An accident Thursday morning involving a semi and a tractor northeast of Treynor resulted in three people being injured, one of them seriously.  According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, 54-year old Brian Lockwood, of Oakland, was driving a 2011 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer westbound on Highway 6 at around 9:45-a.m., and was trying to pass a Kubota tractor, at about the same time the tractor was making a left-hand turn. The vehicles collided near the intersection with 330th Street.

During the collision, 51-year-old Craig Rath, of Treynor, who was driving the tractor, was ejected from the machine and landed on the roadway. The tractor was split in half and also came to rest in the roadway. Rath suffered serious injuries, and was flown from the scene to a trauma center. Lockwood, and a passenger in the semi cab, 85-year-old Ronald Lockwood, of Oakland, were treated at the scene and released.

The accident remains under investigation.

A man from Guthrie County died during a single-vehicle rollover accident Thursday afternoon, in Guthrie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 23-year old Tyler Rutherford, of Guthrie Center, was ejected from his pickup truck and died at the scene of the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Rutherford was driving a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup northbound on Frontier Road at around 1:30-p.m., when the truck dropped onto the right shoulder and went out of control. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest in the east ditch.

Authorities say the accident on Frontier Road happened just north of 280th Street, about seven-miles north of Adair. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and Adair Fire and Rescue assisted the State Patrol at the scene.

An Atlantic man will appear in court on November 13th for a sentencing hearing related to three OWI offenses that occurred earlier this year. On Monday, 50-year old Rex Dean McDermott entered a plea of guilty to the charges, thereby avoiding a trial that had been scheduled for Sept.  12th.  Department of Corrections officials will prepare a pre-sentence investigation for the court, prior to his actual sentencing.

McDermott was arrested in connection with OWI offenses that took place March 23rd, May 7th and June 29th. The latest incident resulted in McDermott suffering severe injuries after he was ejected from a UTV that crashed near 10th and Mulberry Streets. McDermott was driving the machine southbound on Mulberry, when he crossed the street and hit a utility pole guide wire, causing the UTV to flip on its side and land on a driveway.

He was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital and later flown by helicopter to an Omaha Hospital for extensive treatment.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of three people accused of trying to pass counterfeit cash at Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has pleaded not guilty in the case. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Jackelen Hartsock, of Le Mars, Iowa, entered her written plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of forgery.

Hartsock was arrested on Aug. 9 after police say she, 26-year-old Kurt Jones and 29-year-old Brittany Derby made several cash transactions at the casino on Aug. 5. The bills were later found to be counterfeit. Jones and Derby, also both of Le Mars, are each charged with forgery. They have yet to be arraigned.

A Shelby County man was arrested Wednesday night. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says 57-year old Mark William Tearney, of Tennant, was arrested at around 9-p.m. on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault (Displaying a weapon), after Deputies were called to the 500 Block of 8th Street in Tennant, for a family disturbance.

Upon arrival and further investigation, Tearney was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was held without bond pending an appearance with the magistrate. Tearney appeared in front of Shelby County Magistrate today (Thursday), and was being held under a $2,000 Cash/Surety Bond.

Tearney

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 10 people were arrested by his officers over the past couple of weeks. On Wednesday, 52-year old Michael Rowedder, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug paraphernalia.  On Tuesday, Atlantic Police arrested 48-year old Joel Brannan, of Audubon, for Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or subsequent offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Last Saturday, 35-year old Chad Wilcox, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On. Aug. 25th, 45-year old Jesse Simmons, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred. On Aug. 24th, 21-year old Blake Zweck, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI, Assault on a Person in Certain Occupations, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. That same day, 25-year old Alejandro Ovalle, of Lansing, MI., was arrested by Atlantic Police for Public Intoxication.

On Aug. 23rd., officers with the A-PD arrested 33-year old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, for Lottery Forgery or Theft or Tickets. On Aug. 21st, 45-year old Lisa Shrimpton, of Omaha, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. On Aug. 18th, 39-year old Alysha Steece, of Jefferson, was arrested in Atlantic for Shoplifting (4th degree Theft).

And, on Aug. 16th, 31-year old Justin Howd, of Manilla, was arrested by Atlantic Police on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 1st degree and Burglary in the 3rd degree.

All suspects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

A traffic stop at around 12:10-a.m. today (Thursday) in Page County resulted in the alleged assault of a Deputy and the arrest of a woman on a trio of charges. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a pickup truck was pulled over for a traffic violation, and the driver, 39-year old Jill Christine Currin, of rural Braddyville, was given tests for driving while under the influence.

During the arrest, Currin assaulted the Deputy, causing injury to the Deputy.  Currin was taken to the Page County Jail on charges of Interference with official acts, Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence 1^st offense, Criminal mischief 5^th degree, and Assault on persons engaged in certain occupations (a Peace Officer).

She was unable to post the $4,000 cash only bond, and is currently being held in the Page County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s treasurer is warning that the state should borrow money to ensure it can pay its bills on time amid a potential budget shortfall, but Gov. Kim Reynolds’ staff says the move is politically driven.

Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced Thursday that he had asked the Republican governor to authorize using loan notes that are paid back quickly and don’t increase the state’s liabilities. Fitzgerald, a Democrat, says borrowing would be a “sensible way” to manage “uncertainties.”

Brenna Smith, Reynolds’ press secretary, says Fitzgerald is engaging in “headline-grabbing scare tactics” and it’s “unwise” to suggest the state can’t pay its bills. Fitzgerald says his warning is not political.

Reynolds may need to call a special legislative session to address the state’s roughly $7.2 billion budget. A nonpartisan state agency has estimated Iowa faces a revenue shortfall of about $100 million, but the figure could fluctuate.

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) – Sergeant Bluff officials say the city’s water treatment plant doesn’t function as promised and so are suing the engineering firm that designed it. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city sued Veenstra & Kimm Inc. on Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court.

The lawsuit says the West Des Moines firm was paid more than $4.5 million to design the plant. The lawsuit also says the city has incurred higher costs for chemicals, labor and repairs since the plant opened in 2011 because it wasn’t designed properly and can’t operate “at the contracted capacity.” Veenstra & Kimm President Bob Veenstra has declined to comment.

The city has said its water is safe and that residents shouldn’t worry about using or drinking it.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A northern Iowa hospital plans to construct a $9.78 million building that will be able to serve more behavioral health patients. The Globe Gazette reports that officials from Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason announced details about the 27,200 square-foot facility Wednesday.

Senior vice president of Mercy Clinics, Dr. Theresa Mock, says the hospital can usually see just over 20 patients at a time in its behavior health center. The new facility will have space for more than 30 behavior health service patients. Mock says the hospital had to turn away 3,000 patients last year because of resource shortages.

The project will be funded by donations from the Jan Again Foundation and through a reinvestment of the hospital’s funds and capital. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall and is expected to be completed by 2019.