The driver of a vehicle which struck and killed a Shelby County firefighter two years ago on Interstate 80 is now suing the City of Shelby. The Omaha World Herald reports David L. Thies, of Boone, is suing the city for $5,000, a fraction of what the accident cost him. Thies was involved in the accident on I-80 two years ago when he struck Shelby firefighter Michael Collins who was killed while directing traffic after another accident had taken place on the interstate.

Thies claims Collins was under the influence of drugs at the time and stepped into traffic. The papers says documents inside the Iowa State Patrol’s full investigation report say Collins had THC in his system, which is the active ingredient in marijuana and a narcotic pain reliever called oxymorphone. A hearing on his claim is set to take place Oct. 21st, in Pottawattamie County Small Claims Court.

The accident that took the life of Collins happened around 6:50-pm on September 18th, 2011 as Collins was directing traffic. The patrol says Thies was traveling on the Interstate and went around the stopped vehicles and hit Collins in the left lane. No criminal charges were ever filed against Thies, as the investigators did not find his actions reckless. He was however charged with driving without proper registration.

The accident report from the Iowa State Patrol says Collins received oxymorphone from someone who had a prescription. Thies stated his expenses from the accident including medical bills are over $30,000. The City of Shelby declined to comment to the paper on the lawsuit. This was the second accident fatal accident Thies was involved in. Back in 1988, Thies was driving a motorcycle in Nebraska when it crashed and killed the passenger 20 year old Gina Pearson. He was charged with vehicular homicide and served a 17 month jail sentence.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department reports a Missouri man was arrested over the weekend on drug and other charges. 39-year old Raymond Bartholomew Johnson, of Seneca, Mo., was arrested Saturday for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana with the intent to deliver, 2 counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, no Tax Stamp, Driving Under Suspension, failure to have proof of insurance, registration violation, and on a warrant out of Shelby County.

And, a Tabor man, 24-year old Michael Douglas Auten, was arrested Friday in Fremont County, for Driving Under Suspension, Failure to secure a child, and failure to maintain registration.

A pre-trial hearing for a former western Iowa music teacher accused of sexual exploitation is set to take place this (Monday) morning, in Harlan. Seventy-two-year-old Lee Nelson worked for the Harlan Community School District for 35 years. He was arrested in July on charges of sexual exploitation by a school employee and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Authorities say a 17-year-old has accused Nelson of committing the acts while Nelson mentored the teenager between October 2012 and April 2013. He’s plead not guilty to the charges,

Nelson resigned from his position at the school this past April. According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Nelson voluntarily surrendered his license earlier this year. His trial is set for Oct. 29th.

The Audubon City Council will meet during a regular session this evening, at the City Hall. During the meeting, the Council will hear from Terry Siedelmann, with regard to Landlords/utility billings. They’ll also act on: approving a pay estimate amounting to just under $119, 895 for the water tower project; and on a resolution adopting the Audubon County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Discussion items include that which pertains to the property at 210 Church Street. The Audubon City Council meeting begins at 7-p.m.

A Red Oak man was arrested Sunday evening on a trio of charges. Red Oak Police say 35-year-old Michael Shane Sunny Cantrell was arrested in the 400 block of East Grimes for breach of peace, simple domestic assault and 5th degree criminal mischief. Cantrell was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.