LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An audit of Veterans Affairs facilities has found nearly 1,000 veterans who requested an initial appointment in Iowa or Nebraska over the last decade, but have not yet been seen. The report released Monday says 987 enrolled veterans sought appointments at one of three facilities — two in Iowa, and one in Nebraska that serves western Iowa.

The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System had 606 appointment requests during the last decade that have not been scheduled. The VA Central Iowa Health Care System had 274 requests, and the Iowa City VA Health Care System had 107.

The report shows 317 new patients who were placed on waiting lists for initial appointments. New patients are placed on waiting lists when an appointment can’t be scheduled within 90 days.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say one person was transported to a hospital in Council Bluffs following an accident Saturday afternoon, northeast of Malvern. Judy Smith was a passenger in a 2007 Pontiac driven by Charles Smith, of Red Oak. She was taken by Malvern Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital following the rear-end collision just west of the intersection of Highway 34 and 330th St.

Officials say a 1999 Plymouth driven by Jerico Coy, of Omaha, was traveling west on Highway 34 behind the Smith vehicle, and failed to notice Smiths’ car before running into the back of it. The accident happened at around 12:15-p.m.

Four people were arrested over the weekend, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials report 21-year old Angel Rose Bovee, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 4-p.m. Friday, on a warrant for Violation of her probation. Her bond was set at $10,000.

On Saturday, Mills County deputies arrested 20-year old Ozzy Ray Hunter, of Oakland, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Driving While Barred. He was taken into cusotdy at around 2:30-p.m. during a traffic stop on Highway 59 at Applewood Road. Hunter’s bond was set at $5,000.

On Sunday, 37-year old Francine May Gladden, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County on a Red Oak Police Dept. warrant. Her bond was set at $300.

And on Monday (Today), 19-year old Kurtis Robert Miller, of Council Bluffs, was arrested near Highway 34 and 370th Street in Mills County. Miller was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

(Noon News)

An unusual pursuit took place Sunday afternoon, in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say a little after 3-p.m. deputies were called to the area of Highway 2 and 370th Avenue, for a report of an erratic semi tractor. Deputies caught up with the 1994 Kenworth semi, which was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound, in the eastbound lanes of the 3100 block of Highway 2.

The semi failed to yield to deputies and reached speeds of 96-miles per hour northbound on Highway 275 in the southbound lane of travel. The vehicle came to a stop in the 700 block of Main Street, in Tabor. Authorities say the driver – who was not identified — was transported to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and later to a Council Bluffs hospital, to undergo a mental evaluation.

Charges are pending completion of the investigation. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the incident, by deputies with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Tabor Police, and Sidney Fire and Rescue.

A traffic stop in Red Oak early Monday morning resulted in three Iowa residents being arrested on drug charges, and the recovery of what was described as “A large of amount of ammunition,” an S-K-S 7.62-calibur assault rifle, and 213-grams (one-half pound) of methamphetamine. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year old Austin Lee Wulf, of Deloit, IA, 27-year old Mark Paul Weller, of Denison, and 29-year old Becky Ann Weller, of Red Oak, were arrested at around 4:20-a.m.  Each was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to Deliver.

Wulf faces an additional charge of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The suspects were booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $100,000 bond, each. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted in their investigation by the Montgomery County K-9 unit and officers with the Red Oak Police Department.

Organizers for the Shelby County Relay for Life event report they had a successful night on the square in downtown Harlan Friday evening. According to Suzie Mages with the American Cancer Society and Shelby County Relay for Life Committee, over 500 people, between the survivors, teams and audience, attended the event.

Some of the highlights from the night were the survivors lap, a special speech from local cancer survivor Nadine Kenkel and entertainment provided by local dance groups, the Harlan Community High School Band and more. Mages told our sister station KNOD in Harlan, that the Shelby County Relay for Life Committee has raised $127,000 so far. A final tally will not be released until August.

Tickets raffled-off for the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Fort Dodge on August 1st went to Sandi Schwery, Kathy Hillwick, Karlene Jacobsen, Dani Lisder and Greg Roecker. Winners can pick up their tickets at the KNOD Studios in Harlan during regular business hours (8-am to 5-pm, Monday through Friday).

(Joel McCall/KNOD)