Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the administrative phone systems at both the Clarinda Police Department (712-542-2194) and the City of Clarinda Department of Administrative Services (712-542-2136) are once again operational. The lines had been down for a little more than an hour this morning.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a porta-potty was stolen from the Farmer’s Co-op, in Arispe. The Kybo was taken sometime between 10:30-a.m. Monday and Noon on Tuesday. The loss was estimated at $700.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the administrative telephone system at the Clarinda Police Department is currently not working (712-542-2194) .  The Chief says they are waiting on  technicians to repair the problem. It is unknown how long the administrative telephone system will be down. (Update 11:02-a.m.):

Brothers has learned also, that the City of Clarinda Department of Administrative Services (City Hall) phone system is down as well. (712-542-2136).  Technicians are working on the problem now.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two, recent arrests. On Sunday, 28-year old Jessica Lynn Gross, of Griswold, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Simple Assault. Gross was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on her own recognizance.

And, last Thursday (October 6th) Cass County Deputies arrested 37-year old Spencer Reigh Lile, of Manilla, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 5th Degree. Lile was booked at the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

(9-a.m. News)

(In an update to our post Tues. afternoon…)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported after a pickup hit a tractor Tuesday afternoon, near Cumberland. Authorities say deputies responded at around 4:50-p.m. to a reported two-vehicle, car/tractor accident at 670th Street and Highway 92.

Both photo’s courtesy Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Johnson.

A 1984 Case tractor owned and driven by 66-year old David Edward Steffen, of Cumberland, was westbound on Highway 92 and attempting a left turn onto 670th Street when it was struck in the rear by a 1998 GMC Sierra pickup owned and driven by 68-year old Sammie Dale Metheny, of Atlantic. Damage to the tractor and the pickup is estimated at $3,000 each. Metheny was cited for Unsafe Passing.

(9-a.m. News)

BURNSVILLE, MN (October 12, 2016) – Parents don’t prepare their teens to drive as well as they did a decade ago. According to a AAA survey of 142 driving instructors across America, 65% said the decline in quality parental involvement has added to the challenges facing young drivers. They also reported that parents often set a bad example through their own behaviors.

“With all the other challenges teens face learning to drive, it is critical for parents to re-engage in the process,” said Amy Stracke, Managing Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Teens can’t succeed safely on the road unless those closest to them make proper training a priority and set a good example behind the wheel.”

In the survey, Skills of Novice Teen Drivers, driving instructors also revealed the top three mistakes teens make when learning to drive:

Speeding – Traveling over posted speed limits or too fast for road conditions.

Distraction – Interacting with a cell phone, talking with passengers or looking at other objects in the vehicle.

Poor Visual Scanning – Driving with tunnel vision and not properly scanning the road for risks or hazards.

Past research shows that teens with parents who impose stricter driving limits reported fewer crashes and traffic violations. AAA recommends parents stay actively involved in coaching their teens through the learning-to-drive process by:

• Having conversations early and often about the dangers of speeding and distraction
• Taking the time to practice driving with their teens in varying conditions
• Adopting a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement that takes the learning to drive process in stages and sets family rules for the road
• Setting a good example by minimizing distractions and speeding when driving

AAA also recommends that teens preparing for the responsibility of driving should enroll in a driver education program that teaches how to avoid driver distraction and other safety skills. Resources to help parents choose a class and coach their teen through the learning-to drive process can be found on AAA’s award-winning website TeenDriving.AAA.com.

(Press Release)