Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westring reports two people, a man and a woman, were transported to larger hospital facilities outside of Cass County, following a serious, single vehicle accident northwest of Atlantic, this morning. In an update to our earlier reports, Westring said the injured were transported by Atlantic Rescue and Medivac Ambulance to the Atlantic Airport and Cass County Memorial Hospital, following the crash that happened just before 8-a.m. on Highway 83, near the railroad bridge northwest of the Mahle Engine Components plant.

The man and women were in a four-door sedan when the crash occurred. Westring couldn’t provide any further details at this time, as the accident remains under investigation. Scanner traffic at the time rescue crews were dispatched, indicated one person was trapped in the vehicle, while another was out and complaining of back pain.

(Update 8:55-a.m.) Two LifeNet Helicopters were called to transport two victims of a single-vehicle accident to trauma centers this morning, following an accident that happened just before 8-a.m. on Highway 83, near the railroad bridge northwest of Mahle Engine Components. Scanner traffic at the time indicated one person was trapped in the vehicle, while another was out and complaining of back pain.

One of the choppers was directed to the airport for transport of a victim. The other to CCCMH. No other details are available at this time.

The Creston Police Department reports a local man was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, on a warrant out of Adams County. 27-year old Curtiss Daniel Bird, of Creston, was arrested just before 1-a.m., and later released on a $500 bond.

And, a man from Milwaukee, WI., reported to Creston Police that while he was at the YMCA in Creston, several of his items were stolen. Those items include:  A jersey and pants, Keen Shoes, a bicycle helmet, riding Gloves, a flip Phone, $300 in cash, and bicycle glasses.  The loss was estimated at $890.

Governor Terry Branstad says he’s not worried about the Department of Transportation’s decision to close driver’s license stations in Carroll and Spencer on August 31st after the department didn’t get the total increase in funding it requested. Branstad says the Carroll County Treasurer plans to open a driver’s license renewal station in his office. “Because of the timing of it, I want to talk to the D-O-T about extending the time before they close it so Carroll County can be ready,” Branstad says.

He says the Carroll and Spencer D-O-T offices had the least amount of traffic. “And my guess is that when it is all said and done the public in these counties — Carroll County and Clay County — will feel like the public does in the other counties. They really appreciate having the quality of services that can be provided in these rural counties by county treasurer’s office where they are not that busy,” Branstad says.

The Republican governor also talked about the D-O-T plans to close seven maintenance garages in Akron, Centerville, Corning, Gowrie, Rock Valley, Sabula and Soldier. D-O-T leaders say the cutbacks may lead to some roads not getting plowed, but Branstad doesn’t buy that. “They’ve been in the process of consolidating that over time, and in so doing — and I’ve seen the math — they are going to be able to plow the roads and I don’t think it really is going to make a big difference in terms of that area,” Branstad says. “We are always looking for ways that we can more efficiently deliver the services and have more of the money going for building roads and bridges rather than for administrative costs.”

On another topic, Branstad was asked about the prospect of the three state universities expanding the sale of alcohol at athletic events. “I think they’ve got to be really careful. This is a Board of Regents decision, but there is a lot of drinking that goes on before the games with all the tailgating and all that. And binge drinking is a problem on college campuses,” Branstad says. “So, I think they need to look at the whole picture in terms of deciding whether if this is the thing they need to do, not just in terms of the money that they will bring in.”

When it comes to athletic funding Branstad says he doesn’t have an opinion on whether the athletic departments should give some funds to the university for academic programs. “I think that’s a university decision and if the athletic department wants to support the academic programs and the other part of the university. What did they used to say at Oklahoma? They wanted to have a university that the football team could be proud of,” Branstad said, then laughed.

Branstad made his comments during his weekly meeting with reporters.

(Radio Iowa)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — General Mills is expanding a flour recall issued over a possible link to an E. coli outbreak after four new illnesses were reported. The recall announced Monday covers several varieties of Gold Medal and Signature Kitchens flour produced on certain dates through February 10th.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said flour produced at a General Mills plant in Kansas City, Missouri, is a likely source of the outbreak, which so far has sickened 46 people in 21 states. The CDC says 13 have been hospitalized, and one person has developed a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

General Mills says the illnesses have been connected with consumers who ate or handled uncooked dough or ate uncooked batter made with raw flour.