The sheriff in northwest Iowa’s Ida County is asking for the public’s help in providing information, with regard to a fatal crash that occurred Monday afternoon on U.S. Highway 20, about two-miles east of Holstein.  Two people died in the fiery crash.  Authorities say the two people were in a car that had stopped about 1:25 p.m. Monday at a construction site on U.S. Highway 20 to wait for a pilot vehicle. The car was hit from behind by a semitrailer and pushed into the back of semitrailer that had stopped in front of the car. The crash victims were trapped inside as the car burst into flames. Their names have not been released. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash is being investigated. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or the events leading up to it, should call the Ida County Sheriff’s Office at 712-364-3146.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a public hearing Tuesday evening, to award contracts for the parking lot reconstruction project. The hearing begins at 5:30 in the Central Office Board Room, and will include the reading of a letter of recommendation from Estes Construction, followed by public input. After the hearing is closed, a special session will convene, during which the board will discuss and act on personnel matters, along with the awarding of a contract or contracts for the parking lot project.

Plans to reconstruct the tennis courts at Sunnyside Park in Atlantic continue to move forward, thanks to approval from the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said at Monday evening’s meeting of the Parks & Rec Board, that the USTA approved the plans last week. He says because the plans have been approved, the USTA will send the City an application for funding. Once that’s complete, Herring says he hopes to announce the letting of bids for the project within the next month. Herring said also, the City has “A shot at having some new courts, or at least starting on them, by this Fall.”

The tennis courts at Sunnyside Park are in poor condition, and need to be resurfaced, especially before district tennis action can be held. During their meeting on April 10th, the Atlantic Board of Education agreed to split the cost of resurfacing the tennis courts with the City, which in return will help with the future costs of refurbishing the Washington tennis courts. The USTA application should help the City to obtain a grant to pay for the Sunnyside court improvements, thereby reducing the costs.

On another note, Herring says improvements have been made to the tennis court restrooms. Instead of replacing the restrooms at a cost of about $200,000, Herring took some money from the Capital Improvements fund and the Sunnyside Park Improvement Fund, and “refurbished” the old restrooms. He says the toilets and sinks work fine, but the lighting was “absolutely horrendous.” Herring improved the lighting for as little as $60, by installing “vandal-proof” lights, which also increased the brightness. He says they also painted the restroom interior, which is something that had never been done. He said the concrete block “dungeon” look is gone, and it’s “100% better,” on the inside.” The restrooms will soon be open to the public.

The City of Atlantic’s Park and Rec Department Summer programs appear to be a big success. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said at Monday night’s Parks & Rec Board meeting, there are 25 kids involved in the Playground program, 130 signed-up for the tennis program, 60 in swimming, and 270 in Little League. He said all the kids are getting their lunch, the busing program is working well, and the playground crew had done a great job with keeping kids busy with various activities. The response he says from kids and their parents so far, has been very positive.

The Parks and Rec Board were so impressed with the way Herring has performed in his position since taking over last year, they voted unanimously to grant him a pay increase. Board Chair Stuart Dusenberry said he’s heard nothing but positive comments about Herring and his accomplishments.  Board member Jolene Smith says she thinks Herring “Does the work of 10 men,” and there’s things getting done “that have never gotten done before.”

Herring says despite hitting some potholes to progress along the way toward completion of various projects, such as dealing with the proposed Park Maintenance Building and the related hoops one must jump through to make that happen, he’s enjoyed the job immensely. Chris Jimerson, City Council representative on the Parks and Rec Board, says Herring’s “People Skills” are what sets him apart from some of the past persons who have held the position of Parks and Rec Director, especially when it comes to the City’s Little League Program, and dealing with those involved in helping to make it a success.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the theft of fuel from a seed cart. Sheriff’s officials say sometime between 10- and 11:30-a.m., Monday, someone made a forced entry into a machine shed on property located about 5-miles southwest of Villisca, at 2603 Montgomery/Page Street. Once inside, a person or persons unknown siphoned fuel from a seed cart. The loss was estimated at about $210. Anyone with information about the break-in and theft is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-432-1001.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday of 45-year old David Scott Elwood,  of Atlantic. Elwood was taken into custody on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone). He was taken to the Cass County Jail and held on $50,000 bond. Also arrested Saturday, on a Felony charge of Eluding, was 36-year old Thomas Otto Williamson, of Griswold, Williamson also faces a Serious Misdemeanor charge of OWI 1^st Offense. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. 

Last Thursday afternoon, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 71 at Highway 83. Officials say a 2004 Pontiac Sunfire driven by 17-year old Kelly Rae Pullen, of Coin, was traveling southbound on Highway 71 and had stopped at the stop sign at Highway 83. A 2001 Pontiac Grand Am owned and driven by Michael Updike came to a stop behind Pullen’s vehicle. Updike’s vehicle then rolled forward into the back of Pullen’s vehicle causing the bumpers to strike against one another. No citations were issued. Damage to Pullen’s vehicle is estimated at $1,500; no damage was reported to Updike’s vehicle.

The Lenox Police Department reports the arrest Friday night of 34-year old Daniel Rameriez-Camancho. Rameriez-Camancho, of Lenox, was pulled over at around 9:30-p.m. on south Brooks Street, for making improper lane change. Officers discovered during their investigation that the man had no Drivers license. He was also found to have allegedly obtained license plates by fraud from the state of Nebraska for his vehicle. 

Rameriez-Camancho was transported to the Taylor County Jail where he was charged with failure to have a Drivers license, improper lane change and fraudulent use of registration. His pickup was impounded.

The Atlantic Police Department said today (Monday), the drivers of two vehicles were injured during a collision Thursday afternoon at the intersection of 7th and Plum Streets. Officials say Nicole Ross, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn, after she turned in front of a vehicle driven by Anna Amdor, of Massena, at around 1:35-p.m., Thursday. The accident happened as Amdor was traveling west on 7th Street and Ross was traveling east. Amdor was treated at the scene by crews from Medivac Ambulance, while Ross was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000.

The A-PD reports also, 32-year old Marty Atkinson, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday, on a charge of Public Intoxication. And, 32-year old Dana Brix, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Both persons were brought to the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

Three young adults, ages 18 and 19, were cited Friday for Possession of Alcohol Under Legal Age, following an investigation into a bonfire and party west of Essex. According to the Page County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to the area north of the Pierce Creek County Park campground at around 10:45-p.m., after receiving word of suspicious activity at that location.

When they arrived, authorities saw a bonfire with numerous people around it. As deputies approached, a large group of people began to flee. A foot pursuit by the deputies resulted in some of the party goers being detained. It was detemined those individuals were not of legal age to consume alcohol, and booze was found in the area of the bonfire.

Officials say 18-year old Mitchell Dale Steinkuehler and 19-year old Nicholas Tyler Allely, both of Shenandoah, along with 19-year old Tyler Wayne Miller, of Imogene, were cited for Possession of Alcohol Under Legal Age. Miller was also taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts. His posted a $300 bond and was released. Other persons attending the bonfire were determined not to have consumed alcohol, and were not charged.