The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on Thursday. At 12:12pm Officers arrested 24-year-old Dakota Christian Thomas Sexton in the 200 block of East Joy Street in Red Oak for Domestic Abuse Assault and Criminal Mischief 5th Degree. Sexton was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The name has been released of the motorist who died in a two vehicle accident on Highway 20 in rural Calhoun County on Wednesday night. The Iowa State Patrol reported a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan operated by 37 year-old Deja Kirbylynne De Rubio, of Albion, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 20 when the vehicle struck the front of a westbound 2017 GMC Yukon driven by 53-year-old Tony Christensen, of Humboldt.

Both vehicles came to rest in the median. De Rubio died in the accident. Christensen was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines for treatment. Three passengers in the Christensen vehicle were transported to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge with their names not released.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 29, 2018) — Ten Iowans were recently among the 200 craft trainees and apprentices from across the country that traveled to Long Beach, California to compete in the annual National Craft Championships competition, hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). ABC of Iowa’s apprentices found success in California.

Six apprentices received national recognition for their efforts and three won safety awards, highlighting the correct utilization of personal protective equipment, safe handling of tools and equipment and maintaining a safe work environment.

Michael Jensen, of Atlantic is pictured on the right

Included among the winners who brought home medals was:

• Michael Jensen from Camblin Mechanical, Inc. in Atlantic placed first in the HVAC (Heating/Ventilation and Air Conditioning) competition.

“These apprentices represent the best of the best in their field,” said Ginny Shindelar, ABC of Iowa’s vice president of education and training services. “We’re incredibly proud of the superior knowledge, focus, hard work and safety skills displayed by our Iowa apprentices at the National Craft Championships.”

Overall, there were 15 competitions and 12 crafts. Each competition consisted of a written exam and a practical performance test, testing apprentices’ skills during a six-hour project. Prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in each craft.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died after suffering an electric shock at a Cedar Rapids mobile home park. First responders were sent to Five Seasons Mobile Home Park around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was found in a detached shed. Police say he was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital. His name and other information haven’t been released.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released a report on arrests. Yesterday (Wednesday), 45-year old Kimberly Denise Zeibig,  of Griswold, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Zeibig was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond. On Monday, 32-year old Daniel Raymond Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond. Also arrested Monday, was 30-year old Janae Nicole Anderson, of Omaha. She was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Anderson remains held in the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

On March 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 54-year old Milton Milligan, Jr., of Council Bluffs, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Milligan was taken to the Cass County Jail and is currently held on a $5,000 bond.

March 12th, 21-year old Skyler James Svoboda, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Story County warrant. Svoboda was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On March 11th, 28-year old Cam Christopher Jahnke, of Lewis, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense (Simple). Jahnke was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. That same day (March 11), 26-year old Jennifer Renee Avey, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication (Simple). Avey was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance.

And, on March 10th, Cass County Deputies arrested 35-year old Steven Micheal Scott Beck, of Carroll, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Beck was brought to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and held until time was served.

Employers with drug and alcohol policies in Iowa, and transportation businesses under federal safety regulations, who require employees to be drug and alcohol tested, are being offered courses in Atlantic and Red Oak. The training, which is required under the Iowa Code, serves to ensure a safe working environment and continuous safe operations.  In both communities, the sessions are for supervisors, HR, safety personnel, crew leaders, business owners, Designated Employee Reps, and anyone needing a refresher course. Certificates of completion are issued upon the successful conclusion of the course.

In Atlantic, the Supervisor Training Session will be held April 12th, from 1:30-until 3:30-p.m., at Iowa Western Community College, Room 105. Check-in is at 1:15-p.m.

In Red Oak, the session will take place April 12th, from 9-until 11-a.m., at the Red Oak Community College, Room 111. Check-in is 8:30-a.m.

Presenters include Zion Recovery Assistant Director Richard Mullen – IADC for southwest Iowa, and Priscilla Franken, ADC Serices in Ames.

There is a charge of $25 per person. Register in advance with ADCInc@mchsi.com by April 10th. Checks are payable to ADC Services.

Topics include: Defensible ways to keep operations safe, by applying for cause-reasonable suspicion test when necessary; How RS is defined; What procedures are needed; EAP & resources link to drug policy; indicators of use & how to protect employees and the public from harm, the impairing effects of prescription medications and marijuana on safety-sensitive jobs, and more.

For more information, call 641-420-3738.

Fire has destroyed the historic Independent Order of Odd Fellows building in downtown Coon Rapids. The owner and editor of the Coon Rapids Enterprise, Charlie Nixon, says passersby reported the fire to authorities at approximately 11:30 p-m Wednesday. Crews from Carroll, Dedham and Bayard joined the Coon Rapids Fire Department in battling the fire and to help keep it from spreading to the United States Post Office and Northside Recreation Parlor adjacent to it.

The building built in 1911 housed the closed former Ribbons and Roses flower and gift shop. There was one tenant occupying an upstairs apartment in the building who was safely evacuated. Authorities have not yet released the probable cause of that fire.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Corn has been dethroned as the king of crops as farmers report they intend to plant more soybeans than corn for the first time in 35 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its annual prospective planting report released Thursday that farmers intend to plant 89 million acres in soybeans and 88 million acres in corn.

The primary reason is profitability. Corn costs much more to plant because of required demands for pest and disease control and fertilizer. When the profitability of both crops is close, farmers bet on soybeans for a better return.

The only year that soybean acres beat corn in recent memory was 1983, when the government pushed farmers to plant fewer acres to boost prices in the midst of the nation’s worst farm crisis.

We now know which candidates’ names will appear in local races on the June 5^th Primary ballots in Cass, Adams, and Shelby Counties.

In Cass County:

• Board of Supervisors/District 2: Republicans Pat McCurdy and Mark T. O’Brien, both of Atlantic.
• Board of Supervisors/District 3: Republicans Dana Halder, John Hartkopf and Linda Templeman, all of Atlantic.
• Cass County Attorney: Republican Michael Donn Hooper (incumbent by appointment)
• Cass County Recorder: Incumbent Republican Mary Ward.
• Cass County Treasurer: Incumbent Republican Tracey J. Marshall.
• No Democrats are on the ballot in Cass County.

In Adams County:

• Republican Doug Birt and Democrat Marty Olive are running for Supervisor District 1.
• Republicans Scott Akin and Laurie Greenlee and Democrats Tony Mullen and Judith Butcher are running for Supervisor District 3.
• Republican Leland D. Shipley is running for Supervisor District 4.
• Democrat Nancy Barnes is running for Treasurer.
• Republican Jamie Stargell is running for Recorder.
• Republican Andrew Knuth is running for Attorney.

In Shelby County:

• Republican Darin Haake and Democrat Incumbent Roger Schmitz are running for County Supervisor
• Republican Incumbent Carolyn Blum is unopposed for Treasurer
• Incumbent Recorder Geralyn Greer is up for re-election, as is Democrat Marcus Gross, for Attorney.

And, in Pott. County:

There are eight candidates for three seats on the County Board of Supervisors:

• Republicans Scott Belt, Lynn Grobe, Adam Houser, Justin Schultz, Mary Stanley, and Democrats Glenn Hurst, Frances Parr, as well as Marshal Pilger.
• Republican Matthew Wilber is running unopposed for Attorney.
• Republican Mark Brandenburg is running unopposed for Recorder.
• Republican Lea A. Voss is unopposed for Treasurer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new law is expanding access to mental health services across Iowa. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation Thursday at a ceremony in the state Capitol rotunda that creates six access centers to provide short-term care for people in crisis. The legislation also doubles the number of teams across the state that provide 24/7 flexible treatment and support to patients.

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates the total cost at more than $31 million over two years. Funding would come from federal, state and local taxes. Iowa’s 14 mental health regions would spend down excess cash reserves to pay for initial costs.

Reynolds also signed a bill requiring Iowa school districts to train educators on how to identify and help students at risk of suicide.