Four people were transported to the hospital in Hamburg following an accident early this (Friday) morning southwest of Hamburg. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports they received word of the crash at around 4:13-a.m.  It occurred in the 3100 block of 240th Avenue. The vehicle was driven by 21-year old Robert Bruce, of Hamburg.

Authorities say the vehicle was northbound on 240th Avenue, when it went out of control and entered the east ditch, before striking a drainage tube. The vehicle was declared a total loss. Bruce and two other passengers were transported to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg for treatment of minor injuries. The fourth passenger 21-year old Samantha Johnson, of Farragut, was flown to UNMC with undetermined injuries.

Robert Bruce was arrested for OWI 1st Offense and was released after posting the one thousand dollar bond. The accident is still under investigation and further charges could be possible. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Riverton Fire and Rescue and Sidney Fire and Rescue.

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a church in northwest Iowa is missing as much as $470,000. Sioux City television station KCAU reports that Bethel Lutheran Church officials in Graettinger say the money loss dates back to 2007. A suspect has been identified, but no arrest has been reported. A local bank tipped church leaders about the loss after discovering suspicious account activity.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs group working to update and expand the Dream Playground at Lake Manawa State Park intends to use fence pickets to help fund the project. The Daily Nonpareil reports that plans call for a picket fence to surround the playground. The Dream Playground Re-imagined group intends to let individuals, community groups and businesses pay $100 each for the nearly 1,400 pickets, which can be engraved with a maximum of 22 characters.

The playground was built in 1993 and was named the Dream Playground because its features were conceptualized by elementary students. The same design process was repeated last March, when students were asked to redesign the playground as they think it should be.