DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A New York City company the Iowa attorney general says was running a fraudulent psychic mail campaign targeting elderly Iowans has been ordered to pay $200,000 to a state consumer protection fund.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) today (Friday) announced she will host town meetings in Adams and Union counties next Saturday (June 27) as part of her 99 county tour. These town meetings are open to the public.

The first meeting is in Corning, 12:30-p.m. June 27th, at the Corning Opera House (800 Davis Avenue). The second meeting is in Creston, beginning at 5:30-p.m., at  the Southwestern Community College Performing Arts Center, Multi-purpose Room 124 (1501 W Townline Road).

Officials with the Cass County Landfill near Atlantic, have received notice the County intends to closed the landfill (Jackson) road, west of the landfill, effective June 24th. The closure, which will last about three months, is necessary due to a bridge replacement project. Persons seeking to drop off items at the landfill should seek an alternate route. If you have questions, call 712-243-1991.

The 17th Annual Cass County Relay for Life takes place this evening at the Atlantic High School track. The event sponsored by the American Cancer Society is a celebration of life in support and memory of those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

A tractor ride kicked-off the day’s activities, that continue this evening, with a 4:30-p.m. check-in for a free, cancer survivor’s meal, provided by Hy-Vee. The meal begins at 5-p.m., and will be served to all cancer survivors and one guest, each.

At 6-p.m., is the Survivor’s Lap. Cancer survivors and caregivers are invited to walk around the track, with wheelchairs available upon request. Several teams have formed to take turns walking or running around the track, with the proceeds benefiting the fight against cancer.

Also getting underway at 6, is a bid on the silent auction angel food cakes in the Education Tent. You can purchase luminaries in memory of those lost to cancer until 8-p.m. Entertainment gets underway at 6:30, with Salute Gymnastics, kids play in the bounces house until 8-p.m., and at 7-p.m., there’ll be a performance by Villa Dance, along with a Scavenger Hunt, with a $20 first prize.

The Kids’ Cake Walk starts at 7:30 on the south end of the field, and at 8-p.m., Zumba with Allison Knox-Westmeyer, will be featured. The Luminaria Ceremony begins at 9-p.m., followed by Music to Walk by, at 10-p.m.  For more information, call Carole Schuler at 712-243-7545, or check out the Cass County Relay For Life on Facebook.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County investigated a rollover accident Thursday near the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29. Authorities say a 1998 Freightliner semi owned by Lone Star Transportation out of Ft. Worth, TX., was hauling an over-sized load westbound on Highway 2, when the driver, Kenneth Brock, of Rincon, GA, attempted to pull off onto the shoulder of the road.

The trailer sank into the shoulder, causing the semi to roll onto its side and hit a highway sign before coming to rest. No injuries were reported. Assisting the sheriff’s department at the scene, were personnel with the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Dept. of Transportation, along with the Percival and Sidney Fire and Rescue Departments.

Atlantic Police investigated two separate accidents this past week. Officials say on Sunday (June 14th), vehicles driven by Kenneth Searls, of Audubon, and Judith Collins, of Atlantic, collided near the intersection of 7th Street and Hospital Drive at around 9:20-a.m., after Searls, who had stopped at the traffic light, turned right on a red light and struck Collins’ vehicle as she was traveling north on Hospital Drive and entering a parking lot. No injuries were reported. Damage amounted to $2,000.

And, on Wednesday, vehicle driven by Robert Harlan and Kayla Kessler, both of Atlantic, collided at 10th and Walnut Streets at around 9:15-a.m., as Kessler was traveling east on 10th and Harlan was traveling south on Walnut. Harlan stopped at the intersection but then proceeded forward, striking Kessler’s driver’s side door. Kessler was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,000. Harlan was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn.

(Corrects original post to add more arrests)

Eleven people were arrested on separate charges over the past week, here in Atlantic. The Police Department reports four arrests took place on June 10th:

• 37-year old Charles Sharpback, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• 24-year old Benjamin Galles, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication.
• 38-year old Terry Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, & Public Intoxication.
• 32-year old Kyle Archibald, of Walnut, was arrested in Atlantic on an Audubon County warrant for Probation Violation. He was later transported to Audubon County.
• and 51-year old Tim Planck, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Warren County warrant for Probation Violation. He was later transported to the Warren County Jail.

On June 11th, Atlantic Police arrested 34-year old Ameli Williams, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. And on June 14th, 47-year old Curtis Nelson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary in the 1st Degree, Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon.

On June 16th, 22-year old Jason Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox and Interference with Official Acts. And, three people were arrested on Thursday, June 18th:

• 33-year old Juane Anaya Mendez, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th degree (Shoplifting). He was cited and then released from custody.
• 39-year old Jeremy R. Peterson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Failure to Pay Attorney Fees and Cost.
• and, 33-year old Jennifer Claussen, of Lewis, was arrested for OWI.

With the exception of Archibald, Planck and Mendez, each of the persons mentioned were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has issued a ruling that allows doctors to continue dispensing abortion-inducing pills remotely via a video teleconferencing system.  The high court released its unanimous opinion Friday.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the local affiliate, had sued the Iowa Board of Medicine over its 2013 decision that would have required a doctor to be in the room with a patient when dispensing abortion-inducing medication. The board cited safety concerns over a required physical examination.

The court agreed with Planned Parenthood’s argument that the rule would have placed an undue burden on women by requiring a doctor’s physical presence. The court’s opinion was important for the future of the fairly unique procedure. Iowa is one of only two states offering it.

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

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A woman from Union County was arrested Thursday morning in Creston, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Hayley Joan Vandel, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 10:15-a.m. and later released on $1,000 bond.