The Harlan Police Department reports an Atlantic man was arrested on an assault charge, Wednesday. 33-year old Shawn Wegner was taken into custody following an investigation into an incident at 1022 6th Street in Harlan, where Wegner allegedly struck Ryne Nelsen, of Harlan. Wegner was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with assault.

The H-PD reports also, 24-year old Tyler Stahl of Harlan was cited for allegedly allowing his pit bull mix to run at large. The dog was reportedly being aggressive to pedestrians. On Tuesday, Harlan Police were called to the high school and  later cited 16-year old Caleb Rihner for a minor in possession of tobacco.

And, on January 15th, 48-year-old Larry Finstad, of Harlan, was arrested on a warrant for probation revocation. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

Lenox Police Chief Jon Huggins reports an elderly man died following an accident Wednesday morning. Huggins says at around  10:20-a.m. Wednesday, Lenox Police were notified of an accident near Van Buren Streets and Maple.

Wash bay damage at an automatic car wash caused by a pickup truck, in Lenox. (Photo courtesy Lenox P-D).

On arrival the officer determined the driver of the vehicle was not breathing. The ambulance was notified and CPR was started with assistance from employees of Barker Equipment. The driver was identified as 92-year old Mack E. McCall, of Lenox. McCall was transported to the hospital where he later died.

An investigation into the incident showed McCall was in the process of entering the automatic car wash, when he experienced a medical problem which caused him to loose consciousness.  The truck then accelerated through the closed overhead door, crossed Maple street, two yards, a fence and Van Buren Streets before crashing into a combine head at the implement dealership.

The pickup was totaled in the crash, while damage to the car wash was estimated at $4000. Other damages amounted to at least $500.

Two people were arrested late Monday morning in Corning following a reported disturbance at a mobile home park. Adams County Sheriff’s Officials say 30-year old Bobbie Bruce and 21-year old Michael Sickels, both from Corning, were arrested just before Noon, Monday, on charges of Domestic Assault and Assault. Bruce was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,000 bond, while Sickels’ bond was set at $1,300.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday, of 19-year old Brady Hollander, of Atlantic. Hollander was taken into custody on a charges of Domestic Abuse Assault and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was booked-in to the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, the A-PD says there were no serious injuries reported following a collision Wednesday evening at 5th and Poplar Streets. Officials say a vehicle driven by Heather Griffin, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 5th Street at around 4:10-p.m., at the same time a vehicle driven by Andrew Elings, of Wiota, was traveling south on Poplar.

Officials say when Griffin pulled out onto Poplar, her vehicle struck Elings’ vehicle on the left front corner, causing a total of $2,200 damage. Griffin was cited by Police for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Officials with Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan are ready to unveil some of the new additions to the hospital. To mark the progress and near-end of the $16-million renovation project, which began in June 2011, an open house will be held today (Thursday), from 4:30 to 6:30-p.m. Dr. Bendorf, general surgeon for Myrtue Medical Center, says visitors will get a chance to see something a little different this evening.

“This is an opportunity for people to come and see the inner workings of an O-R. before it is up and running. I think it will be a good opportunity for people to come look at our new facility.” The Operating Rooms have seen quite a few upgrades with equipment and also higher ceilings which Bendorf said was the hardest challenge. “The way the lights are mounted on the ceiling, it just was really difficult to adjust and there was no way to raise the ceiling. So this is a huge improvement on that. In addition, there was no way we could do big orthopedic cases in the existing O.R’s. The increase in size will really expand our capabilities in that regard.”

The renovation project has been conducted in phases, with the Outpatient clinic and surgical center showcased for the open house this evening. Medical staff will be on-hand during the open house, to provide tours of the facility.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

House Republicans are pushing ahead with a proposal that seeks to put Iowa’s “Right to Work” law in the state’s constitution, knowing the Democratically-led Iowa Senate won’t take up the measure. A House subcommittee held a hearing on the proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday. Charlie Wishman of the Iowa Federation of Labor told Republicans the amendment is unneeded and divisive. “Why are we doing this right now, re-fighting battles that have been fought in other states that have tore them apart if you’ve been watching the news?” Wishman asked.

The “Right to Work” law guarantees no Iowa worker is required to join a union, or pay union dues. Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry told lawmakers if Iowa ever gets rid of its Right to Work Law, companies won’t do business here. “The nation’s leading relocation firm reported that 50 percent of all companies looking to relocate or expand automatically eliminate non-Right to Work states,” Crain said. “That’s automatically over 50 percent.”

The meeting was testy at times. Representative Greg Foristall, of Macedonia, chided the crowd after Marcia Nichols of the AFSCME union spoke.  “I guess I have to question what you’re threatened about,” Nichols said to conclude her remarks, and people in the crowd clapped. Foristall interjected: “No, it’s two to 100 here or whatever, so no penetrations will be allowed because I don’t want to let this get out of hand.” Later, Foristall told the union members they don’t understand economics and the shouting started. “I warned you about demonstrations,” Foristall said. “The meeting’s over.”

Foristall is chairman of the House Labor Committee, and the full committee is the next stop for the proposal.

(Radio Iowa)