OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A dozen Union Pacific employees will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange today (Monday), to celebrate the railroad’s 150th birthday. The nation’s largest railroad will also celebrate at its Omaha headquarters on Monday with a bell-ringing reception for its employees. Union Pacific is holding a number of events in 2012 to commemorate the day when President Abraham Lincoln signed the law creating the railroad on July 1st, 1862. The only problem with today’s celebration, is that it is happening one day after the actual anniversary. Union Pacific had to adjust its plans because July 1st falls on a Sunday this year.Union Pacific started laying rail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and worked westward to meet the Central Pacific railroad. The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Police officers in Clarinda investigated a property damage accident Friday evening. Officials say 16-year old Tanner Clayton Marriott, of Clarinda, was driving a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup through the Hy-Vee parking lot at around 6:10-p.m., when the vehicle was hit by a car that was backing out of a parking stall. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $500. Damage to the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by 27-year old Timothy Mark Hudson, of Clarinda, was estimated at $2,000. Neither driver was injured. No citations were issued.

And, this past Wednesday (June 27^th ) ,Kody James Sump reported to Police in Clarinda, that golf and fishing equipment had been stolen from his truck sometime between June 13^th & 14^th,  while the truck was parked at the Clarinda Country Club or the Inda-Clar Recreation Parlor. The property was valued at $700. There are no suspects at this time and the incident remains under investigation.

Police in Clarinda are investigating an incident of vandalism perpetrated on an SUV owned by the Clarinda School District. Chief Keith Brothers said Sunday, that officers were called to the Central Office parking lot on East Nodaway Street, Saturday, to investigate a broken door glass on a 1997 Chevy Suburban. The damage was estimated at $250. Officials have no suspects at this time.

Brothers reports also, the arrest early Sunday morning, of 29-year old Edward Dawayne Mayes, of Clarinda. Mays was taken into custody at around 1-a.m., on a charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI), 1^st offense. Mayes was being held in the Page County Jail on $1,000 bond, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

Also arrested Sunday morning, was 23-year old Joseph Cody Foster, of Shambaugh. Foster was arrested after officers in Clarinda attempted to speak with him about an incident of harassment. Police Chief Keith Brothers says officers responded to the Clarinda Regional Health Center just after 9-a.m., Sunday, following a report an employee at the facility was being harassed.

Officers located Foster in the area of the Health Center, operating a 2000 Ford Taurus. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Foster failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. Foster proceeded south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to 511 West Street, Shambaugh where he surrendered to officers.

Foster was taken into custody and charged with going armed with intent, carrying dangerous weapons, eluding a law enforcement vehicle, harassment in the first degree, driving with a suspended license and some additional traffic infractions. The man was taken to the Page County Jail where he was held without bail, pending an initial appearance before a Page County Magistrate. The Clarinda Police Department was assisted in covering the incident by the Page County Sheriff’s Department. The incident remains under investigation and is being submitted to the Page County Attorney’s Office for review and the filing of formal charges.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County arrested a Villisca woman Saturday night, on an OWI charge. 42-year old Stacy S. Shepherd was arrested at around 9:35-p.m. following a traffic stop on 4th Street in Villisca. Officials say the woman was pulled over for a driving infraction. During questioning, it was determined Shepherd was allegedly intoxicated. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, booked -in and later released, after posting bond.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have identified the body found near railroad tracks in western Iowa last month as a Pennsylvania man.  But investigators are still waiting on more test results to help determine the cause of 44-year-old Jonathan Elwell’s death. Crawford County Sheriff Jim Steinkuehler says the Shillington, Penn., man’s body was found by two railroad workers near Highway 30 between Vail and Westside on June 19th. Elwell’s rented vehicle had been found in Crawford County on April 20th with his bicycle in the trunk.  Officials say foul play is not suspected in Elwell’s death, but family members have said they don’t know why he was in Iowa.

w/ Brett Johnson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad requested that flags be flown at half-staff from yesterday through Monday to honor a Vietnam War airman whose plane was shot down nearly 50 years ago. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Eilers of Tipton and his crew were missing in action after their plane was shot down over Laos in 1965. A memorial service will be held today in Tipton.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – State auditors say a former county official in western Iowa embezzled fees paid by residents renewing their vehicle registration for years. A report released yesterday blames former Mills County Treasurer’s Office employee Tammy Gammon for taking $36,000 that should have been collected for government services. The county attorney said yesterday he’s charged Gammon with ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft, misconduct in office and forgery. 

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – The county has put the “Floyd” back on the courthouse in Charles City. The word was put back Thursday on the Floyd County Courthouse. The new letters are made of brushed stainless steel and styled in the original Art Deco typeface. The courthouse was built in 1940 and had the word “Floyd” carved from limestone on a parapet above the roof. The parapet was removed in 1965.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Nine people have been named to Iowa’s new Public Information Board. The board will oversee enforcement of Iowa’s open meetings and records laws, investigate alleged violations and take claims to court if necessary. The board members’ terms begin tomorrow.

Two men, including one from Atlantic were injured during the crash of a single-engine aircraft Friday evening in Pottawattamie County.

Plane crash NW of Griswold Friday night (Ric Hanson photo's)

The crash was reported just after 8:30-p.m, southeast of 18384 490^th Street, or about six-miles northwest of Griswold. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News the plane was taking-off from a private grass runway east of the residence following an aircraft fly-in type event, when the accident occurred.

The plane was owned and flown by a 75-year old man from Atlantic. Danker says the pilot, and his 59-year old male passenger, also from the Atlantic area, where taking off when the engine stalled. The plane came down in a soybean field just east of 490^th Street and flopped onto its top. There were injuries, but they were not believed to be life-threatening.

Plane crash, image #2

 Danker says the pilot suffered a possible broken femur, and while a report on the passenger’s condition was not immediately available, their injuries were likely not serious.

Both men were transported by Griswold Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Their names will likely not be released until Monday. Danker said the NTSB and FAA will be out on Monday to investigate the crash and crash site. The Sheriff said he was very happy to learn the injuries weren’t more serious. He says they’ve had aircraft accidents before in the area.

Plane crash, image#3

 Typically when a small aircraft crashes, they often result in more serious injuries or death.