The Fremont County Sheriff’s office said today (Monday), no injuries were reported following two separate accidents last week.

On Thursday, a vehicle driven by Monica Johnson, of Thurman, was traveling westbound on Plum Creek Road, when it went out of control as Johnson was making a left turn. The 2010 Chevy ended-up in a drainage culvert. And, last Wednesday, a 2011 Chevy Silverado driven by Larry Inman, of Randolph, struck another vehicle, causing the car to spin into a ditch. The accident happened as Inman was traveling west on 180th Street, and attempting to cross Highway 275. The driver of the other vehicle was identified as Tara Christiansen, of Tabor.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the past couple of weeks. Among them, was two St. Joseph, MO., residents, who were taken into custody April 23rd. 29-year old Sara Jean Farnsworth was arrested for Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, & 19-year old Scott Raymond Hanway, was arrested for being a person under legal age.

Sheriff’s officials report also, the arrested April 22nd of an Imogene man on drug charges. 23-year old Gail Gilbert Heywood, Jr., faces Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper registration charges. In addition, 44-year old Kathleen Mae Hale, of Shenandoah, was arrested April 21st, for Pharmacy Prohibited Acts.

And, on April 22nd, 58-year old Richard Ross Williams, of Weeping Water, NE, was arrested in Fremont County, on charges that include: OWI/1st offense; Assault on persons in certain occupations; and, two counts of Child Endangerment.

The lawyer for a former teacher with the Anita School District has entered a formal written plea of Not Guilty to charges his client sexually exploited a minor female over a period of 13-months. Attorney F. Montgomery Brown entered the plea for 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes, of Anita, on Friday, April 27^th. Foulkes was previously scheduled to appear in Cass County District Court for his arraignment hearing this (Monday) morning.

Foulkes, a former long-time Math teacher at the Anita High School, and Anita Elementary School, was arrested March 15^th on a felony warrant for Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and 49-Aggravated Misdemeanor counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee. If convicted on all of the charges, Foulkes could face a maximum time of 103 years in prison and fines of more than $300,000. Foulkes resigned from his teaching position in November 2010. He’s accused of engaging in sexual conduct on numerous occasions with a minor female while teaching the student in a math program from August 2009 until November 11, 2010.

Foulkes’ trial is set to take place July 10^th. He remains free on $50,000 bond, and was ordered not to have contact with his alleged victim.

(9-a.m. News)

Western Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King, today (Monday) announced that his campaign for re-election in Iowa’s 4^th Congressional District has over 550 county co-chairs. The organization covers all 39 counties making up the district. King’s organization reaches all 39 counties that make up Iowa’s 4^th Congressional District, including counties not previously represented by the Congressman from Kiron.

According to King’s campaign, his grassroots organization is believed to be one of the largest in Iowa’s history.  His campaign co-chairs include those located in: Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Harrison, Monona, Sac, and Shelby Counties.

Congressman Steve King is running for re-election in Iowa’s new 4th Congressional District, which does not include any counties south of Interstate 80. Those counties, along with Guthrie, Dallas and Polk, were included in the newly reorganized 3^rd Congressional District, following the results of the 2010 Census.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City bicyclist has been hospitalized after being hit and dragged by a pickup. Police say 31-year old William Kammerer was struck about 5 a.m. Sunday as he headed down West 6th Street on his bike. Officer say Kammerer became caught under the pickup and was dragged 150 feet.  Kammerer was run over by the truck as he got loose and dropped to the roadway. Police say his injuries included broken bones. The pickup was found later, and the driver was arrested. Police say 21-year old Fernando Garcia, of Sioux City, is accused of leaving the scene, failing to yield and not having insurance.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Bike and Trails expo is being held this evening, in Atlantic. Dave Chase with the Nishna Valley Trails group says it’s an opportunity for the public to learn about bike trail development in the area, along with the potential for economic development as a result of progress on the trails, and wellness benefits. The evening begins with a guest speaker. Mark Wyatt, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition (http://iowabicyclecoalition.org.) will speak with regard to bike trails throughout the state, and bicycle safety. Chase says Iowa is one of the leading states for mileage of recreational trails in the country, due in large part to the enthusiasm for bicycling, with RAGBRAI sparking a great deal of interest in the sport.

Chase says the Iowa Bicycle Coalition was developed to promote those types of activities, and to establish legislation designed to enhance those types of projects, along with safety education.” He says an update will also be made available during the expo, on the status of extending the bike trail from the Schildberg Recreation Area to the trail head just west of Highway 71, northeast of Atlantic. The public is invited to provide input on those plans, as well. Chase says it’s hoped the expo will reach those persons whose bikes may have been idle for a long time, to show them what trails are available in the area, that they are safe, and how to ride safe. He says they don’t encourage people to ride on the county roads and highways, unless they are experienced riders. Chase says that’s also why it’s important to develop safe routes. 

The expo will feature displays, refreshments, door prizes…including the giveaway of two bikes…and displays of unusual bikes. It takes place at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, beginning at 7-p.m.  There is no charge for admission.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Red Oak Police and other agencies are investigating a hit-and-run accident which occurred Sunday night. Sheriff’s officials say the incident took place at around 9:30-p.m., near the Red Oak Fire Department on North Broadway. An initial investigation determined a City of Red Oak Fire Department pickup operated by 24-year old Rudee Phillip DeMarce, of Red Oak, was traveling north on Broadway and beginning to turn right into the entrance of Legion Park, when a dark colored sedan hit the pickup on the right side. DeMarce was not injured during the crash.

The car, later identified as a 2006 Chevy Impala, jumped the curb after hitting the pickup, and continued northbound through the Fire Department’s yard, where it hit a sign and sign post before returning to Broadway and taking off at a high rate of speed. While the incident was under investigation, a citizen notified authorities a vehicle matching the hit-and-run suspect’s vehicle had been abandoned at Highway 34 and Eastern Avenue. The car had sustained front end extensive, disabling damage.

The owner of the vehicle was identified as Jack LeRoy Wilson, of Shenandoah. Authorities says it’s not clear though, who was driving the car. Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by a K-9 unit, tried to track down the person or persons who may have been in the vehicle, but their efforts were not successful. Other agencies assisting in the investigation, included the Shenandoah Police Department, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol. The incident remains under investigation.

Damage to the City of Red Oak Fire Department’s 2006 Chevy 2500 pickup was estimated at $2,500, while Wilson’s car sustained approximately $5,000 damage.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press