UPDATE 9:43-p.m.: There were no injuries. the semi was trying to turn around in the median and became stuck.

(Original report) — Another accident was reported on Interstate 80 in Cass County at around 9:35-p.m., Wednesday. The accident involved a semi, and was between the 67- and 68-mile markers eastbound. The semi was said to have been in the median. Unknown injuries or other details late Wed. night.

Firefighters from Minden, Shelby, Neola, Avoca and Harlan Fire and Rescue Departments were called to a residential structure fire at around 2-p.m. Wednesday. According to the Minden Fire Department’s social media post, heavy smoke was observed on approach, and additional resources were requested.  Despite hard and aggressive work by all agencies, the structure experienced heavy fire damage.

Photo from the Minden Fire and Rescue Dept.’s Facebook page.

Fire officials extended their thanks to all the volunteers who gave of their time and work in the hot and humid conditions, and for those who made sure everyone stayed hydrated on the grounds. Additional information about the fire was not immediately available.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports a man was arrested Wednesday afternoon following a high speed pursuit and a crash. Authorities say 31-year old TJ Lebaugh, of Council Bluffs, was charged locally with eluding, reckless driving, and no proof of insurance. He was also wanted on Federal charges. The incident leading to his arrest began at around 3-p.m., Wednesday, as officers with Iowa Adult Probation and the U-S Marshall’s Service (USMS) began to follow Lebaugh near the Walgreens Store on Madison Avenue and Bennett Street. They followed him for a short time before he fled in a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville at a high rate of speed on Interstate 80 westbound, from Madison Avenue.

TJ Lebaugh

Lebaugh left I-80 at the South Espressway and turned north. Council Bluffs Police attempted to deploy stop sticks in an attempt to deflate the car’s tires, but Lebaugh evaded the device at 23rd Avenue and the South Expressway. He headed north on the Expressway at a high rate of speed. As an officer deployed stops sticks and 19th and the South Expressway, Lebaugh slammed on his brakes and slid into the back of a 2017 Dodge Durango driven by 50-year old Julia Santon, of Council Bluffs. Her pickup was pushed into the back of a 2001 Chrysler mini-van, driven by 74-year old Carolyn Brown, of Council Bluffs.

Lebaugh’s vehicle also struck the mini-van. He then fled to the west but was quickly apprehended by officers. No injuries were reported to Lebaugh or Santon. Brown was transported by Council Bluffs Fire to Mercy Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Labaugh was booked into the Pott. County Jail by the US-MS.

Rescue crews in Cass County were called to an accident on eastbound Interstate 80 at the 69.5 mile marker, Wednesday night. According to dispatch reports, a car was pinned under a semi partially in the median. Anita Rescue, Wiota 1st Responders and Medivac Ambulance, along with Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies and Iowa State Patrol were on the scene. The accident was reported at around 8:15-p.m.  One male subject was reported to be trapped in the vehicle and injured. A medical helicopter (Midwest Air) was requested and arrived on the scene to transported the victim to an undisclosed hospital in Omaha. Traffic was stopped and temporarily re-routed while the helicopter was on the scene. Emergency crews were at the crash site until about 9:20-p.m. Traffic began to flow eastbound on the shoulder of the road, at around 9:25-p.m.

No other information was immediately available.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A 54-year-old man known as the “Double Hat Bandit” has pleaded guilty to robbing banks and credit unions in seven states. Shayne Carson said in his plea agreement filed in federal court in Utah Friday that he stole from 18 banks from Oregon to Iowa. The crime spree went from October 2016, until shortly before his arrest last September. In many of the robberies, Carson is believed to have worn two hats — typically a beanie over a baseball cap. Several robberies took place at banks inside grocery stores.

Carson said he frequently told bank tellers he had a gun and demanded they hand over money in their till. Officials believe the handgun was a fake. The plea deal stipulates that he will be sentenced to between 12 and 15 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Aug. 15.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic congressional campaign took responsibility for erroneous text messages sent to voters directing them to incorrect polling places. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Wednesday that Abby Finkenauer’s campaign was the source of the texts, which an investigation found were sent in error. Finkenauer’s campaign manager says they never intended to misdirect any voters.
Finkenauer is the Democratic U.S. House candidate for the 1st District, but some texts went to voters outside the district.

The campaign says “a few dozen people” received incorrect information. The campaign sent a second text asking them to check their polling place. On Wednesday, the Finkenauer campaign apologized for any confusion caused to voters. Pate, a Republican, encouraged candidates to always include an attribution statement in messages sent to voters.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday night, set the rules for how the public forum portion of City Council meetings will be handled. The unwritten mandate follows a time of public comment during the May 16th City Council meeting, whereby two local business owners got into a verbal sparring match with Jones, and Councilperson Kathy Somers over proposed business incentives and the prospect of grants being provided instead of loans.

Atlantic City Council meeting, 6-6-2018

Jones said anyone wishing to address the Council at future meetings should fill out an online form indicating the topic you wish to talk about, and submit the form to City Hall prior to the next meeting. Persons will have two minutes to speak, but if the discussion on a particular subject is redundant, the speaker will be asked to sit down and let someone else speak who has reserved their time. You will come to the podium, state your name, where you are from and the subject matter.

If something comes up during Council discussion on a matter that you do not understand, you will be required to raise your hand and come to the podium when called on. Atlantic resident Bill Saluk said the incident that occurred during last months meeting was inappropriate, but he questioned the two-minute rule. Saluk said “It seems like the function of government should be to be responsive to its citizens and that [the time constraints and answers] seems to make it much more complicated to be able to express your opinion and get anything done.” He also questioned the validity of unwritten rules and the legality of enforcing them when there is no written procedure.

Jones said the time can be adjusted, but again, if the discussion is repeated over and over, the speaker will be asked to take a seat. As for the City Council, Jones said if they have a question during the Public Forum part of the meeting, he suggests it would be best if “They refrain from asking questions,” but they may still ask. He added that no action can be taken by the Council on a particular matter during the public forum. Any action would have to come on the heels of a recommendation from whichever committee is assigned to tackle certain matters.

Thomas Schroeder, one of the business persons who was at the May 16th meeting, asked when the online form to be available and how soon an issue may be addressed by the Council. Mayor Jones said the form should be available on the City’s website in a couple of days, and the issue or concern may be addressed after it’s brought before the appropriate committee. That could take anywhere from two-weeks to a month. Schroeder was in a meeting with Dave Jones with regard to business incentives. That meeting was the topic of the aforementioned May 16th heated discussion, during which Schroeder and his business partner Tayla Kamies alleged Jones pushed them toward other incentives instead of the Economic Development Revolving (EDR) Loan fund.

Councilman Chris Jimerson suggested that if the Mayor or any Council Member meets with a citizen or business owner on official City business, another Council person or and/or the Mayor should be present, to act as a witness to the discussion. That, he said, would alleviate any contradictory statements being made by City officials.

One person is dead, four others were hurt in a crash that took place Tuesday afternoon, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1992 GMC conventional truck driven by 65-year old James Allen Robertson, of Pacific Junction, was westbound on Highway 34 at around 12:18-p.m., when a tire blew out. The truck went out of control and crossed the median before entering the east bound lanes and striking a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by 23-year old Jennifer Leann Marsh, of Clarinda.

Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch. The truck came to rest upright. The car rolled over and came to rest on its top. 34-year old Tristan Lynn Marsh, of Clarinda, who was a passenger in the car, and who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

Jennifer Marsh, one-year old Brantley Marsh and 11-year old Alexis Woodyard, all from  Clarinda, who were wearing seat belts or child restraints, were transported to UNMC in Omaha by Malvern Rescue. James Robertson, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Glenwood EMS to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood and Malvern EMS.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports three separate arrests and an accident took place earlier this week. At around 12:20-a.m. Monday, a Page County Deputy stopped a car for speeding near the intersection of M Avenue and Highway 2. Afterward, 26-year old  Christopher Ryan May, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Driving under suspension. May was transported to the Page County Jail where he was booked in on $566.25 bond. He later posted bond and was released pending further court proceedings. Tuesday night Deputies in Page County were called to 2561 Upland Avenue in rural Page County. The caller stated that a wife had shot at her husband. The investigation indicated that 52-year old Rebecca Anne Christie had been verbally arguing with her husband, 57-year old Richard Lynn Christie, on the property. Rebecca entered the residence, returned outside with a .40 caliber handgun and fired the handgun. Neither party reported any injuries to Law Enforcement. Rebecca was arrested on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault and Reckless use of a firearm. She is currently being held in the Page County Jail on No bond.

At around 3:15-p.m. Sunday, 32-year old Jonathan Terriell Steele, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving while license revoked and OWI 2nd Offense. Steele was also cited for speeding. The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop for speeding near E Avenue and 170th Street. Steele was transported to the Page County Jail. Steele was placed in jail on $3000 bond. He later posted bond and was released pending future court proceedings.

And, one person was transported to the hospital following an accident that happened just before 10-p.m. Monday, at Highway 71 and 280th Street, in Page County. Authorities say 57-year old Darla Annette Peregrine, of rural Coin, was stopped on Highway 71 in the northbound lane, waiting for oncoming traffic to turn west onto 280th Street. 64-Year old Debra Lynn Jenkins, of Clarinda, was traveling north on Highway 71. Jenkins’ 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup hit the rear of Peregrine’s 2007 Buick, causing a total of $2,000 damage. Peregrine was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center with unknown injuries. Jenkins claimed not to be injured. No citations were issued by the investigating Deputy.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Kansas man accused of raping a fellow student in a Waldorf University dorm in northern Iowa has taken a plea deal. Court records say 18-year-old Sean Perkins, of Olathe, Kansas, signed the deal filed Tuesday in Winnebago County District Court. The agreement includes a one-year deferred prosecution on the charge of serious misdemeanor assault, which had been lowered from felony sexual abuse. The agreement says that if Perkins were to violate the agreement, the guilty plea would be used against him. But the charge would be dropped if he were to meet the agreement’s terms.

County Attorney Kelsey Beenken says there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute Perkins for rape. Beenken says the woman involved believes the agreement, which includes a no-contact order, will help her start the healing process.