dewey, IA, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

And, on July 7th, 42-year old Jesse Lee Archibald, of Exira, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Archibald was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $2,000 bond.

Union County Emergency Management Coordinator JoAnne Duckworth said today (Monday), that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has identified a microcystin toxin, in Green Valley Lake near Creston, in Union County. Microcystin toxin can make both humans & animals ill.

Persons using the lake should avoid having the water coming into contact with open sores, and the water should not be consumed, either accidentally or intentionally. If swimming in the lake, be sure to shower thoroughly afterward.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said today (Monday), that “With excessive heat expected to persist through the workweek, facilities in Cass County have opened their doors to people who need a break from the extreme heat. In Atlantic, the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street is open from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 4:30-a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The Atlantic Public Library is open Monday and Tuesday from 9-a.m. to 7-p.m., and Wednesday through Friday from 9-a.m. to 6-p.m.

The Griswold Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10-a.m. until 12:30-p.m., and again from 1:30-p.m. to 6-p.m. and, on Friday’s, from 10-am until 4-p.m. The Anita Public Library is open M-F 1-pm to 6-p.m. Libraries in Cumberland, Lewis and Massena will be also available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement indicating we are heading into a stretch of very hot temperatures for the region. Kennon suggests you “Drink plenty of fluids, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the heat of the day, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives, neighbors, the elderly and pets.”

Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency…call 9-1-1.”

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested following two separate accidents, Saturday. The first, a rollover accident, happened at around Noon on Interstate 80 near Walnut. Walnut Rescue responded to the scene and transported the driver, 44-year old Brandi Marie Hatch, of Persia, to the hospital for treatment of possible injuries and evaluation. Hatch was later arrested for Driving While Barred.

The second accident happened at around 7:40-p.m. Saturday, in the vicinity of Tamarack Road and Railroad Highway. An investigation resulted in the driver, 31-year old Justine Nicole Christensen, of Kimballton, being arrested for OWI/2nd offense.