(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has been elected to another term. Christensen’s two-year term as the leader of the court expired December 31st and she was elected to a new term by fellow justices that began on January 1st. Christensen was first selected chief justice in 2020 to succeeded Chief Justice Mark Cady who died suddenly in 2019.

The Harlan native has served on the high court for five years after being appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds. Christensen released a statement saying she is “honored to be selected by my colleagues to continue to serve as Chief Justice of Iowa’s court system.”

IASUPCO Justice Susan Christensen (File photo)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Tuesday night, arrested a man following a traffic stop. Authorities say 26-year-old Bryson Lee Powell, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended in the State of Iowa. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on bond amounting to $491.25.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) -One person died during an explosion in a residential area of Council Bluffs, late Tuesday morning.  Council Bluffs Police say a man was found dead after a detached garage exploded at around 11:54-a.m. in the area of 35th Street and Avenue G.  Reports say neighbors two and three blocks away felt the explosion and one witness told said he saw the victim had been thrown into the street. Crews from the Council Bluffs Fire Department and Black Hills Energy, which supplies natural gas in Council Bluffs, responded to the explosion, but authorities say it appears the man who died was working in the garage and the explosion was an accident.

A preliminary investigation concluded that a compressed natural gas cylinder exploded in the garage at 709 N 35th Street, and that the explosion was NOT the result of a gas leak from the utilities serving the property. The incident remains under investigation.

The victim’s name was not immediately released.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests. Today (Jan. 3rd), 29-year-old Shawna Marrie Watson, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 1:16-a.m. for Assault ($300 bond). There were three arrests New Years Day, in Mills County: 23-year-old Caleb Michael Solari, of Corning, was arrested for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 bond); 24-year-old Zachary Alexander Shively, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order (No Bond), and, 26-year-old Rhiannon Irene Gilbert, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (Bond $300). On Dec. 30th, Mills County Deputies arrested 39-year-old Tarus Mae Delores Hayes, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense (Bond$1,000).

The Sheriff’s Office says at around 2:18-a.m. Dec. 31st,a 2019 Jeep driven by 23-year-old Caleb Solari, of Corning, was traveling east on Highway 34 in Mills County, when the vehicle drifted off the road and traveled into the ditch. Solari told authorities he was tired. As mentioned above, he was arrested for OWI/1st offense. A passenger in his vehicle was transported to MCMH by Red Oak Rescue, for injuries sustained in the accident. Later that same morning, an accident occurred that involved a 2019 Dodge Ram.

The vehicle was driven by 39-year-old Heath Holmes, of Glenwood, westbound on Highway 34, when Holmes fell asleep at the wheel. His pickup entered the north side ditch and struck a berm. Holmes was checked by EMS at the scene. He declined to be transported to the hospital.

And, on January 2nd, Deputies responded to a three-vehicle accident at 315th St./Highway 34, at around 2:45-p.m.  An investigation determined a 2015 Buick driven by 83-year-old Patricia Barrale, of Hastings (IA), was westbound on Highway 34, prior to turning south onto 315th Street. A 2011 Ford driven by 46-year-old Erin Munns, of Emerson, was eastbound on Highway 34, when Barrale’s vehicle turned into oncoming traffic, causing the impact.

A 2022 KIA driven by 47-year-old Kelly Betley, of Glenwood, was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection, and was struck by Barrale’s Buick as it collided with the Ford.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with Cass Health have announced the addition of Whitney Schafer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C to the team of providers at AMC Rapid Care. Schafer is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to care for patients of all ages. Schafer said she is “Passionate about delivering care with an emphasis on patient education. I have 12 years of experience as an RN in various areas, and I look forward to providing patient-centered care to my rural community.”

AMC Rapid Care Director Tabetha Smith, RN said, of Schafer, “We’re extremely happy to have Whitney on our team! Her personality and demeanor are a perfect fit for the community that we serve. She is a true vision of a neighbor caring for neighbors.”

Schafer recently graduated from Clarkson College with her master’s degree. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 from the University of Iowa and has been a registered nurse since 2010. Her previous nursing experience includes inpatient care, specialty care, surgery, and five years of urgent care experience.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report three recent arrests and an injury accident. Taken into custody on January 2nd, was 20-year-old Mason Bivens, of Glenwood, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Bivens was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate. On January 1st, Glenwood Police arrested 28-year-old Katherine Konfrst, of Glenwood, for OWI/1st offense, and Child Endangerment. She subsequently posted a $3,000 bond.

And, on Dec. 30th, 56-year-old Todd Morris, of Glenwood, was arrested for Eluding. He also later posted bond amounting to $1,000.

On Dec. 30th at around 7:20-p.m., Glenwood Police were dispatched to 312 4th Street, for a report of a vehicle that struck a house. They found a 2018 Chevy Colorado pickup struck the porch at the location specified. The porch was completely destroyed. The driver of the vehicle, 65-year-old Lyle Mark Osler, of Glenwood, said he did not feel well, and the last thing he remembered was passing a convenience store in the area. He believed he passed out due to medical issues.

Osler was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Council Bluffs. There were no other injuries reported. Damage to his truck was estimated at $10,000. The home, owned by Ronnie Hurley, of Glenwood, sustained an estimated $15,000 damage.