(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) issued reports on recent accidents. Authorities say at around 6:10-p.m. Monday (Nov. 27), a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by 72-year-old Kenneth Alan Bahrke, of Panora, struck a deer on eastbound Highway 44, causing $2,500 damage. Bahrke was not hurt.

A single-vehicle rollover accident took place Nov. 25th, in Guthrie County. Officials say a 2008 Ford F250 pickup driven by 31-year-old Jared Kopaska, of Guthrie Center, was traveling north on Highway 44 at around 7:15-p.m., when the vehicle crossed a small bridge that was slick due to the weather conditions (It was snowing at the time). The pickup went out of control after crossing the bridge, and entered the east ditch where it ended-up on its side. Kopaska failed to notify law enforcement about the accident until the next day. The vehicle was discovered by a citizen, who notified law enforcement. While investigating the scene, law enforcement removed for safe keeping, firearms from the vehicle that had been left behind. The pickup sustained $5,000 damage. Kopaska was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

On the 24th,a 2022 GMC pickup driven by 56-year-old Michael Schwabe, of Breda, struck a deer on Highway 4. The vehicle sustained $6,000 damage, but was able to be driven from the scene. On Nov. 23rd, a 2023 Nissan Frontier pickup driven by 52-year-old Jason Plumb, of Harlan, struck a deer on Justice Road in Guthrie County. Plumb wasn’t hurt, but his pickup sustained $2,000 damage.  The previous day (11/22), a 2020 GMC SUV driven by 32-year-old Kegan Schultz, of Panora, struck a deer on Highway 4 and 170th Street, causing $5,000 damage.

And, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Nov. 21st, a 2011 Chevy pickup driven by 53-year-old Jason Westfall, of Norwalk, was hit from behind by a 2001 Chevy truck driven by 17-year-old Carter Pugh, of Granger, at the intersection of Highway 4 and Chirma Road. The accident happened at around 8:43-a.m.  Authorities say Westfall was at or near a stop, and about to turn left, when his vehicle was rear-ended. Pugh was cited for Failure to Stop in a safe and sure distance. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports slightly less than a dozen arrests took place from Nov. 17th through the 26th.

• On Sunday (11/26), 25-year-old Joseph Atoliph, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Violation of a No Contact Order.
• On Nov. 23rd, Atlantic Police arrested 32-year-old Samantha Wehrli, of Atlantic, for Assault on Person in certain occupations.
• There were two arrests on the 20th: 19-year-old Ashton Knoke, of Oakland, was arrested in Atlantic for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, 18-year-old Tate Conyers, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 18-year-old Ryder Burk, of Atlantic, was arrested Nov. 18th for Domestic Abuse Assault.
• And, there were five people arrested in Atlantic on Nov. 17th:
  • 24-year-old Nicole Kinney, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication
  • 46-year-old Jeffrey Ponton, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving while license is barred.
  • 43-year-old Michael Parrott, of Atlantic, was arrested Nov. 17th on an Audubon County warrant.
  • 44-year-old Casey Stahl, and 42-year-old Matthew Stahl, both of LaCygne, KS, were arrested in Atlantic. Casey Stahl was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Matthew Stahl was arrested on a warrant for Assault causing bodily injury.

(Creston, Iowa) – Authorities in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision early today (Tuesday), at the intersection of Townline Road (Hwy 25) and Lincoln Street. The accident happened a little after 8-a.m., as a 2022 Ford F-250 operated by 47-year-old Charles Edmund Baker, of Norwalk, was stopped at the red lights. A 2003 Honda Accord driven by 18-year-old Ruby Esmeralda Torres, of Palmview, TX, an unlicensed driver, approached the intersection.

Police say Torres mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal as she was slowing to a stop behind the pickup. Her car struck the pickup in the rear, causing a total of $3,500 damage. Torres was cited for failure to have a driver’s license.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County met in a regular weekly session this (Tuesday) morning, at the courthouse in Atlantic. First-up, the Board received a presentation and $500 funding request from the Family Crisis Center’s Lindsay Wilson. She said their offices are in Council Bluffs. Wilson explained the services they provide to the County for victims of violent crimes, and the number of people served over the past year. She said the $500 was based on the services provided to each of the counties they serve. Her request was taken under advisement.

Supervisor Wendy Richter wanted to emphasis the funds are not for the Family Crisis Support Network, in Atlantic which she is a member of. The FCSN is a completely separate entity that serves victims of domestic violence. The Family Crisis Center is based in Sioux Center, and serves 12 area Counties in western Iowa. It serves victims of human trafficking, survivors of homicide and other violent crimes, provides housing and homeless services, and more.

The most recent addition to their programs includes Integrated Advocacy Services. The program offers support and advocacy in three separate medical clinics for 17 Iowa counties. Clients can seek support in ways that are discreet and confidential.

The Board then moved to approve the FY 2022-2023 Urban Renewal Report (as required under the Code of Iowa), and they acted to unanimously approve a Resolution “Allocating ARPA funds (in the amount of $47,932) to [the] Hitchcock House [near Lewis] for foundation repairs.” The funds are for completed repairs to the south wall of the historic building.

In other business, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken provided the Board of Supervisors with a weekly update on Secondary Roads Department Maintenance and Activities. He said roads crews were out Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning clearing the roads following the recent snow storm.

He said also, Bridge #380 over by Anita is now open.

And, the Supervisors motioned to approve the appointment of Lorilyn Schules to the Cass County Board of Health, replacing Gary Dinkla. Her term is for three-yerars, beginning January 1, 2024.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley says if Republicans in the U.S. Senate stick together, they may be able to force Democrats to put immigration policy changes in an aid package for Israel and Ukraine. “Making it more certain who can qualify for asylee,” Grassley says, “the ‘return to Mexico’ issue that Trump put in place — in other words, stay in Mexico while you’re making application to see if you can enter the U.S. legally and maybe some interior enforcement.”

President Biden has proposed security funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan along with targeted funding to address U.S. border security, fentanyl smuggling and help U-S cities struggling to accommodate migrants. Grassley says a bipartisan group of senators are discussing the addition of immigration policy changes that also would address border security. “As long as 41 Republicans stick together to do something at the border and the (Biden) administration wants money for Isreal and Ukraine like a lot of senators do, including this one, we might force our hand to do something significant on border security,” Grassley says.

Earlier this month, the U.S. House passed a bill to provide over $14 billion in aid to Israel and cut funding to the IRS, but the U.S. Senate’s Democratic leader says senators will consider a bipartisan package that aligns with President Biden’s request.