No serious injuries were reported in Union County Tuesday morning, after the brakes failed on one of two trailers full grain, causing the tractor pulling them to go out of control and roll into a ditch. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 62-year old Steven Gregory Wilson, of Afton, was driving a 1997 John Deere 8200 tractor pulling two grain carts loaded with corn. The tractor and carts were going down hill on 190th Street at around 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, when the brakes on a cart failed, causing both trailers to pick up speed and swerve back and forth.

The weight of the grain caused the tractor to enter the north ditch along with both trailers, which overturned and dumped most of total 900 bushels of corn onto the ground. Wilson complained of possible injuries, but refused treatment or transport to the hospital. Damage from the crash amounted to $50,000.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man from Hastings was arrested Tuesday on a trio of charges. 21-year old Rocky Runyon was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Child Endangerment and driving under
Suspension. His bond was set at $3,300.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), held a hearing on a proposed Ordinance to re-adopt the Cass County Code, the second reading of which was held during their meeting last week. Following the hearing, the Board move to re-adopt the Code. They also conducted a hearing on the proposed FY 2016 Cass County Budget, which was subsequently adopted, as well.

In other business, the Supervisors adopted the Secondary Roads Dept. FY2016 Budget, and acted on a recommendation from the County Compensation Board with regard to salaries for elected officers. Auditor Dale Sunderman reported the Compensation Board recommended a salary of $60,000 for the County Attorney, and $40,00 for the Assistant County Attorney, as well as 4-percent increase in salary for the Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Sheriff and Supervisors, along with a $1,000 increase for the Board of Supervisors Chairman.

The Supervisors, however, reduced the amounts by 25-percent for all but the County Attorney and Assistant County Attorney, and approved a 3-percent increase for the elected officers. The Auditor, Treasurer and Recorder will each receive a salary of $54,854, the Sheriff $70,491 and the Supervisors $28,632, with the Board Chair receiving a total of $29,632.

The Board also agreed to accept a bid from Oden Enterprises in Wahoo, NE., for sheet piling and piling for two bridges (#247 and an extra bridge to be installed after July 1st), in the amount of $52, 576.48. They also accepted a bid from Murphy Heavy Contracting Corporation in Anita, for the bridge #247 construction project, in the amount of $98,650.

And, the Board heard a request from Dave Chase with the Nishna Valley Trails Association, for $50,000 to go toward the development of Troublesome Creek Connector Trail in Cass County. They took no action on the request at their meeting. Earlier, the City of Atlantic took under consideration of a similar request for funds for the connector portion of the trail. On a related note, Supervisor Duane McFadden announced the Atlantic Lions Club will hold a pancake supper April 16th, with funds from your free-will donation being used toward the Connector Trail project.

With Ric Hanson.

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(In an update to our earlier report) Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a Nebraska man was injured during an explosion Tuesday morning at OSI in Oakland. Sheriff Jeff Danker says just before 11-a.m., the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 21876 Highway 59 to assist Oakland Rescue with an industrial accident.

Upon arrival the Deputy and First Responders from Oakland found that 24-year old Dalton Anderson of rural Ashland NE., had been performing maintenance on a generator when some type of explosion occurred.

Anderson told authorities that he was splashed with “hot liquid” that had come from the generator burning his face and chest.  The man was transported to CHI Mercy in Council Bluffs for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Police in Creston arrested two people early this (Wednesday) morning. 24-year old Kendall Lee Ross, of Creston, was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) at around 3:10-a.m. on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And at around 1:45-a.m., 31-year old Daniel Floyd Edwards, of Orient, was arrested at the Union County LEC for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on $300 bond.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A nearly 100-year old record High temperature was set in Atlantic, Tuesday. The temperature at the KJAN studios (The Official National Weather Service record-keeping site for Atlantic), reached 75 degrees. The old record of 74, was set in 1917 (98 years ago). We’re on track today (Wednesday), to match or exceed the record High set for today as well. The old record of 69 was set in 1900. The forecast today calls for a high near 70.

The Broadway musical production of the Iowa-based love story, “The Bridges of Madison County,” will open its first-ever national tour at the Civic Center in Des Moines later this year. Jeff Chelesvig, president and C-E-O of Des Moines Performing Arts, says it’s a “real coup” to land the premiere show. It’s based on the best-selling romance novel from 1992 which was followed by a tear-jerking Hollywood blockbuster three years later, starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

“I think of the three versions of “The Bridges of Madison County,” this is the version that tells the story most beautifully because of its score and because it really gets into areas of where Francesca came from and tells the story of her and the family,” Chelesvig says. “It also talks about the people of Iowa in a beautiful and caring way.” Des Moines Performing Arts was an investor in the Broadway production which won two Tony Awards last June.

Based in the picturesque rural county in southeast Iowa, it’s considered by some to be one of the most romantic stories ever written, about two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance and much more. Chelesvig anticipates tickets will go exceptionally fast and it will be a huge tourism boost for central Iowa.  “I think this is going to be a huge draw in a number of ways,” Chelesvig says. “People around Iowa, of course, know the story and know about the bridges of Madison County. All of the folks from the convention and visitors bureau and from Madison County are all so thrilled that we are going to be opening this and they are looking forward to selling it.”

Des Moines has hosted at least four previous launches for national Broadway productions, including “State Fair” in 1995 and “The Music Man” in 2001. “Bridges” will play in Des Moines November 28th through December 5th, followed by a six-week run in Los Angeles.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports two women were arrested on felony forgery charges Tuesday, following a lengthy investigation that encompassed part of Mills County and stretched into the State of Missouri. Officials say 23-year old Desiree Pauline Willis and 23-year old Jessica Lynn Hardman, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody. Willis was arrested at around 3:10-p.m on seven counts of Forgery, while Hardman was arrested just before 7-p.m on a single forgery charge. Both women were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, each.

And, at around 1:45-p.m., Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 51-year old David James Altstad, of Red Oak, on charges that include Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, Possession of Meth/2nd offense, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Meth -2nd offense. Altstad was taken into custody at 2nd and Nuckols Street in Red Oak, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $14,000 bond.