The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported after a United Parcel Service (UPS) semi overturned early this (Tuesday) morning, on southbound Interstate 29, about 2-miles north of the Missouri border. The semi, pulling double trailers, blocked a portion of the southbound lanes when it flipped over at around 4:35-a.m. The driver, 47-year old David Koons, of Smithville, MO., told authorities when he swerved to avoid several deer in the road, he lost control of the rig, causing it to overturn. Strong winds were also considered to be a factor in the crash.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A dentist in western Iowa has agreed to pay a $2,500 penalty for not having a valid federal registration for prescribing medication.  The Daily Nonpareil reports that Dr. Michael Rensch made the agreement in a settlement with the Iowa Dental Board.

The board said Rensch repeatedly prescribed controlled substances without a valid registration required by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The dental board says Rensch’s DEA registration expired on June 1, 2009, and says Rensch confirmed that he issued several prescriptions for controlled substances while lacking the DEA registration. He reinstated his DEA registration in March 2012.

HINTON, Iowa (AP) – A construction company and a natural gas pipeline owner have settled a lawsuit filed after a northwest Iowa pipeline explosion nearly a year ago.  Omaha, Neb.-based Northern Natural Gas Co. had sued DeRocher Construction, of Le Mars, for negligence. Northern sought more than $439,000 in damages.

Officials say the April 25 blast near Hinton occurred after two DeRocher workers who were using machinery to install drainage tile struck the underground pipeline, rupturing it. They ran and escaped fatal injury before it erupted into a fireball.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office in August fined DeRocher $20,000 for failing to call Iowa One Call to have underground utility lines located before digging.  The companies have delayed court proceedings while final settlement details are worked out. Spokesmen for both companies declined to comment.