Two people from North Carolina were injured this (Saturday) afternoon, during a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 80, in Cass County (IA). The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by 33-year old Vincent MBairie, of Charlotte, NC, was traveling west on I-80 at around 1:25-p.m., when the U-S X PRESS truck went out of control as it was traveling in the right lane, about three-miles west of the Anita exit.

The semi crossed the median and eastbound lanes of traffic before entering the south ditch, where it came to rest. MBarie, and a passenger in the truck, 38-year old Danyell Williams, of Statesville, NC, were transported by Anita Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell has been elected chairman of the seven-member Iowa Transportation Commission. The Des Moines Register reports that Boswell was elected to the post last week. The commission is the policymaking arm of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The 81-year-old Boswell owns a farm near Davis City along the Iowa-Missouri border and is a former member of the Iowa Senate who has remained active in state government since he was defeated for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

Boswell is a Vietnam veteran and a decorated U.S. Army helicopter pilot who now co-chairs Gov. Terry Branstad’s Home Base Iowa program to recruit military veterans to work and live in Iowa.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 55-year-old Georgia man convicted of killing his former roommate in Sac City has been sentenced to what could amount to life in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports that John Green was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison. State law requires he serve at least 35 years before he’s eligible for parole.

Green had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Mark Koster, but was convicted in April of the lesser offense of second-degree murder. Green had said he killed Koster in self-defense. But prosecutors argued that Green significantly outweighed Koster and therefore didn’t need to kill the man to defend himself.

Koster was declared missing in 2010. His remains were later found buried in his basement after new owners began renovations.

The Atlantic Fire Department was called to a home fire on 405 West 5th Street in Atlantic at around 4:30am Saturday morning.

The home was engulfed in flames and smoke when firefighters arrived.  All residents were reported to have escaped the home.  No cause is currently known.

w/ Chris Parks

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Two arrests were reported in Red Oak on Friday for valid warrants.

The Red Oak Police report the arrest of 45-year-old Mark Douglas Berggren of Red Oak at 10:40pm Friday.  Berggren was arrested for an active Montgomery County Warrant for violation of No Contact Order.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

Also on Friday at 11:10pm Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 27-year-old Letta Marie Stogdill of Red Oak on a valid Mills County Warrant for violation of probation.  Stogdill was released to the custody of Mills County deputies and transported to the Mills County Jail and is being held on $1,000 cash bond.

A unique event is set for Saturday in Atlantic. The Ba-Da-Ba-Da Bing Bang Rally will feature more than 25 large military vehicles from Iowa and nearby states. The vehicles will be arriving in Atlantic Saturday morning. They then will be parked at the American Legion Memorial Building also known as the former National Guard Armory at 201 Poplar.

The Rally provides a way for collectors to show off their machines and for everyone to get up close and maybe even get a ride. The public is encouraged to visit the display between 10:00am and 3:00pm. A cruise will leave the Armory at 3:30 to end at Sunnyside Park. Viewers can view vehicles on the move on south Chestnut Street, 22nd Street and Sunnyside Lane.

City officials have been notified that the start date for the Highway 6 construction project in Atlantic will be Tuesday, May 26th.  The project area is expected to be shut down after the morning rush on the 26th and remain closed until completion.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation have said the public will be informed each week through the local media, about detours for Highway 6 in Atlantic. The road is scheduled to be closed from the intersection of Olive Street and Highway 6 (7th Street) east to just past the entrance to Burger King.

In the days leading up to construction, orange “Trailblazing” detour signs with the names of each business will be erected, directing people to those local businesses they would normally have access to on 7th Street.

Signs will also be placed at 7th and Olive directing traffic to 10th Street for local, through traffic. Other, non-local or “Global” traffic will take Highway 173, Interstate 80 and U-S Highway 71 into or around Atlantic.

Project updates will be made available to the media for dissemination to the public on Monday afternoons, following meetings with the contractor, once construction begins. The idea is to keep the public informed on progress being made.

The scholarship committee of The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund handed out two $750 scholarships to this year’s recipients, Stephanie Freund and Jennifer Hohenberger of Atlantic. In addition, $200 will be sent to the charity of their choice in hopes of starting a new tradition of paying it forward.

The Organization also announced a recent donation to the Nishna Valley YMCA’s 2015 Partnership with Youth campaign. The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund donated $1000 to the annual campaign as a Chairman’s Roundtable Member. Pictured are Laena Frederickson and Grant Petty, siblings of Trevor’s. They encourage others to donate by stopping by the YMCA and talking to Michelle to make your donation.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reported this morning that a student is missing from custody at Clarinda Academy. At 5:45am Clarinda Academy 17-year-old student Correy Jared Thunder Hawk of Sioux Falls, SD escaped from the facility by jumping out of a dormitory window. Thunder Hawk is a 5′ 6″ Native American weighing 145 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue sweat shirt and gray sweat pants.

Thunder Hawk is considered dangerous. If you see the escaped student you are encouraged to not approach him and call 911.