(Southwest Iowa) – In response to a rash of recent field and ditch fires having taken place, another southwest Iowa County has been placed under a Burn Ban. No open burning is allowed in Audubon County by Order of the State Fire Marshall, per a request from Audubon County Emergency Management Director Tyler Thygesen, acting on behalf of the fire department chiefs in Audubon County.

The Audubon County Burn Ban is in effect now (Oct. 1st) until further notice (when conditions are such that a danger to life and/or property does not exist from opening burning, and at the discretion of the Fire Marshal). Any violation of the proclamation is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a $200 fine.

A burn ban does not prohibit the following:  supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

Previously, officials in Shelby County announced a Burn Ban was in effect beginning Oct. 1st, and until further notice. Harrison and Crawford Counties have also instituted a ban on opening burning over the  past 10-days.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a Cass County (IA) man was among several people arrested on separate drug charges over the past week. This (Sunday) morning (Oct. 1st), Fremont County deputies arrested 21-year-old Gage Mitchell Mundorf, of Atlantic.

Gage Mundorf

He was arrested for two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense, (Cocaine and Marijuana). Mundorf wass being held on a $4,000 cash/surety bond.

Last Thursday (9/28) Fremont County deputies arrested 57-year-old Chrissy Lee Farnsworth, of Riverton (IA). She was arrested for two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine and Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and released after posting $2,300 surety bond.

Farnsworth

Strange

61-year-old John Allen Strange, also of Riverton, was arrested Thursday, for 3rd Offense Possession of Methamphetamine. He was released after posting a $1,000 surety bond.

On September 11th, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary of a previously flooded home under that was under construction in Hamburg. On September 26th, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office conducted multiple search warrants at a residence in the 400 block of Main Street and the 3100 block of Washington Streets, in Hamburg. They were able to recover stolen property as well as controlled substances.

Downey

Forbes

Two men were arrested. 34-year-old Charles David Forbes, of Omaha, and 47-year-old Shane Michael Downey, of Hamburg, were charged in connection with the search warrants.

Forbes was charged with: Theft 1st Degree, a Class C Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He is being held on $10,000 cash/surety bond. Downey was charged with: Theft 1st Degree, a Class C Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, 2nd Offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs and Possession of Marijuana. He was released after posting a $10,000 surety bond. Additional  charges are pending in the case.

Other, unrelated arrests in Fremont County include:

• 70-year-old Patrick Lynn Greene, of Shenandoah, who was taken into custody on Sept. 26th, for Violation of Probation. He was released on his own recognizance.
  

  Greene

  

  Kalkas

• 41-year-old Dustin Eugene Kalkas, of Shenandoah, was arrested Sept. 28th, on an outside agency warrant. He was released to an outside agency.

(Creston, Iowa) – A teenage passenger in a car suffered minor injuries during a collision Saturday evening, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 16-year-old Cain Harmening, of Creston, was transported by his parents to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, following the collision that occurred at around 7:40-p.m. at the intersection of Howard and Elm Streets.

Authorities say a 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by 17-year-old Boone Zerick Virgil Pryor, of Afton, was traveling west on Howard Street. Pryor told police he was moving his food and not paying attention, when his car ran the stop sign at the intersection. As the Chevy entered the intersection, it was struck on the passenger side, by a southbound Chrysler 200, driven by 25-year-old Cheyenne Louise Goodnight, of Creston.

The Monte Carlo sustained disabling damage during the crash. The vehicles sustained estimated at $6,000 damage altogether. No citations were issued, but authorities say Goodnight was not able to provide proof of insurance.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officers with the Red Oak Police Department arrested a Cass County (IA) man at around 11:40-p.m., Saturday. Authorities say 25-year-old Dawson Allen Squires, of Griswold, was arrested in the 200 block of E. Walnut Street in Red Oak, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Public Intoxication. Dawson was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $300 bond.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Four people, two adults and two children from Nebraska, were injured during a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 29 two-miles north of Highway 34 in Mills County, late Saturday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2009 Honda passenger car was traveling south on I-29 near mile marker 37 at around 10:50-a.m. The driver attempted to merge from the left lane to  the right. The driver noticed a semi already in the right lane and over-corrected to the left, causing the vehicle to leave the road and enter the median, where it rolled over and came to rest on its top on the northbound side of a cable barrier.

The driver, 20-year-old Gabrielle Wells and a passenger, 20-year-old Robert Baca, both of Omaha, were injured, along with the two children, a seven-year-old and a 10-year-old, whose names were not released. Wells and the 10-year-old were transported to the UNMC in Omaha by Glenwood Rescue. Baca and the seven-year-old were transported by Hamburg EMS to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs.

The Patrol said all of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts.

(Walnut, Iowa) – Multiple area fire departments were dispatched to a field fire this (Saturday) afternoon, north of Walnut, in Pottawattamie County. The blaze was reported to have occurred near 540th and Timber Road. Marne Fire was dispatched at around 1:10-p.m., to assist Walnut, Elk Horn, Kimballton and Shelby Fire fighters.

Audubon County Emergency Management officials said Saturday (Today), that “fire departments within Audubon County and surrounding areas have had a busy 24 hours. We are asking that if you have previously (within in the last month) burnt your brush pile or burn pit, please check it to verify there are no hot ashes. The current conditions are favorable for reigniting those sources. Audubon county remains in a very high risk for fire danger.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Meyer & Gross Real Estate, will be hosting a Drive-In Movie experience next Saturday, October 7th. Chamber Programs Director Kelsey Beschorner says “Drive-In Movie Night has become an annual tradition that I look forward to every year. We are excited to bring this classic movie to the big screen this fall. The Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic experience for community members and those in the surrounding area to enjoy. This also gives us the opportunity to show off our town and encourage people to shop and eat before coming to the movie.”

The Drive-In Movie will be at the Cass County Fair Grounds in the grandstand area beginning around 8:30 PM with a showing of “Matilda”. Cars may begin parking at 7 PM. The screen is 60 feet long with a high definition projector. Speakers will be available next to the screen for people to utilize. A transmitter will be provided for those enjoying the movie from their car. Attendees will turn their radio to a certain station and the transmitter will play the audio through their car speakers.

Entry is $25 per car vehicle and tickets can be purchased at www.atlanticiowa.com or day-of at the gate. People are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. Inside parking for the Drive-In is limited, so pack a chair or blanket as precaution. Concessions will be available for purchase on the fairgrounds.

For more information, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The Drive-In is sponsored by Meyer & Gross Real Estate and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, this week, announced her Small Business of the Week: Dunlap Livestock Auction of Harrison County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. 

“I want to congratulate the Schaben family and the team at Dunlap Livestock Auction for their longstanding dedication to maintaining an open and competitive marketplace that brings together not only livestock buyers and sellers but the entire Dunlap community,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “Dunlap Livestock Auction honors agriculture traditions while also innovating to meet modern-day needs, and I can’t wait to see their continued success in western Iowa.”

From their first auction of less than thirty head of cattle, hogs, and sheep to now regularly moving thousands of cattle through each sale, the Schaben family has grown Dunlap Livestock Auction into a prominent and well-respected livestock marketplace in Harrison County. Jim and Ruth Schaben purchased Dunlap Livestock Auction in 1950 and have continued to expand the business since, selling the company to their sons, Jay, Jim Jr., and John in the early 1990s. Today, they also offer home and estate, farm machinery, gun, and real estate auctions for clients throughout the Midwest and remain committed to serving their community and the cattle industry.

(Iowa DNR) – Drivers are advised to stay alert as they travel Iowa’s roadsides over the coming weeks. Autumn deer behavior, crop harvest and peak travel times for motorists combine to hike the risk of vehicle-deer collisions in Iowa.

From the middle of October until the third week of November, Iowa bucks become more active in the pursuit of does during the breeding season. Motorist may be distracted by the first deer that crosses not seeing the pursuing buck. This adds to multiple scenarios of fast moving, unpredictable deer crossing highways.

The crop harvest is already in full swing, concentrating deer into remaining cover that is often brushy creeks, trees or fence lines which often intersect with roads. A third factor will be the change away from daylight savings time on November 5, placing more Iowans behind the wheel during the deer-heavy dawn and dusk periods.

A few ways to give drivers an edge during this period are to reduce speed, increase following distance from other cars, and to sweep eye movements from ditch to ditch, especially during those low light periods and when approaching those brushy or tree lined ‘funnels’ near roads. Drivers are also encouraged not to ‘veer for deer,’ leaving the lane of traffic could cause a collision with another vehicle or a roadside obstacle, such as a utility pole or culvert.

Iowa’s deer herd is managed to provide a harvest of between 100,000 and 120,000 annually, that is achieved by providing additional opportunities for hunters to harvest does. Last year, Iowa hunters reported harvesting nearly 110,000 deer.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds has announced the appointment of Renee Schulte of Urbandale to serve as Chair of the Iowa Board of Parole. Schulte began her new role today (Friday), September 29, 2023.

“Renee’s extensive background in mental and behavioral health will help protect our communities while advancing our goals of supporting the successful re-entry of parolees and reducing recidivism,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “I look forward to working alongside Renee in this new role.”

“I’m honored for the opportunity to lead the Board of Parole during this season of government reorganization,” said Renee Schulte. “My background as a mental health professional will be an asset during this time of transition as we focus on our mission to protect the public.”

Schulte served as an Iowa State Representative from 2009 to 2013 and previously was a mental and behavioral health consultant based in Urbandale. Schulte has a Master of Arts in Counseling and Educational Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New Mexico State University.

Schulte’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.   The role was previously held by Nick Davis who resigned to pursue other opportunities.  “I appreciate Nick’s dedication to serving the people of Iowa in this critical role,” said Gov. Reynolds. “He has a bright future ahead of him and I look forward to watching him advance his career in public service.”