The Iowa State Patrol this week recently got caught up on their accident reports after last week’s snow event. One of the reports they released late this week was with regard to a serious injury accident which occurred last Thursday, December 1^st. Officials say 41-year old Jimmy Stringer, of Casey, suffered incapacitating injuries during a collision between his SUV and a car, and was flown from the Guthrie County Hospital to a hospital in Des Moines. The accident happened about 1.5-miles north of Adair at around 4:35 p.m., December 1^st. The Patrol says 28-year old Christina Funke, of Adair, was traveling south on Frontier Road when the passenger side tires of her 2006 Chrysler Sebring dropped off the west edge of the pavement. Funke over-corrected, sending the car across the center line of the road, where it hit a 1998 Chevy Tahoe driven by Stringer, head-on.

Officials say the air bags deployed in Funke’s vehicle as it continued into the west ditch. The woman was not injured, but Stringer was ejected from his SUV as it rolled into the east ditch. The vehicle ended-up landing on its wheels. Both vehicles were totaled, and a fence owned by Sam Carney, of Adair, was damaged during the crash. 

Funke was cited for failure to maintain control and driving on the wrong side of a two way highway. Stringer was cited for failure to wear safety belts.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has awarded a large grant to Mills County for a proposed business corridor near Interstate 29.  The county received an $876,510 grant to help pave a 1¼-mile stretch of 190th Street from Kane Avenue south, to Highway 34. Local officials says the road, which is currently gravel is central to a proposed 5,600-acre business complex predominantly on the west side of I-29.  Included in the pavement project are plans to elevate 190th Street to address flooding concerns.,  

The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency teamed with the county and JEO Consulting, a Wahoo, Neb.-based engineering firm, to apply for the grant. JEO’s project manager says the paving project will cost about $1.2 million.  The engineering firm developed a 30-year master plan for the business corridor, which now includes the Mid-America Motorplex and farm implement company A&M Green Power.

Officials says the corridor is prime for business,  thanks to the $140 million Highway 34 Bridge project that will extend the highway from the I-29 Glenwood exit to U.S. Highway 75 in Nebraska. A portion of Highway 34 currently on the west side of I-29 will become a county road. Rick Allely, business development manager for JEO, said the corridor would attract warehouses, manufacturing businesses and commercial projects, including hotels, restaurants and office parks.

An accident in Montgomery Couunty early this (Friday) morning caused about $4,000 damage, but no one was injured. The Sheriff’s Department says at around 12:30-a.m., they received word a 2001 Dodge 2500 pickup, operated by 19-year old Timothy Alan Carlson, of Elliott, was involved in a property damage accident near Elliott.

The crash happened when Carlson, who was traveling west on Highway 48, lost control of the pickup when he swerved to miss a deer. Due to icy conditions, the vehicle spun and entered the south ditch before striking an embankment.

No citations were issued.

Western Iowa 5th District Congressman Steve King Thursday commented on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision to select American Eagle Airlines to provide essential air service (EAS) at Sioux City. King, a Republican, from Kiron in northwest Iowa, said he was “Pleased that the DOT has granted the City of Sioux City’s request and selected American Eagle as the EAS provider in Sioux City.” 

King added that he’s hopeful that the service will help to increase the air traffic in and out of Sioux City. He acknowledged that “Commercial air service is an important driver of economic development and growth in today’s fast-paced, interconnected, and global economy,” and that “Sioux City has historically done very well to leverage community assets like reliable air service to attract new opportunities.”

He said Thursday’s decision ensures that the City will “Be able to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”