Authorities in Mills County report a Nebraska woman was injured during a collision Wednesday morning, nine-miles northwest of Pacific Junction. Officials say Dortha Frost, of Bellevue, NE, was transported by Pacific Junction Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, after her 2009 Ford hit the rear of a camper trailer being pulled by a 2012 Ford that was slowing to make a right turn.

 The driver of the other vehicle, Timothy Scheidle, of Council Bluffs, was not injured during the crash, which happened at around 9:15-a.m., on Highway 370. Frost told authorities afterward, that she had been feeling ill prior to the collision and didn’t see the other vehicle slowing to pull into a driveway.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) released a report on recent arrests. Taken into custody early this (Friday) morning, was 29-year old Dustin Lee Lingerfelt, of Tarkio, MO. Lingerfelt was arrested in Pacific Junction on a Possession of Controlled Substance, charge. His bond was set at $2,000.

Thursday night, 37-year old Joseph Eric Funke, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Mills County, for Driving While Barred, and on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear at a Child Support Hearing. His bond was set at $5,000.

And on Wednesday, 22-year old Derek Edward Rodwell, of Glenwood, and 40-year old Larry Steven Hutchings, Emerson, were arrested in Mills County on separate charges. Rodwell was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond. Hutchings was arrested in Emerson, on a Possession of Controlled Substance charge. His bond was set at $1,000.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A rule going into effect May 1 will allow members of the news media to use laptops and cell phones in Iowa courtrooms with permission.  The Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday approved updates to the rules governing news media coverage to address new technologies and social media.

In particular, it wasn’t clear under the old rules whether reporters could use computers and phones to report, blog and tweet live on courtroom proceedings. It also wasn’t clear how bloggers and others who do not work for traditional media outlets were treated. In the new rules, the news media is defined as anyone who regularly reports on matters of public interest “in any medium.”

The rules continue to require news media to obtain advanced approval from the presiding judge for such coverage.

Officers with the Atlantic Police Department participated in “Polar Plunge” of support for a young cancer patient this (Friday) morning . The 7-a.m. “Plunge for Landon” took place in a lake at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The “Plunge” was an attempt to show support for five-month old Landon Shaw from Tarkio, Missouri. Landon is battling cancer, and the Tarkio community came up with the “Plunge Challenge” as a way to show support and raise funds to help the family.

The Atlantic Police Department is also taking a collection among its staff to send to the Shaw family. If anyone in the community would like to donate to the family, the Police Department will gladly accept and send one group donation by the middle of next week.

The Atlantic Police Department has challenged the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Fire Department, and Shenandoah Police Department to complete the “Plunge” as well.You can view a video of the local “Plunge for Landon” on the A-PD’s Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlantic-Police-Department/167902403383032)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests and one accident. Authorities say on Tuesday, April 1st, 32-year old Aaron Lee Latus,  of Massena, was arrested on a Fremont County warrant. Latus was taken to the Cass County Jail and transferred to Fremont County authorities on Wednesday.

On Wednesday,  Cass County deputies arrested 44-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, on a Magistrate’s warrant for Failure to Appear. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $500 bond.

And early this (Friday) morning, Cass County deputies responded to a report of a jackknifed semi on Interstate 80 westbound,  at the 72 mile marker. Officials say a 2013 Kenworth driven by 57-year old Thomas Batie Heathcote, of Des Moines, was traveling westbound on I-80 at around 3:15-a.m., when he lost control of the semi on an icy overpass.

The trailer portion of the semi blocked the left lane and part of the right lane for about an hour.  No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6000.

Authorities in southwest Iowa made a forced entry into an apartment in Lenox and  arrested one person on drug charges Thursday evening.

Cerda-Romo (L-PD photo)

According to the Lenox Police Dept., 22-year old Christopher Cerda-Romo, of Lenox, was taken into custody at around 5-p.m. after officers with the police department and deputies with the Taylor County Sheriffs Office served a search warrant at 601 S. Walnut, Apt. 5-B.

Officials say after Cerda-Romo refused to answer the door,  officers forced their way in, and conducted a search. Following the completion of the search, Cerda-Romo was arrested on a Taylor County warrant for failure to appear, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of prescription drugs.  Cerda-Roma was then booked into the Taylor County Jail.

A Taylor County woman was arrested Thursday night on drug charges.

Laura Zapata (Lenox P-D photo)

According to the Lenox Police Department, 20-year old Laura Zapata, of Lenox, was arrested at around 9:30-p.m., on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of prescription drugs.

The charges stem from a search warrant served earlier in the day at a residence at 601 S. Walnut, in Lenox.  Zapata was transported to the Taylor County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A spring storm that brought a mix of rain, sleet and snow is being blamed for numerous crashes and one traffic death in Woodbury County in northwest Iowa.  The Sioux City Journal reports that the fatal crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 29 near Salix, when a northbound vehicle towing a flatbed trailer crossed the median and hit a southbound vehicle. The crash killed a passenger in the northbound vehicle and sent the driver to a Sioux City hospital. Authorities have not released their names.

Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew says the biggest contributing factors in Thursday’s crashes were accumulated slush on roads and vehicles going too fast for road conditions.

w/ Ric Hanson

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