No injuries were reported after a car and pickup truck collided Friday afternoon, in Atlantic. The Police Department says a car driven by Paula Goettsche, of Atlantic, rear-ended a pickup driven by Jerry McCrory, of Atlantic, at the intersection of 7^th Street and Hospital Drive.

Officials say McCrory was stopped at the intersection headed eastbound. Goettsches’ vehicle was behind him, and proceeded to move forward while McCrory was still stopped. Her car hit a lowered tailgate on the pickup, causing about $2,300 damage altogether. Goettsche was cited by police for Failure to Maintain Control. The accident happened at around 12:45-p.m.

And, an Atlantic man was arrested Sunday on a Cass County warrant. 23-year old Casey Sampson, Jr, was taken into custody on a warrant for Willful Injury. He was booked into the Cass County and held pending a court appearance.

Two children were hurt Friday afternoon, when the vehicle they were traveling in crashed into an embankment near Red Oak. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the accident happened at around 3:45-p.m. on Highway 34, at the intersection with L Avenue.

Officials say 75-year old Keith Wayne Rhone, of Rockwall, TX, was driving a 2001 Chevy Suburban eastbound on Highway 34, when he fell asleep at the wheel. The SUV and a travel trailer it was pulling, crossed the westbound lane of traffic and entered the north ditch. The vehicle traveled about 400-feet before hitting an embankment and coming to rest.

Two, unidentified children in the SUV suffered minor injuries, and were transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment. The suburban was a total loss, while the travel trailer sustained about $500 damage.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Friday morning at the courthouse here in Atlantic. During their session, the Board adopted a resolution calling for the County to enter into a loan agreement for the purposes of planning, undertaking and carrying out a project in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area. The $555,000 loan agreement will allow for the construction of water and sanitary sewer system improvements in the area. It’s hoped the improvements will draw industry to the area occupied by the defunct ethanol production facility.

The Supervisors also heard an annual report from Cass County Veteran’s Affair Executive Director Mitch Holmes. Holmes said during the past Fiscal year, 444 veterans and dependents were assisted, as compared to 383 in FY 2009-2010. Holmes said 107 veterans signed up for federal VA benefits for the first time. County financial assistance for veterans was also up, more than $3,550 from the previous fiscal year. The aid amounted to slightly more than $29,800.

In other business, the Board agreed to fund the homestead property tax credits for taxes collected July 1^st, 2011 through June 30^th 2012 Fiscal year, at 63-percent. The Cass County Supervisor’s next regular meeting is this Wednesday, August 3^rd, at 9-a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Results from a July survey of business conditions in nine Midwestern and Plains states suggest a slowdown in growth. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss says uncertainty about the national economy is among the factors hampering business expansion in the region.

The overall index for the Mid-America Business Conditions dropped only slightly, to 54.1 in July from 54.9 in June. But it was the fourth time in the past five months that the index dropped.  The survey of supply managers and executives and the report use a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth in an index while a score below 50 suggests that index will decline.

The nine states are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

As you may have heard on KJAN Sunday night, the King and Queen for this year’s Cass County fair were announced. The ceremony marked the start of the fair Sunday evening.

Reigning over the fair this year as Queen, is newly crowned Erin Steele, the daughter of Lynette and Doug Steele. Robert Nichols, the son of Linda and Bill Nichols, was crowned Fair King.

Other royalty this year include: Tess Peck, daughter of Bob & Celeste Peck, who won the titles of Cass County Fair Princess and “Miss Congeniality,” and, Mark Jacobsen, the son of Mike and Darla Jacobsen, was named Prince. J.T. Baker was awarded the title of “Mr. Congeniality.”

A multi-vehicle crash closed Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County for about 2-hours, Sunday night. Details are sketchy at this time, but according to the Iowa D-O-T, the crash happened at around 7-p.m. on I-80 westbound, near the Walnut exit.

The mess was cleaned-up and the road reopened to regular traffic flow just after 9-p.m.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) – Railroads crews are cleaning up after 22 cars of a coal train derailed near Denison Mark Davis, spokesman for Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific, says  he 136-car train was headed from Wyoming to Illinois when a section derailed about 6:40 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.

Davis says crews will work into today (Monday) to clear debris and repair about 800 feet of damaged track that stretches over two rail lines. One of the lines was expected to reopen early today. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing female juvenile. 17-year old Michaela Renee Allan, of Council Bluffs, was last seen at the Council Bluffs Public Library, at around 4:30-p.m. Sunday.

Michaela stands about 5-feet 6-inches tall, and weighs about 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a multi-colored hat with lettering on it, a pink shirt, and tight, skinny jeans with high heels.

A witness at the library said the teen left on foot from that location after making several calls on a cell phone. If you have come into contact with her, call the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-4721.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — Railroads crews are cleaning up after 22 cars of a coal train derailed in western Iowa.

Mark Davis, spokesman for Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific, says the 136-car train was headed from Wyoming to Illinois when a section derailed about 6:40 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.

Davis says crews will work into Monday to clear debris and repair about 800 feet of damaged track that stretches over two rail lines. One of the lines is expected to reopen early Monday.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation.