A Red Oak teenager was injured in a traffic accident caused by a deer.  The accident happened at 11:20 Tuesday night at 150th Street and G Avenue northwest of Red Oak.  Sheriff’s deputies  report that 16 year old Aidan Watts was westbound in a Chevy 1500 truck when he swerved to miss a deer.  The truck entered the ditch,  hit a road sign, jumped over G Avenue and struck a field drive, causing it to leave the ground again.  Watts was taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak with what were described as minor injuries.  Deputies say he was spared more serious injuries by wearing his seat belt.  Damage was estimated at 25-thousand dollars.

Also, Tuesday at 4:57 pm, Montgomery County deputies reported that Angela Ramsey was driving a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser east on 9th Street when she stopped to take some pictures of her property.  Edward Eugene Ramsey came up to the window to grab the camera when Angela got scared and attempted to drive away.  Edward Ramsey either grabbed the car or had his arm still inside the window and he was dragged a short distance before falling and getting his right foot run over.  He was taken by ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.  Edward Ramsey of Villisca was arrested for harassment in the third degree.  He was held on $300 dollars bond.  Angela Ramsey was charged with reckless driving.  The investigation is ongoing.

Separately, early Wednesday morning, deputies arrested 52 year old David Lawrence Howe of Red Oak for trespassing following an incident in the 400 block of 4th Street in Red Oak.  Howe was held on $300 bond.

The string of armed robberies in Council Bluffs continued on Tuesday.  Bluffs Police report that on Tuesday night at about 10:30, an armed robber entered the Walgreens store on West Broadway,  The store clerk was about to help another customer when the suspect approached her and demanded money.  As he grabbed money from the cash drawer, the man saw another store employee carrying a money drawer and grabbed money from that as well.  The suspect displayed a gun during the robbery.  Police say that the suspect fits the description of the man who robbed four stores in the Bluffs on Sunday, and that he continues to be as reckless and brazen about his robbery spree.  Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.  Anyone with information should call the Crimestoppers hotline at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports two traffic related arrests on Tuesday, June 24th.

The first arrest took place at around 4:00pm as Red Oak Police officers located a wanted male for failure to appear on original charges of driving without a valid license in Nodaway County, MO.  Jeremy Navarrette of Red Oak was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center where he posted $149 cash bond.

The second arrest took place at 4:43pm as officers stopped a vehicle for speeding.  During the traffic stop it was discovered that the driver 25-year-old Zachary Dean Fuller of Red Oak was a barred driver with 9 current license withdrawals in effect.  Fuller was taken into custody for the aggravated misdemeanor of Driving While Barred and was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $2,000 bond.

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS), Tuesday, approved more than $2.5 million in federal AmeriCorps Grants and Education Awards, $16,000 in federal Volunteer Generation Fund Grants, and $279,000 in state funded RSVP Grants, that together will leverage and support approximately 10,000 community volunteers and 110 AmeriCorps State members who will provide direct support to thousands of local nonprofits, schools and communities throughout Iowa. All of the projects operate as public private partnerships that together leverage over $3 million in other funding. Tusday’s award brings the total AmeriCorps State, RSVP, and VGF program funding announced this year for Iowa to over $14 million.

RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to improving and protecting the environment, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents and life experience to work to make a difference.

A state appropriation of more than $279,000, which is used to leverage additional federal and local funding, is coordinated by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service for RSVP projects. Grants were approved to the following entities:

Carroll County RSVP, $7,467.97, and the Connections Area Agency on Aging in Council Bluffs, $14,450.68.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee intends to question under oath a number of current and former top state government administrators about confidential settlement agreements. Committee chairwoman Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, says she’s determined to find out who authorized payments for secrecy to former state workers.

More than 320 state workers have entered settlement agreements since Gov. Terry Branstad returned as governor in 2011. Some were asked to sign confidentiality agreements and were paid to keep quiet. No one has ever taken responsibility for authorizing the agreements. Subpoenaed to testify Wednesday are former Iowa Department of Administrative Services attorney Ryan Lamb and the agency’s fired director, Mike Carroll.

Also called are the department’s former chief operating officer, Doug Woodley, who resigned last month, and current director Janet Phipps.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place on Monday. Deputies arrested 30-year old Trent Matthew Suhr, of Walnut,  on charges of Driving While Barred, Operating without Owner’s Consent, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Suhr was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day.

And, 38-year old Troy Adam Dillavou, of Carroll, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Dillavou was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains on $25,000 bond.

Red Oak  High School Principal Jedd Sherman submitted his resignation at the Red Oak school board meeting last night.  As part of the terms of the resignation, Sherman will receive a $100,000 payment and the school board waived its appeal on any kind of unemployment claims.   Sherman and his attorney formulated the resignation and the school board agreed that it would be in the best interests of the district to accept it and move on.  Sherman’s last day is June 30th.

The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Guthrie County man suffered serious injuries in a rollover accident Monday morning near Jefferson in Greene County.   Troopers say the accident happened around Monday morning at 10:05  at the intersection of Highway 4 and 250th Street.  The report shows 29-year-old Levi Dawson was driving a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer  south when he left the roadway and the vehicle flipped over on its top, coming to rest on the northwest corner of Highway 4 and the North Raccoon River Bank.   Dawson was taken to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by helicopter.  Jefferson Fire and Rescue also responded to the accident.

Nearly two years ago, the City Clerk in the Harrison County town of  Logan got a pink slip.  Now, a settlement has been reached that will give her the job back and $400,000.  According to a story in the Omaha World-Herald, court documents filed Friday and Monday outline the terms of the deal with Angela Winther.  In July of 2012, Winther and City Attorney Joe Lauterbach were fired by the city council for what they said was insubordination in e-mails between the two.  Winther later filed suit, claiming that her first amendment rights were violated.  Since the firing, the size of the Logan city council has been trimmed from five members to three and none of the current members were part of the council when the firings occurred.  Winther will return to work and be paid $20.04 per hour.  Vicki Schroder has been serving as the city clerk, but she will resign and be given a $15,000 severance payment.  The city’s insurance carrier will cover the $400,000 payment to Winther.

w/ Jim Field

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