Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrects said Thursday (today), that a man serving time for robbery and burglary convictions out of Pottawattamie County, allegedly assault a staff member at the Newton Correction Facility, Wednesday morning. Authorities identified the offender as John Doyle Watson, whose sentence began Feb.7th, 2014.

The incident happened at around 9-a.m.  Another offender initially arrived on the scene to assist the staff member, followed immediately by corrections staff who were nearby. The staff member was seen by health services at the prison, then was taken to the local hospital, and is now released.

Watson is serving time for robbery and burglary from Pottawattamie County.  His sentence began on February 7, 2014.

An accident involving a UTV in Atlantic Thursday afternoon resulted in one person being transported to the hospital. Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood told KJAN News the driver of the vehicle was traveling south on Mulberry at the intersection with 10th Street and failed to stop at the stop sign. He struck some guys wires to a utility pole on the south side of 10th Street, causing the 4-wheel machine to flip and land on a residential driveway. The driver was ejected from the machine and transported to the hospital. According to reports, he was later flown by helicopter to an Omaha hospital. Witnesses told police the man was traveling faster than the posted speed limit prior to the crash.

The accident, which happened a little before 5-p.m., remains under investigation. No other information, including the man’s name, was immediately available.

photo by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party says he has resigned from the job because of health issues. Derek Eadon says in a news release that he stepped down Thursday because he was diagnosed recently with what he described as a painful ailment. Treatment will require radiation procedures over the summer.

Eadon says his health has caused him to miss too much time on the job and it’s important for the party chair to dedicate all his or her attention to the work. Eadon was elected by a party committee to the position in January. He replaced Andy McGuire, who has since launched a gubernatorial campaign.

Andrea Phillips, 1st vice chair of the party, will assume Eadon’s role until party leadership meets July 22 to elect a permanent replacement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former lottery computer programmer has pleaded guilty in Iowa to running a criminal scheme that allowed him to collect millions of dollars in lottery winnings in four other states. Former Multi-State Lottery Association security director Eddie Tipton on Thursday admitted that he manipulated the computer software he designed, allowing him to provide winning numbers to his brother and others.

Tipton, his brother Tommy Tipton and Texas businessman Robert Rhodes will repay $2.2 million in prizes they improperly claimed in Colorado, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Kansas. Iowa prosecutors will ask for a 25-year prison sentence for Eddie Tipton.

Tommy Tipton also pleaded guilty Thursday in Iowa and was sentenced to 75 days in jail.

Officials in Audubon report “Music in the Park” set for this evening (June 29th), has been cancelled. Contact the Audubon Library for more information. (712-563-3301)