The Iowa DNR says a Hiawatha woman died after being struck by lightning early Saturday evening at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area near Palo, in Linn County. 42-year old Rebecca McCarty was camping with friends and family when she was struck by lightning while walking between camping spots shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. McCarty was transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids where she was pronounced dead.

A Nevada woman was injured Saturday after an approximately 40-foot fall from a cliff along the Lost Lake Trail located on the southwest side of Ledges State Park in Boone County. Officials with the Iowa DNR identified the woman as 19-year old Shannon Novak. She was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines after suffering injuries to her back and ankle.

Novack was with two friends when she lost her footing and fell from a sandstone outcropping over the Des Moines River known as Solstice Rock shortly after 1:30 p.m. She was conscious and talking with bystanders when rescuers reached the scene.
Because of the ruggedness of the trail, Novack was instead taken downstream to the waiting ambulance by a boat from the Boone County Search and Rescue.

A man on a motorcycle lead authorities on a high-speed chase from Interstate 80 to Highway 59 and Shelby County Road F-58, before entering Elk Horn and driving on sidewalks and through yards between houses. He dumped the bike near the high school and ran on foot before being apprehended in the vicinity of F-58 and Madison Street, just before 10-p.m., Saturday.

The Iowa State Patrol and several other local law enforcement agencies were involved in the chase. The suspect was described as being a white male, about 220-to 230 pounds. He was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan to be checked and treated for possible injuries following his being apprehended. Authorities said later the motorcycle had expired license plates out of Nebraska.

No other details are currently available. A second motorcycle chase was reported in Pottawattamie County late Saturday night, though no other details were immediately available.

Red Oak Firefighters were dispatched to 311 West Washington Street in Red Oak at 5:59am for a reported detached garage fire.  Upon arrival firefighters discovered a 12’x24′ garage fully engulfed in flames.  The garage and everything inside, including a 2001 Ford Fusion, were a total loss.

Firefighters were on scene for a little over an hour and were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Police. The fire also damaged a power pole and power lines belonging to MidAmerican Energy whom was on scene making necessary repairs shortly after flames were under control.  Mediacom was also notified of damage to their lines at the scene.

Red Oak Fire and Red Oak Police believe the fire is suspicious in nature and anyone with information is asked to call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500 or the Red Oak Fire Department at 712-623-6504.

(6/23 –Corrects hours/days of business – incorrect info. from the Chamber)

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say a Grand Opening Ceremony for the new Arnold Motor Supply store will be held 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, June 23rd. The store is located at 1206 SW 7th Street, in Atlantic. Normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. to- 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30-a.m. to 1-p.m. on Saturday. The store offers retail as well as paint and body services. Adam Kohrs serves as the store manager.

The Arnold Group of Companies was started in Spencer, in 1927 by E.P. Arnold and is one of the largest partnerships in the United States with stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, and Missouri. The company includes 52 auto parts stores as well as three warehouses, three light industrial coating distributors, one paint and body shop supply store, and a cylinder head re-manufacturing division.

Nineteen locations have complete machine shops located within the stores. The Arnold Motor Supply stores are affiliated with Auto Value Parts Stores one of the largest chain of auto parts stores in the United States.

The 2015 Cass County Relay for Life was held on Friday night at the Atlantic High School Track with hundreds of supporters participating  and large donation money raised.  Sunny weather welcomed a day full of events that began in the morning with a tractor ride that left from the Cass County Fairgrounds hosted by the Mahle relay team.

A motorcycle ride also was held starting at 1:00pm at the Atlantic City Park and ending at Relay for a donation presentation by the Windbags and UCC Riders team.

The survivor dinner took place at the Atlantic High School commons from 4:30pm-6:00pm with a big turnout of survivors enjoying a meal graciously donated by the Atlantic HyVee.

At 6:00pm survivors took to the track to open up the Relay event and celebrate another year of birthdays with all others present cheering them on.  The beautiful night included a variety of entertainment, education, kids activities, food and other fun.

The Luminary ceremony wrapped up the night honoring loved ones lost and supporting those still fighting Cancer.  The committee announced at the end of the night that the running total of donations was at $60,678 to support the American Cancer Society and the fight against Cancer.

The committee would like to send a huge thank you to all participants, teams, sponsors and all others that help make Relay for Life in Cass County a huge success.