The Atlantic Police Department reports a Griswold man was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital and later to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, following an accident just before 7-a.m. today (Tuesday), southwest of Atlantic. Tyler Johnson was injured when the pickup he was driving failed to stop in-time and crashed into the rear of a semi, driven by Brent McKee, of Neola. The accident happened as both vehicles were traveling north on Highway 6 just north of 29th Street, and approaching the entrance to the Schildberg Quarry.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass Co. EMA

The semi slowed to make a left turn into the quarry, when it’s trailer was hit from behind by Johnson’s pickup.  McKee was not injured in the crash. Johnson’s injuries were serious, but did not appear to have been life threatening. Damage from the accident amounted to $7,000.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors gave Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Director Roger Herring, permission to go ahead and locate two bike racks near the courthouse and on a portion of County-owned property in the Atlantic City Park.

The “Hitching Post” type of proposed for locations near the Cass County Courthouse and Atlantic City Park.

Herring proposed installing two “Hitching post”-style bike racks near the southeast corner of the Courthouse, or, two near the old generator room entrance on the southwest side of the courthouse. The Supervisors however, were more in favor of the southeast side location. Herring also proposed installing two posts in the City Park, near the intersection of 6th and Chestnut.

One of the proposed locations near the Cass Co. Courthouse (the exact location is yet to be determined)

In the future, two other posts will be located on the northwest side of the park, near “Santa’s Cabin,” diagonally across the street from the Atlantic Public Library, where similar bike racks have already been installed. Additional bike racks can be found at Sunnyside Park, near the tennis courts, and near the Chamber of Commerce Building (Old Rock Island Depot), at 2nd and Chestnut.

The bike racks will be paid for through a recently received grant or, out of Herring’s Park and Rec Budget, and at no cost to the County.

The Harlan Police Department Tuesday (today) issued a report on arrests and incidents. Eight individuals were arrested during the period covering Sept. 19th through the 26th.  On Sept. 26th, 37-year old Joseph Hastie was arrested on an active warrant out of Pottawattamie County for failure to appear on a charge of unauthorized use of a credit card. Hastie was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he awaited extradition to Pottawattamie County.

On Sept. 25th, 36-year old Kelly Wood and 35-year old Lisa Briggs, both of Harlan, were taken into custody when officers were called to a suspicious vehicle in the Superior Storage parking lot. Both subjects were taken to the Shelby County Jail where Wood was charged with possession of a controlled substance and Briggs was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of contraband in a secure facility.

On Sept. 24th, 45-year old Clinton Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to a domestic assault in the 1000 block of Park Street. Scheffler was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly striking David Peters, also of Harlan.

On Sept. 23rd, 23-year old Anthony Bennett, Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to the area of 12th and Willow for someone forcing their way into an apartment. Upon arrival no one was found in that area. A short time later, officers were called to HyVee where the owner of the apartment had gone to be safe in making the call. As a result of the investigation, Bennett was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with burglary in the 1st degree, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Sept. 22nd, Police in Harlan were called to Express Lube where a male subject was seen going through vehicles on the lot. As a result of the investigation and with video surveillance, a search warrant was served on the property at 2006 7th Street. 30-year old Reid Hemminger, and 27-year old Joey Ranney, Jr., both of Harlan, were arrested and taken to the Shelby County Jail. Hemminger was charged with 2 counts of burglary in the 3rd degree, attempted burglary in the 3rd, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child endangerment. Ranney was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

On Sept. 19th, 26-year old Seth Rauterkus, of Manilla, was taken into custody following a traffic stop. Rauterkus was cited for open container, passenger, and released. On Sept. 20th, 46-year old Stephen Lytle, of Harlan, was taken into custody when officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of Farnam Street. Lytle was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly assaulting Tina Lytle, also of Harlan.

Police also investigated a couple of theft incidents. On Sept. 24th, Harlan Police officers were called to Blake’s Auto Sound and Security for a burglary in progress. While in route the officers were advised the suspects had left. Nothing was taken as the suspects were scared off by the owner. This case remains under investigation. And, on Sept. 17th, officers were called to the 900 block of Farnam Street where Kathy Campbell reported that a truck belonging to her son, Austin Hudson, had been broken into. Several items were taken from the vehicle including the stereo, a CB radio, and a sub. The case remains under investigation.

w/ Ric Hanson

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At least one person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, following a collision between a pickup truck and semi on Highway 6, near 22nd Street. The accident happened just before 7-a.m. near the entrance to Schildberg Construction.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass Co. EMA

Additional details about the crash were not available as of 8:15-a.m.

Police in Creston say a resident reported to authorities tires on his vehicle had been slashed over the weekend. The vehicle was parked in the 800 block of west Taylor Street. The incident, which happened sometime between 9-a.m. Sunday and 7-a.m. Monday, resulted a loss of around $250.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident this morning, just before 7-a.m.  According to dispatch reports, a truck rear-ended a semi near Schildberg Construction on west Highway 6 near 22nd Street. It’s unclear if there were any injuries. Both vehicles were still on the traveled portion of the road at 7-a.m.

(This post will be updated – please check back)

Most Iowa farmers haven’t started the harvest yet but already it’s clear there will be problems with moving the grain. U-S Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says rail cars will be in short supply and he doesn’t foresee any solution coming down the tracks. “Our surface transportation board, along with our rail companies, and along with us in Washington, we’re going to have to figure out a way to create more capacity so that commodities can move,” Foxx says. Farmers need rail cars to move their crops, but many rail cars are being diverted to haul oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota and Montana.

“It’s an issue we have to deal with,” Foxx says. “The Surface Transportation Board has primary responsibility for it but clearly with the proliferation of the movement of crude oil by rail, it increases competition for precious rail space.” Foxx says there’s no easy fix to the looming rail car shortage. “Even if Congress funded us tomorrow, it would still take some time to get track on the ground and things going,” Foxx says. “It’s not going to be a short-term solution but again, the Surface Transportation Board has primary responsibility for trying to work out the issues that have to do with commodities moving.”

Many blame the rail car shortage on the delay on building the Keystone X-L oil pipeline across Nebraska. That pipeline could carry the Bakken oil, freeing up thousands of rail cars to move crops.

(Radio Iowa)

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two teenagers have been killed and several people hospitalized following a car wreck in Storm Lake. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department says a pickup truck collided head-on with another car Monday morning on a gravel road.

The Sioux City Journal reports a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A 15-year-old female was flown by helicopter to a Sioux City hospital. A 19-year-old woman was sent by ambulance to another hospital.  The pickup driver, 43-year-old Kent Erickson, suffered minor injuries in the collision. His passenger, 49-year-old Trent Jackson, was hospitalized.

Additional names and information has not been released.