The Red Oak Police report the arrest of 38-year-old Jason Michael Eppenbaugh of Red Oak for Public Intoxication on Saturday morning. The arrest was made at 5:35am near Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Eppenbaugh was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

The 2017 Cass County Relay for Life was another huge success in supporting Cancer Survivors in the are and raising funds to fight back against Cancer.

The night got started with a Survivor Meal at the Atlantic High School Commons where approximately 85 survivors joined for a free meal generously provided by the Atlantic Hy-Vee. A short program was held indoors for those survivors and then activities moved out to the track at 6:00pm.

Opening Ceremonies were followed by the Pennant Ceremony which was a change this year. Pennants were purchased, instead of luminaries, in memory or honor of someone who has lost their battle or is still fighting Cancer. Those names were read during a time of reflection for all in attendance. The Pennant Ceremony was then followed by the Survivor Lap celebrating another year of birthdays for all Survivors in attendance.

The night continued with food, education, kids activities, and entertainment. Villa Dance performed a number of routines with their students followed by music from local band Jett Black.

It was a beautiful sunny night to celebrate survivors, remember those lost, and fight back against Cancer. The accounting by the end of the night, with more donations still to come in, was $60,718.52 raised to support the fight against cancer with the American Cancer Society. Relay organizers would like to thank everyone involved that helped make the 2017 Cass County Relay for Life a huge success and we look forward to continuing the effort up to next year’s event.

A traffic stop late Friday evening in Fremont County resulted in the driver of the vehicle that was pulled over, being arrested on drug charges. Deputies stopped the vehicle on Waubonsie Avenue, near Bartlett. As a result of the traffic stop, 28-year old Christopher Ryan Brammer, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Brammer was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Fremont County K9 Unit and Tabor Police.

A traffic stop in Red Oak at around 3:50-p.m., Friday, resulted in the arrest of 36-year old Gary O. Smith, of Red Oak, on a trio of charges. Smith was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, Driving While Suspended, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana/3rd or subsequent offense. Smith was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond

(Please note, the ORIGINAL report from the Iowa State Patrol indicated there were TWO fatalities in this crash. The report was subsequently revised to indicated ONE of the drivers had passed away.)

A young woman is dead following a crash Friday afternoon in Montgomery County, near Villisca. The Iowa State Patrol identified the victim as 19-year old Sara R. Venatta, of Elliott. The driver of the other vehicle, was identified as 62-year old Robert Drake, of Corning.

Officials say Venatta was traveling west on Highway 34 in a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, while Drake was heading east on 34 in a 1991 Ford F-150 pickup. The van went out of control and crossed the center line of Highway 34 into the eastbound lane, where it was struck on the right side by the pickup. The van came to rest on its right side in the south ditch. The pickup came to rest partially on both the eastbound lane and shoulder.

Venatta, who was wearing her seat belt, died at the scene. The Patrol says Drake, who was not wearing a seat belt, was flown by Life Flight helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha where he was being treated for his injuries. The accident, which happened at around 12:20-p.m., remains under investigation. Villisca and Red Oak Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.