MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A search is continuing for the body of a man who fell into Lake Ponderosa when ice broke beneath the all-terrain vehicle he was riding. KCCI-TV reports that authorities identified the man as 57-year-old David Hartke, of Grundy Center. Montezuma Fire Department Chief Chris Widmer says the effort is now considered a recovery mission.

Hartke fell through the ice Saturday evening after ice fishing at the lake near Montezuma, about 50 miles east of Des Moines. The initial search for the man continued until about 2 a.m. Sunday when it was called off because equipment kept freezing. The search continued Sunday afternoon. Widmer says divers were plunging into 37-degree water as the searched for the body.

Members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team, including persons from southwest Iowa, began their search efforts for Widmer at Noon, Monday.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has updated their report on recent and past accidents.

Officials say late Saturday morning, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80 at the 65 mile marker. A 2003 Hyundai Sonata driven by 62-year old James William Garrow, of Davenport, was westbound on I-80 when a deer ran north across the road and struck the front of the vehicle. The deer went through the windshield of the vehicle and crushed the roof area. Garrow and a passenger, Nancy Jean Herberg, were transported to CCMH via Medivac and Anita Rescue. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000.

On December 10th, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on White Pole Road in Wiota. A 1999 Toyota Camry driven by 24-year old Sydney Kay Darling, of Anita, was eastbound on White Pole Road when the driver lost control, striking a sign and jumping a terrace. The vehicle landed on its wheels and rolled into a field. Upon arrival, no one was with the vehicle. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000; damage to the sign is estimated at $1000. The incident remains under investigation.

On December 9th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single-vehicle car/deer accident on Highway 92. A 2006 Chevy K2500 owned and driven by 25-year old Simon Dale Jensen, of Adel, was westbound on Highway 92 approximately ½ mile east of 690th Street when the driver reportedly swerved to avoid striking deer in the roadway, entering the north ditch and flipping the vehicle onto its top. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000. Jensen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

And on December 4th, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Olive Street north of Atlantic. A 2005 Sterling semi driven by 52-year old Todd Allen VanWinkle, of Des Moines, was northbound on Olive Street when the driver lost control on the ice-covered roadway and entered the east ditch. VanWinkle was transported to CCMH by Medivac Ambulance. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $15,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Saturday, 38-year old Troy Adam Dillavou, of Carroll, was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (more than 5 grams), Drug Tax Stamp Violation, and OWI 3rd Offense. Dillavou was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was subsequently charged with Possession of Contraband. Dillavou remains at the Cass County Jail on $40,000 bond.

On Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 44-year old Kory Chris Schubert, of Griswold, on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Serious Assault. Schubert was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Thursday, 55-year old Leroy Michael Rodriguez, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Rodriguez was taken to the Cass County Jail where he served 48 hours and was released.

(12:40-p.m. News)

No serious injuries were reported following two separate accidents over the weekend, in Atlantic. According to the Police Department, an accident Friday afternoon at the intersection of 7th and Poplar Streets caused $4,000 damage, and resulted in a citation for Failure to Yield. Officials say a vehicle driven by Robert Zimmerman, of Lewis, was westbound on 7th Street at around 2:45-p.m., when an eastbound vehicle driven by Charles Bannister, of Valley, NE, turned in front of Zimmerman, in an attempt to head north on Poplar Street. Bannister was cited for Failure to Yield while making a left turn. Both drivers were checked out by crews with Medivac ambulance, but refused transport to the hospital.

The other accident happened at around 11:45-a.m. Saturday, in the Casey’s west parking lot. A vehicle operated by Sarah Scott, of Lewis, was backing out of a stall when it struck a parked vehicle registered to the Casey’s store. The damage amounted to $1,800.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report the Atlantic Jaycee’s and Dick Wright were named Angels of Christmas over the weekend.

For the past several years, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Stifel Nicolaus have sponsored the Angels of Christmas award, a surprise honor bestowed upon two community members or organizations who symbolize the true Christmas spirit. The “angels” are nominated via written letters of recommendation to the Atlantic Special Promotions & Events Committee. The presentation happens in front of a large audience at the end of the annual free holiday concert at the First United Methodist Church on the second Saturday in December.

Dick Wright is very private about his deeds, but they most definitely do not go unnoticed. The person who nominated him said Wright “Unselfishly gives his time and vehicle to help many individuals in the Atlantic and surrounding areas.” As a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, he helps man the video system, does “Dial A Daily Word” and serves on committees. Dick has been a long-time auxiliary member at the Cass County Memorial Hospital that takes patients to therapy. Not only does he take patients to therapy, but he also frequently drives patients to Dr. appointments, both in and out of town.

The Atlantic Jaycee’s adopted a project developed by the West Central Development in the 1980’s that gives food for a Christmas meal to those in need or just because they deserve it. They were nominated because “For over 30 years the Atlantic Jaycee’s have been raising money and collecting names to help the people of Cass County have a Merry Christmas.” Baskets of food for a complete Christmas dinner are put together by the local grocery stores and delivered with the help of other local organizations. Many families are helped during the Christmas season that fills them with the holiday spirit.

Authorities in Mills County report six arrests took place over the past few days. On Sunday, 35-year old Donovan Richardson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/5th offense, Driving While Revoked and for Theft in the 2nd degree. His bond was set at $11,000, and, 37-year old James Alan Rasmussen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Polk County warrant pertaining to Child Support. His bond was set at $2,000.

Arrested Saturday in Mills County, was: 34-year old Justin Andrew Hooker and his wife, 33-year old Angela Danielle Neil, both of Malvern. Hooker was charged with Public Intoxication. Neil was arrested for an alleged Violation of a Protection Order. Both were later released on their own recognizance. Also arrested Saturday, was 34-year old Dayton Ernest Tupper II, of Malvern. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, and was reportedly held on $5,000 bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, on Friday, 30-year old Rodney Charles Grap, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $2,000.

A vehicle stopped on the traveled portion of the road in Audubon County resulted in a personal injury accident Saturday morning. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says a 2005 Dodge operated by 20-year Cole Richard Burns, of Crescent, was parked facing westbound on 220th Street near the intersection of Falcon Avenue, when the vehicle was hit from behind.

The other vehicle, a 1999 Pontiac was driven by 42-year old Cherry Michelle Budd, of Avoca. Budd was traveling west on 220th after she topped the hill at the intersection, saw Burns’ vehicle, but was unable to stop or avoid the vehicle in her lane of travel. Following the collision, Budd reported she was suffering from minor injuries. She was transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Hospital.

Burns was not injured in the crash, that happened at around 11-a.m., Saturday. He was cited for Stopping on the Traveled portion of the Roadway. Damage from the crash amounted to $6,000.

The Harlan Police Department today (Monday) released a report on recent arrests and incidents. On Dec, 10th, 56-year old Roger Elam, of Omaha, was arrested on a Trespassing charge, after officers responded to assist Medivac Ambulance crews. Elam told officers he was living in the 1400 block of 7th Street, but following an investigation, it was determined he was living there without permission of the property owners.

And on Dec. 7th, officers with the Harlan P-D received reports numerous, separate residential theft reports. Among the items taken was an X-Box and Playstation, numerous pieces of conduit and an exhaust system, and cigarettes. Officials urge residents to lock their houses and cars, and most importantly, if you see or hear anything suspicious, call the Harlan Police Dept. at 755-5151.

Plans are being unveiled for a national veterans cemetery to be built just south of Omaha that would offer plots to veterans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Will Ackerman, a spokesman for the Department of Veterans Affairs, says the cemetery would be large enough to initially accommodate more than 55-hundred graves.

Ackerman says, “This is good news for veterans because the VA is very interested in providing not only health care and other benefits when they’re alive but also honoring them through the national cemetery when they have passed away.” There is already an Iowa Veterans Cemetery located just south of Interstate 80 in Dallas County which opened in 2008. Ackerman says that facility near Van Meter is state-owned while the new facility near Omaha would be federally-owned and operated.

“The site is a 230-acre parcel in Sarpy County,” Ackerman says. “The only other national VA cemetery is at Fort McPherson here in Nebraska. This is different from the state cemeteries. These are national VA cemeteries by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.” A meeting is planned to discuss the new cemetery tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1 P-M at the Homewood Suites in downtown Omaha.

(Radio Iowa)

The second shotgun deer season is underway and the Iowa D-N-R’s testing effort for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is also ongoing. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Willie Suchy, says the disease monitoring involves taking tissue samples. “So, if our hunters encounter some D-N-R people who are trying to collect samples, we encourage you to cooperate. We are trying to do a good job of surveillance,” Suchy says. The D-N-R has tested some 47-thousand deer since 2002.

“So far we haven’t detected any C-W-D in wild animals,” Suchy says. The only cases of C-W-D discovered in Iowa have been in captive deer in Wapello, Davis, Pottawattamie and Cerro Gordo counties. Suchy says they are keeping an eye on the deer in that area. Suchy says all the tests in those areas so far have been negative. The other testing effort concentrates on portions of northeast Iowa near Wisconsin and Illinois. C-W-D has been found in Wisconsin and Illinois.

The Iowa D-N-R’s website provides information about C-W-D and other information on infectious disease at: www.iowadnr.gov

(Radio Iowa)