No injuries were reported following two, separate accidents in Audubon County last week. Sheriff’s officials say at around 2:30-p.m. Jan. 1st, an unknown vehicle was attempting to pull into a parking spot along Main Street in Exira, when the vehicle jumped a curb and hit the left side of the Yankee Workshop building, causing damage to the structure. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office at 712-563-2631, or Crimestoppers at 712-563-2234.

And an accident at around 7:30-p.m. Friday in Audubon County caused $3,500 damage to a vehicle driven by 60-year old Linda Renee Garnette, of Harlan. Officials say she was traveling north on Bluebird Avenue about one-mile south of Kimballton, when her 1999 Buick struck a deer that crossed the road near Sharon Place.

Three people were arrested over the New Year’s holiday weekend in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Dept. reports 26-year old Brock Daniel Knapp, of Exira, turned himself-in Thursday night after being charged with Probation Violation. Knapp posted bond and was released. He was scheduled to have appeared in court this (Monday) morning.

Early Friday morning, 36-year old Lealand Guy Anderson, Jr., of Dallas Center, was arrested on charges of OWI, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges were the result of a traffic stop on Highway 71 in Audubon County. Anderson posted a cash bond and was released. He’s expected to appear in court on Thursday. And, 20-year old Tayler Elizabeth Snyder, of Omaha, was arrested Saturday morning on Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. The charges are the result of a traffic stop on Highway 71. Snyder was later released on bond and is also scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the arrest today (Monday), of a woman from Villisca. 26-year old Abbie Michelle Farley was taken into custody on a charge of Providing Alcohol to persons under age. Farley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

A rollover accident Sunday morning east of Exira resulted in one person being transported to the hospital in Audubon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 19-year-old Tasha Ann Anderson, of Exira, was partially ejected from her SUV when it crashed at around 6-a.m.  off Pheasant Place, near Littlefield Drive. Anderson was transported to the hospital by private vehicle.

Officials say her 2000 Jeep went out of control as it was traveling south on Pheasant Place and slid into a ditch, hit a tree, and finally came to rest on its driver’s side. The accident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two Cass County men are under suspicion for allegedly possessing deer and other wildlife illegally after officers followed a trail that began with an illegal dumping complaint. The Sheriff’s Office received a call on December 29th about someone dumping litter on the side of a level B road. During the investigation, deputies found hides from four deer, a raccoon and badger carcass. Information uncovered from the trash pointed officers to 23-year old Sean Chamberlin, and 47-year old John Chamberlin, Jr., of rural Atlantic.

The Sheriff and an officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were granted access to the property on Dec. 30, and seized 111 deer, including an untagged deer; a badger and a raccoon, all allegedly taken illegally, and a bow and an unfilled archery deer tag as evidence. Most of the deer that were seized were deer antlers. The case remains under investigation and charges are pending. Wildlife violations are simple misdemeanors.

In a Press Release, Sheriff Darby McLaren said “This is a good example of the public helping law enforcement by making a simple phone call, and different agencies working together in order to make a case.”  State Conservation Officer Brian Smith said the person who made the initial phone call deserves thanks. Smith said “We would not have had the opportunity to make this case without that phone call.”

The Atlantic Police Department assisted with the investigation.

Officials with the Museum of Danish America, in Elk Horn, report the Museum recently received two unexpected bequests within days of each other. Nicky Christensen, Museum Development and Social Media Associate says on Friday, Nov. 14th, word was received from the Charles and Norma Wilson Charitable Remainder Trust that the museum will be the recipient of over $550,000, which the Wilsons designated for investment in the Danish Immigrant Museum Endowment Fund.

The couple, who ran a very successful concrete/redi-mix business, were also major benefactors in the Red Oak, where they lived. The museum had a long relationship with the couple, as well as Norma’s sister and brother-in-law, who were also long-time museum members.

The following Monday, Nov. 17th, the Museum received a second distribution from the Marianne Festersen Trust. The bequest is a major gift in excess of $400,000. Marianne Festersen of Omaha, Nebraska was not a museum member, but her husband, Hans, was placed on the museum’s Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor in 1998 by her grandchildren.

Hans immigrated to the U-S in 1927, at the age of 21.  He became a very successful independent CPA with Coca-Cola as one of his leading accounts. Before his death in 1997 he visited the museum and was impressed with it.

Museum of Danish America Executive Director John Mark Nielsen, said “These wonderful gifts affirm that our museum is making progress and is held in esteem by very generous members and donors. All of us are very grateful for these extraordinary gifts!.”

In other news, the museum has begun the process of renovating its mezzanine-level exhibit and office spaces after a generous end-of-year gift by Omaha area donors. The work will nearly double the size of the Kramme Gallery. Completion of the gallery expansion is hoped to be completed before the opening of a primary exhibit on display from April 24th – October 25th.

For more information, surf to: danishmuseum.org.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested on an assault charge Friday night. 20-year old Joshua Udo Laubert was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken into custody at a location on Highway 275 at around 9:25-p.m. and held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

As we reported late last month on KJAN, two small weekly newspapers in southwest Iowa have ceased publication, citing factors like declining advertising and subscriptions. Both The Walnut Bureau in Walnut and the Danish Villages Voice in Elk Horn released final editions on Christmas Eve. Owners say the ending of the longtime papers was sad but unavoidable.

Marye Bierbaum, editor of both newspapers, wrote in The Walnut Bureau that the decision to close that paper was not made lightly. The Walnut Bureau had been in business for more than 130 years. Chris Mudge, executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, says small Iowa newspapers tend to consolidate instead of close. Both papers were managed by Cornflower LLC. The Daily Nonpareil reports  the publishing company plans to refund customers for undelivered issues.

The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee will meet this evening at City Hall, beginning at 5:30. During their session, the Committee will receive an Airport Grant Proposal pertaining to a Corporate Hangar Project. If approved, an Iowa DOT General Aviation grant of $150,000 would be combined with Airport Commission funds of $32,700, the tenant’s cash down payment of $50,000 and a City of Atlantic Internal Loan amounting to $190,000, for a total of $422, 700. The funds would be used for the demolition of the existing block hangar, asbestos mitigation, completion of a 75-by-85 foot hangar and Engineering Services.

The Airport Commission would repay the City for it’s loan over the course of eight-years, with the proceeds coming from lease fees for the hangar. The Committee will also consider a TIF application for the Southern View Condominiums. Developer Don Sonntag has made the request from the City to support the project. The Committee will review the request and make its recommendation to the full City Council during their meeting scheduled to take place Wednesday evening. If the Council supports the request, Interim City Administrator John Lund will begin the process of preparing a resolution and take care of related matters. Bond Counsel Chip Schultz has indicated the City can save money by issuing TIF bonds combined with a public works bond, to support the project.

The P&F Committee was also discuss options for 19th Street with regard to the City’s Improvement Plan and 2015 Bond, and an amendment to the Urban Revitalization Plan with regard to Tax Abatement applicability. The meeting takes place in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

Authorities in Union County are investigating the theft of a vehicle from Afton. The Sheriff’s Dept. says Rosalie Davidson, of 811 E. Scott St in Afton, reported Sunday night that sometime between 6-and 11-PM, someone took her red 1998 Chevrolet Blazer (IA license plate CGN701) from her residence. The loss was estimated at $3,000.