Police in Council Bluffs reported late Wednesday night that two people were seriously injured during a crash earlier that evening on the South Expressway. Bluffs Police Sgt. Darren Budd says just before 7-p.m., a 1998 Ford Mustang driven by MacKenzie Jones, of Council Bluffs, was traveling southbound and was preparing to turn left onto 35th Avenue. A 2007 Chevy Tahoe driven by 33-year old Lynsi Perkins, of Council Bluffs, was traveling northbound on the South Expressway.

Several witnesses and Perkins said both drivers had a green light. There is a protected left turn arrow for southbound traffic, but the arrow was not active according to witnesses. The SUV hit the passenger side of the Mustang with such force, that two passengers in the vehicle, 16-year old Ellen Campbell and 13-year old Jane Campbell, both of Treynor, suffered serious injuries, with Ellen Campbell’s injuries deemed to be critical.

Both teens required extrication by the Council Bluffs Fire Department. They were transported to the UNMC for treatment. Mackenzie Jones was uninjured. Lynsi Perkins suffered minor injuries during the crash, and her minor passengers were not believed to be injured.

Officials say there appears to have been NO indications speed or impairment contributed to the crash. Jones, however, was cited for Improper Turning Movements. The Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit will be conducting a follow up investigation into the crash.

(Updated at 6:22-a.m. to clarify 4 injuries as earlier reported)

The Iowa State Patrol early this (Thursday) morning, updated information concerning a crash Wednesday evening on Highway 92 in Adair County, that injured four people.  Officials say several eastbound vehicles in a line of traffic were stopped in a construction zone at around 6-p.m., waiting for the Pilot car to return, when a 2004 Buick Park Avenue driven by 34-year old Brian Jorge Ford, of Creston, rear-ended a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by 43-year old Todd Nothwehr, of Clarinda. His wife, 42-year old Lara Nothwehr, was a passenger in the vehicle.

Photos submitted to KJAN. Click on photo to enlarge

The force of the impact caused the pickup to rear-end a 2012 Ford F-150, driven by 31-year old Danielle Buresh, of Bridgewater, which rear-ended another vehicle.  All four vehicles came to rest on the road, blocking traffic in both directions for several hours.

Lara and Todd Nothwehr were treated at the Cass County Memorial hospital and have since been released. There was no word on the conditions of the other two victims, but authorities had said late Wednesday evening, that the injuries did not appear to be life threatening, and that all occupants had been wearing their seat belts. Airbags also deployed in the vehicles, limiting the extent of injuries.

Assisting at the scene were deputies with the Cass and Adair County Sheriff’s Offices.

Four people were injured in a crash on Highway 92 Wednesday evening, just across the Cass-Adair County line, in Adair County. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at around 6:18-p.m.

Photos submitted to KJAN. (Click on photos to enlarge)

One person was reportedly trapped in a vehicle. Three people were transported by two separate ambulances, to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. One other person was flown by LifeNet helicopter in Clarinda to the hospital. According to authorities, the injuries did not appear to have been life threatening. The victims wore their seat belts, and airbags deployed in the vehicles.
The road was completely blocked while crews removed the injured and the wreckage. Additional details are currently unavailable.

The Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company today (Wednesday), announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with The Coca-Cola Company for expanded territory rights. The bottler will assume territories in Iowa and southern Minnesota.  Expected transition dates are subject to the parties reaching Definitive Agreements. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kirk Tyler, President, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, said in a press release “We look forward to completing the transition work with The Coca-Cola Company.  Leveraging the new operating model will enable us to continue serving the needs of our consumers and customers effectively.”

Sandy Douglas, President Coca-Cola North America at the Coca Cola Company, says “We have made significant progress toward the implementation of our 21^st Century Beverage Partnership Model in the U.S., which continues to strengthen our franchise system. As we continue to evolve our partnership model for growth Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company brings deep local knowledge and has demonstrated both outstanding commercial capabilities and consistent, sustainable success within their communities. Together we continue to transform our U.S. business and move closer to achieving our 2020 Vision.”

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and The Coca-Cola Company will work collaboratively to implement key elements of the 21^st Century Beverage Partnership Model including:

• More rational and contiguous operating territories
• A grant of exclusive territory rights and the sale by Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR) of distribution assets and cold drink equipment
• An improved, more integrated information technology platform
• A new beverage agreement that supports the evolving operating model.

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been in business for over 100 years, producing and delivering Coca-Cola brands to Central and Southwest Iowa.  Owned and operated by the Tyler family, and headquartered in Atlantic, the company has a distribution center in Waukee.  Together, the two facilities employ over 180 individuals

A woman who has been an employee of the City of Atlantic for slightly more than  25-years, was recognized for her service during a Special City Council meeting, Wednesday evening. Chris Dvorak was presented with an award for her service by Mayor Dave Jones. In acknowledging her work in the Police Department as an Administrative Assistant/dispatcher, Jones said Dvorak was always a professional in “Coordinating with law enforcement to keep the people of Atlantic and our  officers safe from harm.”

Chris Dvorak receives a 25-year service award from Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Jones said what she does, essentially keeps the City from being sued, by making sure when officers write a ticket or make an arrest, the paperwork is filled-out and turned in correctly.

According to the Atlantic Police Department’s website, Dvorak began working for the department in 1990. Prior to working for the City, she was a sale clerk and stay at home mom. She and her husband, John, have two children that are grown and have left the area.

About 20 residents living in the vicinity of the Heritage House in Atlantic, voiced their concerns during a special City Council meeting Wednesday evening, over how a 6,800-square foot addition for a Commons Area at the retirement home, will affect storm water runoff. The residents affected by the runoff live primarily in an area north and west of the Heritage House, along or near Roosevelt Drive.

Dave Sturm with Snyder and Associates Engineers in Atlantic, spent the past week evaluating the drainage areas on the site, as well as existing building and drainage conditions. Ryan Hardisty, project engineer with Civil Design Advantage in Grimes said he agrees with Sturm that enlarging the existing detention basin located south of the existing building, and constructing a new, smaller basin, to the north, to catch any additional runoff from the proposed addition, will serve to alleviate many of the residents’ concerns about more water flowing into their basements during heavy rainfall.

Dr. Keith Leonard explained the residents of Roosevelt Drive showed up in force at the meeting, because they “Already have plenty of water, a lot more water than we want.” He said at least four houses from 14th Street north on the east side of Roosevelt, all have sump pumps that are constantly running. Leonard said “Whatever retention pond is there, is not doing anything or is filled-up…and is totally unusable.”

Atlantic businessman Rich Perry also lives in the area. He said no one is against Heritage House expanding, “Because they are a real asset to our community.” He said they wanted the Council to know there is a problem though, with storm water runoff, and that the addition might worsen the situation. Mayor Dave Jones said the City had been trying to deal with the Bull Creek issue over the years by installing detention basins and slowing down erosion.

Sturm said the storm water runoff is caught by a swale and directs it to 13th and 11th Streets, and Brookridge Circle, all of which are dead ends, down Roosevelt and into Bull Creek. Hardisty said they’ve analyzed the 11th Street drainage basin, and there are 24 acres that contribute water flow, not just the 13 acres occupied by the Heritage House. Single-family housing upstream he said, also contributes to runoff in the area.

After hearing from residents in the area, the Atlantic City Council approved the Heritage House addition site plans with the contingencies that the existing drainage basin be enlarged and a second basin created.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Wednesday of a Clarinda man on a valid warrant charging him with Criminal Trespass and Theft in the 5th Degree.  The charges against David G. Gaunt stem from an incident that occurred on April 16th where items were removed from an unoccupied farmstead.

Mr. Gaunt was located by Page County authorities and transported to the Montgomery County Line where he was taken by Montgomery County authorities to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center without incident. Gaunt is being held on $300 cash bond.

Rescue crews have been dispatched to a reported four-vehicle accident on Highway 92 near the Cass-Adair County line. The accident took place at around 6:15-p.m., Wednesday. Four people have been hurt, at least one is said to have been trapped in a vehicle. At least two people, possibly three, were critically injured according to scanner traffic. Three people were transported by two separate ambulances, to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. LifeNet was also enroute from Clarinda to the scene.

The road was blocked, as well. Travelers should take an alternate route. Multiple law enforcement agencies are responding for traffic control.

No other details are currently available. Check back for updates.

A collision between a dump truck and a semi this (Wednesday) morning in Council Bluffs caused traffic to be blocked in one lane for more than an hour. According to Bluffs Police, a semi operated by 35-year old Chad Followell, of Garrett, IN., had broken down and was legally parked on the shoulder of Interstate 80 near the South 24th Street exit, with triangular warning reflectors placed on behind the vehicle, as required.

A dump truck, driven by 47-year old Russell Chase, of Omaha, was traveling west on I-80 when he dozed off or passed out, possibly as the result of exhaust fumes entering the cab. Chase said the vehicle has recently had issues with its exhaust. The dump truck collided with the parked semi, resulting in minor injuries to Followell, who was on the passenger side of his semi’s tractor, 46-year old Shawn Smith, of LaPorte, IN., a passenger in the semi who was in the semi’s sleeper compartment, and Russell Chase.

Each of the individuals complained of pain but refused medical treatment. Chase was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The right lane of I-80 westbound was closed for about 90-minutes, and while it has since re-opened, work was continuing Wednesday afternoon on the shoulder of the road.