The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver of a semi tractor-trailer was transported by private vehicle to a hospital, Tuesday, following an accident about 2 1/2 miles southeast of Essex. The incident occurred at around 12:54 PM in the 1500 block of 170th Street, where the tractor and trailer were in a ditch, with grain spilling out of the trailer.

Photo courtesy the Page County Sheriff’s Office

An investigation determined the driver, 63-year-old Brian Ray Walker, of rural Essex, was operating a 2006 Freightliner Semi tractor pulling a grain trailer loaded with corn, westbound on 170th. Walker stated that he glanced down at his phone that was between the seats of the Semi tractor and looked up. The passenger side steer tire on the semi tractor dropped off the lip of the road and the vehicle started into the north ditch. The vehicle continued into the ditch headed westbound. The vehicle then rolled one time before coming to rest on its wheels. Walker exited the cab of the semi by his own means.

The Semi tractor and trailer are owned by Class Farms INC. of rural Essex.  Damage to the semi tractor / trailer is estimated at over $50,000. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Lottery has introduced a new scratch ticket that spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says is unlike anything they’ve done before. “It’s a scratch ticket — but it is transparent, it’s see-through, you can see through the ticket,” Neubauer says.”It’s a concept that a few other lotteries around the country have done, and when we were talking with our ticket printers and they showed us the idea, it’s like, ‘that’s really cool’, we’ve never seen that before.”

The ticket is part of what is called the Cash game, and Neubauer says it will probably be more known for the material it’s on. “It’s just a different printing technique and it’s a different ticket substance that these tickets are printed on. I think if people just go into the store and say ‘hey I want the clear ticket’, you don’t even have to know the name of the game. I am pretty sure the clerks will know what one that is,” according to Neubauer.

While the ticket is clear — you can’t turn it over and see the prize before you scratch it. “The actual section on the ticket where you play — that part is not see through — the rest of the ticket is see-through, not the particular section,” Neubauer says.”but you play it just like you would a normal…it’ll be fun to see people’s reaction to that.”

Scratch tickets continue to be the top seller for the Iowa Lottery as sales of lotto tickets dropped during the pandemic.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Stanton was arrested early this morning (Thursday). 53-year-old Laura Schrader was taken into custody at around 2-a.m. in the 1800 block of N. 8th Street, in Red Oak, following a dispute between two family members. Schrader was charged with Public Intoxication after her Breath Alcohol Content (BAC) registered 0.240 (3 times the legal limit). She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and subsequently charged with Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300.