Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says he hopes the death of one of his enthusiastic campaign volunteers will inspire more kindness in the political world.
Twenty-five-year-old Braden Joplin was one of four Carson campaign workers involved in a roll-over accident on Interstate 80 near Atlantic Tuesday morning. He was gravely injured and was taken to a trauma center in an Omaha hospital, where he died late Tuesday afternoon. Joplin was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He was among a group of student volunteers who arrived in Iowa this month to volunteer in the run-up to the February 1st Iowa Caucuses.

Carson flew to Omaha to be with Joplin’s family. Late Tuesday night he addressed the media briefly. Carson told reporters he hoped Joplin’s death “might help some people think about the hard-heartedness that has infested our land.” Carson said “people are just mean” — the opposite of Joplin, who Carson described as a compassionate and caring college student. The Des Moines Register posted video of Carson’s brief remarks. “Life is so fleeting and we have to make the most of every bit of it,” Carson said.

The van Joplin was riding in hit a patch of ice, flipped over, slid into on-coming traffic and was hit by a pick-up carrying three children and two adults. Carson is asking for prayers for Joplin’s family, as well as the people in the pick-up that struck the Carson campaign vehicle.

(Radio Iowa)

The driver of an SUV was injured Tuesday morning in Union County, when his vehicle collided with the rear of a semi. Sheriff’s officials say 60-year old David Stonehocker, of Thayer, suffered suspected, serious/incapacitating injuries when the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving hit the rear of a trailer being pulled by 1994 Freightliner semi. The accident happened on Willow Avenue (County Road P-64), just before 10-a.m.

Officials say Stonehocker, was driving too fast for conditions, was wearing a lap belt only. The SUV’s airbags also deployed during the crash. Stonehocker was trapped in his vehicle following the impact, and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He was transported to the hospital in Creston. The driver of the semi, 62-year old Danny Neisemier, of Thayer, complained of pain, but was not transported to the hospital.

Damage from the crash amounted to $16,000.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved a Resolution of Support for “Stepping Up,” a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jail, and make further efforts to help them on a path to recovery.

The resolution was presented last week by Supervisor Frank Waters, for the Board’s consideration. During the previous meeting, Auditor Dale Sunderman read a portion of the resolution as presented. In summary, the Resolution acknowledges that an estimated 2 million people with serious mental illnesses are booked into jail each year, and that the prevalence rates of serious mental illness in jails are three-to six-times higher than for the general population. It also acknowledges adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jails and upon release are at higher risk of recidivism, and, that without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for those individuals and their families.

The Resolution says since Cass County is a member of the Southwest Iowa MHDS Region, and is working cooperatively with other counties to provide funding necessary to meet the needs of the mental health and disability community, the County will support an expansion of the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Court through its services and staff, law enforcement and attorney’s offices in the MHDS Region. It will do so through the Stepping Up program. For more information on Stepping Up, go to https://stepuptogether.org/

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Emily Paulsen, of Elk Horn, to the Cass County Food Policy Council, with the term of appointment ending Dec. 31st, 2018. The Board also received a quarterly report from Cass County Veteran Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 19-year-old will stand trial in the August 2014 crash deaths of two teenage girls in western Iowa, now that prosecutors have withdrawn a plea offer. Trevor Feauto was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday on two felony counts of reckless vehicular homicide. He’d pleaded guilty. But the county attorney says he withdrew the offer because relatives of the two girls say the deal doesn’t provide adequate justice.

A date hasn’t been set for Feauto’s trial on four counts: two for reckless vehicular homicide and two for felony vehicular homicide while intoxicated.  Sac County authorities say Feauto was driving drunk on Aug. 23, 2014, when his pickup crashed into a car near the town of Breda. Sixteen-year-olds Bailey Jacobsen and Lindsey Quirk were killed. Both were Wall Lake residents.

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

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Police in Creston say a child passenger in a car was checked for injuries but found to have been uninjured, following a hit and run accident Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say just before 3-p.m., a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am driven by 31-year old Justin Miller, of Creston, was traveling south on Elm Street in Creston, and nearing the bottom of the hill the intersection with Summit.

A vehicle described as a small, dark colored pickup…possibly a Ford Ranger…failed to stop at the intersection as it was traveling west on Summit, and struck the car, causing $4,000 damage. According to Police, the pickup, whose driver was at fault, fled the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported after a pickup struck an apartment building in Red Oak, Monday morning. According to Red Oak Police, 18-year old Anthony Rohner, of Red Oak, was driving a full-size 1996 Chevy pickup, when the vehicle hit an apartment building at 217 S. 2nd Street. The accident happened at around 1-a.m. Monday, but police weren’t notified until Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities say following an investigation, Rohner, who lives in the apartment building that was struck, admitted he was at fault. The structure sustained an estimated $4,000 damage, while damage to the pickup was estimated at $200.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Four officers were elected during the Montgomery County Extension Council organizational meeting held Jan. 18th. The nine-member council annually elects officers to comply with Iowa law. Joe Jardon, of Red Oak, is the re-elected chairperson. Jardon will preside at all meetings of the extension council, have authority to call special meetings and perform duties performed and exercised by a chairperson of a board of directors of a corporation. Mike Olson, of Red Oak, was elected vice chairperson.

Darcy Dalton, of Villisca, was elected secretary; and has the responsibility of keeping the minutes of all extension council meetings and signing required papers for the council. The council elected Bill Drey, of Red Oak, to the treasurer position. The treasurer receives, deposits, has charge of all of the funds of the extension council, and pays and disburses funds. The treasurer insures an accurate record of receipts and disbursements and submits reports to the extension council.

The council is the county governing body of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. They hire county staff, manages the county extension budget of approximately $366,000, and helps determine programming. In partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the council provides educational opportunities that bring university resources to the needs of the county and region. Local extension programs include 4-H, after school programs, Master Gardeners, and Powerful Tools for Caregivers

The Montgomery County Extension office is located in Red Oak.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey Tuesday, announced that $2.49 million has been awarded through the “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative to support the installation of 107 new blender pumps and 8 underground storage tanks that can be used to distribute higher blends of renewable fuels. An estimated 187 blender pumps and 25 underground storage tanks will be installed to provide consumers with access to higher blends of ethanol through the program. Among the locations to benefit from the initiative, is the Kum and Go in Stuart, and STAR Energy, in Guthrie Center. This was the 1st round of funding through the program and applications are due Feb. 1st for the 2nd round of funding.

The funding for the projects is from a $5 million competitive grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program Iowa received to support the initiative. All funds must be matched by non-federal funds, including up to $2.5 million from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program. The fueling sites applying for assistance will also be required to provide a minimum of $2.5 million.

Pumps and tanks funded through the program are currently required to be operational by December 31, 2016 and continue operations for the intended purpose of dispensing higher blends of ethanol through December 30, 2021. More information about the program, a copy of the application and other materials can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics.”