The Audubon County Sherriff’s Office says an Audubon woman was cited after a single vehicle accident Thursday morning.  At about 8:00 AM Thursday, a 2006 Chevy Equinox driven by 42-year-old Angela Marie Nielsen of Audubon was traveling east on Highway 44 about 3 miles east of Kimballton.  Nielsen drove onto the shoulder and overcorrected.  Her vehicle then slid sideways into the north ditch and rolled.

Nielsen was transported by Elk Horn Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital.  An update on any possible injuries is not currently available.

Nielsen has been charged with failure to maintain control.  Damage from the accident amounted to about $8,000.

Crawford County, IOWA — Law enforcement in Iowa and Pennsylvania request the public’s help in locating Jonathan Elwell. Elwell is a 44 year old white male who stands 6’2” tall, has blue eyes, and is balding.

Jonathan Elwell

Elwell is originally from Shillington, Pennsylvania. He was last seen in that area on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Then on Friday, April 20, 2012, Elwell’s rental car, a Volkswagon Jetta, was found in Crawford County, Iowa. Information discovered during the investigation indicates Elwell was in the Quad Cities area.  Additional information indicates that Elwell was in the Carroll, Iowa area on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. He has not been seen since.

Elwell may also have occasionally been traveling by bicycle, as Pennsylvania authorities indicate that is his primary mode of transportation in Shillington.

If you have seen Jonathan Elwell or know his current location please contact the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 263-2146, or call your nearest law enforcement center.

Elwell rental vehicle - White VW Jetta

Governor Terry Branstad today (Thursday) ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Friday, April 27h, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Sgt. 1^st Class Edris “Eddie” A. Viers.

SFC Edris Viers

Sgt. Viers was last seen Aug. 12, 1950, during the “Battle of Bloody Gulch” near Pongam-ni, South Korea, and was officially pronounced deceased on Dec. 31, 1953, but remains were not recovered at the time.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor’s executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

An Anita man was arrested Wednesday evening after he allegedly threatened law enforcement officers who responded to a reported knife fight, and grabbed an officers’ weapon.

Randall Lewis (Photo courtesy of the Cass Co. Sheriff's Office)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 42-year old Randall Wayne Lewis, of Anita, was arrested by Anita Police on charges of Disarming a Peace officer of a Dangerous Weapon, and the Threat of Terrorism. The incident which led to his arrest began with a call to authorities at around 7:30-p.m., Wednesday. The call was in reference to a fight involving a knife, at 811 4^th Street in Anita. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers were confronted by Lewis.

While attempting to subdue him, officials say the man threatened officers and grabbed an officer’s gun from its holster. The gun was taken from Lewis and he was placed under arrest by the Anita Police Department.

A search warrant executed on a property at 811 4^th Street in Anita resulted in the Cass County Sheriff’s Office charging Lewis with Threat of Terrorism, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Official Acts, and Habitual Offender (two prior felony convictions).

Lewis was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held awaiting hearing before the magistrate. The Anita Police Department and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Atlantic Police Department.

A single-vehicle rollover accident this (Thursday) morning east of Kimballton has resulted in minor injuries. Rescue crews were dispatched to the scene on Highway 44 at around 8:12-a.m. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department was handling the investigation. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

As Cass County officials consider the role its secondary roads crews play in the removal of trees from roadside ditches and the clearing of ditches near County Right-of-Ways, to allow for better water flow and fewer obstructions along the roadways, the Board Supervisors were told by County Attorney Dan Feistner, Wednesday, that the County has the responsibility to handle the task, but the costs to do so can be levied against the property owner. Feistner cited Iowa Code Section 311.32, which pertains to the Administration and maintenance of roads in spelling out the County’s role. The Code says the fact that a right-of-way is donated by property owners for the establishment of a road or a portion of the cost of a road improvement is paid by property owners, does not preclude the Board of Supervisors from exercising its responsibility over the roads as secondary roads.

Questions have recently been raised recently over the responsibility private property owners have in clearing roadside ditches, versus what the County’s responsibility is, and whether or not the County can assess the costs to the affected property owners. Supervisor Chuck Rieken said when the County has cleaned the ditches in the past and removed trees, there was an understanding it would also take care of the initial spraying for noxious and obstructive weeds. Rieken says from that point on, the County intended for the property owner to take responsibility for taking care of the ditch. If the property owner allows re-growth of trees and weeds, he says it should be their responsibility to take care of it.

Rieken says the same thing applies to soil erosion. The County, he says, has never assessed individual property owners for the cleaning-up of soil erosion that fills ditches and creates problems, but it might need to take a look at that, as well. He says in previous years, the County has forked over up to $200,000 per year to clean-up the ditches on a recurring basis, because some landowners aren’t taking care of the problem. He says it would be nice if people would take care of their own ditches, and lessen the burden on their fellow taxpayers. Supervisor Frank Waters said part of the problem is with absentee land owners and their tenants, who don’t feel it’s their responsibility to clean the ditches.

Feistner says more research needs to be done on what ordinances other counties may have in place to deal with the ditch issues, before any action is taken in Cass County.

w/ Ric Hanson

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An Atlantic woman selected to serve as an international ambassador of the United States to volunteer this summer with International Student Volunteers (ISV), is looking for sponsorships to help cover the program and transportation costs. Laena Frederickson says sponsorships will help defray the nearly $7,000 in costs associated with ISV, a U.S. based non-profit organization that’s internationally recognized.

ISV appoints university students from the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K. to various countries around the world in an effort to impact entire communities and endangered habitats in need. Laena is finishing up her Junior year at the University of Nebraska/Omaha, and will graduate in 2013 with a degree in Family Science. She works two jobs while attending school and volunteers monthly at an organization which assists grieving children and teens with the death of a loved one. She has also volunteered with the open door mission in Omaha, helped collect food for the food pantry in Atlantic and helps plan and organize the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Golf Tournament every year.

A fundraiser for Frederickson will be held at the Super Bowl in Atlantic, on Friday, April 27th, from 6:30pm until close. She’ll be working for tips only, along with a 50/50 raffle. Persons interested in supporting her efforts can mail their donations to Frederickson at 56535 Jasper Road, Atlantic, IA 50022. Checks should be made out to Laena Frederickson. All donations are tax deductible. For more information about ISV, visit www.isvolunteers.org

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

     CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A 41-year-old sex offender is accused of trying to solicit two boys for sex at a Cedar Rapids motel. Authorities say Scott Share is charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a child. Share was arrested after officers learned he didn’t properly report his change of address.
 
     CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Two more people have been arrested in connection with a shooting near Kirkwood Community College. Cedar Rapids police yesterday arrested Raymond Sellers of Chicago and Shantres Johnston of Cedar Rapids. Teran Huff of Des Moines is also charged in last Friday’s shooting that left three people wounded.
 
     DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Jurors have convicted a 30-year-old man in the death of a seven-month-old baby. A Polk County jury yesterday found Matthew Elliott guilty of charges related to the January 2008 death of Alexis Gilbert. Elliott faces up to 35 years in prison.

    CLINTON, Iowa (AP) – A 48-year-old visitor from Vermont has been injured in a fall off a cliff in the eastern Iowa city of Clinton. The woman was injured when she fell in Eagle Point Park shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday. Clinton police say the woman fell about 50 feet. She was flown to a hospital. Her name has not been released.
 
     CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The University of Northern Iowa has been ordered to stop using all student assessments to determine merit pay for professors. A state arbitrator sided with the United Faculty union in a ruling released Tuesday. The union had complained the university required philosophy and world religions faculty members to have a student evaluation for each course during every semester prior to merit pay being awarded.
 
     DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Outdoor enthusiasts and business groups are forming a new group to promote hunting in Iowa. State Retail Federation President Jim Henter says hunters spend more than $288 million statewide every year. Statistics from the state’s Department of Natural Resources show the number of hunting licenses issued in Iowa has dropped for 10 straight years.