No injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Sunday evening, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say the accident happened near Elliott at around 7:45-p.m., on Highway 48 at Kirkwood Avenue. Officials say for reasons unknown, a 1986 Mercury Cougar driven by 58-year old Elaine Alexander, of Elliott, entered the north ditch. Alexander was subsequently charged with OWI and held on bond. There was no damage to her vehicle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state’s top disaster services official says the death of two Iowans in April 27 storms highlights the need to develop a storm preparedness plan. Mark Schouten, Iowa’s emergency management director recommends Iowans stay aware by keeping a battery operated radio or a cell phone with a storm alert application nearby. Families should have emergency plans and emergency storm kits ready.

Schouten says the Keokuk County storm in late April was not identified as a tornado by the National Weather Service until after a second person died. One woman was killed near Martinsburg, the other near Kinross. Both were caught outside when winds hit.

Schouten says Iowa has built an increasing number of school tornado safe rooms with 33 completed projects and funding approved for more.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has increased the County-wide Fire Danger category to “Moderate” this week, due to decreased humidity and strengthening winds. The current Fire Danger rating will be in effective through Thursday morning, at which time the situation will be assessed and the county fire danger status updated.

When the fire danger is “moderate” it means that fires can start from most accidental causes, but the number of fire starts is usually pretty low. If a fire does start in an open, dry grassland, it will burn and spread quickly on windy days. Most wood fires will spread slowly to moderately. Average fire intensity will be moderate except in heavy concentrations of fuel, which may burn hot. Fires are still not likely to become serious and are often easy to control.

Two accidents over the weekend in Atlantic resulted in over $12,000 worth of damage, and injuries to one person. Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say a vehicle registered to Bill Baily, of Oakland, was legally parked in the Hy-Vee parking lot. As the passenger door of Bailey’s car was opened, a gust of wind took the door, causing it to hit a vehicle driven by Michael Pellett, of Atlantic, as he was pulling into an adjacent parking stall.  Damage to both vehicles amounted to $2700. No injuries were reported.

That same day, an accident took place in the Atlantic Wal-Mart parking lot, at around 1-p.m. Officials say a vehicle driven by Lester Auerbach, of Atlantic, was backing out of a parking stall, when he hit a vehicle registered to James Schweiss, of Atlantic, that was parked in another stall. The force of the impact pushed Schweiss’ vehicle into a parked vehicle registered to John Watson, of Griswold.

Following the initial collision, Auerbach’s vehicle turned west after getting past all the parking stalls, and proceeded west over the curb and down the hill, where it hit a tree before coming to rest. A passenger in Schweiss’ vehicle was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by personal vehicle, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The total damage to all vehicles was estimated at $9,600.

Two people were arrested recently in Atlantic, on drug-related charges. Atlantic Police report 27-year old Samuel Hoffman, of Lewis, was arrested Friday, for Possession of drug paraphernalia and on a Cass County warrant for Theft 5th degree. That same day, 30-year old Daniel Duranceau, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Delivery of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). Both men were brought to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

Governor Terry Branstad is not giving many hints about whether he’ll approve or veto two high-profile bills that cleared the legislature in the past week. Both the Senate and House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would legalize possession of an oil derived from the marijuana plant, as treatment for severe epilepsy. Branstad says he’s against allowing patients to smoke marijuana as treatment for ailments like glaucoma, arthritis or post traumatic stress, but this bill only deals with a non-intoxicating oil.

“A lot of work went into this in the closing weeks of the session and I have talked to both the governors of Alabama and Utah that passed similar, very limited pieces of legislation,” Branstad says. Another bill, with millions of dollars at stake, would see the casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque pay 72 million dollars to get out of the greyhound racing business. The track in Council Bluffs will close if Branstad signs the bill, but Iowa’s greyhound industry can either tap into that pot of money to retire from greyhound racing or use it to run the Dubuque track on their own.

“Obviously, this is something that’s been negotiated between the different groups and I feel my responsibility is to protect the prople of Iowa and the intregrity of the state,” Branstad says. “I will carefully review and consider it. I’ve not made any decision on this.” The cash comes from the casinos. No taxpayer dollars are involved, but Branstad says it’s a “huge” pay-out for the Iowa greyhound industry. “There was very little discussion on this during the legislative process,” Branstad says. “I also believe that Racing and Gaming Commission wil have an important role to play in how these huge amounts of resources are allocated.” The casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque have complained they’re providing an annual subsidy of 13-million dollars to keep greyhound racing going at the two tracks, while few patrons wager on or attend the races.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the weekend. Early Friday night, 42-year old Roy Thomas Seeley, Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

And, deputies in Mills County arrested two people on Saturday. 24-year old Maung Myat Mon, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:50-a.m., for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 52-year old Karen Marie Coates of Malvern, was arrested at around 4:10-p.m. on an Assault charge. Her bond was set at $300.

Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities have announced workers with the utility will be flushing the water mains and checking fire hydrants later this week in Atlantic and Marne. The work is expected to take place Thursday, May 8th, and Friday, May 9th. As a result, customers may temporarily experience some rusty-colored water on those days.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were injured during a rollover accident Saturday afternoon, west of Tennant. Authorities say a 2003 Buick Century driven by Kyle Tearney, of Tennant, was traveling east on Shelby County Road F-58 at around 4:50-p.m., when the car topped a hill and went out of control before rolling over, just east of Dogwood Avenue. A rear seat passenger in the vehicle, 36-year old Eric Lidgett, of Harlan, was ejected during the rollover. He landed in the north ditch and was subsequently transported by Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, before being flown by Life Flight to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, where he was reported to be in stable condition this (Monday) morning.

Tearney suffered an injury to his head, and was transported by Shelby Rescue to the hospital in Harlan He and two other passengers in the car had left the scene prior the arrival of law enforcement, but were later located and interviewed.

The car sustained extensive damage. An investigation into the accident was ongoing. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, officers with the Harlan Police Department and sheriff’s deputies from Harrison County.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests. Officials say on April 29th, 36-year old Kerri Lynn Beran, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. On April 28th, 69-year old Jimmie George Parker, of Tabor, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. And there were two arrests in Fremont County on April 27th: 29-year old Ashley Renee Miles, of Omaha, was arrested for Theft in the 5th degree, and 25-year old Jeffrey Dean Fuller, of Sidney, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, and Trespassing.