Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office assisted local agencies at the scene of a mock crash today (Wednesday), at the Sidney High School. Students were presented with a scenario of a two-vehicle accident with one person ejected from the vehicle. The scenario included one fatally injured student and one arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Photos courtesy the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office

Local first responders wanted to stress the dangers of drunk driving, distracted driving, and wearing seatbelts. The Sidney Fire and Rescue, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Percival Fire and Rescue, Riverton Fire and Rescue, Farragut Fire and Rescue, Fremont County Coroner’s Office, Fremont County Emergency Management, Benefiel Towing, and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office participated in the exercise.

Atlantic Rising (AR) would like to remind you to register for the 5th annual Awards Gala presented by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Megan Roberts, State Farm. The event is designed to celebrate the achievements of young professionals who demonstrate excellence and innovation in their profession and within their community. The 2018 award winners will be announced at the AR Awards Gala on Friday, April 27th, starting at noon. The event will take place at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The Chamber thanks Atlantic Rising Premier Partner, Cass County Health System.

In addition to recognizing the success of area young professionals, one Chamber business will also be recognized as the YP Choice Workplace of the Year.  The YP Choice Workplace Award recognizes companies who effectively attract, retain and develop young professionals. Nominations were received in the following categories: YP Newcomer, YP Business Leader, YP Entrepreneur, YP Public Servant and YP Choice Workplace. Reminder to register for this event. Visit www.atlanticiowa.com to register on the Events Calendar page or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.

Atlantic Rising is an organization focused on connecting, engaging and attracting young leaders into the community while promoting greater Atlantic.  Any interested individuals can contact ashley@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017 for information.

Three people in a pickup truck were injured Tuesday afternoon, when the vehicle went out of control in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office reports a 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 25-year old Brandon Matthew Kolo, of Baxter, was traveling north on Clover Avenue at around 12:50-p.m., when the road turned to mud. When the pickup hit a large puddle, mud was splashed onto the windshield, impairing Kolo’s ability to see. The truck hit the side rail of a bridge and flipped over the side before rolling onto its top.

Kolo suffered possible/unknown injuries. His passengers, 34-year old Matthew Burgan, and 27-year old Jordan Coneel, both of Des Moines, were also injured. All three were transported by ambulance or EMS to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. All of the victims except Matthew Burgan, were wearing their seat belts. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $7,500. The vehicle was a total loss. No citations were issued.

April 18, 2018 — Many people looking to buy or sell items often turn to online listing sites like Craigslist or social media pages. Better Business Bureau serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa warns buyers to watch out for scams. BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty stated, “One common scenario involves vehicles listed for sale at an exceptionally good price.” “The potential buyer reaches out to the ‘seller,’ expressing their interest. The ‘seller’ says the vehicle is available, and explains they can have the vehicle shipped to the buyer. The ‘seller’ might even offer a period of time the buyer can ‘change their mind’ and get their money back. Because the buyers are out of the area, the ‘seller’ asks for payment via wire transfer or prepaid card. Those forms of payment are as untraceable as cash. So as soon as the scammers get the payment, they disappear, and your purchase never arrives,” explained Hegarty.

BBB and BBB Scam Tracker have received numerous inquiries and complaints from consumers across the U.S. reporting that they had responded to Craigslist or Facebook ads for motor vehicles including cars, trucks, semi-trucks, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, boats, skid loaders, etc. at “too good to be true” prices. Many of the potential buyers were told by the “seller” that the reason the vehicle was priced so low was because their husband had died 3 months ago of a heart attack and the vehicle brings them bad memories. Other buyers were told that the seller had gotten a new job and moved back to their hometown and because of new priorities, “the vehicle has to go.”

In some cases, potential buyers were informed that the vehicles were located in Omaha, and the sale and transport of the vehicles would be handled by either: DPS Auto Shippers, DVS Auto Shippers, DVA Auto Shippers or Omaha Shippers of Omaha. They all claimed to be located at 4480 S. 90th St, Omaha, NE 68127.  The buyers were told to make their payments by wire transfer within the U.S., and their money would be held in escrow until the sale was final. They were also informed that they would be allowed to keep the vehicle for a specific time period, and, if not satisfied, they could return it for a refund. All communications to the buyers were done via text messaging or email. One victim from Michigan reported that she had wired $4,000 of her fiancée’s money for a 2004 Impala LTZ. She never received the car.

A BBB investigation has verified that that DPS Auto Shippers and its affiliated names are not located at the Omaha address stated in the online ads.  The actual physical location of this company is unknown. BBB has also confirmed that this company is not licensed as an auto dealer in Nebraska. Hegarty said, “Shoppers should never trust sales ads for vehicles or other expensive items on Craigslist without thoroughly checking out the seller and the vehicle. If the seller’s identity cannot be verified, don’t send money.”

“Paying someone you do not know – especially using difficult-to-trace payments like wire services or loadable cards – can be a huge mistake. If the seller’s story seems suspect, or the price tag seems unusually low, you could be asking for trouble. When shopping on Craigslist, always meet the seller in a public place and see the item for sale before purchasing. Following this one rule will help you avoid most scams on Craigslist.” BBB offers the following advice for persons shopping for vehicles online:

• Try to deal only with established businesses when looking for a vehicle online. Verify that a business is legitimate and has a physical address. Never send money in advance for a car or truck unless you have thoroughly checked out the seller and are convinced the offer is real.
• Be especially wary about paying for vehicles being sold online using wire transfers or by giving a seller the access code to a Green Dot Moneypak or similar loadable card. Such money transfers are very difficult to trace.
• If the seller suggests going through a third party, like eBay, to secure the transaction, make certain that you have confirmed the sale through the third party.
• Never trust that a phone number belongs to a business without verifying it independently. This usually can be done by researching the business’ phone number online and calling it to confirm.
• Scammers use low prices to lure victims. If the price of a vehicle seems unusually low, it likely is a scheme to steal your money.
• Pay by credit card whenever possible in the event you need to challenge the charge.
• Be cautious of purchasing any vehicle without a full inspection.
• Ask that the seller supply information about the vehicle in writing, including mileage, history and any warranty.

Contact BBB at 402-391-7612 or 800-649-6814 for more advice on how to determine whether you are being scammed.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all state flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Saturday, April 21, 2018, in honor and remembrance of former First Lady Barbara Bush. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s proclamation to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

To read Gov. Reynolds’ statement on the passing of Barbara Bush, click here: https://governor.iowa.gov/2018/04/gov-reynolds-issues-statement-on-the-passing-of-barbara-bush?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) is coordinating several Ag-Arts camps in four southwest Iowa counties over this summer. The Ag-Arts camps use an interdisciplinary approach of science and art, so that the participants can engage in a wide-range of fun and educational opportunities on farms. The Ag-Arts programs promote the rural area and supports our local farmers.

That’s Tina Bakehouse from the Golden Hills RC&D. The Ag-Arts camps are available to any age and ability.

They are limited to 25 participants per camp and are filling quickly. The cost of the camp is $15 per person, which includes lunch. Reservations are due May 15^th, and they can be made online at www.goldenhillsrcd.org, or you can mail a check to Golden Hills RC&D, 712 S HWY St. PO Box 189, Oakland, IA 51560, and mention “Ag Arts” in the memo. A full list of Ag-Arts camps can be found HERE

To register, if you have any questions, or would like to sponsor one of these events, please contact Tina Bakehouse by email:  tina@goldenhillsrcd.org, visit www.goldenhilllsrcd.org,  or call 712-482-3029.

Lawmakers of BOTH parties are expressing concerns about staffing levels in state public safety agencies, but Republicans on a House committee have approved what they’re calling “status quo” funding for Iowa’s justice system which covers the highway patrol, prisons and the state crime lab. Representative Gary Worthan, a Republican from Storm Lake, says there’s no extra money to hire more troopers or crime scene investigators. “Not to try and gloss it over or anything, this is kind of holding our own in the Department of Public Safety,” Worthan says. “We’re not going to be able to increase numbers.”

In most cases, the agencies would receive about as much money as was planned for the current year, before a round of budget cuts last month. Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, says the state prisons, in particular, are understaffed. “It’s endangering some of our state workers,” Hall says. “It’s endangering our taxpayers and families across the state.”

The House G-O-P’s state budget plan is drafted around a tax cut of 100-million dollars. Republicans in the Senate have proposed significantly deeper tax cuts.

(Radio Iowa, w/Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Joyce Russell)

It’s been 11 days since a young man with autism from northeast Iowa vanished without a trace. Sixteen-year-old Jake Wilson was last seen leaving his home in La Porte City on foot the night of April 7th. Kris Steinmetz, spokeswoman for the Autism Society of Iowa, notes how family members said Jake wanted to visit a nearby stream. “Those with autism are often drawn to bodies of water, moving water, that is common,” Steinmetz says. “The other side of that is that they don’t always have a good sense of safety or safety skills or how to keep themselves safe which makes it very difficult for a family who has a family member like that.”

Hundreds of volunteers joined in the initial searches for Jake, a search which is now being handled by a scaled-back group of law officers in Black Hawk County. Steinmetz says people with autism can be very focused and will wander from home. “They will really have an idea or a place they want to be or something they want to do and will do whatever it takes to get there,” she says. “My heart just breaks for this family because I understand this is something he’s done before.” Steinmetz says there is another reason why he may have wandered away. “Even though he’s a teenager, his ability to think and reason is more of a nine-year-old,” she says. “They have already looked into this. Maybe he’s hiding because he’s scared. Maybe he’s hiding because he thinks he might get into trouble for not being home.”

Anyone with information on Wilson’s whereabouts is asked to call the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department at 319-291-2515.

(Radio Iowa)

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a Dubuque man scheduled for a murder trial in August has made a plea deal with prosecutors The Telegraph Herald reports that a hearing is scheduled Friday for 36-year-old Michael Piantieri, who’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the Dec. 2 slaying of 42-year-old Beverly Puccio at her home.

The agreement says Piantieri will plead guilty to second-degree murder and face a mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison. The court records say surveillance video showed Puccio and Piantieri at a bar Dec. 2 and that they left about 8 p.m. in a cab that took them to her home. The records say he denied going into Puccio’s home.