(updated 3/15/12 – ISP corrected the couples’ ages)

The Iowa State Patrol says an elderly couple from Kansas City, KS were injured during a single vehicle accident Tuesday evening, in Fremont County. The driver of the car, 88-year old Charles Best, and his passenger, 99-year old Marie Best, were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where they were listed in “Fair” condition. 

The Patrol says the Bests’ 2004 Toyota Highlander was traveling north on Interstate 29 at around 6:45-p.m.,  when for reasons unknown, the SUV left the road, traveled into a ditch, a field and a creek before coming to rest in a field. Neither of the Bests’ were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation remind area graduates that the deadline for the Elsie and Louie Hansen Memorial Scholarship is April 2nd, 2012. To be eligible for a scholarship you must be a Cass County high school graduate who is enrolled in, or has been accepted to and will be attending, a college of nursing or medicine leading to an LPN, RN, or MD degree. The Louie and Elsie Hansen Scholarship was established through the generosity and careful planning of these two life-long Cass County residents.  The Hansen’s believed in higher education, so much so that over 70% of their estate was bequeathed for that purpose, including a gift to the CCMH Foundation. 

Under the supervision and guidance of the CCMH Foundation, scholarship opportunities are provided yearly.  Scholarship candidates must have graduated from a Cass County high school and be enrolled in an accredited nursing or medical doctor school. Applications are available on line at www.casshealth.org or may be picked up from the CCMH Foundation office.

More than 750 county officials will be traveling to Des Moines this week for education, skills training and networking.  The Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) will be holding its 69th Spring School of Instruction March 15-16 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. In addition, ISAC will award scholarships to eight outstanding high school students during ISAC’s Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony on March 15th. 

Scholarships in the amount of $3,000 will be awarded to: Amanda Kesterson, a student at the Denison High School; and Amanda Steffes, from the Audubon High School. A Runner-up scholarship in the amount of $1,500 will also be awarded to Paige Kennon, from the Atlantic High School. Ethan Westering from the Atlantic High School, will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the Iowa Counties Information Technology Organization.  And, Michaela Kennedy from Abraham Lincoln High School will receive the Past President’s Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. 

Criteria used in judging the scholarships are scholastic achievement, financial need, participation in extracurricular/community activities, and overall character.  Eligibility is limited to children of county officials or county employees. ISAC scholarships are funded through the ISAC Education Foundation.  Also during ISAC’s business meeting, county officials will review and approve the association’s budget for fiscal year 2013. 

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a Villisca man suffered incapacitating injuries during a single-vehicle rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning in the western part of the County. 32-year old Dean Richard Orr was traveling north on Birch Avenue from Highway 34 at around 7:20-a.m., when his 1996 Buick Park Avenue slid through the intersection at 210th Street. The vehicle continued north on Birch. As it approached the T-intersection with 205th Street, the car went off the west side of the road.

When Orr overcorrected, the car rolled six times and landed in the north ditch. Officials say Orr, who was traveling too fast for the road conditions, was ejected from the vehicle through the side door window as the car rolled. He was transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. He faces charges which include Driving While Suspended, Failure to Maintain Control, Failure to have Insurance, and not wearing a seat belt. His car was a total loss.