The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five people were arrested over the past week on unrelated charges.On Wednesday, deputies arrested 34-year old Phillip Christian Hunter, of Cumberland, on a charge of Domestic Abuse, second offense. Hunter was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Thursday (3/27) on his own recognizance. Also arrested Wednesday, was 44-year old Angela Dee Cook, of Atlantic. She was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and at the jail received an additional charge of Possession of Electronic contraband. Cook was booked into the jail and also released on her own recognizance Thursday (3/27).

On Monday, 20-year old Andrew Warren Laughlin, of Atlantic, turned himself-in to the Cass County Jail. Laughlin was wanted on a District Court warrant for a Probation Violation. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $3,000 bond.  Last Sunday, 49-year old Tab Norman Rasmussen, of Exira, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failing to Appear at a Child Support Hearing. He was being held without bond in the Cass County Jail.

And on Friday, March 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 49-year old Floyd Marvin Johnson, of Wiota, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

These pictures are courtesy of Irwin Fire Chief Lynn Gaskill. (See separate post for details on the fire)

In an update to our earlier stories about two separate accidents in Atlantic, Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports the drivers of two vehicles involved in a collision this (Thursday) morning at the intersection of Highway 71 and 22nd Street, were transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Green says a pickup driven by Jason Jordahl, of Atlantic, was traveling north on Highway 71 at around 7:28-a.m., and slowing for a vehicle stopped and waiting to turn left onto 22nd Street, when his vehicle was hit from behind by an SUV driven by Chelsea Adams, of Atlantic. Adams was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Reduce Speed. Damage from the crash amounted to $9,000.

And, an accident Wednesday afternoon just south of the intersection of 10th and Chestnut Streets resulted in 16-year old Caleb Kelly, of Atlantic, being sent to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Chief Green says Kelly was traveling south in a 2-door Saturn at around 2:17-p.m., when he suffered from a medical issue that caused him to jerk the steering wheel to the right. The car then hit a utility pole guy wire before flipping onto its left side and ending up on its roof. No citations were issued.

The final list of candidates for local government offices in Adair County has been released. According to Deputy Auditor Sandy Mitchell, two people are running for Supervisor in District 2:  Democrat incumbent Steven Shelley, and Republican Ralp A. Lents. In District 4, Incumbent Cliff Sheriff faces a challenge from fellow Republican Brian Rohrig. Jodie Hoadley is the lone Democrat running for the seat.

Adair County Treasurer Brenda Wallace and Recorder Janelle Schneider, both Republicans, and Attorney Michael D. Maynes, a Democrat, are unopposed in the Primary. All are incumbents.

Shelby County Emergency Management officials say light rain and drizzle this (Thursday) morning will give way to sunshine and strong winds this weekend. Rapid drying of the dead vegetation will occur returning, causing a higher threat for fires to spread. Therefore the Fire Danger placards in area businesses will remain in the “High” category, through Monday morning.

A fire Wednesday evening burned over 300 acres. The flames were fanned by winds in excess of 30-mph. The Shelby County EMA asks residents to please call ahead and report your burning plans to the EMA office at 712-755-2124.

Authorities in Shelby County have released more information about a large fire that took place Wednesday evening. As we have reported, crews from Kirkman, Harlan, Irwin and Defiance Fire Departments responded to the blaze near 1541 Redwood Road, at around 5:35-p.m., Wednesday. Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies and Emergency Management officials also responded.

Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says initial units reported a large grass fire spreading rapidly to the Norhtheast.    Winds at time of ignition taken from the Irwin Weather Station were reported to be  out of the South, Southwest, gusting  at 39-MPH.  Peak wind speed during the Initial Attack was recorded at 51-MPH. Irwin Fire Chief Lynn Gaskill, Incident Commander for the fire requested additional assistance for water tankers, and grass trucks from Manilla Fire Dept, Manning Fire Dept, and Kimballton Fire Departments. Additional help from local farmers with disc arrived on scene throughout the evening.

The fire traveled 1.7 miles crossing 1800^th where fire departments attempted to hold the fire. As a precaution approximately14 area residents were asked to evacuate to a shelter in Harlan, IA.  Shelby County Public Health and the City of Harlan opened and staffed the shelter at the request of Shelby County Emergency Management. After the fire was contained,  units were called back out at approximately10:30-p.m., for a flare up.

Roads in the area were temporarily closed to assist in the firefighting effort, and Shelby County Secondary Roads personnel responded to assist with staffing road blocks. Wives of the Irwin Firefighters and others in the Irwin community set up a canteen at the Irwin Community Center to provide water and food for the firefighter who were on scene for over 4 hours.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and mapping of acreage will be completed today (Thursday).  It is estimated to be over 300 acres in size.  No injuries to fire firefighters were reported and no damage to outbuildings occurred.

High winds on Wednesday caused numerous grass and structure fires in the area and also removed a portion of the roof on a business in downtown Harlan.

Photos by Joel McCall/KNOD – Harlan

The Harlan Police Department was called to 6^th and Court around 6:50pm due to the partial blown off roof. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Harlan city work crews to assist. The owner of the building was notified and city crews closed off a portion of 6^th Street from Durant and Court. Vehicles parked on the east side of the square from Durant to Market were moved as a precaution in case the roof was dislodged. As of this (Thursday) morning, one lane of 6^th Street is still blocked off between Durant and Court in downtown Harlan.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Despite the explosive fire growth conditions in the area over the past few days, Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees doesn’t see the need for a County-wide ban on opening burning. McNees told KJAN News the fire that started east of Atlantic Wednesday afternoon was accidental, and not open burning-related. It was one of several fires in western Iowa that burned quickly and intensely, Wednesday. McNees said it’s not as bad in Cass County as in other counties which have instituted bans on open burning.

He says things are “greening-up,” slowly and people are being smart. He says residents are heeding advice given earlier this week to know when you are going to burn, check the weather, call your local fire chief and the Cass County Communications Center.

McNees still cautions residents of Cass County to be careful, and try to give Mother Nature a little more time to green-up the grasses, which will reduce the danger of fires spreading, as opposed to the dry conditions we are currently experiencing. He says if there were crops standing in the fields, he would be more concerned about fires spreading. Wednesday was just an “extreme day,” according to McNees, where all of the elements necessary for the eruption of rapidly expanding fires, were present.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – A May trial has been scheduled for a 26-year-old man facing several charges linked to a standoff with officers in northwest Iowa.  The Sioux City Journal says Jonathan Willroth pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Sac County District Court in Sac City. He’s charged with sexual abuse, going armed with intent, domestic abuse assault, assault while participating in a felony, assault with intent to commit sex abuse and two counts of neglect of a dependent person.

Court records say Willroth was arrested at a house in Early after a March 11 incident in which he sexually assaulted his ex-wife and threatened to shoot her while their children were present. Officers surrounded the house and eventually talked Willroth into coming outside.

Willroth’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 13.