(ISP Corrects victims’ hometowns and age in an update at 6-p.m. to our original story posted at 5:05-p.m., Thursday)

Two people were injured, while a third person was killed in a single-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon, in Adair County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash victims were in a 1995 Mercury Sable that was northbound on County Road P-33, about one-half mile north of the Adair/Union County line, when the car went out of control as it was passing a semi at around 12:15-p.m.  The car entered a ditch and came to rest in a stream.

The driver of the car, 20-year old Mark Stout, of Greenfield and a passenger, 49-year old Susan Lavonne Rinkert, of Creston were injured and transported to the Greater Regional Hospital in Creston., before being flown by Mercy 1 helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.   A second passenger in the vehicle, 53-year old James Edward Rinkert, of Macksburg, was also transported to the hospital in Creston, where he died from his injuries.

The Patrol says Stout wore his seat belt, but neither of the Rinkert’s wore theirs. The accident remains under investigation.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Business Manager is undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of Acute Myelocytic Leukemia, or AML.

Atlantic Community School District Business Mgr. Mary Beth Fast

Mary Beth Fast, who came to the Atlantic District from the Griswold Community Schools in 2010, was diagnosed with the condition earlier this month.

AML is the most common type of leukemia among adults, although it affects people of all ages. In AML, immature leukemia cells rapidly accumulate in the bone marrow, destroying and replacing cells that produce normal blood cells. The leukemia cells are released into the bloodstream and are transported to other organs, where they continue to grow and divide.

A “Caring Bridge” site has been established for Mary Beth’s friends, family, students and faculty members to follow her progress as she endures the chemo procedures and tests. The website is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marybethfast

Mary Beth was initially diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection on February 24, 2012.  After completing the prescriptions, she still had a sore throat.  She returned to her doctor on March 12th, and upon further examination he decided to run a full blood test.  The next day she saw another physician, who confirmed the original doctor’s  blood tests results, and performed a bone marrow biopsy.  Before leaving his office he had diagnosed her with acute leukemia.

Mary Beth was admitted to Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, NE, on March 22nd.  The “induction  phase” of her treatment started the day she was admitted.  Her Caring Bridge site said she is on a high dose chemo therapy.  The goal is to completely eradicate her marrow of cancer cells.  This includes destroying all cells.  Once that is accomplished, new cells will begin forming, hopefully free of cancer. Melinda McDermott has assumed Mary Beth’s duties as Business Manager and School Board Secretary, in her absence.

A Taylor County man was sentenced earlier this month to nearly four-years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U-S Attorney Nickolas A. Klinefeldt today (Thursday), announced Southern District of Iowa Judge James Gritzner sentenced 48-year old James Leroy Meek, Jr., of Bedford, to 46-months in prison.

Meek, Jr.  pleaded guilty to a charge of being a Probibited Person in Possession of ammunition in December, 2011, and agreed to turn over 4000 rounds of ammo, which was found during a search of his home in April, 2010. Meek, Jr.  had a prior conviction in Taylor County, of furnishing precursor drugs for unlawful purposes.

(12-p.m. News)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lottery officials say someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Council Bluffs has won $1 million. The lottery said in a news release Thursday that the ticket matched five of the six Powerball numbers drawn Wednesday night: 11, 16, 29, 50 and 58. The ticket didn’t match the Powerball number of 33, so the buyer didn’t win the $50 million Powerball prize. The ticket was sold at a Hy-Vee store on the east side of the western Iowa city.

The ticket buyer has not yet stepped forward. The lottery says it’s the third $1 million-winning ticket sold since the $2 Powerball began in January. Gary Higens, of Des Moines, won $1 million on March 1. Steve Petty, of Adair, won $1 million on Feb. 20.

(updated 6-a.m. 3/30/12)

An Atlantic woman faces a serious misdemeanor charge of Invasion of Privacy-Nudity, for allegedly taking an inappropriate picture of a bathing 78-year old female resident at the Salem Lutheran Home, in Elk Horn. The incident was reported to authorities on March 22^nd.  35-year old Amanda Sedina, an employee of the nursing home, was taken into custody last Friday.

She was released Monday on $1,000 bond and was scheduled to have made her initial court appearance yesterday (Thursday). Her preliminary hearing, which had been set for April 12^th, has been continued. A new date for the hearing has not yet been set.

 Police in Harlan say they’re investigating several incidents of reported break-ins and criminal mischief. The reports were received Tuesday, and include incidents which occurred at the Shelby County Fairgounds, ball fields and private property. Officials remind the public that Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for similar crimes. 

Harlan Police report also, an Atlantic man, 22-year old Trent Bramman, was charged with 5^th degree criminal mischief, after the owner of Big House East told authorities Sunday, that obscenities had been scratched in paint on the property. 

In other news from the Harlan Police Department, 35-year old Sheila Boell, of Harlan, was arrested last week on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance/2^nd offense, and unlawful possession of prescription drugs. Her arrest was the result of a traffic stop.And, 45-year old Timothy Turner, of Harlan, was arrested Saturday, following a reported disturbance in the 900 block of Victoria Street, in Harlan. Turner was charged with domestic abuse assault and simple assault.

Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say three men and one woman were arrested this week on unrelated charges. 41-year old Martha Oltmanns, of Villisca, was arrested this (Thursday) morning, on warrants for Harassment and Simple Assault. Oltmanns was taken into custody at around 9:30-a.m., and later released on a $300 bond. 

On Wednesday, 29-year old Bill Jo Gillespie, of Red Oak, was taken into custody on warrants for Domestic Assault, a Concealed Weapons violation, trespassing, and Violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $7,500 bond. That same day, 25-year old Eric Waldron and 21-year old Drew McKinley, both of Villisca, were arrested for allegedly Supplying Alcohol to a Minor. The men were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.