(KNOD-Joel McCall) A fire in Harrison County spread damage to four downtown businesses in the city of Woodbine Thursday. According to Woodbine Mayor William Hutcheson, the fire began in the rear portion of the flower shop. Hutcheson says 14 fire departments came to help tackle the blaze,

“The flower shop has two store fronts and we had at least 14 departments all of Harrison County, Panama, Portsmouth, Denison and Harlan. I hope I didn’t miss anyone because there was a good array of firefighters and equipment here yesterday afternoon.”

The fire spread quickly from the flower shop to three other businesses on Walker Street,

“There was a joining business, it was the senior center south of the flower shop. That was involved in some degree of damage but I am not sure what it is. On the north side of the two store fronts was the corn palace, our local tavern.”

Hutcheson said the damage to the Corn Palace was extensive and they will not reopen any time soon. The Mayor says the city was full of firefighters and other volunteers working together,

“There were people all over evacuating the adjoining stores and getting people out of harms way. We had a lot of community activity helping where they could. As I said we had 14 departments and there were a lot of efforts to haul water because the water supply was a concern. Businesses who had tankers farm operators anything that could haul water they brought it in. Some departments had their tankers also. It was amazing to see the amount of help we had to try and control what we were battling.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse as the city prepares for their 25^th annual Woodbine Applefest. Hutcheson says the festival will go on as planned with a few minor changes,

“It appears the one city block 4^th to 5^th Street on Walker Street will be unavailable for tomorrow. But the Applefest will go on and we will have to rearrange some of the activities. It will still take place.”

As far as the fire,  no dollar amount of damage was given but Harrison County EMA reported a firefighter was injured and transported to an area hospital during the fight. The State Fire Marshall will arrive in Woodbine today to assess the situation.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Thursday, Sept. 26th of 35-year-old Robert L. Atkinson of Atlantic on a Cass County Warrant for 5th Degree Theft (shoplifting).  Atkinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

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WOODBINE, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters from several nearby towns have helped put out a flower shop fire in the western Iowa city of Woodbine.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil says the blaze began around 3 p.m. Thursday in the alley behind the Everything Ellen Flower Shoppe in downtown Woodbine. As the flames spread into the shop, a call soon went out for aid from other Harrison County fire departments.

When the fire threatened to spread to nearby businesses, residents lined up to grab merchandise and pass it out of the stores. The fire appeared to be confined to the flower shop and the roof of a nearby building.

A person who fell on a street was the only reported injury.

The fire cause is being investigated.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a van in the ditch at about 4:53pm Thursday (9/26) on C Avenue about 2/10th of a mile north of 140th Street near Red Oak.

Upon arrival officers found a 1998 Chevy Astrovan driven by 52-year-old Rlena Dee Crouse of Red Oak had struck a power pole owned by MidAmerican Energy with the front drivers side of the vehicle.  After investigation it was determined that Crouse was traveling northbound on C Avenue, just north of the intersection with 140th Street, when a deer entered the roadway from the east.  Crouse swerved to miss the deer and crossed the roadway to the opposite shoulder and ditch.  The van then travelled about 1/10th of a mile before striking the power pole.  Crouse suffered no injuries as she was wearing a seat belt and the airbag deployed in the van.

The power pole snapped in half just above the ground, causing $2,500 damage.  The van was totaled in the crash at a value of $1,869.

No citations were issued following the investigation.  MidAmerican Energy and Red Oak Fire Department assisted Sheriff’s Officials at the scene.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a single vehicle accident resulted in a death on Wednesday (9/25) at 4:55pm on I-29 in Monona County.  The driver who died from his injuries has now been identified as 52-year-old Marc Sarchet of Cherokee.

Sarchet was driving a 1997 International Crane  northbound on 1-29 when it lost control, crossed the median, and eventually came to rest on it’s side.  The vehicle ended up blocking the southbound lanes of traffic two miles north of Sloan.  Sarchet was taken by Mercy Air Care to Creighton University Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.  The accident is still under investigation.

(Joel McCall-KNOD) The Harlan Community School District has been recognized as one of the top schools in the country by the United States Department of Education. The district, along with 285 others, has been named the 2013 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools in the United States. The United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, announced the schools earlier this week in a press release. The award is based on the districts overall academic excellence or their progress in improving student academic achievement. The Harlan Community School District was one of 5 schools, and the only high school, from the state of Iowa named a Blue Ribbon School. Harlan Community Superintendent Justin Wagner told KNOD news the award is quite the honor,

Wagner1: “Exciting, great honor for the staff, you know those are the folks in the trenches making the difference. I am really happy for them. From my seat, it really reflects what I know what happens everyday so it is always good to see the honor that reflects the work being put in.”

He says the process for being a blue ribbon school is complicated,

Wagner2: “You have the Federal and State Government involved. Each state is allowed to nominate a certain amount of schools. They have a rigorous process that they have to go through; they call indicators of excellence in school districts before you get nominated.”

A lot of the process deals with your academic achievement in regards to the Iowa assessment scores,

Wagner3: “You have to be in the upper echelon. In Iowa, you have to be in the top 15 percent. We know Iowa is amongst the best states in test scores so we know we are in an elite group. And then there are other indicators that they talk about that make up the nomination.”

A few members of the staff will be going to the ceremony including a high school teacher, high school principal, a board member and the superintendent. Wagner said this is a proud moment for the district,

Wagner4: “It truly is an elite award. Again, we are just extremely excited and proud of the high school staff and principal. But I will tell you this is a reflection of kids and staff as a whole.”

All the National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a recognition ceremony on November 18^th and 19^th in Washington D.C.

Arrests:

09-22-2013    43-year-old Iva Mae Ransom of Red Oak was arrested at 10:45pm for Driving Under Suspension.  The arrest occurred on Highway 34 near 315th Street and Ransom was held on $300 bond. During the same stop 21-year-old Austin Charles Harmon of Red Oak was arrested for Public Intoxication at 10:46pm.  He was held on $300 bond.

09-23-2013    40-year-old Glenn William Seeley of Pacific Junction was arrested for Eluding, Reckless Driving and Driving Under Suspension on 2nd Avenue in Mills County.  He was taken into custody at 4:35pm and held on $2,600 bond.

09-24-2013    23-year-old Dnae Christine McConahay of Thurman was arrested on a warrant for Failure To Appear regarding a Public Intoxication charge.  McConahay was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail at 2:00pm.

09-25-2013    52-year-old Julie Ann Vore of Council Bluffs was arrested on a warrant for Failure To Appear regarding a Driving while Barred charge.  Vore was arrested at 2:32am at the E-Stop near Emerson and was held on $5,000 bond.

Incidents:

09-23-2013    Richard Rupe of Pacific Junction, IA reported a Burglary and Theft on Cary Avenue at 2:30pm.

09-20-2013    James Schnoor of Silver City, IA reported a Theft 5^th and Criminal Mischief on Main St. at 6:56pm.