The Red Oak City Council, Thursday, approved the hiring of a Virginia man to succeed former Fire Chief Rick Askey, who has retired from the position. During a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the Council agreed to hire James Blount III, who has served with the Wythe, Virginia Fire and Rescue Department, since 1994. Blount is tentatively scheduled to take over the position of Red Oak Fire Chief on July 30^th. 

His starting salary will be $50,000 per year. Blount will bring his family with him when he transfers to Red Oak. They include his wife and four sons.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating a residential burglary in Stanton. Officials say 50-year old John Wayne Jewell, of 403 Elliott Street in Stanton, reported the break-in Thursday night. The incident is believed to have occurred sometime between July 3rd and the 5th. 

Officials say a person or persons unknown forced their way into the home and stole numerous personal documents, cash, and electronic items. The loss was estimated at $1,700.

Anyone with information about the break-in, is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

A Red Oak teen claims another driver caused her to crash her vehicle Thursday night, east of Stanton. 18-year old Cassy J. Blystone was traveling west on Highway 34 about a mile-west of Viking Lake State Park, when a dark-colored, late-model truck passed her. Blystone told authorities the other vehicle cut her-off as it came back into the westbound lane. The action caused Blystone to veer to the north and lose control of the 1998 Chevy Cavalier she was driving.

The car traveled south across the eastbound lane of traffic before it left the road and went airborne for a short distance and hit the ground. Blystone said she may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake went the car came down. The vehicle continued southwest through a road ditch and became stuck on elevated terrain in the ditch. The accident happened at around 9:20-p.m., just west of the intersection of Highway 34 and Q Avenue.

Blystone complained of a headache, but neither she nor her passenger were seriously hurt. The car, which lost its right rear wheel during the crash, sustained $4,500 damage.