The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was seriously injured during an accident near Anita, Friday. The collision happened at the intersection of White Pole Rd and 725^th Street.  Authorities say Melanie Jo Lewis, of Anita, was traveling eastbound on White Pole Rd driving a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica, and had slowed to turn left onto 725^th Street.  Fernando Perez Castaneda, of Blue Springs, MO, was driving a 2018 International Semi-tractor trailer and traveling east, when he entered the west bound lane and attempted to pass Lewis’s vehicle.

During the pass, the semi struck the driver’s side of Lewis SUV, causing it to enter a field to the north. The semi came to rest in the north ditch, with the trailer blocking the west bound lane of White Pole Road.  Lewis suffered serious injuries, and was transported by Cass County EMS to the Anita Airport, where she was transported to the hospital via Life Flight. Castaneda was uninjured in the accident.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids Police say it appears an 18 year old shot and wounded a man who was assaulting a relative early Sunday morning. Thirty-four-year-old David Rafael Walker was shot in the leg and got to a Cedar Rapids hospital in a private vehicle. Walker was treated, released and is now in the Linn County Jail. He’s been charged with assault causing bodily injury.

Cedar Rapids Police got 911 calls around 5 a.m. Sunday about a man assaulting a woman and gunshots. Police found a 21-year old woman had been injured and their preliminary investigation determined one of her relatives, an 18 year old, shot at Walker during the assault.

A news release from Cedar Rapids Police indicates the investigation continues, to determine if any additional charges will be filed in connection to the incident.

HARLAN, IA, September 13, 2021 – The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Western Iowa area residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Harlan Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, September 18th.   The Harlan Walk to End Alzheimer’s helps to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s critical research, care and support across Iowa. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Event details are as follows:

• When: Saturday, September 18, 2021
• Registration: 9 a.m.
• Walk: 10 a.m.
• Where: Pioneer Park, 1304 Pine St  Harlan, IA 51537.

Or walk from home anytime!   

Register and donate at alz.org/walk to get the most out of Walk day and support the fight to end Alzheimer’s. Download the Walk to End Alzheimer’s app to participate at home in your neighborhood.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 18 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa alone, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

(Radio Iowa) – A retired lieutenant of the Fire Department of New York who was trapped twice inside the World Trade Center was the keynote speaker for Saturday night’s September 11th attacks remembrance ceremony at the Clear Lake Fire Department. Joe Torrillo was forced to retire in 2004 due to a brain injury and says while he was disappointed that his career as a firefighter was over, he wanted to help build patriotism in America.  “I wanted to be happy again. I wasn’t being selfish, but I wasn’t happy anymore. I promised myself that I would spend the rest of my life making our country the ‘Reunited States of America’.

Joe Torillo (Facebook/File photo)

Going across the country, resurrecting patriotism and keeping the memory alive of all the victims who died and those who gave their lives in the greatest rescue effort that was ever witnessed by anybody on earth.” Torrillo says he can’t understand what has happened in the 20 years since 9-11 with patriotism in the United States.

Torrillo says he wants to make sure the memory of what happened on 9-11 never fades away.

Torrillo had moved from being an active firefighter to the department’s fire safety education office in 1997 and was on his way to a press conference at the Fisher-Price headquarters in the World Trade Center when he diverted to his old fire company headquarters across the street to assist after the first plane hit. While he was involved in the rescue operation, the south tower fell, burying alive Torrillo with a fractured skull, broken ribs, broken arm, crushed spine and heavy bleeding. After finding Torrillo, he was removed from the rubble and was being treated when the north tower collapsed, burying him alive again.