Students and staff with the Audubon Community School District today (Monday), have the chance to meet with counselors and members of the local ministerial organization, to grieve over two students whose lives were tragically cut short in a crash, Saturday. Audubon Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the day started out a bit somber, as expected, but they’re trying to get back to a normal routine while still allowing the healing and grieving process to continue. (click on the sound bar to hear his comments)

Jamison Steckler, an 8th grader and his brother Gavin Steckler, a 5th grader died as the result of a car accident [Saturday] on Interstate 80. Gibbs said because the accident happened Saturday, many of the district’s 500 or so students had a chance to attend church and seek solace in their church families as well as each other.

Gibbs said their Crisis Management Team at the school has been in-place for about the past four or five years. They received extensive training from Cheri Love, a nationally recognized leader in crisis intervention and grief counseling.

The staff filled the hallways greeting the kids this morning, and spent the first period of classes talking with students about grieving and that it’s okay to do so. The only changes to the schedule as a result of the tragedy, was that the Vocal Music Performance scheduled for tonight has been postponed to a later date.

Audubon State Bank has a fund set up to help the Steckler family deal with the loss and expense.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a northwest Iowa man was arrested Friday afternoon on drug charges, following a traffic stop on Lark Avenue, near 200th Street. 19-year old Mason McClean Meitzenheimer, of Cherokee, was brought to the Audubon County Jail and charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. He was later released after appearing before a magistrate. The Audubon County K-9 “Axel” and Audubon Police assisted in making the arrest.

And, 25-year old Devin Allen Foote, of Griswold, was arrested Friday night in Audubon, on an outstanding warrant. Foote was charged with two counts of Violation of a Protective Order, as the result of an incident that occurred with an Exira resident. He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate.

Concerns over salmonella have prompted a recall on a bread mix in 40 states, including Iowa. Brand Castle’s Monkey Bread mix has been pulled because of contamination issues at the plant that supplies the mix’s buttermilk powder. There have been no illnesses reported. The monkey bread is sold in 16 ounce packages with a best buy day of June 29th, 2018 and can be returned to the point of purchase.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) issued a report on recent arrests. Authorities say there were four people arrested Sunday. At around 9:20-p.m., 33-year old Andrew Michael Hasbrouck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of Probation, after the Sheriff’s Office was notified a man wearing a long dark coat and carrying a box, was seen in the area of Bluebird Lane and Pioneer Trail. A responding Deputy recognized Hasbrouck from previous interactions with him, and immediately called for backup. A check of records indicated Hasbrouck was wanted on a warrant for probation violation. He was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

At around 8:20-p.m. Sunday, 20-year old Drew Michael Mohr, of Oakland, was arrested for Domestic Assault/simple assault, and Obstruction of Emergency Communication, following a domestic situation at residence in the 200 block of Brown Street, in Oakland. Mohr was taken into custody without incident.

At around 12:30-a.m. Sunday, 32-year old Garrett Allen Horgdal, of Henderson, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, following a traffic stop for multiple violations on Dogwood Road, near Highway 59. And, at around 1:45-a.m. Sunday, 32-year old Jeremy Theron Harriman, of Avoca, was arrested for Criminal Trespass, after a woman reported her neighbor (Harriman), who had been evicted from a residence in the 100 block of N. Elm Street, in Avoca, was on the scene and refused to leave. Harriman, who was said to be very intoxicated, was taken into custody on the Trespass charge and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, has announced that approximately $114,600 in grant funds are available for Audubon County nonprofit organizations, and that applications are due no later than February 1st, 2017.

Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa.  Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

Omaha Community Foundation logo

Contact Dennis Nissen at the Omaha Foundation,1-800-794-3458 (or dennis@omahafoundation.org) or Denise Cardos (at denise@omahafoundation.org), with any grant application-specific questions.  All completed applications will be considered at the March board meeting with notification of results in early April.

Only organizations providing charitable services in Audubon County are eligible.  They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.  Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.

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Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon, 563-4288;  Vice Chair, Jonnie Meislahn of Audubon, 563-2009 Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon, 773-5732; Shelley Burr of Audubon, 563-2644; Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton, 249-3692; Daryl Olsen, DVM of Audubon, 563-2080; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira, 268-6357.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports three, injury accidents occurred over the past few days, and one vehicle was reported stolen. Sunday, night, a Lenox resident reported sometime over the past few days, someone stolen his red, 2011 Dodge Charger with Iowa license plate BQE 596/ The car was valued at $15,000.

Two accidents were reported Sunday, in Union County. At around 1:30-p.m., 88-year old Louis Lumbard, of Creston, was traveling north on the High and Dry Road when he swerved to miss a coyote. His 1997 Chevy pickup entered the ditch and continued to travel north in the ditch and across a creek before coming into contact with a farm entrance. The pickup then rolled over and came to rest on its wheels, facing south. Damage was estimated at $5,000. Lumbard was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center (GRMC) in Creston, for treatment of unknown/possible injuries.

Sheriff’s officials say at around 9:05-a.m. Sunday, a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 27-year old Jesse Jones, of Creston, was traveling west on 245th Street, when the vehicle went out of control due to ice on the road. The pickup spun around, entered the ditch on the north side of the road and flipped over, coming to rest on its top. Jones was transported by ambulance to GRMC for treatment of unknown/possible injuries. Damage to his vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

And, at around Noon Thursday, 59-year old Karen Bean, of Afton, was injured when the 2012 Chevy SUV she was driving went out of control on Rea Road, after she hit the brakes to avoid striking a dog that appeared on a curve. The vehicle skidded onto the gravel shoulder and crossed over the road before rolling into the east ditch and landing on its top. Bean was transported by Medic 1 to GRMC for treatment of possible/unknown injuries. Damage from the accident amounted to $7,100.

The Glenwood Police Department reports one person was arrested over the weekend. 44-year old Ray Knipe, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $1000.