A man from Nebraska died during a rollover accident Monday morning, in Audubon County. The Iowa State Patrol says 40-year old Eric Rutledge, of Omaha, was traveling south on Highway 71 near Littlefield Drive at around 4:50-a.m., when for reasons unknown, his 2006 Lexus IS250 crossed the northbound lane and entered the east ditch before rolling numerous times and coming to rest in a nearby gravel lot.

Rutledge was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said late Wednesday afternoon, that no injuries were reported after a car struck the Casey’s General Store in Anita, Tuesday evening. The accident happened at around 6:30 p.m., as a 2010 Dodge Caliber driven by 74-year old Carolyn Kay Symonds, of Anita, was pulling into a parking stall in front of the building. The car jumped the curb and struck the building, causing about $500 damage to the structure, and $2,000 damage to the vehicle.

Red Oak native, John Norris, is set to announce his intention to run as a Democrat candidate for governor of Iowa in 2018. The officials announcement is expected Saturday night on the farm he grew up on.

His bio says Norris is a fifth generation Iowan, raised on the Montgomery County family farm his Great-great grandfather settled in 1881. Educated at Red Oak Community Schools, Simpson College and The University of Iowa College of Law.

John Norris

His previous experience in government includes serving as former Gov. Tom Vilsack’s Chief of Staff, and, early on, campaigning for and working with, former Senator Tom Harkin. He was also Leonard Boswell’s Chief of Staff. His other political achievements include an appointment by President Obama to represent the United States on agricultural policy at the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program in Rome, Italy, becoming Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and more.

Norris has also owned and operated the Old Hotel restaurant in Greenfield. He is currently a co-owner of the State Public Policy Group where he works on policy initiatives in education, health care and renewable energy. He and his wife Jackie live in Des Moines. The couple has raised three sons.

His campaign kick-off takes place from 5-until 7-p.m. Saturday at the Norris Farm, 2479 B Avenue, in rural Red Oak. Hamburgers will be provided by the Montgomery County Cattlemen, with a side dish potluck. Please bring a lawn chair if you plan to attend, and reserve your spot by calling 712-621-4427, or follow his campaign on Facebook at Norris For the People.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer said today (Wednesday) “It appears that scammers are at it again.  They are now using local phone numbers and local names to attempt to get information and or money from people.  All sorts of different scenarios are being used.”

Palmer went on to say “In this day and age, it seems that people want to believe that they have won something that they have not even entered. What it basically comes down to is if someone wants personal information from you or for you to pay them any sort of money, then it is more than likely a scam.  If anyone has something like this happen, it is not advisable to give any information at all.”

Atlantic Fire and Rescue, along with Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of a vehicle versus motorcycle accident this afternoon, just south of Interstate 80 from the Highway 71 eastbound off-ramp. Iowa State Patrol Troopers who came upon the accident reported at least one person was injured. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at around 2:42-p.m.

LifeNet helicopter was enroute to the Cass County Memorial Hospital just after 3-p.m. No other details are currently available.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies today (Wednesday) charged 38-year old Phillip William Church, of Griswold, with felony Sex Abuse 2nd Degree, and Lascivious Acts with a Child under 12 Years of Age, also a felony offense. Cass County Deputies had arrested Church on June 20th, on the same charges in a separate case. Church remains held at the Cass County Jail on $110,000 bond.

On July 4th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 44-year old Troy Curtis Beck, of Ankeny, on charges of Assault with Intent to Commit Injury; Public Intoxication; and Interference with Official Acts (Simple). Beck was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

And, at around 11:40-p.m. Tuesday night, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two vehicle accident on Highway 148 near Lake Anita. A 2008 Chevy Malibu driven by 28-year old Timothy Daniel Weaver, of Anita, was northbound on Highway 148 when it was struck in the driver’s side by a passing 2014 Ford F150 pickup. The driver of the pickup was 51-year old Steven Carl McAfee, of Massena.

Damage to Weaver’s vehicle is estimated at $2,900; damage to McAfee’s vehicle is estimated at $3,000. No injuries were reported. Upon investigation of the accident, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Timothy Daniel Weaver on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent accidents, one with injuries. At around 4-p.m. Monday (July 3rd), deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with the vehicle on its top and nobody around, at the intersection of 190^th street and F Avenue, approximately 5 miles east of Shenandoah. During the investigation, 36-year old Justin Dwayne Nelson, of Shenandoah, was found to be the driver and only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Nelson was operating a grey 2003 Dodge Neon 4 door westbound on 190^th Street east of F Avenue.  The car went over the crest of a hill and got out of control. It started swerving in the road before entering the north ditch west of the F Avenue intersection. In the ditch, the vehicle rolled onto its top.  Nelson suffered minor injuries, and refused medical treatment when located at his residence in Shenandoah. He was cited for Failure to maintain control.  Damage to the Neon is estimated at $3000.

And, a little before 4-p.m. Saturday, Page County deputies were called to a single motorcycle accident with injuries approximately 1 mile south of Highway 2, on Maple Avenue (about a mile east of Yorktown). An investigation determined 39-year old Todd James Sands, of Georgetown, TX, was traveling north on Maple Avenue just south of 220th, when his motorcycle went out of control, due to the new oil and heat on the road surface.  Sands and a passenger entered the east ditch on the motorcycle before striking a traffic sign.  Both were transported to Clarinda Regional Health Center with unknown injuries.  No citations issued during the investigation.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says his deputies had a busy day Monday, with a trio of arrests. Deputies were called to 3170 310^th Street east of Braddyville, for an incident involving a fight with a knife. During the investigation, 27-year old Donovan James Harvey, of Shenandoah, was arrested on charged with Willful Injury.  He was transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond awaiting appearance in front of a Magistrate.

That same day, Deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22-year old Marshall Muhmad Graham on a Page County warrant for Burglary 1^st degree, Robbery 1^st degree, Assault while participating in a felony, Theft 2^nd degree, Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, Criminal Mischief 3^rd degree, Obstruction of prosecution or defense, Dominion / Control of a firearm / offensive weapon by a felon, and Carrying weapons.  Graham was arrested in the city limits of Clarinda, where he is a resident.  He was unable to post the $223,000 CASH bond and is being held pending future court appearances.

Graham

A routine traffic stop for speeding Monday on Highway 71 south of Clarinda, resulted in the arrest of 35-year old William J. Bartlett, of Clarinda.  Five persons in the vehicle were listed as the protected parties against Bartlett.  Bartlett was arrested for violation of the protection order and transported to the Page County Jail for holding awaiting appearance before a Magistrate.

Bartlett

(12-p.m. News)