Atlantic Fire, Law Enforcement & Medivac Ambulance all responded just before 10-a.m. today (Wednesday), to a reported garage fire in the alley at 706 Oak Street. Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood said as it turns out, the garage itself was not on fire. Instead, it was a vehicle in the garage.  Lt. Wood said when they arrived on the scene, the resident had already put the flames out, but fire fighters used foam to make sure there were no hot spots remaining.

Ric Hanson/photo

Wood said the resident was working on the vehicle and thinks there was a fuel leak. When the man started the vehicle, the fuel ignited. No injuries were reported. Atlantic Police and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) — It is illegal for a motorist to pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and lights flashing, but the act continues to be a problem for many Iowa schools. Le Mars Community School District Superintendent Steve Webner says it’s one of his worst worries.  “Out of all the safety concerns we have in this district, this is the most urgent and scary concern that we have,” Webner says. “It happens every single day on a number of buses in the morning and afternoon. The risk of children getting hurt or killed is very high every day with this.”

During a school board meeting this week, Webner detailed the numbers of such violations — and board members are heard gasping. “Last year, the total for the year ’18-’19, we had 120 violators who drove past a school bus when the stop arm was out and the lights were flashing,” he says. “So far this year, as of last week, we’ve had 31.” In recent years, Webner says Iowa legislators increased the penalties for the crime with Kayden’s Law, named for a youngster who was killed by a motorist passing a stopped school bus in Northwood.

“The law states that violators will receive a fine of $250 to $675 and/or 30 days in jail,” he says. “Also, you lose your license for 30 days and it does go on your insurance.”  Webner says some buses are equipped with cameras to capture images of violators. He says it’s more of a problem in town than in the rural areas. The school intends to start a campaign drawing attention to the problem beginning with a letter to parents.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two students were injured when their school bus collided with another vehicle in northwest Iowa. The collision occurred just before 4 p.m. Monday, about 3 miles west of Orange City. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says the southbound bus carrying 11 students from Orange City Unity Christian High School halted at a stop sign and drove into the intersection with Iowa Highway 10. It then collided with another vehicle driven by 67-year-old Derek Thompson, of Boone.

The sheriff’s office says the two students and Thompson were taken to an Orange City hospital for treatment. The bus driver, 64-year-old Nyla Harskamp, of Orange City, was cited for failing to yield.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a man wanted on warrants for Burglary in the 3rd Degree-vehicle related/1st, 2nd and Subsequent offenses, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday afternoon. 53-year old Christopher Allen Vanderloo was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections Staff.

A Nebraska man was transported from a jail in Nebraska, Tuesday afternoon. 23-year old Benjamin Daniel Reynolds, of Omaha, was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Escape from Custody, and Violation of Probation. And, 23-year old Breanna Nicole Evans, of Omaha, was transported from a jail in Nebraska to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where she was wanted on a warrant for Child Endangerment/Abandonment resulting in bodily injury.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports 20-year old Kaleb Reiter, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a Crawford County Warrant for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. Reiter was subsequently transferred to the custody of Crawford County. And, Tuesday night, 39-year old Jennifer Beard, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Beard was also cited for 2nd offense Trespass. She was being held in the Clarke County Jail on a $300 bond.