(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday (June 17) issued a report on an injury accident that occurred on June 10th. Authorities say a 1995 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 82-year-old Nancy Lee Goodwin, of Valrico, FL., was traveling north on Redwood Avenue in Union County. A 1999 Ford Taurus driven by 61-year-old Raymond Eugene Blubaugh, of Lineville, was traveling east on 170th Street. He came to a stop at the posted intersection, looked, but didn’t see Goodwin’s pickup approaching.

When Blubaugh pulled away from the stop sign to cross the intersection, the pickup struck his car on the passenger side. Both vehicles came to rest in the northeast corner of the intersection. The crash happened at around 1:50-p.m.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Each complained of pain and possible injury. Nancy Goodwin was transported by Medic 1 EMS to the hospital in Creston. Blubaugh was not taken to the hospital. He was cited for Failure to have a valid driver’s license. Both vehicles were totaled, with damages amounting to $7,500.

(Afton, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County say no injuries were reported after a vehicle caught fire on old Highway 34 east of Creston, Saturday. Authorities say 19-year-old Max S. Johns, of Creston, was traveling to Creston from Afton at around 5:14-p.m., Saturday, when he noticed a lot of smoke coming from the passenger side of the 2008 Nissan Altima he was driving.

Johns pulled over. When he noticed fluid dripping from the car, and a small flame, he stepped back, and called 911. Damage to the car was estimated at $6,000.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 25-year-old Cade Adrian McWilliams of Red Oak early Saturday morning on a charge of Public Intoxication 1st Offense. McWilliams was arrested at 12:28 a.m. in the 2700 Block of North 8th Street in Red Oak. McWilliams was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The A-C-L-U of Iowa and Planned Parenthood held a news conference this (Friday) afternoon to respond to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that leaves the injunction against Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat law in place. Rita Bettis Austen is the A-C-L-U’s attorney.

“Put simply we are overjoyed and relieved by today’s order. This abortion ban was dangerous cruel and unconstitutional when it was blocked four years ago it remains dangerous cruel and unconstitutional,” she says. Mazie Stilwell is Planned Parenthood’s director of public affairs in Iowa.

“With its decision the Iowa Supreme Court took away the political cover sought by Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican politicians who want to outlaw abortion in Iowa,” Stilwell says. Stilwell believes the governor and Republican lawmakers will try to pass the law again.

“As we celebrate this win — and celebrate we will — I want to be clear we know the battle is not over ,” she says. “Abortion access hangs by a thread that politicians in Iowa are trying to cut, and we fully expect lawmakers to keep trying to ban abortion in Iowa.” Governor Reynolds said in a statement that Republicans will look at their options now that the ruling is out.

(Radio Iowa) – Two teenagers face charges after a large group got into a fight at a Sioux City swimming pool — and Sioux City officials have closed the Leif Erikson Swimming Pool for at least a week. Sioux City Police Sergeant Tom Gill says the fight started just outside of the pool area Thursday afternoon.”Officers were called there around 4:30 for a fight,” Gill says. “They did find a victim that did have a minor injury, I believe to her face or head.” Gill says as police and E-M-Ts treated the 18-year-old for her injury, about 20 other teens started fighting in the pool area.

“Two more officers came on scene and two juvenile females were arrested for disorderly conduct,” Gill says. The youth bureau in Sioux City’s Police Department is now handling the investigation of the fight and Gill says more arrests are likely. Security plans at the pool are being reviewed.

“They’re going to close temporarily,” Gill says. “When they reopen, they’re going to have some additional security measures in place.” The Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department says once the pool does re-open, there will be increased surveillance, more trained staff and stricter control of pool access. The 18 year old who was injured was taken to a hospital for treatment.

(Radio Iowa) – National Democratic Party leaders have found the mail-in participation plan for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses does not comply with national party rules, but Iowa Democrats have more time to tweak their proposal. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says there are missing pieces in the plan — but that was done intentionally. National Democrats have chosen five other states to hold the first presidential primaries in 2024, but details are still being worked out.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chair Scott Brennan read a letter from Hart to Democratic National Committee members.”We look forward to providing more details to the committee once the calendar challenges are resolved.” Iowa Democrats plan to use mail-in presidential preference cards for their Caucuses, but haven’t said when results of the voting would be announced.

National party leaders say that date needs to be nailed down — to comply with the party’s plan that South Carolina Democrats host the first presidential primary in 2024.

(Odgen, Iowa) – A collision Friday morning between a car and a straight truck in Boone County, resulted in one person being flown to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 8:30-a.m., as 41-year-old Erik Ross Creger, of Boone, was driving a 2012 Toyota Corolla.

When he failed to yield the right-of-way, while turning left from westbound Highway 30, to E. Avenue, west of Ogden, his car was struck on its right side in the eastbound lane of Highway 30, by a 2020 Peterbilt straight truck. The driver of the truck, 42-year-old Nathan Allan Phippen, of Coon Rapids, was not injured.

Creger was flown to UnityPoint Methodist Hospital by LifeFlight. A report on his condition was not released. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Ogden Fire and Boone County EMS assisted at the scene.

LOHRVILLE, IOWA – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday evening, reported that at around 6:57-a.m., Friday, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from 500 Maple Street in Lohrville, IA.  Upon arrival deputies found 6 year old Alexzander Pope deceased inside the residence.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are currently investigating the circumstances involving Alexzander Pope’s death.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Lohrville EMS, and Calhoun County EMS

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  A thief in the night has hauled-off a tall, metal sculpture from the Atlantic Hy-Vee Garden Center. Officials with Hy-Vee reported Friday morning that security camera footage indicating the incident occurred at 1-a.m., Friday.

Still frame images from the security camera show a white truck pulled-up to the sculpture, and a person or persons loading the object into the back of the truck before taking-off.

Anyone with information about the incident, should contact the Atlantic Police Department.