Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say only minor injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) morning, on the west side of Red Oak.  Kevin M. Hardy, of Red Oak, told investigators he was returning home from work at around 2-a.m. and traveling south on Ginkgo Avenue, when he fell asleep at the wheel of his 2003 Saturn.

Hardy woke up just as he was traveling through the intersection with 205th Street and had attempted to stop, but ended up colliding with a fence on the south side of the T-intersection. A pole from the fence crashed through the car into the passenger compartment and went through Hardy’s shirt sleeve, causing a minor abrasion, but no serious injuries.

Damage to the car was estimated at $1,200. No citations were issued.

Authorities say three Red Oak men were arrested on felony burglary charges Tuesday, following a joint investigation between deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Police. Taken into custody on charges of Burglary in the 3rd degree, was 38-year old Jody Lee Michaelsen, 20-year old Cameron Allen Crismon, and 20-year old James LeRoy Christensen, Jr., all of Red Oak. Christensen had faced an Aggravated Serious Misdemeanor charge of Accessory to a Felony, but that was dismissed by the court.  The trio allegedly burglarized a residence at 1685 G Avenue in rural Red Oak, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 6th.

All three subjects were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond. Their preliminary hearings were set for March 16th. At that time, a judge may set their bail at $5,000 each.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the burglary of a business in Red Oak. Sheriff’s officials say an investigation into an incident at the Red Oak Lanes bowling alley began just after 2-a.m. Tuesday. They determined a person or persons unknown forcefully entered the building at 1663 200th Street, and began vandalizing it. An undetermined amount of cash was also reported missing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001, or the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department at 712-623-5107.

Here is the latest Iowa news from the Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group opposed to the development of new nuclear power plants is running more than $8,000 worth of television ads in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City.The advertising campaign from Friends of the Earth comes as a legislative committee prepares to consider a bill Thursday that outlines how utility rates would be set if a company builds a nuclear power plant in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy is considering one that could cost it as much as $2 billion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a chemical spill after a truck accident has closed part of Iowa Highway 7 near Newell in northern Iowa. The Department of Natural Resources says a semitrailer went off the road and rolled early Wednesday, throwing several chemical containers into a ditch, where they leaked or ruptured. There were no injuries. The spill involves three 55-gallon drums of phosphoric acid, three to five 275-gallon plastic containers of sodium and potassium hydroxide mix and one 55-gallon drum of chlorine bleach.

WHITTEN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a valve malfunction may have a caused an anhydrous ammonia spill at a grain elevator in Whitten in northern Iowa. The Times-Republican in Marshalltown reports three supply tanks began leaking at the Mid-Iowa Co-Op late Tuesday morning. Gundy County Sheriff Rick Penning estimates they spilled about 80 percent of their 28,000 gallons by the time a hazardous materials crew got the leak under control Tuesday afternoon. No one was hurt and no evacuations were ordered, but a nearby highway was closed for most of the day.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City man facing 13 state charges of sexually abusing children has been indicted on five federal charges. Michael Goodale was indicted Tuesday on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse, two counts of interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of accessing child pornography. The sexual abuse charges stem from incidents involving two boys under the age of 12 between 2008 and September 2011.

The Audubon County Community Foundation has announced the Exira Lions Club/Harold and Beverly Ann Godwin Endowed Scholarship Fund will result in one scholarship for $1,000.  The scholarship is open to any high school senior from the Exira-EHK School District pursuing a two or four year degree, full-time, at any accredited vocational/technical or educational institution or a college or university. The deadline for submitting applications for the scholarship is March 31^st. Those interested in seeking the scholarship need to complete an application available from your High School Guidance Counselor.

For more information surf to: http://omahafoundation.org/improving-our-community/community-foundation-of-southwest-iowa/

Atlantic City Administrator Doug Harris, Wednesday, urged the Council and public to visit an Iowa Department of Transportation Website designed to receive input on the desire and feasibility of a Chicago to Omaha passenger rail route.  The Federal Railroad Administration, in cooperation with the Iowa DOT, will analyze improvements to the regional intercity passenger rail service from Union Station in Chicago, through Iowa, to a terminal in Omaha.

The study will include a Tier 1 Service Level Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the corridor. The potential improvements will help complete the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative’s (MWRRI) vision for developing an improved and expanded passenger rail system in the Midwest. The study will be a major step in assessing the viability of a high-speed, regional passenger rail system in this highly populated corridor. Harris says there are five routes being studied.

That includes: The Canadian National Railway, that passes through Dubuque and Ft. Dodge; A Union Pacific Railroad route that passes through Cedar Rapids and Ames; A Canadian Pacific/Burlington Northern Santa Fe, or BNSF route through Cedar Rapids and Savannah; an Iowa Interstate Railroad route which passes through Iowa City, Des Moines and Atlantic; and, the Chicago-Burlington-Quincy Railroad, which passes through Burlington and Osceola.

Harris said some forecasts by the DOT indicate 246,800 passengers could travel the route each year. The trains would travel at speeds ranging from about 80-to 110-miles per hour, except through towns along the route. He says by going to the Iowa DOT’s website, you can find out more about the study, and leave your comments and suggestions. The website is www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha.

He says there are several elements to the 18-month study that will have to be considered before approval is given, but the thing that’s needed right now, is public input via the website. The study began this Winter by analyzing the project scope. Potential routes will be analyzed this Spring. Over the Summer, an environmental impact study will be conducted, which includes public and agency input, and an environmental analysis. In the Fall, a draft of the Tier 1 Schedule will be created, and with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ready for final public input and agency review by the Spring of 2013.