Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Highland Road, Christmas Day. Officials say a 2014 Ford F250 driven by 35-year old Nathan Thielen, of Atlantic, was eastbound on Highland Road when he  lost control. The pickup entered the south ditch, hit a power pole and then struck a concrete culvert. The power pole broke off from the impact.

No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000; damage to the power pole is estimated at $3000. Thielen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports several, recent arrests. On Saturday (12/26), deputies arrested three individuals as the result of a check on a vehicle stopped alongside the road near Cold Springs Park outside of Lewis. 24-year old Alex Michael Garside, 20-year old Aaron William Garside, and 20-year old Nathan James Jeray, all of Atlantic, were arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Alex Garside was also charged with OWI 1st Offense. All subjects were taken to the Cass County Jail where they were released later that day on their own recognizance.

On Sunday (12/27),  21-year old Zachery Charles Vance, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Vance was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And on Thursday (12/24), deputies in Cass County arrested 37-year old Tamara Lynn McCoy, of East Moline, IL, on two district court warrants for Probation Violation and Failure to Appear. McCoy was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $5000 bond and an obligation to serve jail time.

Iowa House Speaker Select Linda Upmeyer (A Republican from Clear Lake) has announced that Representative Tom Moore (Republican from Griswold) will serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Education budget subcommittee. Upmeyer said “As a former teacher, Representative Moore will continue to make education a priority in the state budget.”

Moore will also serve on the Education, Environmental Protection, Human Resources and State Government committees. Moore was recently elected State Representative in a special election for House District 21 in earlier this month. The appointments become effective at the start of the next legislative session, which begins January 11, 2016.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Dec. 22nd, of 19-year old Brandon Lane Barrett, of Afton. Barrett was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for probation violation. He was being held in the Union County Jail without bond.

And, deputies in Union County investigated two, separate accidents on Dec. 24th. At around 12:20-a.m., pickup trucks driven by 20-year old Dylan Hudson, of Arispe, and 21-year old Brandon Parsons, of Diagonal, were rounding a curve westbound on 240th Street in Union County, when both vehicles went out of control.

Hudson’s 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 entered the ditch and hit a tree. Parsons’ 1998 Chevy K1500 followed the Dodge into the ditch and hit the side of Hudsons’ pickup. Hudson complained of pain and was transported to the hospital in Creston. No citations were issued. Damage from the crash amounted to $10,000.

The second accident happened at around 10:20-a.m. Thursday, in Creston. Authorities say 17-year old Elijah Hoyt, of Orient, was traveling south on Cherry Street Road, when a non-contact vehicle in front of him began to slow. Hoyt told deputies he applied his brakes and lost control of the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving, because of snow on the road.

The SUV skidded into the northbound lane and hit a 2007 Chevy Cobalt, driven by 20-year old Justin Queener, of Creston. The SUV then entered a ditch, while the car spun around and came to rest in the northbound lane, facing south. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Queener suffered from minor/possible injuries, and was transported by ambulance to the Creston hospital. Authorities say Hoyt was cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance/accident-related.

MAURICE, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa day care operator has been charged with child endangerment involving a toddler in her care. A news release from the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Dianna Winder also was charged last week with assaulting the 15-month-old boy at her home day care in Maurice. No details about how the injuries occurred have been released.

The Sheriff’s Office says an investigation began in November, after a health care provider reported suspicions about the boy’s injuries.