Three people were injured when two vehicles collided Sunday afternoon on northbound Interstate 29, in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2004 Ford Explorer driven by 25-year old Tanner D. Harl, of Onawa, was passing a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 45-year old Hugo Ronaldo Corado-Urrutia, of Syracuse, NE, when the SUV drifted into the the side of the pickup, causing both vehicles’ drivers to lose control.

The SUV rolled over and came to rest on its top in the center median, while the pickup spun around on the road and rolled over before coming to rest in the east ditch. Both drivers, and a passenger in the pickup, 32-year old Edwin Otero-Chicas, of Syracuse, NE, were injured. Corado-Urrutia and Otero-Chicas were transported by Mondamin and Missouri Valley Rescue, respectively to the Missouri Valley Hospital, while Harl was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton Hospital, in Omaha. All three men were wearing their seat belts.

Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies and Missouri Valley Police assisted at the scene.

A man from Montgomery County died during a rollover accident Saturday morning, in Shelby County. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Devon Lee McClain, of Elliott, died at the scene of the crash in the 1100 block of Timber Road. The accident happened at around 9:45-a.m.

Authorities say McClain was traveling northbound on Timber Road when he lost control of the 1999 Chevy Tahoe he was driving, causing the vehicle to rollover into the east ditch.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Harlan Fire Department, Harlan Police Department and Medivac Ambulance.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop Nov. 28th for speeding, in the 1800 block of Stuart Road. After the Deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, he had the driver, 29-year old William R.H. Halstead, of West Sacramento, CA, and the passenger, 45-year old Timothy Noel Cummings, of Fort Dodge, exit the vehicle. While both subjects were handcuffed and detained, a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana shoved inside the side of the passenger seat.

A continued search of the vehicle resulted in another bag of a similar substance being found in the passenger seat, and 4 glass jars of a green leafy substance in the trunk. Both men were arrested, with Cummings being charge with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Cummings posted a $1,000 bond, and was released from the Adair County Jail, the following day.

Halstead was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, speeding and driving without a valid driver’s license. Once at the Adair County Jail, a pipe used for smoking meth was found on Halstead. And, inside the flap of his underwear, was a bag with a substance believed to be marijuana. Halstead was subsequently charged with Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Facility. He posted a $5,000 bond the following day, and was also released.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 39-year old Lare Michelle Gilmore, of Greenfield, was arrested Friday night for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, after she allegedly  harassed several youth Friday afternoon as they were walking home from school. Gilmore allegedly screamed profanities at the youth, “flipped them off,” and took pictures of them, causing the youth to feel threatened and intimidated. The woman was released from custody Saturday, on her own recognizance.

Authorities say 55-year old Timothy John VanEaton, of Orient, was arrested last Thursday night, on an Adair County warrant charging him with Theft in the 5th Degree. He was released later that same night on $500 bond. And, 49-year old Michael Paul Brummer, of Mason City, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense on Nov. 27th, after a State Patrol Trooper found Brummer’s vehicle illegally parked along Interstate 80 in Adair County, at Exit 75. Brummer was asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, while the engine was still running. An open container of alcohol was found in the vehicle’s center console, along with three full cans of beer on the passenger seat. Tests later determined Brummer was intoxicated by more than twice the legal limit. He was released from custody the following day on $2,000 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will continue with discussion pertaining to a proposed ethanol plant and related development agreement. During their meeting last week, proposals from Elite Octane were discussed for incentives to construct an ethanol plant in Cass County. The plant would be funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), with the future property tax to be paid by Elite Octane.

An initial proposal made by Cass County was not accepted. After lengthy discussion of the two options proposed by Elite Octane, it was decided to consult legal counsel and to not schedule a hearing regarding a development agreement. During Wednesday’s meeting, the Supervisors are expected to act on a Memorandum of Understanding with Elite Octane.

The Supervisors are also expected to act on a Resolution to set a hearing date on Amending the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area by adding Elite Octane site parcels, and a Development Agreement with Elite Octane.

Their meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council has released four recommendations to help school districts that have too many students missing class. Governor Terry Branstad’s Special Assistant for Education, Linda Fandel, was part of the group. “The first recommendation is to establish a uniform way to define an track chronic absenteeism,” Fandel says. ” And that definition is missing 10 percent or more of school for any reason — excused or unexcused. In Iowa if a student misses 10 percent of school, at a minimum that’s 18 days, and that’s nearly a month of school.”

The Department of Education says an average of eight-point-three percent of school kids are chronically absent across the state. “The second recommendation is to launch a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of good attendance and the impact of chronic absenteeism on student success,” Fandel says. She says a study by the Child & Family Policy Center shows the impact of kids missing school. “Students who were chronically absent were less likely to be reading proficiently by the end of third grad. So the council wanted to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the need to step up and address the problem,” Fandel says.

She says many school districts already make promoting good attendance a high priority and some offer extra support to families facing barriers. That includes efforts in Council Bluffs, Cardinal, Denison, Des Moines and Muscatine. The third recommendation is to create a statewide mechanism for disseminating best practices and resources to schools.  “The fourth recommendation is to establish an advisory group through the Iowa Department of Education to explore how to better collaborate across systems and with families to reduce chronic absenteeism,” according to Fandel. “And that’s getting at the fact that a lot of different systems and organizations are involved in helping address chronic absenteeism and and we want to maximize communication and cooperation to help them get services to schools.”

The group met once a month from August through November, and has now forwarded their recommendations to the governor. “Now the governor and Lieutenant governor will look at these recommendations and consider the next steps.

The Council’s report can be found here https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2016%20Iowa%20Chronic%20Absenteeism%20Advisory%20Council%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Creston Police Department today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests and incidents. Authorities say 40-year old Richard Starlin, of Creston, was arrested Sunday for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $2,000, bond. On Saturday, Creston Police arrested 20-year old Tyrell Stucker, of Lorimor, and 23-year old Steven Patterson, Jr., of Hampton, were arrested on separate Driving While Suspended charges. Stucker was later released on $300 bond, while Patterson was released on a Promise to Appear later, in court.

Creston Police said also, a woman residing in the 500 block of E. Howard Street reported Sunday that sometime between 7-p.m. and 12-a.m. Saturday, someone destroyed an inflatable snowman that was in her yard. The damage was estimated at $25. And, a man residing in the 800 block of N. Walnut Street in Creston, reported Sunday that sometime Saturday night into Sunday morning, someone stole a decorative Christmas laser light from his yard. The loss was estimated at $50.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Voters in 13 southwest Iowa Counties will head to the polls tomorrow (Tuesday), to determine the fate of a $14.5-million Iowa Western Community College bond issue that’s designed to help pay for security upgrades at each of the college’s campuses and centers. A training exercise last year unveiled some flaws in how the buildings’ designs, and even things as simple as door locks, interfered with employees’ abilities to respond correctly and quickly to various situations. School officials have said the bond issue will also provide for a decrease in one of the school’s levies from .34-cents to 13-cents per thousand dollars valuation. On a $100,000 home, that would reduce the taxes about $20 per year.

The bond issue vote takes place in Merged Area 13, which covers Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties. A 60% supermajority is necessary in order for the bond issue to pass. The polls will be open from Noon until 8-p.m., Tuesday. You may also vote absentee, in-person at the County Auditor’s Office at the Cass County Courthouse. ONLY FIVE VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION in Cass County:

The two VOTING CENTERS for the ATLANTIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT are: Voters living in Wards 1, 4 and 5 of the City of Atlantic will vote at Heritage House, 1200 Brook Ridge Circle in Atlantic.

Voters residing in the remainder of the Atlantic Community School District, being those voters residing in Audubon and Pottawattamie counties; Bear Grove, Benton, Brighton, Cass, Franklin, Grove, Pymosa and Washington townships of Cass County; the City of Marne; the City of Wiota; and Wards 2 and 3 of the City of Atlantic will vote at the Atlantic Public Library (507 Poplar), Atlantic, Iowa.

The two VOTING CENTERS for the CAM COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT are: In ANITA:  Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District lying in Adair and Audubon counties; Benton, Franklin, Grant and Lincoln townships of Cass County; the City of Anita; and the City of Wiota will vote at the ANITA COMMUNITY CENTER (805 Main St).

In MASSENA:  Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District lying in Adams County; Bear Grove, Edna, Massena, Noble, Union and Victoria townships of Cass County; the City of Cumberland; and the City of Massena will vote at the MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY in Massena (122 Main St).

The VOTING CENTER for the GRISWOLD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is:  In GRISWOLD– at the Griswold Community Building, 601 2nd St, Griswold and all voters of the School District will vote there.

If you have any questions, contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office.

An unidentified Iowa State Patrol Trooper was injured during a collision Sunday morning, in northeast Iowa’s Buchanan County. The Patrol says the Trooper’s SUV was parked on the inside shoulder of Interstate 380 southbound, while he was assisting a motorist whose vehicle had gone into the median. A 2006 Toyota Camry driven by 22-year old Brittany Anderson, of Charles City, was traveling south on I-380, when the car went out of control and struck the rear of the Trooper’s 2015 Ford Explorer, causing the SUV to enter the median.

The Camry crossed both lanes of traffic and came to rest in the ditch. Authorities say Anderson was driving too fast for conditions when the crash occurred at around 9:20-a.m., Sunday. The Trooper, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by private vehicle to St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Anderson was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.