(Olin, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa DNR report that a man from Jones County died, during an ATV accident, early Saturday morning. Authorities say that at around 3:30 AM, 35-year-old James Daniel Minor, of Olin, died when the ATV he was operating drove off the roadway at the Olin Access Wildlife Management Area. Minor hit an obstruction and was declared dead at the scene.

Jones County Sheriff assisted the Iowa DNR at the scene.

(Adair, Iowa) – Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt is on a paid leave of absence, pending the completion of a criminal investigation into firearms charges. Adair City Attorney Clint Fichter confirmed the Chief’s status, Thursday.

Agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed search warrants on Aug. 31^st, at Wendt’s office at City Hall in Adair, gun stores he owns in Anita and Denison, and a rural property in Manning.

To be clear, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater’s office was not a target of the investigation. Vandewater only became aware of the investigation after it was underway.

(Vilisca, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 6:30-p.m. Friday in Montgomery County, resulted in a pursuit, and the arrest of a man from Nebraska. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports Deputies attempted to stop a black, no-plated Pontiac Grand Am, on Highway 34 near the intersection with T Avenue (Northwest of Villisca), when the driver – identified as 32-year-old Ryan Jennings, of Omaha – sped off, leading to a chase with speeds of around 100-mph.

The car entered a ditch upright near 200th Street and Highway 34. Jennings attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by Deputies, who detained two other adult passengers in the car. Also located in the vehicle was a juvenile child under Jennings’ care.

Jennings was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment, Eluding, and Interference with Official Acts. Multiple citations were also issued. The two adult passengers were released at the scene without charges.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County K9 Unit, Montgomery County Communications, Red Oak Police, and Red Oak Rescue.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are slated to meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Sept.13th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse, in Atlantic. One of the items on their agenda is to officially accept the resignation of Cass County Auditor Sara Harris, who submitted her resignation to the Board on August 31st.

Harris had been appointed to the position by the Supervisors following the retirement of longtime Auditor Dale Sunderman, in February, 2022. She took over the position in April, and was expected to hold the title of Auditor until the November 8th General Election, but decided to bow out, when a Cass County Republican Nominating Convention was held and selected Kathy Somers as their nominee on August 16th.

In her letter of resignation, Harris stated her last day in office will be Monday, Sept. 12th. She cited in her letter, the decision made by the CCRCC’s “Organized effort,” to remove her “in a referendum against the board of supervisors when they chose to place party loyalty over process and a full capability of doing the job as an auditor.” Harris said also, she could have campaigned, but “The toxic environment fueled with unnecessary drama would remain and the party powers that decided to push [her] out, to no fault of [her] own, will be more inspired than ever to continue their vendetta against the board and by association, [Harris] and [her] family.”

Following formal action on accepting her resignation, the Board, Tuesday, will act to appoint an Auditor to fill the position, until the election. In other business, the Board will act on abating taxes on a parcel located within the City of Anita, and hear a presentation from Don Brown, with Renodry USA, a company that helps to dry out older structures in an effort to remove excess moisture, mold and other causes of masonry and wall issues.

The Supervisors will discuss and possibly act on: using Renodry’s services; DHS approval of leased copier machines, and (if candidates are available), the appointment of Trustees for the Bear Grove (1) and Washington Townships (2).

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A citizen of Mexico who resided in Denison, was sentenced Wednesday to prison, following his plea to a charge of misuse of a Social Security Number. His sentenced was handed-down in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. Authorities say 39-year-old Eric Jimenez Del Carmen was ordered to serve 21 months in prison. following his plea to a charge of misuse of social security number.

In November 2019, Del Carmen applied for employment with Monogram Foods, located in Harlan, by knowingly using a social security number that had not been assigned to him. Del Carmen was able to obtain employment at Monogram Foods as a result of misuse of social security number.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration investigated the case.