(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say no injuries were reported following two accidents that took place last week. Wednesday morning, a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 18-year-old Mason Joseph Sawyer, of Coon Rapids, was traveling north on Andrews Terrace. When Sawyer attempted to turn into a driveway, the SUV went out control and rolled over before coming to rest against a tree. Authorities say he was driving too fast for conditions, but there were no citations issued. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,500.

And, on June 23rd, a 2010 Chevy Traverse driven by 49-year-old Kerry Ann Stonehocker, of Linden, backed into a gas pump at Sparky’s Gas Station, in Guthrie Center. The woman told authorities she was backing-up and thought she saw someone in her peripheral vision. She accelerated in reverse into the gas pump, to avoid a potential collision. No citations were issued. Damage to the car amounted to $4,000. Damage to the gas pump was estimated at $50,000.

Authorities said also, Panora Police covered the accident that took place Friday. Three juveniles were injured – two were ejected. Additional details were not immediately available.

(Radio Iowa) – The Independence Day holiday is going to be a long one with the 4th falling on Thursday, and that could mean a lot more celebrating across the state. State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner says they don’t want the celebration to spill over to the highways. “July 4th, there’s gonna be a lot of celebrations and we want to make sure that everyone is partying responsibly,” he says, “and if those parties do involve alcoholic beverages that need to just make sure that they’re going to be having designated drivers to get everyone home safe.” He says a special holiday enforcement effort will start on Wednesday.

“And that’s really going to focus on O-W-I enforcement so we’ll have extra troopers on the roads we’ll be working with our local law enforcement agencies as well,” Gardner says. Gardner says alcohol and driving can be fatal for you and others.  “Last year in 2023, statewide we had 377 traffic fatalities and we were at a five year high and we’ve seen a reduction in that so far this year, but last year’s total also included 38 percent of those that were killed in traffic crashes were involving drunk drivers,” Gardner says.

The special holiday traffic enforcement will run through Sunday July 7th.

(Radio Iowa) -A top administrator in one of Iowa’s leading health care systems says the safety of staff is becoming a concern. Scott Curtis is vice president of network development for MercyOne. “We aren’t that much unlike what we hear about in the airline industry, for example, certainly law enforcement,” Curtis says, “but our health care workers are continually put in situations that are not safe and that’s a challenge.” An Iowa Hospital Association survey found hospitals in the state reported nearly 37-hundred incidents of what it classified as workplace violence last year. That includes verbal threats as well as being kicked, punched and scratched.

Curtis recently discussed the issue with U-S Senator Joni Ernst during her visit to a MercyOne clinic in Forest City. “We continue to talk with the senator and other representatives about the type of laws that we could put in place that would heighten the ramifications to folks that bring harm to our workers,” he says. Nearly 40 states have laws with enhanced penalties for assaults on health care workers. A recent report from a company that surveys patients and employees throughout the country found nearly 17-thousand assaults on nursing staff in U-S hospitals were reported last year. That’s a record.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Monday), reports two arrests took place last week. Thursday night, 71-year-old Dennis Devee Buckner, of Fontanelle, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, after the Adair County Communications Center received a report that a minor child working at the Casey’s Store in Fontanelle, was being harassed at the store. The incident was authenticated through video surveillance and by a witness statement.

Buckner claimed he had known the girl since she was little, and that anything he said was a joke. He was transported to the Adair County Jail and released that same evening on a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 10-p.m. Friday, Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 22-year-old Igor Stovan, of Lincoln, NE, for OWI/1st offense. His arrest took place following an investigation into a reported road rage incident on Interstate 80. In addition to his OWI arrest, Stovan was cited for Open Container – Driver 21 years and older. He released Saturday night on a $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Fire Department was dispatched to 7th and Birch Streets at around 9:32-a.m. today (Monday), following a reported gas line that was struck while a company was digging in the area. Authorities were beginning an evacuation of some houses south of 7th Street. Alliant Energy responded to the scene as well. Authorities reported the line was “hissing” pretty good, at around 9:42-a.m.

The gas leak was stopped by 10:30-a.m. Alliant Crews requested the area be blocked-off for about an hour once the leak was stopped, so that repairs could be made to the line.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to our previous reports, the Atlantic Police Department reports a teenager from Louisiana was injured during a motorcycle accident Saturday evening, on Atlantic’s north side. 13-year-old Hazel Clark, of Calhoun, LA, was riding a pit bike in the grass along the sidewalk of the Schilberg Recreation Area Campgrounds, when she attempted to cross the sidewalk. The rear tire of the bike caught the concrete, causing Clark to be ejected from the machine. The accident happened at around 6:36-p.m.

Clark suffered a head injury and was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCHS). Her parents tell KJAN News the teen is recovering from her injuries.