Two people were injured when a pickup and an SUV collided this (Monday) morning, in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the drivers of both vehicles, 73-year old Max M. Johnston, of Creston, and 50-year old Diane L. Kiddy, of Winterset, were transported by Stuart Rescue to hospitals in Creston and Winterset, respectively, following the crash on the Stuart Road at 150th Street at around 9:20-a.m.

Officials say a 2002 Caterpillar grader operated by 35-year old Kevin Pickrell, of Greenfield, was traveling northbound working on the shoulder of the road. A county truck was about one-quarter of a mile behind the grader with a sign on the rear, warning about the slow moving vehicle ahead.

The 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Johnston ran into the rear of the grader. Kiddy’s 2005 Jeep Liberty then ran into the rear of the pickup. Both the pickup and SUV came to rest on the road. The grader was not damaged.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on an assault charge. The Atlantic Police Department reports 30-year old Laura Madden was taken into custody for Simple Assault. Madden was booked into the Cass County Jail. On Saturday,50-year old Elvin Shrimpton, of Atlantic was arrested for Public Intoxication. That same day, 49-year old Eric Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.  And on Sunday, 57-year old Jon Jordan, of Wiota, was cited for Urinating in Public.

In other news, the A-PD reports an accident Friday night caused $2,600 damage, but no one was injured. A vehicle driven by John Topham, of Griswold, was backing into a parking stall at the Cass County Fairgrounds, when Topham’s vehicle struck a vehicle behind it, owned by Sherry Warf, of Clarinda.  Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 8:04-p.m., amounted to $2,700.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday afternoon. In their report released today (Monday), authorities said an accident at 110th Street and Walnut Avenue had occurred at around 2:20-p.m., Thursday. A 2002 Chrysler 300-m driven by 47-year old Stacy Lynn Van Hal, of Creston, went out of control on the loose gravel, causing the car to enter the ditch. There was no report on damage to the vehicle. No citations were issued.

Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, says it’s up to Bruce Braley, her Democratic opponent, to explain why he missed 78 percent of the hearings held by the House Veterans Affairs Committee when he served on the panel.  “I think he should have been attending those hearings, obviously,” Ernst told reporters this morning. “I heard in one account he had said that he had to skip a meeting to go to another meeting and he didn’t actually go to that other meeting…but that’s up for him. He has to justify why he wasn’t there at a time when he was failing our veterans.”

Ernst, a unit commander in the Iowa National Guard, returned to the campaign trail this morning (Monday) after two weeks of active duty. She spoke briefly at an early morning rally with about 150 veterans and National Guard soldiers and did not mention Braley by name or his attendance at VA hearings. The subject is now being pressed by a nearly two-and-a-half million dollar ad campaign against Braley. During a news conference, Ernst was asked if it was appropriate for the ad to accuse Braley of being AWOL — absent without leave — on veterans issues.

“That’s up to him to refute, but I think those are important issues and we need to focus on those,” Ernst said. “We’ve made a lot of promises to our veterans and we need to make sure that we are taking care of our veterans.” Ernst says V-A Hospitals should remain open, but she would support giving veterans vouchers or cards that they could use to obtain care at a local hospital or clinic, rather than forcing veterans to drive to a Veterans Affairs facility for care. According to Ernst, the problems with long wait times and substandard care have not cropped up at Iowa’s V-A facilities.

“I wish I could say that in every state out there, but unfortunately we have had many, many issues and we need elected officials that are willing to take on these problems head-on — not ignore them, not bury their heads in the sand,” Ernst said. “We need to address these issues head-on and find solutions.”

Ernst also says she opposes reducing the size of the U.S. active duty military force to pre-World War II levels.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans who like to shop at stores where everything’s a dollar may soon see some changes. The Dollar Tree chain is buying rival Family Dollar for eight-and-a-half BILLION dollars. There are about 40 Dollar Trees in Iowa and around 20 Family Dollars. While the items at Dollar Tree all cost a buck or less, the Family Dollar stocks some items up to five-dollars, and higher.

The new Dollar Tree chain will become North America’s biggest discount retailer. Specifics on which stores will remain open haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Sheriff’s officials say no injuries were reported following an accident Sunday morning, in Anita. At around 6:45-a.m., a 2002 Buick LeSabre owned and driven by 62-year old Marcia Lynn Hockenberry, of Anita,  was traveling eastbound on Hillcrest Drive, when the car hit a parked 1990 Dodge pickup with an attached H&H Trailer. The truck and trailer, owned by James Calvin Dory, of Anita, sustained $3,100 damage altogether. The damage to Hockenberry’s car was estimated at $3,000.

In other news, the sheriff’s office says 34-year old Roger Dwayne Vincent, Jr.,  of Cumberland, was arrested Saturday on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Vincent was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County have released additional information about a rollover accident that took place early Sunday morning near Wiota. As we reported during our newscasts Sunday, and on the web at kjan.com, one-person was injured and transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

A rural resident called the Cass County Communications Center at around 3-a.m., to report an individual had come to their residence and that she had been in a wreck. Upon investigation, it was determined that a 2001 Toyota Corolla driven by 25-year old Vanessa Ranae Dugan Jones, of Nodaway, had been traveling northbound on 690th Street when she lost control of the car, causing the vehicle to roll onto its top into the west ditch. Jones was transported to CCMH via Anita Rescue. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $6,000. The incident remains under investigation.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports one person arrested following an investigation into a reported assault with a weapon Sunday evening, in Shambaugh. Deputies met with the alleged victim, 19-year old Eli Stimson, and after speaking with the suspect, 20-year old Blake Dubrow, of Clarinda, arrested Dubrow on  a charge of Serious Assault. The man was being held in the Page County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Stimson was transported to the hospital for treatment. The Sheriff’s Office says the men resided at home where the alleged incident occurred.

A bicyclist from Harlan was injured after she was hit by an inattentive driver Saturday evening in Shelby County. Sheriff’s officials say 49-year old Kimberly Sue Zaccone, who was wearing her helmet,  suffered injuries to her left knee and hip area, as well as a case of “road rash,” after she was hit by a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The driver, 40-year old Erik John Nielsen, of Harlan, told authorities that as he was traveling south on Linden Road at around 4:20-p.m., he was looking at a corn field, and didn’t see Zaccone. The van’s side view mirror struck the woman, knocking her to the ground. She was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. No citations were issued.