One person suffered possible, unknown injuries during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday night south of Gray, in Audubon County. Sheriff’s officials say 40-year old John Presley Lampe, of Indianola, was transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital, after the car he was driving went into a ditch off of westbound 120th Street. The accident happened at around 10:30-p.m., as Lampe was driving and looking up at the stars. The man was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.There was no damage to Lampe’s 2001 Buick.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday) released more details on an accident that happened early Wednesday morning. As we told you during our news on Wednesday, the accident happened at around 5:35-a.m. near the intersection of Highway 71 and Interstate 80. Officials say it occurred when a semi struck a pickup truck that had attempted to turn onto the eastbound I-80 ramp.  The 2005 Peterbilt semi driven by 48-year old Richard Allen Goldizen, Sr., of Savannah, MO, was northbound on Highway 71 when it struck a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup owned and driven by 36-year old Jason C. Redfern, of Omaha.

The accident happened as Redfern was traveling south on Highway 71 and attempted to cross northbound Highway 71 to get on the eastbound I-80 onramp. Redfern, who was later cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn,  was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital via Medivac Rescue.  Damage from the accident amounted to $22,500.

Later that same day, Cass County deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Lansing Road, about one-half mile west of 690th Street. Officials say at around 12:30 p.m., a 2012 Chrysler driven by 69-year old Leta Arlene Thompson, of Cumberland, was traveling west on Lansing Road when the vehicle hit some frozen slush on the road. The car slid sideways into the south ditch and crossed over a farm drive entrance before coming to rest. No injuries were reported. Damage to Thompson’s vehicle is estimated at $3,500. No citations were issued.

A meeting held Wednesday evening in Atlantic was the last step prior to a vote over a reorganization of the Exira and Elk Horn Kimballton School Districts. The public session took place at the Atlantic High School, and included patrons of both districts, as well as the Board of Directors for both the Heartland and Green Hills Area Education Agencies (AEA).

The boards received written notices from property owners, some of whom objected to having their land included in the proposed reorganized district, but the AEA Boards rejected most of the objections. They also heard from a few persons who sought to dismiss the petition for the new school district. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes said there were many, varied reasons for the objections that had been received, such as those from families whose students had already open-enrolled out to another district.

Schnoes said some people thought the administrations in other districts were “more dependable and reliable,” but when attorneys for the districts demonstrated before the AEA Boards how the two districts have shown constant growth as far as financial stability, and the leadership has students heading in the right direction, that served to convince the Boards the decision to reorganize was correct and the best one for the students. Schnoes said he was very pleased with the turnout at the meeting and the level of support the proposed reorganization has received, especially when presented before the AEA Board members.

A vote on the reorganization take place June 25th.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Clearmont woman learned a hard lesson early this (Thursday) morning, when she went to bail an allegedly intoxicated friend out of the Montgomery County Jail. Officials say 33-year-old Clothilda Dawn Cales was arrested after a receptionist at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the woman. Cales had come to the jail to bail out another woman, but the jailer can only release an intoxicated prisoner to a sober adult. Cales blew a .093 on the breathalyzer test, which is above the state legal limit.

Both woman were being held in the Montgomery County Jail pending an appearance before the magistrate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man who served 17 years of a 50-year murder sentence has left prison on parole.  Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta says Brian Davis was released on Wednesday. Under the terms of Davis’ parole, he must stay with relatives in Olathe, Kan., obey all laws and get a job. His parole will be supervised by Kansas officials.

Davis was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Julie Baack. The 23-year-old Baack disappeared from her Le Mars apartment in 1992. Her remains were found east of Onawa three years later. Davis and Baack were dating at the time of her death.

Davis originally was scheduled to be released on parole in 2018, but in January the Iowa Parole Board granted Davis an early release.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Woodbury County officials in northwest Iowa have decided to settle lawsuits filed over strip searches at the county jail.   The Sioux City Journal reports that Woodbury County Board Chairman Larry Clausen says the board settled rather than risk trial and possibly pay more to complainants and their attorneys. Three women arrested on misdemeanor charges say they were forced to take off their clothes in view of male jailers during incidents in 2006 and 2007.

In the settlement, Maureen Rattray, of South Sioux City, Neb., was paid $335,000. Lori Mathes received $40,000 and Lisa Lambert $10,000. Dismissal papers were filed Tuesday.  In 2011 a U.S. District Court jury awarded Rattray more than $250,000, but that verdict was overturned and a retrial ordered because of inconsistencies in the verdict form.

The Atlantic City Council held a special session Wednesday evening at the Senior Citizen Center. During the meeting, the Council, after receiving no written or oral objections, adopted the Fiscal year 2014 Municipal Budget, and they passed a resolution awarding a contract for the reconstruction of the Sunnyside Tennis Courts, to Dostals Construction Company, in Gretna, NE.

During previous meetings of the Council, concerns were raised over how to pay for the $259,000 reconstruction project, but City Administrator Doug Harris said he recently came to realize that the costs could be included under “Essential Purpose” funding. He said he assumed Park projects were “Corporate Purposes,” but he learned only things like City Hall renovation can come under that type of funding. Knowing that they can come under Essential Purpose frees up some money for that and other park projects.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said it is essential to get the tennis courts done as soon as possible, so Atlantic can “Get back on the tournament trail.” With the tennis courts currently torn up in preparation for reconstruction, Herring said the Atlantic Trojan’s Tennis Tournament will take place in Harlan this year. He says Atlantic was also asked to host a District Tennis Tournament, but that couldn’t happen because of the condition of the courts prior to reconstruction. Herring says by finalizing the contract, the City will be eligible for a U-S Tennis Association grant and Missouri Valley USTA funds.

w/ Ric Hanson

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