The Clarinda Police Department reports a Blair, Nebraska man was arrested Thursday, on a felony theft charge. 18-year old Tristan Lee Bartlett was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Nebraska, for felony theft by unlawful taking. Bartlett was being held in the Page County Jail pending extradition to Nebraska.

And, the Clarinda P-D is investigating the theft of about 15-gallons of gasoline from a vehicle owned by a person in the 600 block of west Lincoln Street. The gas was siphoned from the vehicle sometime between August 26th and 29th. No arrests have been made in connection with the theft.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department says only minor injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday evening in Hamlin. Officials say a vehicle driven by 68-year old Connie Lola Nissen, of Hamlin, was traveling west on Highway 44 at around 6-p.m., and had stopped at the intersection with Highway 71 before proceeding west. As Nissen entered the intersection, the 2002 Ford Windstar van she was driving was hit by a 1993 Oldsmobile traveling south, on Highway 71.

The driver of the car was identified as 32-year old Angel Marie Siepker, of Audubon. Two people in her vehicle were transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries. Damage from the crash amounted to $14,000. The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

One person has died in a fiery crash along Interstate 80 in far northeastern Cass County, this (Friday) morning. The accident happened at the 72-mile marker. Firefighters from Anita, Adair and Wiota responded to the scene at around 10:30-a.m. Anita Fire Chief Duane Murphy told KJAN News  the vehicle was traveling on Interstate 80 when it went off the road between two overhead bridges to 770th Street and landed next to a guardrail, off to the side of 770th.

The vehicle crashed and erupted into flames, trapping the victim inside. Murphy said it was impossible to tell what kind of vehicle it was, because the damage was so extensive. Authorities say it may have been a rental car. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Pattee put his EMT training to good use Thursday morning, when he delivered a baby born to a couple from eastern Cass County. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News the event happened at around 10:30-a.m. Danker says a husband and wife were on there way to the hospital in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. As Deputy Pattee arrived on the scene next to a bank off of Highway 92 in Carson. He was able to assist in the delivery of the baby which happened just moments after the deputy’s arrival. Pattee kept the baby from aspirating, wrapped the baby in a towel and used a shoe string to cut the umbilical cord. The mother and baby were then transported by Carson Fire and Rescue to the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The parents were identified as Clarke and Rebeka Gerlock, of Cumberland. The newborn daughter, Bethany, weighed 8-pounds, 15-ounces, and is 21-1/2 inches long. The little girl will join her three other siblings at home, when mom and daughter are released from the hospital.

Deputy Pattee and Bethany share one thing in common. They were both born on August 30^th. He was celebrating his 33^rd birthday the day Bethany was born. Sheriff Danker said Deputy Pattee did a great job and exemplifies the level of professionalism people in law enforcement exhibit, but is rarely recognized.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Corning Elementary School was placed on a temporary lockdown Thursday, while authorities investigated a nearby domestic situation. According to Adams County Sheriff Alan Johannes, a person was upset about some issues, and while there were initial reports a weapon may be involved, that turned out not to be the case. Johannes said the person in question was never on school property, but the facility was placed on lockdown for about 30 minutes as a precaution.
The man questioned by authorities was transported to an unspecified care facility. No charges have been filed. No other details are currently available.

(Nick Johansen)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, Thursday, released the names of persons who have submitted their nominations for various County offices, in advance of the November 6^th General Election. There are no contested races for any of the top offices, including the Board of Supervisors, Auditor and Sheriff. All of those running for re-election to those offices are Republicans, including: Duane McFadden, Charles Rieken, and Frank Waters, for the Board of Supervisors; Auditor Dale Sunderman, and Sheriff Darby McLaren.

Candidates for non-partisan offices include:

For Cass County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees/Northwest District -Roger Herring, and Michael J. Collins, both from Atlantic. (6-year term, 1 to be elected); Northeast District – Julie Pollock (6-year term/1 to be elected).

Soil and Water Conservation District  (3 to be elected. 2 cannot be from the same township) – Chase Wheatley, of Massena; Curt Behrends, of Wiota; Clarke Gerlock, of Cumberland; and Norbert Ray Wilson, of Griswold.

Ag Extension Council (4 to be elected) – Marcy Jo Dorsey, of Anita; Darrin Petty, of Atlantic; Julie Aupperle, of Wiota; and Malena Sothman, of Cumberland.

Township Trustees:

Benton Township (4-year term/1 to be elected) – Vicky Sanny, of Atlantic.

Benton Township (to fill remainder of a 4-year term) – Chris Stork, of Atlantic.

Edna Township (1 for a 4-year term) – Keith Nelson, of Massena

Edna Township (to fill remainder of a 4-year term) – Travis Erickson, of Cumberland.

Union Township ( 1 for a 4-year term) – Delmar South, of Cumberland.

Victoria Township (1 for a 4-year term) – Carole McMullen, of Massena.

Township Clerk:

Benton Township (vacancy, 1 for remainder of a 4-year term) – Linda L. Olsen, of Brayton.

Edna Township (vacancy, 1 for remainder of a 4-year term) – Dan Schrier, of Cumberland.

Union Township (vacancy, 1 for remainder of 4-year term) – Bill Gerlock, or Cheryl R. Christiansen, both of Cumberland.

In addition, Public Measures will be on the ballot for those persons residing in the Benton, Edna, Union and Victoria Townships in Cass County, asking them if the Board of Supervisors should “…Fill the offices of Trustees and Clerk in those respective townships by appointment, as the terms of office of the incumbent township officers expire?”

Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County report a Villisca man was arrested today (Friday), at around 3:45-a.m., on warrants out of Polk County. 27-year old Michael Scott Walton was wanted for Contempt of Court, and Failure to Pay Child Support. Walton was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond for Polk County authorities.

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