(Red Oak, Iowa) – A driver in Red Oak was issued a written warning following a collision Thursday evening at N. Miller Avenue and E. Summit Streets. No injuries were reported. Police report a 2008 Buick Lucerne driven by 43-year-old Peter Alan Rabotinsky, of Red Oak, was traveling south on N. Miller Avenue at around 5:13-p.m., and a 2014 GMC Acadia (SUV) driven by 35-year-old Ashley Lanae Bolte, of Red Oak, was traveling east on E. Summit.

The Police report says Rabotinsky stopped at the controlled intersection, and then proceeded into the intersection, striking the SUV. Police issued a written warning to Rabotinsky for Failure to obey a stop sign, and failure to yield the right-of-way.

Damage from the collision amounted to $12,000. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, today (Friday), asked for your help in locating a missing Council Bluffs woman. Authorities say 62-year-old Lisa Marlene Bonham-Gunderson was visiting with family members since the passing of a relative. She has not been seen since July 8th, when she was planning to take her vehicle in for repairs. Bonham-Gunderson has not had contact with her family since July 8th, when she advised she was not feeling well.

Lisa Bonham-Gunderson is a 5-feet, 4-inch tall Caucasian female. She has brown hair and eyes, and weighs approximately 180 pounds.  If you have any information on her location, please contact Sgt. Ted Roberts with the Council Bluffs Police Department, at 712-890-5212, or your local law enforcement agency.

Lisa Bonham-Gunderson

(Omaha, NE) – Officials with the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, today (Friday), announced applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Audubon and Cass Counties. As part of this fall grant cycle, $29,940 is available to support Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects, and $45,420 is available to support Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects. The deadline to apply for funds in each respective county, through the online application process, is September 1st.

Of the total allocated funds in Cass County, $4,000 is restricted to the community of Griswold, and $25,940 is available to support nonprofit organizations and projects throughout the county.  Of the total allocated funds in Audubon County, $2,375 is restricted to the Exira area, $5,060 is designated for the community of Audubon, and $37,985 is available to support projects throughout the county.

Beginning July 15, application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting either Audubon County or Cass County, under County Listing at swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County and Cass County are eligible to apply, and only in their respective counties. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project. For the Fall 2023 grants, the Audubon and Cass County Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. General operating support will only be considered for extenuating, non-recurring circumstances.

The Community Foundations aim to improve the quality of life in Audubon and Cass Counties, by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact. These grant funds are made possible by the generosity of the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundation donors. To learn more about donating to either the Audubon or Cass County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon or Cass County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Audubon County Community Foundation Board members: Chair Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Vice Chair Gina Benton of Exira; Secretary/Treasurer Megan Wagner of Audubon; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; Donna Olson of Kimballton, and Doug Carter of Audubon. Cass County Community Foundation Board members: Chair Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry of Anita; and Mike Tibken of Anita.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the October Board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of October.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report no one was injured during a collision between an SUV and a car Thursday afternoon. The accident happened at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Elm Streets at around 4:43-pm.  Authorities say when officers arrived on the scene they found a 2014 Jeep Cherokee owned and operated by 23-year-old Sadie Anna Graham, of Stanton, was on its top with the airbags deployed, and a 2015 Hyundai Elantra owned and operated by 21-year-old Austin Edward Wilkins, of Red Oak, with front end damage. Graham was helped out of her SUV by citizens in the area.

According to the accident report, the Jeep was traveling east on E. Elm Street, and the car was traveling north on 2nd Street. When both vehicles arrived at the uncontrolled intersection at the same time, Graham failed to yield to Wilkins’ car. As a result, the car struck the SUV on its passenger side, causing it to overturn and come to rest on the north side of E. Elm. Police say Graham was visibly shaken, but she said she was not injured. She did have a red mark on her left bicep, but refused medical treatment at the scene. Wilkins declined to be examined by medics.

Police say Sadie Graham was issued a written warning for failure to yield to a vehicle on her right. Her vehicle was totaled, with the loss estimated at $21,000. The Hyundai sustained $6,000 damage but was driven from the scene. Red Oak Fire and Rescue assisted Red Oak Police at the scene.