Two people died in separate central Iowa crashes, Saturday.  The Iowa State Patrol reports one of the accidents happened in Jasper County at around 2:50-a.m., Saturday. Authorities say a 1997 Infinity driven by 25-year old Michael David Roney, of Altoona, was traveling north on Highway 117 just south of Mingo, when the vehicle went off the road to the right within a curve, and struck a gravel road intersection at West 108th Street North.  The car went out of control and rolled over multiple times before coming to rest on the driver’s side in the cornfield. A passenger in the vehicle, 27-year old Jeremy Charles O’Conner, of Colfax, was ejected during the rollover and died at the scene. Roney was transported by Fire and Rescue to Methodist Hospital. The crash remains under investigation.

The second fatal accident happened in Clarke County, at around 11:15-a.m., as a 1990 Chevy Corsica driven by 72-year old Virginia Ruth Brown, of Osceola, was traveling east on Highway 152. When Brown failed to stop at the intersection with Highway 59, her car was struck broadside on the passenger side, by a northbound 2003 Chevy S-10 pickup driven by 56-year old Michael Joseph Obermeier, of Weldon.  Brown was transported by ambulance to the Clarke County Hospital, where she died. Officials say Obermeier was not injured in the crash.

Red Oak Police arrested a man on a Theft charge, Saturday. Officials say 32-year old Kyle William Chase, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 12:15-p.m. in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street, in connection with an incident that occurred earlier in the day. Chase was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and charged with Theft in the 5th Degree (Less than $200 value). He was also issued a citation for Trespassing. Chase was being held in the jail on a $300 bond.

No injuries were reported following an accident that happened Friday afternoon in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Office reports as a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by 16-year old Easton Hultman, of rural Red Oak, was making a left turn while cresting a hill from 220th Street onto L Avenue southbound, it was struck by a 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan that was traveling north on L Avenue. The driver of the Honda was identified as 40-year old Justin L. Toews, of Stanton. The Honda struck the Dodge on the left rear side, causing the wheel studs on the Dodge to shear-off, and resulted in the vehicle coming to rest in the southbound lane, facing southeast.The Honda sustained minor damage to the left front, and the left front tire was ruined.

Toews pulled the mini-van off to the side of the road to prevent another accident. Authorities say the hillcrest location in proximity to the intersection is believed to have impaired Hultman’s ability to see oncoming traffic. There were no citations issued. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,700.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) – Wartburg College will offer graduate degrees for the first time in its history next year. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the college has developed two master’s degree programs. One is a traditional master of arts in music. The other is a master of arts in music therapy. Music department chairman Brian Pfaltzgraff says Wartburg remains the only private school in Iowa offering an undergraduate music program, and “now we have become the full package.”

The graduate program was approved by the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association and also received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission for graduate programs. The graduate programs will be offered starting in 2018.

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Unseasonably warm weather has held off the cool fall days in Iowa and that’s impacting the transition of some trees to their fall leaf colors. State Forester Jeff Goerndt says dry weather has also had an impact on the changing of leaf colors. “I think the dryness has affected us a great deal — the warm weather sets it back,” Goerndt says. He says the cool fall days are important to the process. “Usually the colors are best when you have just warm, balmy days and then cool, crisp, clear nights,” according to Goerndt.

Goerndt says it is early for central and southern Iowa and the colors should improve as we move deeper into fall. “In the next couple of weeks it’s going to start getting a little better,” Goerndt says. “I just can’t tell right now how brilliant it is going to be. I’ve got a couple of hard maples in my yard that are usually quite brilliant — but they haven’t done anything yet. I think you’re going to see a lot more oranges and browns and yellows this year.”

He lives in Chariton in the south-central part of the state and says northeast Iowa has a larger variety of trees and usually has some of the best leaf color in the state. And northeast Iowa has had more rain this year too, which should help the color. He says the Loess Hills corridor had some good leaf color. Goerndt says the drought conditions in the southern part of the state could have a longer term impact on trees beyond impacting leaf color. “They’ll be a little deficient. The thing about drought is you can’t really predict what it’s going to do as far as long term affects, because it can affect a tree for several years afterwards,” Goerndt says.

The D-N-R provides a weekly fall color report each Monday afternoon. Updates are available by calling the D-N-R fall color hotline at 515-233-4110 and online at www.iowadnr.gov/fallcolor.

The “Masked Veteran” has completed his 330-mile statewide journey, crossing the finish line at the Burlington riverfront on Friday night. Joshua Jorgensen started his trek in Council Bluffs late last week as a way to call attention to veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress. Jorgensen, who is from Adel, says the toughest part of the run wasn’t the running. “Dealing with myself for 12 to 14 hours a day out there on the road — you know your mind can play some really funny games with you, especially in the heat and rain,” Jorgensen says, “and I dealt with both.”

Jorgensen is an Iraq war veteran. He wore a gas mask as he ran, to symbolize the struggles many veterans face every day. “I did this to show that you can step up and you can become a leader,” Jorgensen says. “You can get people to follow you in creating that awareness. Get involved in local organizations. Get involved with your fellow veterans.”  It took Jorgensen 10 days to run across the state. Jorgensen covered between 30 and 40 miles each day. Jorgensen is a member of Team Fidelis, a national organization focused on the mission of preventing suicides among veterans. A few other members of the group ran beside Jorgensen during the final miles of his journey.

(Radio  Iowa)

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones has announced that this year’s Halloween in Atlantic will take place October 31st, starting at 5:30 P.M. and ending at 7:30 P.M.  City Administrator John Lund said the Mayor “Will most likely mention this at the next Council meeting, but given the extreme importance of the issue, he wanted to get information out earlier.”

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Maryland Rep. John Delaney is campaigning in South Carolina and Iowa this weekend. Delaney, who announced he is running for president in July, is scheduled to deliver remarks in Audubon tomorrow (Sunday), for the Audubon County Democratic Party annual fundraiser. On Monday, he’ll be meeting and greeting with Democrats in Council Bluffs. He started campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire last month.

The third-term congressman announced in July he would be running for the Democratic nomination for president, instead of for governor of Maryland or re-election to his House seat in 2018.