The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested following a high speed chase Tuesday night that began about four-miles west/southwest of Oakland, and ended four-miles west of Griswold. Sheriff Jeff Danker says the driver of the vehicle, 25-year old Gary E. Graham, of Oakland, faces a charge of Aggravated Eluding, while the unidentified passenger was later released.

Danker says the incident that led to Graham’s arrest began at around 10:05-p.m. Tuesday, when a deputy, who was on routine patrol, clocked a 1997 Lincoln Continental at 91-miles per hour near 370th Street and Highway 6. When the deputy stopped the vehicle and attempted to speak with Graham, the car sped off. The enusing pursuit through rural Pott County finally ended when the car’s right front tire fell off, and the vehicle entered a ditch near the intersection of Highway 92 and 500th Street, in Pottawattamie County.

Graham reported told authorities he drove off because he didn’t want to lose his license. He was being held in the Pott County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Iowans who need to come up with a last-minute gift for that hard-to-buy-for person may be able to find something appropriate at the American Red Cross website. Tammie Pech spokeswoman for the agency’s Siouxland chapter, says they’re offering a host of options for gifts you can give to deployed soldiers or people in need — in honor of anyone you choose. “There are military calling cards, there are disaster comfort kits, there’s blankets, there’s vaccinations for children across the world,” Pech says. “Whatever is near and dear to your heart, they’re going to have something for you.” 

Whether it’s helping American troops overseas or helping victims of a tornado, she says the website “www.redcross.org/gifts” offers a range of items in a range of prices. The least expensive gifts include a set of three Red Cross blankets for $18, or a phone card for a deployed service member for $20. Plus, she says, you don’t have to worry about mailing anything as you can notify the gift honoree electronically, via email. “When you purchase your gifts on there, you have the option of sending an e-card so even if that person isn’t where you are or you want to send them a note about it, you can certainly print it, wrap it up and give it to them so it feels like they’re opening a gift,” Pech says. “You can also send them the e-card which is a really great way to send something across the country or across the miles and say ‘I really thought about you and this is a really special gift I wanted to give in your name.'” This type of gift is uplifting and can help to save lives, so Pesh says it’s both precious and enduring.

“Ninety-one cents of every dollar that’s donated through the Holiday Giving Catalog and to the American Red Cross goes directly to services,” Pech says. “We feel that’s really important and also, your gift is tax deductible, so that’s a neat thing at year-end that people need to know.” With donations of $100, $200 and $300, gift-givers will also receive gifts ranging from an aluminum water bottle to a messenger bag to a family first aid kit. 

(Radio Iowa)

The trial for a Defiance women charged with possession of methamphetamine and felony third-degree burglary, is scheduled to take place next month in Shelby County District Court. 18-year-old Sarah Nicole Caswell is accused of burglarizing a residence on Durant Street in Harlan on June 28^th.  While in the home, Caswell also allegedly damaged the residence.  Caswell also faces a Misdemeanor charge for allegedly being in possession of a small baggie of meth, which she allegedly tucked into her pants, and was discovered after Caswell was arrested on an outstanding warrant November 10^th. 

Caswell entered a plea of not guilty to the charges on December 12^th. Her pre-trial conference will take place on January 9^th, with trial set for January 31^st in Shelby County District Court. If convicted, Caswell faces a maximum sentence of six years in jail, with additional fines totaling $6,500.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

For the second time in about three months, someone has released horses from an animal rescue facility near Glenwood. According to Omaha television station WOWT, someone opened the gates at the Hooves and Paws Rescue Shelter, letting loose the horses, endangering not only the animals’ lives, but those of motorists traveling on a nearby highway. All of the horses were returned to the corral, but Hooves and Paws owners Bill and Gina Stoops aren’t so sure they will stay put.

The couple got a frantic call Tuesday morning warning them that the horses were out, and dangerously close to the highway. Fortunately, the recovering horses couldn’t travel very far. Bill Stoops told the TV station all he had to do was shoo them into the corral and shut the gate. Three people also stopped by to lend a hand.

Stoops said the next time someone tries set the horses free, he will be ready for them. He says heavier chains and locks have already been added, and security cameras are being installed. The Mills County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, along with the reported theft of at least two cameras stolen from their mounts on a nearby recreational trail.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a vehicle has hit the Nebraska boyhood home of Johnny Carson. Police say an SUV plowed into the front of the two-story home Tuesday afternoon in Norfolk. The vehicle caused extensive damage to the porch, which collapsed. The vehicle ended up in the entryway. Norfolk Police Chief Bill Mizner says the driver was taken by ambulance to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. His identity and condition weren’t immediately released.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson says an Exira man just released from the Cass County Jail on Monday, was arrested again on an outstanding warrant out of Audubon County. 44-year old Mark Wayne Rydl was taken into custody on a charge of Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred charge. Rydl was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,500 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 26th.

The Sheriff also said no injuries were reported following two separate accidents Monday morning, in Audubon County. The first occurred at around 7:30-a.m., on Highway 44 near Heron Avenue. Johnson says 51-year old Sandy Jean Andersen, of Audubon, was traveling west on Highway 44 when she lost control of her vehicle on the icy curve. The 2005 Subaru slid sideways into the north ditch, went over a field drive and rolled several times. Damage to the car was estimated at $10,000.

The second accident happened about a half an-hour later, on Highway 173, near 280th Street. Sheriff Johnson says 64-year old Marcia Louise Nelson, of Kimballton, was traveling south on Highway 173 when she lost control of her 2001 Chrysler on an icy curve. The vehicle rolled over after entering the east ditch, sustaining $5,000 damage in the process.

Wednesday’s City Council meeting in Atlantic will mark the last time two members of the Council will serve the City in their current capacity. Mayor Dave Jones will make proclamations recognizing 3rd Ward Councilperson Pat Simmons and 1st Ward Councilman Kern Miller, for their many years of dedicated service to the City, and present them with placques in appreciation of their work. Simmons and Miller opted not to seek re-election last month. Ashley Hayes and Chris Jimmerson were unopposed during the election to fill Simmons’ and Millers’ seats on the Council. Simmons has served a total of 16-years on the City Council while Miller has served three consecutive terms.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will hear a semi-annual report from Street Department Superintendent Derald Andersen, and, a request from Atlantic Police Steve Green, for a supplemental appropriation to his budget, amounting to a little more than $15,200, for unbudgeted expenditures. One request covers new service boards and upgrades for the City’s sirens, so that they will be in compliance with the new Narrow Banding requirements. The other covers a new computer server for the police camcorder units, since the old server is not compatible for use with the new camcorders used in the squad cars.

The Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

The Adair and Cass County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meetings, Wednesday morning in Greenfield and Atlantic. The Supervisor’s meeting in Greenfield begins one-hour earlier than normal, however, at 8-a.m.  During their session, the Board will hear from Cass-Adair County Engineer Charles Marker, will who provide a review of the County’s Road and Snow Ordinances, and facilitate discussion on his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. The budget is expected to take into consideration the hiring of a Full-time Engineer.

The Adair County Board will also hear from Central Point Coordinator (CPC) Lori Nosekable, with regard to Mental Health changes, and they’ll receive a quarterly Case Management report from Judy Schwartz. In other business, the Board will hear from Todd Spencer, with Iowa Workforce Development, with regard to Public Access Points, and Sheriff Brad Newton, about the hiring of a new deputy.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. Wednesday. The board will receive the Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District’s report and discuss their 2012-2013 budget. They’re also expected to discuss and possibly act on a revision to the County’s Indigent Burial Policy. The topic has been discussed at the past couple of Supervisor’s meetings, with a recommendation made last week on a revision in costs for burial/cremation services, taken under advisement.