(Red Oak, Iowa) – In an update to an earlier post, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says one-person suffered minor injuries, when a Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad train derailed a little after 6-a.m. today (Thursday), in Red Oak. The train derailed in the area of Bluegrass Road and East Nuckols St., in Red Oak. Emergency crews arrived on scene and found a BNSF train with (4) grain cars derailed in the south ditch, with one grain car on top of a parked Railcrew Xpress transportation vehicle.

The driver of the transportation vehicle was able to self-extricate from the vehicle under his own power. He was transported to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.(Photos courtesy Brian Hamman/MC EMA)

Hamman said “There is no current threat or hazard to the public at this time. East Nuckols Street and Bluegrass Rd will be closed for an extended period of time for cleanup.”

Agencies assisting on scene include:

• Red Oak Fire & Rescue
• Red Oak Police Department
• Red Oak Public Works
• Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
• Montgomery County Emergency Management
• Montgomery County 9-1-1 Communications
• Montgomery County Secondary Roads
• Mid American Energy
• BNSF

(Clinton County, Iowa) – A collision this (Thursday) morning in an eastern Iowa roundabout caused two people to be transported to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 BMW X3 SUV was traveling north on Highway 67 in Camanche just before 5-a.m., and approaching the roundabout with 7th Avenue. A 2007 Toyota Camry was in the roundabout heading toward Camanche/7th Avenue exit.

Both vehicles collided in a broadside fashion, causing the SUV to roll several times before coming to rest north of the roundabout. The Patrol’s report said two people were injured, but their names were not immediately released. The victims were transported to the University of Iowa Hospital by MedForce and Comanche EMS.

The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Camanche Police.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports the Cass County Grow Another Row Committee hosted a free potting event at Mollett Park on August 6th (2024). The weather was great, McAfee says and there were 28 participants who attended the event, which taught community members how to plant late-season patio plants. Participants planted herbs, radishes, peas, lettuce, and spinach. Those crops grow in cooler temperatures, making them perfect patio plants in the early fall months.

Participants also had the opportunity to plant extra pots to donate to the local food pantry. A total of 15 patio pots will be donated to the Atlantic Food Pantry. The Grow Another Row Committee will care for these plants until they are distributed at The Atlantic Food Pantry. (Photos courtesy Grace McAfee)

Thrivent Funding, Atlantic Parks and Rec, and The Grow Another Row Committee made the event possible. Grace McAfee said “We are looking forward to planning more events, such as sharing gardening tips and promoting local foods.” If you are interested in learning more about local food, workshops, and Grow Another Row events, check out the monthly Grow Another Row Newsletter.

Contact Grace McAfee at mcage@casshealth.org to get signed up.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of rare horses from all over the U-S will be racing into central Iowa this weekend, but it has nothing to do with the livestock shows at the Iowa State Fair. The Mustang Club of America’s National Mustang Show is being held in Des Moines where some 300 gleaming cars will be on display. Greg Huyser, of Indianola, says he adores all incarnations of Ford’s famous coupe and he’s thrilled the Mustang Club of Central Iowa is hosting this national event. “We will see Mustangs from across the country,” Huyser says. “We’ve got 60 years of Mustangs celebrated this year, and we’ll have everything from original cars that have never been restored to cars that were just built a few months ago.”

While some of the cars that’ll be on display are so-called daily drivers, he says most of the others will be showroom quality, including a Mustang that’s a genuine one-of-a-kind, and some that are extremely valuable. “We will have a prototype 1971 Boss 302. They actually didn’t end up making that car, but they did make one prototype,” Huyser says. “We’ll also have some Boss 429s, there. They typically, at auction, sell for $250- $300,000 a piece.” There isn’t this type of convention being held for the Ford Taurus, so what is it about the Mustang that’s so desirable and enduring that the nameplate has been around for six decades with a very loyal following?

“They were kind of a phenomenon when they first came out, back in April of ’64. They weren’t really expected to be the big sales success that they were, but they sold like two-million of them in the first two years,” Huyser says. “I was just a three-year-old kid when the Mustang came out, but yet I still remember when it came out and have loved Mustangs ever since.” Huyser will be showing off his 2014 Mustang G-T at the show, which is his ninth Mustang. His first was a 1976 Mustang Two, which is a body style some Mustang purists may mock. Everyone has a favorite, he says, though many critics are quick to blast the new electric Mustang that’s now on the road as not being a “real” Mustang.

Photo by the Mustang Club of Central Iowa

“And I kind of feel the same way, too. On the other hand, I think from Ford Motor Company’s perspective, it’s some pretty smart marketing. They put a name like a Mustang on it, people are going to become a lot more aware of it. Even now, we’re talking about their electric car versus if they called it an electric Taurus, nobody would be talking anything about it.” The show runs Friday through Sunday at the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines. Admission is free.

mustangclubofcentraliowa.org

(Radio Iowa) – A century ago, Iowans in the know attended events called “chautauquas,” summer festivals filled with food, culture and interesting speakers on topics like history, art, and philosophy. The second annual effort to revive the spirit of those gatherings is planned for this weekend in central Iowa. Nathan Beacom is founder of the Lyceum Movement, which is sponsoring “Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas.”  “What the Tallgrass Festival is — it’s kind of a revival of something that used to exist long ago in Des Moines, which is a celebration of ideas and culture,” Beacom says. “So we have scientists, philosophers, thinkers coming in to talk about some really important things in America today, including the mental health crisis and the decline of community life.”

It’s not just a “sage on the stage,” one speaker droning on about a topic, as he says these events are designed to inspire those in the audience to discuss the topics and actually talk to one another face to face. “They’re participatory. They’re conversational,” Beacom says. “So often we just talk online. What we do is try to build community, bring people back together, people who come from different perspectives and different backgrounds, to overcome those differences and get to know our neighbors better, and get to have really meaningful conversations with them that we might not have anywhere else.” Yes, the looming presidential election may come up at some point, but Beacom says they strive to stay away from any hot button issues, so everyone can feel welcome and at ease.

He says they’re focused on eliminating confrontations — by having conversations. “We just create an environment of listening to one another, and hearing one another out, and thinking of ourselves as all on a common exploration — to understand these things, rather than to just have an argument and win or lose,” Beacom says. “Generally people, even if people might not think that it’s their cup of tea, people come out really energized.”

The festival opens Friday evening and resumes on Saturday afternoon.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an investigation into a hit-and-run accident Wednesday on Interstate 80, resulted in the arrest of a man from Illinois on a trio of charges. No injuries were reported. Officials say Deputies of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area near the Highway 71 and Interstate 80 interchange for a hit and run motor vehicle accident.  The reporting party advised that their vehicle was struck by a white Ford pickup with green decorations on it and the writing “Hoover” on the side.  The pickup continued east on Interstate 80, eventually exiting south towards Anita on Highway 148, per information from the reporting party.

A Deputy with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate the vehicle. It was clocked traveling south at approximately 98 MPH.  The Deputy turned around to begin a traffic stop on the vehicle to investigate the hit and run accident and the speed violation.  After he turned around, the Deputy noticed that the vehicle turned onto Mars Avenue in Anita, which is where the Deputy soon afterward found the vehicle was parked, with a man standing outside next to it.  The man was later identified as 43-year-old Jeremy Nolan, of Westville, IL.  That information was obtained only after the subject provided a false identification, out of concern that he had arrest warrants for an unrelated incident.

The Sheriff’s Office says Nolan attempted to detour the Deputy by stating that his brother was driving the truck and ran away on foot, in fear of warrants for his arrest.  Through investigation and conversations with additional witnesses, including other passengers in the vehicle, this was found to be false and Jeremy Nolan was in-fact identified as the driver.  Nolan was placed under arrest and transported to the Cass County Jail on the charges of Driving while Revoked, Providing False Information and Speeding.

All other parties involved and/or occupants of the vehicle were released with no charges.  The Iowa State Patrol handled the investigation of the initial hit and run accident.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports three recent arrests:

28-year-old Joshua James Jost, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on a charge of Failure to Appear (in Court). Jost was transferred to the Adams County Jail and held without bond until seen by a judge.

26-year-old Isaac Wayne Hayes, of Creston, was arrested at his residence, for Disorderly Conduct. Hayes was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

And, 31-year-old Paige Nichole Ruggle, of Creston, was arrested in the 700 block of W. Adams Street, for Public Intoxication. Ruggle was transported to the Adams County Jail.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports a train derailment has occurred in the area of Bluegrass Road and Nuckols Street, in Red Oak. Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says there are no hazards to the public at this time, but motorists should be aware of heavy equipment and personnel working in the area.

More information to be released later.

Montgomery County EMA Facebook page photo (8-8-24)

DES MOINES, Iowa — In an update to our previous report, Police in West Des Moines have identified a woman who was in the Polk County for allegedly stealing a police vehicle and leading officers on a chase. The incident happened back on July 25^th, when the woman, who police say was 30-year-old Nicole Suzanne Huffey, allegedly stole a West Des Moines squad car and led officers on a chase that ended in Altoona.

Police say they initially responded to a report of a woman with an apparent mental health concern. When police arrived, they found Huffey. The department says during the “chaos” of the initial contact, Huffey was able to get into a squad car and drive away.

Nicole S. Huffey (Polk County Jail photo)

Officers tracked the vehicle using a GPS locator and followed Huffey. They say she drove at speeds reaching up to 125 mph before stop sticks were used. Huffey was forcibly removed from the vehicle and handcuffed. According to authorities, she managed to remove a hand from the handcuffs and swing it toward an officer. She then proceeded to punch a second officer in the face.

Huffey was taken to the hospital for evaluation. She’s now charged with two-counts of assault on persons in certain occupations (1 with bodily injury), felony theft in the 1st degree, felony eluding, and felony criminal mischief in the 2nd degree.  Huffey was released from custody Wednesday afternoon.