DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers have planted a higher percentage of the corn crop than last year but remain behind the five-year average. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 84 percent of the corn crop had been planted as of Sunday. That’s more than the 63 percent of the crop planted at this time last year but a little behind the five-year average of 88 percent.

The USDA says 40 percent of the soybean crop has been planted. That’s 10 percentage points behind average. The report showed that 78 percent of topsoil moisture was adequate and 12 percent had surplus water. Of the remaining, 9 percent was short of moisture and 1 percent was very short. The USDA says 62 percent of subsoil moisture was adequate.

A Pottawattamie County man was arrested Friday by deputies in Cass County. Officials say 24-year old Randy Travis Arbuckle, of Walnut, was wanted on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree. Arbuckle was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2000 bond.

An accident that happened Friday in northern Cass County caused nearly $20,000 damage, but no one was injured. The Sheriff’s Office says the crash involving a 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup and a 2013 Toyota, happened at the intersection of Boston Road and 650th Street.

Officials say the pickup, driven by 19-year old Dustin Owen Ferguson, of Brayton, attempted to cross 650th Street on Boston Road, when it was hit by the southbound Toyota,  driven by 73-year old M. Elaine Cook, of Rhinelander, WI. Deputies cited Ferguson for Failure to Yield.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past few days. On Friday, 41-year old Brande Michelle Barnes, of Glenwood, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear/Truancy-related. Her bond was set at $1,500.

And, there were two arrests on Saturday in Mills County. 48-year old Michael Scott Holtz, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear/Possession of Controlled Substance-related. Bond was set at $1,500. And, 54-year old Barbara Anne Dinges, of Glenwood, was arrested on an OWI/1st Offense charge. Her bond was set at $1,000.

A man from Pacific Junction was injured Saturday afternoon after he dumped his motorcycle on Highway 34 in an attempting to avoid a collision. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Matthew Kinney was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital by Glenwood Rescue following the accident that happened at around 4:35-p.m., Saturday.

Officials say Kinney was traveling east on Highway 34 approaching Hilman Road. An eastbound vehicle was in front of the motorcycle, and a vehicle was sitting in the median, waiting for westbound traffic before crossing and into Hilman Road. When the car in front of the cycle slowed, Kinney laid his 2005 Harley Davidson on its side and slid into the median.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday morning near the junction of Highway 34 and Interstate 29. Mills County Sheriff’s officials say a 2010 Nissan driven by Nelson Tollefson, of Red Oak, was stopped and waiting for westbound traffic to make a left turn onto the I-29 on-ramp. Tollefson signaled to make the left turn, but his car was hit from behind by a 1993 Buick Century, driven by Jordan Johnson, of Papillion, NE. Johnson was cited for following too closely.

(12-p.m. News)

The Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation recently awarded the Louie and Elsie Hansen Scholarships. Kristen Schuler, Whitney Schafer and Claire Markham each received a $5000 award for the 2014-15 academic year. Foundation President Kent Gade said “This is the first year the board has awarded three scholarships.”  He noted that “Dick Howard, scholarship committee member, made a motion to give three $5,000 scholarships based on the exceptional quality of our applicants, and that motion was passed unanimously.” The awards are based on the applications received each year.

The Louie and Elsie Hansen Scholarship was established through the generosity and careful planning of these two life-long Cass County residents. The Hansen’s believed in higher education, so much so that over 70% of their estate was bequeathed for that purpose, including a gift to the CCMH Foundation.

Under the supervision and guidance of the CCMH Foundation, scholarship opportunities are provided yearly. As per the Hansens’ wishes, scholarship candidates must have graduated from a Cass County high school and be enrolled in and accepted to an accredited nursing or medical doctor school pursing a degree as LPN, RN or MD.

The Hansens lived and farmed in the Marne area until they retired and became residents of Atlantic.

The Cass County Community Foundation has announced the 2014 McCurdy scholars have been selected.
The Dustin McCurdy Endowed Scholarship provides one scholarship of $500 each to high school seniors from Cumberland Anita Massena (C-A-M) High School. This year’s scholars are Erin Daugherty and Michael Holste.

The Audubon County Community Foundation has announced that the 2014 Exira Lions Club/Harold & Beverly Ann Godwin scholar has been selected.  This year’s scholar is Claire Paulsen.

The Exira Lions Club/Harold & Beverly Ann Godwin Endowed Scholarship provides one scholarship of $1,000 and is available to any graduating Exira High School senior pursuing a two or four year degree, full-time, at any accredited vocational/technical or educational institution or a college or university who can demonstrate a successful high school academic career along with demonstrated community service spirit of volunteerism.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports one road has closed for repairs, while another has re-opened. Emergency Manager Bob Seivert says Hazel Road, which was closed in April for the replacement of a bridge with a culvert pipe, has re-opened to traffic. The bridge was located on a stretch of Level B road, over an unnamed tributary of Moser Creek.

And while that road has opened, Sievert reports 1200th Street is closed due to a similar project, where a bridge is being replaced by a culvert. The bridge is located just east of Road M-16 over an unnamed tributary of Keg Creek, and is between Lincoln Townships 5 and 8. Emergency responders and residents in the Panama and Westphalia areas will be most affected by the closure, which is expected to last 4-to 5 weeks.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday of a man wanted on a Page County warrant. 34-year old Larry Eugene Kuster, of Shambaugh, was taken into custody at around 10:48-a.m. at his residence in Shambaugh. Kuster was brought to the Page County Jail and later released after posting $1,000 bond.