Authorities in Pottawattamie County say a Council Bluffs woman who allegedly abused her special needs stepson and deprived him of food and bathroom facilities, has posted bond and was released from jail.  46-year old Rebecca S. Beyer posted 10-percent (or ($10,000) of her $100,000 bond. Her trial is set for Sept. 17th.

The woman was placed on pre-trial release, and was ordered to have no contact with the victim, Joshua Gorda, whose father, 41-year old James Beyer Jr., and Beyer’s son, 23-year old Ryan Matthew Smith, are also accused in the case.

Beyer, Jr., posted bond on July 3rd, and has entered a written plea of not guilty to charges of kidnapping in the 1st degree, and felony willful injury. Smith also posted bond on Thursday, and has plead not guilty to a charge of kidnapping in the 1st degree.

A teenager from Hancock was crowned Queen of the East Pottawattamie County Fair, Thursday evening, in Avoca. 17-year old Sophie Kock moves on to represent East Pott. at the Iowa State Fair, which runs from August 8th through the 18th, in Des Moines.

18-year old Breanna Kixmiller, of Walnut, earned the first runner-up honors, with 17-year old Hannah Constable, of Shelby, being named second runner-up. 17-year old Brittany Kay won the title of Miss Congeniality, while 16-year old Jessica Butcher won the Miss Leadership award. Both Constable and Kay are from Avoca.

And, with the exception of Kixmiller, who will be a senior this fall at the Atlantic High School, each of the other girls attend the AHST High School in Avoca,

In an update to our earlier story about a car-versus-pedestrian accident in Atlantic, Thursday, the Iowa State Patrol early this (Friday) morning, revealed additional information about the incident. Officials say 34-year old Jennifer Kay Lower, of Atlantic, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, before being flown by medical helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.

An investigation determined a 2006 Ford Mustang, driven by 52-year old Clark Alvin Carns, of Fontanelle, was traveling east in the left lane of Highway 6 just after 2:20-p.m., when Lower attempted to cross the Highway, at the intersection with Whitney Street (Highway 71).

The Patrol says charges resulting from the accident, are pending completion of an investigation.

One person was flown to a hospital in Omaha following an accident this (Thursday) afternoon, on the east side of Atlantic. According to reports, a vehicle traveling east on 7th Street, when a female pedestrian ran across the road, just east of the intersection with Highway 71. The driver of vehicle which struck her tried to avoid the collision, but was unable to stop in-time.

The unidentified pedestrian was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital before being flown to Omaha. The accident remained under investigation late this afternoon, with traffic restricted through the area.

No other details are currently available.

Monroe, IOWA — An Iowa State Patrol Trooper assigned to Governor Branstad’s security detail discovered a house fire Wednesday afternoon while driving the Governor back to Des Moines from an event in Eddyville.

Trooper Greg Steffen and Governor Branstad were driving through Monroe, Iowa on Hwy 163 on Wednesday around 1:50 pm when Trooper Steffen notice black smoke coming from east of the highway.  Trooper Steffen could not tell what the source of the smoke was and decided to investigate the situation further.  Trooper Steffen turned onto County Road F62 and a short time later, located a house fully engulfed in flames.  Trooper Steffen stopped his vehicle a safe distance from the fire and went to check if anyone was in the burning house.

Emergency crews had not arrived, so Trooper Steffen located the occupant of the home, an elderly woman who had escaped the fire, but had suffered multiple burns.  Trooper Steffen confirmed there were no other individuals in the home and noticed a propane tank behind the house.  Trooper Steffen moved the elderly woman and other bystanders to a safe location away from the house and rendered first aid until emergency fire crews arrived.

“Serving on the Executive Protection Unit, our priority is the security of the Governor and his family,” stated Captain Mark Logsdon.  “And as a Trooper, our priority is the public safety of all Iowans. Trooper Steffen demonstrated a great example of public service by making sure the Governor was safe and also a citizen of Iowa.”

The Iowa State Patrol reports that Governor Branstad did not exit the vehicle during the incident and remained a safe distance from the fire at all times.