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Injury accidents in Mills County

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Four separate accidents on a Highway 34 construction zone late last week in Mills County, resulted in two people being sent to the hospital. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says one of the injury accidents happened at around 7:50-a.m. Friday, about a mile northwest of Pacific Junction. Officials say a 2008 Chevy driven by Anthony Bartel, of Glenwood, was traveling westbound in the right lane of the single lane road, when a 2001 Ford driven by Brandon Foster, of Randolph, Failed to Yield and pulled away from the stop sign at the intersection with 195th Street, before hitting Bartel’s vehicle. Bartel was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The second accident resulted inDonna Sumner-Johnson, of Pacific Junction, being transported by medical helicopter to Creighton Hospital following the crash on Highway 34, at around 10:17-a.m., Friday. The accident happened as a 2009 semi driven by Patrick Hogan, of Omaha, was traveling west on Highway 34 and a 2002 Toyota driven by Sumner-Johnson was traveling south on 195th Street. The Toyota failed to yield from the stop sign entering a construction zone and hitting the semi. The car then traveled down an embankment and came to rest in a corn field.

The other two accidents happened Thursday and Saturday, but no injuries were reported in those crashes.

Cass County Sheriff’s report: 10/20/14

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Oct. 16th of 31-year old Trent Matthew Suhr, of Walnut. Suhr was taken into custody on charges of OWI 3rd or Subsequent (D Felony), Driving While Barred (Agg), and four charges of Driving While Revoked. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $12,000 bond.
On October 18th, Cass County deputies arrested 24-year old Tyler Lee Mills, of Atlantic, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Mills was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled not guilty and was released the following day.
Also on Oct. 18th, 35-year old Tamara Lynn McCoy, of East Moline, IL, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. McCoy was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond.

Carroll business among 3 Iowa companies to receive USDA ag research grants

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three Iowa companies have received U.S. Department of Agriculture grants for research projects officials hope will lead to new technologies that advance agriculture. Small Business Innovation Grants were awarded to Harrisvaccines in Ames, which has recently developed a new vaccine for a pig virus; Agren Inc. in Carroll, a consultant that helps farmers deal with environmental issues; and Diamond V Mills in Cedar Rapids, which develops animal food.  Each company receives more than $99,000.

The USDA says the grant program was created to stimulate technological innovations in the private sector and to strengthen the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses.  More than $18 million in grants were announced Monday by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Atlantic P-D subject of a phone scam in Audubon County

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department is being used in a phone scam. Police Chief Steve Green reports a resident of Audubon County received a phone call from a number that came up on their caller I-D as 712-243-3512….the administrative number for the Atlantic P-D. The person receiving the call was told that they were going to be arrested within 30-minutes if they did not pay $100 by means of electronic payment.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson, Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren and Chief Green want to let you know that caller ID’s can be “spoofed” through computer manipulation, and that the Atlantic Police Department does NOT CALL and collect money by telephone, e-mail or social media.

The Chief reminds you also, that you should not send money or divulge any personal or financial information to anyone you do not personally know.

Defiance woman is the Crawford County k-9 unit’s 50th arrest this year

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Crawford County’s K-9 “Bayou” and his partner have conducted an investigation that resulted in the duo’s 50th drug-related arrest this year. Sheriff’s officials say a little after 11-p.m. Sunday, a traffic stop was conducted in Denison.  During the stop, illegal drug activity was suspected and K9 Bayou was requested for a K9 Sniff. The sniff resulted in a positive alert for the odor of narcotics. A search was conducted and marijuana was located and seized from the vehicle. 25-year old Cheri Justine Baker, of Defiance, was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana. Her bond was set at $1,000.

UNI president responds to racist comments on app

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Some posts to an anonymous social media app have prompted the University of Northern Iowa’s acting president to send a campus-wide email to explain the comments weren’t representative of the university. The Des Moines Register reports acting UNI President Michael Licari sent the email Friday after someone posted racist comments at the app Yik Yak. Among the comments were, “I chose uni because I didn’t see a single black person on my visit day.”

Licari urged those posting the comments to “understand the impact of your actions and stop.” Licari added that the comments hurt the UNI community but “your thoughtless attempts to undermine the very fabric of our community when you speak hate under the cloak of anonymity will fail.”

Faculty, administrators and students are discussing other responses.

2 arrests and 2 accidents over the weekend in Audubon County

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested over the weekend in Audubon County, and two accidents took place, one of which resulted in injuries. Authorities say 18-year old Dayton Duane Hansen, of Kimballton, was arrested Sunday afternoon for Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. The charge was the result of an investigation into an incident that took place at Hansen’s residence earlier that day. Hansen was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released. He’s scheduled to appear in court Oct. 27th.

And, 51-year old Todd Ray Selland, of Exira, was arrested Sunday night on charges of Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts. The charges stem from an investigation into an incident that happened in the 100 block of east South Street, in Exira. Selland  appeared before a magistrate, pled guilty, was fined and the released from custody.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 57-year old Randy Brian Hansen, of Exira, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic Saturday afternoon, following an accident on 320th Street, near Goldfinch Avenue. Authorities say 23-year old Brett Austin Hansen, of Council Bluffs, was traveling west on 320th at around 2-p.m. Saturday, and turning onto Goldfinch Avenue, when a 1997 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Randy B. Hansen, who was also traveling westbound, ran into the rear of Brett Hansen’s semi-trailer. Damage from the accident amounted to $14,000. The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a hit and run accident that happened Friday night in Kimballton. Officials say a legally parked 1996 Saturn, owned by Dorothy Ann Sorensen, of Valparaiso, NE., was struck by a white pickup truck as the truck was northbound on west 1st Street. The pickup entered a yard and sideswiped Sorensen’s car and hit a tree before leaving the scene. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office at 712-563-2631 or Audubon County Crimestoppers at 712-563-2234.

Shelby County Fire Danger rating: Low 10/20-23

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Agency have begun their twice-weekly Fire Danger notices. From today (Monday) through this Thursday (Oct. 23rd, the Fire Danger rating is LOW, meaning the danger from runaway fire is minimal at this time. Rain is in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.Fire danger Low

When the rating is in the LOW or green category on the sign, you are asked to call in and report your burning projects to dispatch at 755-2124 and notify your local fire chief. The next update will be on Thursday, October 23rd.

Straight ticket voting is okay in Iowa, but becoming rare

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Iowa is one of just is one of just 14 states that allow “straight ticket” voting — letting Iowans check a single box on the ballot to cast a vote for every candidate from one party. Drake University political science professor Arthur Sanders suggests the option fits with voting trends. “As our political system has become more polarized, we find less split ticket voting,” Sanders says. “People are much more likely now to be consistently Republican or consistently Democratic.”

According to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, for example, 43 percent of the ballots cast in Linn County two years ago were “straight ticket” voters. Data isn’t available for all 99 counties, but for the 81 counties that did, about one-quarter of the ballots in the 2014 General Election came from “straight ticket” voters. Sanders says incumbency is a major factor that leads to “split ticket” voting. For example, in 1990 Republican Governor Terry Branstad beat his Democratic opponent by 22 points, while Democratic Senator Tom Harkin won reelection that same year by nine points. Since there’s an open Senate race in Iowa in 2014, Sanders says a decisive Branstad win could help the Republican candidate, Joni Ernst.

“Coattails? The best political science evidence we have is that coattails can matter under certain kinds of elections under certain kinds of circumstances,” Sanders says, with a laugh.

Democrats like Bruce Braley are counting on the Democratic Party’s effort to get Iowans who are less inclined to vote in non-presidential elections to cast a ballot this year. Democrats have 35 “field offices” around the state for their outreach to prospective voters. Republicans have 13, aided by the outside group “Americans for Prosperity” which has five other offices around the state from which it is deploying vote-seekers.

(Radio Iowa)

Car dealership in Glenwood hit by theft

News

October 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Glenwood car dealership has been hit twice by theft. According to Glenwood Police, Best Finish Auto reported the theft of two vehicles after keys to the vehicles were stolen from the dealership at 209 Sharp Street, in Glenwood. Neither of the vehicles were equipped with license plates. The missing vehicles include a maroon 2007 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 pickup and a red 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup. Anyone with information about the theft or location of the trucks is asked to contact the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-9920.

In other news, the Glenwood P-D reports 47-year old Lisa Bolan, of Glenwood was arrested Friday on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $5000 cash or surety. And, authorities are investigating a hit and run accident that occurred Sunday evening at the Casey’s store in Glenwood.

Officials say a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero parked in front of the store was struck by a small red, older model pickup truck. The driver of the other vehicle, a red-headed female in her mid-50’s with a medical boot on her left foot,  left the scene without exchanging insurance information. Damage to the car was estimated at $500. The accident victim was unable to get the offending vehicles’ license plate number.