The Council Bluffs Police Department reports a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident occurred Wednesday morning. The accident happened on southbound Interstate 29 at mile marker 54, when the rig went out of control due to slippery road conditions at the Ave. G entrance ramp onto the interstate. The truck and trailer went across the embankment between the interstate and ramp, landing on its side across the entrance ramp. No injuries were reported. The entrance ramp was closed until the truck and trailer could be removed.

Officials with the local Xi Beta Phi Sorority say a $500 Reanne Gruhn Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an Atlantic High School graduate who has benefitted from Resource Room Services in the Atlantic Community School District, or is planning a career in education. The scholarship was established by Xi Beta Phi Sorority in 2003 as a memorial to their sister, Reanne Gruhn. Reanne was an outstanding educator in the Atlantic Schools, specializing in Resource Room education.

The scholarship is a tribute to her dedication and continuous love for all students. All graduating seniors or alumni are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. More information can be found on the AHS Guidance link on the website-atlanticiaschools.org. Applications must be turned in by March 29, 2019.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports no one was injured when a Montgomery County Secondary Roads dump truck rolled onto it’s side at approximately 8:20am Wednesday morning. The truck was clearing snow from the north shoulder of the road 1/4 mile east of G Avenue on 150th Street when the driver got near the edge of the road. The front tire went into the ditch causing the truck to tip over into the ditch, coming to rest on the passenger side.

When the truck was removed from the ditch it was determined the cushioning of the snow prevented any significant damage to the truck. Damage was estimated at less than $1,000.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests. Three arrests took place Feb. 15th: Andrew Nelson, of Casey, was arrested in Casey, on an Adair County arrest warrant for Probation Violation. Nelson was turned over to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. Additional charges are pending against him at this time in Guthrie County; Jodi Griffith and Kevin Trent, of Fontanelle were both arrested following a traffic stop Friday, in Casey. Griffith and Trent were charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine Greater than Five Grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were held on a bond of $25,300 but were later released by the Guthrie County Magistrate on their own recognizance with a promise to appear for future court dates; and, Mark Rutherford, of Guthrie Center, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a three-day mittimus for an Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense charge.

On Thursday, February 14th, Stephanie Cooley, of Guthrie Center, was transferred to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections to serve a ten year sentence pursuant to a Guthrie County District Court Order for Sales of Methamphetamine; Jeremy Flannery, of Adel, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a five day mittimus for Probation Violation. And, a juvenile male from Stuart was referred to juvenile court on a charge of Theft 5th. The charges stem from a vehicle burglary at Lake Diamondhead at the beginning of January.

On February 12th, Zachary Johnson, of Adel, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a five-day mittimus for Probation Violation. February 11th, Chad Hein, of Yale, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a twenty-eight day mittimus for Probation Violation. On February 10th: Tristan Carter, of Winterset, was arrested following a traffic stop in Stuart by the Stuart Police Department. Carter was booked into the Guthrie County Jail on charges of Interference with Official Acts and Driving While Revoked. He also had a Dallas County Warrant at the time of his arrest. Carter was released on his own recognizance by the Guthrie County Magistrate on his Guthrie County charges with a promise to appear for future court dates. Carter was subsequently transported to Dallas County Sheriff’s Office to handle his matter there; Also,  Nicole Palmer, of Jamaica, was arrested on a Guthrie County warrant for Probation Violation.  Palmer was initially held without bond but was later released on her own recognizance by the Guthrie County Magistrate with a promise to appear for future court dates.

And, the following arrests took place February 9th in Guthrie County: Patrick Kennedy, of Dedham, was arrested following a traffic stop in Bayard. Kennedy was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense and Operation of a Motor Vehicle with an Expired License. He was cited and released from the Guthrie County Jail; Ronald Becker, of Carroll, was arrested Feb. 9th by the Audubon Police Department on a Guthrie County warrant for Failure to Appear on an Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense charge. Becker was transported to Guthrie County by the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office.  He was later released from jail. And, Samantha Henderson, of Jefferson, was arrested Feb. 9th on a Guthrie County warrant for Child Endangerment and Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense. Henderson was initially held without bond but was released on her own recognizance following an appearance before the Guthrie County Magistrate with a promise to appear for future court dates.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports numerous charges were filed as the result of a pursuit that took place Friday, February 15th.  Brothers said officers attempted to stop a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer at 14 & Chestnut Street at 11:00-p.m., for failure to use a turn signal & improper license plate lamp. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit through the east side of Clarinda.

The SUV eventually stopped at 1791 Redwood Avenue, north of Clarinda. Officers arrested 58-year old Keith Clifford Goecker, of rural Clarinda, after a brief struggle. Goecker has been charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony eluding of law enforcement, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle. Goecker was transported to the Page County Jail and held on $11,630 bail.

The Page County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit and arrest of Goecker.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed a 44-year-old who was born in Thailand as the next justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. Christopher McDonald has been serving on the Iowa Court of Appeals since September of 2013. Governor Reynolds says McDonald’s colleagues use the word “brilliant” and “thoughtful” to describe him.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer has issued a report on arrests. On Sunday, 22-year old Brandon William Henderson, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving With a Suspended License and No Insurance. On Feb. 12th, a 17-year old juvenile was referred to Juvenile Court on a charge of Harassment – 2nd degree. On Feb. 3rd, Audubon Police arrested 28-year old Scott Nathaniel Belew, of Audubon, on a warrant for Failure to Appear.

January 25th, 41-year old Nathan Alan Kelly, of Exira, was arrested for Driving With a Suspended License. And, on Jan. 19th, 40-year old Joshua Robert Saunders, of Audubon, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 15-year-old boy died after the “unintentional discharge of a weapon” at a house in Davenport. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday. The boy’s name and other details about the incident have not been released. Police said Tuesday that an autopsy was performed.

(Radio Iowa) — A bill Republican sponsors are calling a “religious freedom restoration” bill has cleared its first procedural hurdle in the Iowa Senate. Joan Thompson of the Iowa Catholic Conference says it’ll prevent the government from forcing Iowans to do things that violate their religious beliefs.  “This bill provides a standard of review for the court when there’s a conflict between the First Amendment’s protection of free exercise of religion and a particular law,” she said. “This is not a license to discriminate. It simply gives people and institutions a chance in court.”

Opponents say religious freedom is already protected in the Iowa Constitution and several business groups pointed to the boycotts that have been launched against other states which have similar laws. Iowa Chamber Alliance executive director John Stineman. “It has not made those states look like they are trying to attract and appeal to all comers and that’s the reality,” Stineman said, “and there are economic consequences to that.”

This is the second year bill backers have tried to get this bill through the legislature. It’s unclear if Governor Kim Reynolds would sign it into law if it does pass the House and Senate. Reynolds told reporters yesterday (Tuesday) that she hasn’t read the bill. “The constitutional protection that is already in place for individuals to freely live out their religious freedom and the protections, the laws that are in place to make sure we don’t discriminate against Iowans — there’s no reasons that the two of those things can’t co-exist,” Reynolds said.

Twenty-one states have enacted religious liberty bills, but the language in those laws varies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa commission has rejected a proposal from two environmental groups to adopt stricter standards for the state’s nearly 160 recreational lakes, saying the effort would be too expensive. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission rejected the proposal Tuesday because of the $205 million estimated cost. Jon Tack is the water quality bureau chief for the state Department of Natural Resources. He says the cost “per capita would be astronomical.” The Environmental Law & Policy Center and Iowa Environmental Council filed the proposal in November.

A state analysis found that 93 percent of the state’s lakes would be declared impaired with the new standards. Josh Mandelbaum is an attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. He says that percentage is troubling because many lakes are also a source of drinking water.