Authorities in Union County are looking for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident early this (Wednesday) morning. The vehicle in question is described as a black Toyota with damage to its passenger side, and possibly green paint transferred in the process of the hit-and-run.

Officials say a 1997 Honda Civic driven by 42-year old Martin Kahi, of Creston, attempted to pass the Toyota on Highway 34, as it left the City of Creston at around 4:50-a.m., but the suspect vehicle blocked Kahi’s car from passing. As both vehicles continued east on Highway 34, the Toyota pulled over onto the shoulder of the road and allowed Kahi to pass.

The Toyota then pulled up beside the Civic in the west bound lane and eventually swerved back into the eastbound lane, blocking Kahi from heading east, and causing him to sideswipe the Toyota on the right side quarter panel and door. Anyone with information about the other vehicle should contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Griswold woman was arrested Saturday on assault and other charges. 24-year old Morgan Kay Leeder faces Domestic Abuse Assault, Assault on a Peace Officer, Assault, and Interference with Official Acts, charges. She was brought to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,600 bond.

And, 25-year old Shane Michael Suhr, of Anita, was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault, Child Endangerment, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. The charges stem from an incident that took place October 4th, 2015. Suhr was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $4,000 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved a recommendation by County Attorney David Wiederstein, to appoint his law firm partner John Otto, as Assistant County Attorney, retroactive to October 1st. Otto will assume the job left vacant by the resignation early last August, of Jamie Arnold. Otto will cover for Wiederstein on certain days when Wiederstein is gone, along with the days when Juvenile Court meets and on legal Motion days.

Otto will be paid $2,037 for the 18 pay periods that runs through the end of the Fiscal Year. That’s the remainder of the $40,000 set aside for the position of Assistant County Attorney during the current Fiscal Year.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors received a Collective Bargaining Proposal from the Union representing the County’s Sheriff’s Deputies and Jailors. The Supervisors will review the proposal and present their own during a meeting next week.

And, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker reported to the Board the status of some area bridge projects. Marker said work on the Griswold Golf Course bridge (Bridge #83) remains on schedule, with a meeting pertaining to the concrete bridge deck pouring tentatively set to take place next week. They hope to begin pouring the deck on Oct. 15th, weather permitting. He says the also hope to have the asphalt approaches to the bridge laid by the middle of November.

Marker says the landfill road bridge (Bridge #292) is currently stalled out while supplies are on back-order. The deck for the bridge has already been poured, but a shortage of steel means they cannot get the culvert pipes needed for the side ditches along the bridge. Marker says if the pipes do not arrive by next week, the contractor can use what the County has available, and then replenish the County’s supply when the contractor’s steel arrives.

He says guardrails still need to be installed and asphalt wedge approaches laid. They’re still targeting the middle of November for completion. And, Charles Marker said work on Bridge #247 south of Anita will begin next week, and should be completed much quicker, because it uses steel, and the supplies are ready to go.

The corrugated deck will be covered with gravel once the decking is in-place. He said also they are having trouble obtaining road rock with the closing of one-quarry, and long wait periods for the Stennett Quarry in Montgomery County, which is used by several other counties, as well.

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

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Police in Creston are investigating the theft of a handgun from inside a vehicle. A Creston man reported Tuesday morning that sometime between 9-p.m. Monday and 8-a.m. Tuesday, someone entered his truck parked near his residence in the 900 block of N. Division Street, and took a Springfield XD .9-mm (9 millimeter) handgun. The loss was estimated at $600.

Springfield XD .9mm similar to the one stolen.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A woman from Oakland was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning in Red Oak, on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County. Red Oak Police say 25-year old Noel Kerrie Dominguez was taken into custody at around 12:15-a.m. on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court on a Domestic Abuse charge. She was transported to Pott. County and being held at the jail in Council Bluffs and a $500 cash bond.

A judge will decide this week if a Council Bluffs woman will stand trial for allegedly aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of her daughter. According to the Daily NonPareil, 37-year old Catherine Provancha appeared in a Pottawattamie County courtroom Monday as her attorney, Chad Primmer, asked the court to dismiss the two sexual abuse charges against her. Fourth Judicial District Senior Judge J.C. Irvin is expected to rule on the motion within a couple of days.

Provancha turned herself in to authorities on Aug. 26th at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. She had been charged with third-degree sexual abuse-aid and abetting. Provancha has now also been charged with second-degree sexual abuse, which carries a 25-year prison term, if she’s convicted.

Provancha remains in custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail with bail set at $25,000 and is under a no-contact order with the alleged victims. She had posted bail of $25,000 on Aug. 31, but the bond company revoked her bail. Provancha returned to Pottawattamie County Jail on Oct. 2nd. Provancha’s trial is set to begin Nov. 17th.

The woman’s attorney said during the hearing that his client did not actively participate in the sexual abuse, force her daughter to participate or threaten her daughter if she didn’t. Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Dan Salvo-McGinn said Provancha provided access for Steven Cain to allegedly commit the sexual abuse on the victim. He also said that the victim was under the age of 13 and couldn’t consent to having sex.

Cain was arrested on Aug. 5th and charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and single counts of second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse with a minor over the age of 12 and third-degree sexual abuse with a minor under the influence.

According to the arrest affidavit, Provancha told investigators that she saw Cain perform sexual acts with her daughter when her daughter was under age 10. She said she also saw Cain make her daughter perform sex acts on him less than eight times, when her daughter was just 11 years old. The victim, who is now 18, told members of the Council Bluffs Police Department criminal investigation division about the alleged incidents on July 14th.

A traffic stop late Monday night in Council Bluffs resulted in the driver of the vehicle being arrested on drug charges. The Daily NonPareil reports 64-year old Larry Uphold, of Council Bluffs, was pulled over at around 11:50-p.m. When police searched his vehicle,they found 6.9-grams of methamphetamine, 3.1 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Uphold was arrested for:felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver/methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance, marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on the felony charge, Uphold could face up to 25 years in prison.

Iowa motorists need to be especially watchful for pedestrians this (Wednesday) morning as this is International Walk To School Day. Organizers of the effort say at least 150 schools in Iowa will be taking part with many thousands of kids on the sidewalks and roadsides, hoofing their way to class. Troy Carter, Safe Routes to School Director at the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says the day’s goals are simple. “We would like to see more kids getting out, exercising and just having a good time realizing that they can walk to school safely.”

The event introduces children to the physical, social and environmental benefits of walking or biking to school, while increasing school spirit and fostering a sense of community. The Safe Routes to School program is designed to do what its name says, find and develop pathways kids can take in order to safely reach their schools. Sometimes, there’s better safety in numbers as kids can make their way together.

“We also provide our Walking School Bus and a lot of schools participate around the state of Iowa and they walk anywhere from two to five days a week, up to two or three miles to school one way,” Carter says. While this is Walk To School Day, plenty of Iowa’s youth will be pedaling two-wheelers to school. “Biking, we really focus on that in May for the Bike To School Day, but biking is also a healthy option to get kids to and from school,” Carter says. “It’s all about wellness and trying to get kids more active.”

Walking or bicycling to school is any easy way to promote physical activity, he says, and to help reduce the prevalence of obesity.

(Radio Iowa)