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State plans special traffic enforcement this week

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa traffic safety officials are stepping up enforcement of driving violations later this week. The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says about 250 law enforcement agencies around the state will be on the roads from Thursday through Sunday for a special traffic enforcement program. They’ll be looking for drunken drivers, those not wearing seatbelts, and other traffic violations. Last year the March safety enforcement effort resulted in more than 18,000 traffic citations and warnings. The bureau says a record number of traffic fatalities in January and February show a need for additional education and enforcement to change driver behavior. The bureau says 59 people died on Iowa’s roads in the first two months of the year. About a third had not worn seatbelts.

Iowa Senate approves mental health overhaul

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has easily approved a proposed overhaul of Iowa’s mental health system. The measure approved Monday would put in place statewide standards for mental care. It also would create regional units to coordinate services, replacing a county-based system. Services would still be provided locally. The Senate approved the package on a 32-18 vote, sending it to the House. Des Moines Democratic Sen. Jack Hatch says the measure would cost $42 million in the first year. The measure approved Monday doesn’t include funding. Hatch says there would be more debate later in the session about how to pay for the new approach. The change was designed to ensure all Iowans get similar services, as residents of some counties now receive less than others.

Monday morning pursuit in Pottawattamie County leads to arrest

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A Nebraska woman was arrested this (Monday) morning in Pottawattamie County, after an Iowa State Patrol Trooper performed a PIT maneuver. The Patrol says a vehicle driven by 41-year old Wendy Johnson-Delong, of La Vista, NE, was eluding law enforcement on Interstate 80 at around 1:50-a.m., about two-miles east of the Walnut exit, when 40-year old Trooper Brian Beenen, of Council Bluffs, used the 2009 Dodge Charger he was driving to nudge the woman’s car near the left rear quarter panel, causing Johnson-Delong’s car to spin into the median. 

After the vehicle came to rest and the woman was taken into custody, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department charged her with Assault with a weapon, eluding, and OWI/1st Offense. She was booked into the Pott. County Jail at around 4-a.m., and posted a $5,000 bond a few hours later, before being released from custody. 

Damage to the vehicles involved in the incident amounted to $3,000.

Two arrests reported in Atlantic

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department says two people were arrested recently, on unrelated charges. 48-year old Allen Siegle, of Omaha, was arrested Friday on a warrant out of Douglas County, NE, for a Sex Offender Registry Act violation. Siegle was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, on Sunday, 25-year old Christopher Castillo, of Adair, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Castillo was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

(12–p.m. News)

Two accidents Friday in Atlantic

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department said today (Monday), no injuries were reported following two separate accidents Friday morning. The first accident happened at about 8:30-a.m., at 9th and Chestnut Streets. A vehicle driven by Rachel Fulk, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 9th Street and approaching Chestnut, at the same time a car driven by Michael Redler, of Atlantic, was traveling south on Chestnut. Officials say Fulk stopped at the intersection but then proceeded forward, where her car collided with the Redler vehicle. Damage was estimated at $4,500. Fulk was cited for Failure to Yield.

The second accident happened at around 10:40-a.m. Friday, as a vehicle driven by Ivalen Kindred, of Atlantic, was traveling through a parking lot at 15 West 3rd Street. Her car was struck a vehicle driven by Bobbi Jo McNees, of Atlantic, as McNees was backing out of a parking stall. Damages amounted to $2,100. No citations were issued.

Griswold man arrested on forgery charge

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Griswold man was arrested last week on felony forgery charges. 22-year old Alexander Paul Dvorak was taken into custody Wednesday on three charges of Forgery (a Class-D Offense), and one charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Dvorak was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $6000 bond.

The Sheriff’s office reports also three people were arrested over the weekend. On Saturday, 24-year old Jesse Cavin Meier, of Lewis, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Meier was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day following a plea of guilty before the Magistrate. And, 24-year old John David Nelson, of Griswold, was arrestewd on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. 

On Sunday, 31-year old Timothy George Myers, of Lewis, was arrested by Cass County Sheriff’s deputies, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Myers was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

(12-p.m. News)

Cardinals Look to Lynn as Carpenter Heals

Sports

March 12th, 2012 by Jim Field

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Lance Lynn may be the St. Louis Cardinals’ “Plan B” if former Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter isn’t ready for the season.

Expected to be a member of the bullpen at the start of camp, the Cardinals will look at Lynn as a possible starter in case Carpenter is unable to recover from a bulging disc in his neck.

A 24-year-old year old right-hander, Lynn will make his first start of the spring on Wednesday against Houston. The Cardinals are also considering rookie Shelby Miller, a former No. 1 pick.

Nodaway Valley Park assault under investigation

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged assault. Officials say a Red Oak woman informed the Sheriff’s Office Sunday, that her son had been assaulted at around 10:30-p.m.  March 2nd, at Nodaway Valley Park in Page County. Charges of aggravated assault are pending completion of the investigation.

Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports also, 24-year old Rebecca Ann Hart, of Shenandoah, was arrested Sunday at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant out of Fremont County. Hart was unable to post bond. She was subsequently transported to the Page-Fremont County line by a sheriff’s deputy and turned over to Fremont County authorities. Hart was being held in the Fremont County Jail.

Underage drinking party busted in Page County/ Theft and burglary reported

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports two people were cited for being persons under legal age Saturday night, following an investigation into a party in the Pierce Creek area. 18-year olds Sean Holland, of Malvern and Zachary Leland Keene, of Glenwood, were cited. Two juveniles were also referred to Juvenile Court Services on charges of drinking under the legal age. The juveniles were released to the custody of their parents. Four containers of alcohol were seized during the investigation into the incident in the 1300 Block of A Avenue in Page County. 

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says also, a theft and burglary were reported to his office recently. A Clarinda resident told authorities someone stole two tractor batteries from his International Model 1466 tractor. The tractor was located inside a shed on the outskirts of College Springs. It’s not clear when the batteries were taken. They were last known to have been in the tractor when the first snow fell this season. 

And, a Coin man told the Sheriff’s Department someone entered a garage and a storage building on a property he oversees on or about March 4th. Entry to the structures was gained by cutting off a lock clasp to each door. An inventory was being conducted to determine which items were missing, but an initial assessment determined tools, a tool box and footlocker were taken. The items were valued at about $400.

(12-p.m. News)

No fire or explosion Weirich Welding Plus

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

(Update 11:22-a.m.)

Initial reports of two oxy-acetylene torches exploding this morning at Weirich Welding Plus in Lewis turned out not to be the case. The Cass County Communications Center dispatched Lewis Fire at around 10:10-a.m. with a report two of the tanks had exploded. 

KJAN News arrived on the scene at around 10:30-a.m., and learned from an employee that another employee was cutting some iron when the gaseous combination of oxygen and acetylene began leaking out of a hose and caused a loud “bang.” A flame then shot out of the torch about 10-feet, according to the employee, who did not wish to be identified.

There was no explosion, and no one was injured. The employee told KJAN News the only damage was a mess created when they used a fire extinguisher to put out the small amount of visible flames.