Two tractor-trailer drivers were transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, this (Friday) morning, following a collision on Highway 59 at the intersection with 1200th Street. The accident happened at around 3:07-a.m.  The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports Barry Shumate, of Dow City, and Harold Hilliard, of Coushatta, TX, were injured.

Shumate was driving a 2003 Kenworth, registered to S&S Enterprises. Hilliard was driving a 2016 Kenworth, registered to Seaboards Transport, Inc. The accident remains under investigation.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by officers with the Harlan Police Dept., personnel from the Harlan Fire Dept., and Medivac Ambulance.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is conducting a study of Interstate 80 and would like your input. The study will be developed and released through a series of technical reports that identify the existing conditions of I-80, the way the system is performing, short- and long-term issues, and strategies to improve the route. Each report will be accessible online as it becomes available on the Iowa DOT’s I-80 Planning Study website:  www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy/.

This message is to inform the public that two technical reports were recently updated on the I-80 website, these include:

• Guiding Principles.
• Evaluation of Overhead Structures.

The Iowa DOT is asking interested parties to take a few minutes to review these technical reports and other materials on the I-80 Planning Study website. To comment on these technical reports, go to:  http://bit.ly/I80Comment.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A suspect in the attempted robbery of a bank in Creston was apprehended Thursday afternoon, without incident. Creston Police were called to the Iowa State Savings Bank branch at 504 W. Taylor Street, at around 1:25-p.m., Thursday, after a man came through the drive-thru and allegedly told a teller ““This is a robbery.” The suspect also displayed a weapon. A description of the vehicle and suspect was given to area law enforcement.

Ricky Schnackel

At 2:46-p.m., law enforcement observed the suspect vehicle at the intersection of REA Road and Jaguar Avenue. The suspect. 58-year old  Ricky Ryan Schnackel, of Lorimor, was arrested for 1st Degree Robbery, and was being held in the Union County Jail on $25,000 bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A 71-year-old Nebraska man was rescued Thursday night, a day after falling from a Missouri River bridge connecting Nebraska and Iowa. Dennis Konvalin told authorities he dropped his camera while taking pictures Wednesday from the Mormon Bridge, which carries Interstate 680 traffic over the river on the north end of Omaha.

He reported that he fell into the river when he tried to recover his camera. Konvalin managed to reach a sandbar near the Iowa side but could go no further because he’d injured his back. Authorities say some anglers heard Konvalin’s cries for help at around 8-p.m. Thursday, and called police. Deputies with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol Troopers, Council Bluffs Fire Department, and Omaha Police Helicopter “Able 1,” responded to the scene.

After his rescue Konvalin was taken to Creighton Hospital in Omaha, for evaluation and treatment.

Red Oak Police arrested two men on separate drug- and theft-related charges, Thursday. 38-year old Michael Todd Brace, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9:40-p.m. for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He received a citation, and was subsequently released from custody. And, at around the same time, 19-year old Keegan W. Williams, of Creston, was arrested in Red Oak on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. Williams was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

A forum next week will focus on the intersection between faith, climate change and agriculture. Reverend Susan Guy, executive director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, says the panelists will talk about how climate change is altering the face of farming, why the issue is important to them and how their faith calls them to respond. “We know that there are a lot of people in rural communities who are very dependent on agriculture to make a living,” Reverend Guy says. “We know that extreme weather events are really having an impact on them. We feel this is part of our mission to reach out to those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”

Members of the panel include Fred Kirschenmann, a farmer and former director of the Leopold Center at Iowa State University and Chris Anderson, assistant director of the I-S-U’s Climate Science Program. “Farmers are doing a lot of great things and they’re aware of the impacts of climate change in terms of their planting seasons and extreme weather events,” Guy says. “We want to normalize the conversation about climate change and agriculture and talk about how farmers and rural communities are adapting and mitigating and helping to find solutions.”

Those solutions include using more renewable fuels and working to make farming operations more energy efficient, in addition to locating wind turbines on their properties to help offset costs. Still, Guy says, climate change continues to present significant challenges to growers. “We’re having extreme weather events and a lot of flooding, so it’s keeping farmers out of their fields or it’s destroying crops that are already in the ground,” Guy says. “We’ve had seasons where we’ve had both flooding and drought in the same year, so we’re going from lots and lots of water to no water which is also having a negative impact on crops.”

The forum is open to anyone and will start at 6:30 PM Wednesday (June 15) at the Christy 4-H Hall in Nevada. Guy says Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is a non-profit group dedicated to inspiring and equipping people of faith to become leaders finding solutions to climate change.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The president of the board that governs Iowa’s three public universities says he’s backing a tuition hike that’s been criticized by Gov. Terry Branstad. Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter said Thursday that the $300 increase for undergraduate students is necessary to maintain quality.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids woman has pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud an elderly Illinois couple out of thousands of dollars. Tea Ware pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of mail fraud and one count of using a fictitious name. Ware admitted she would call and falsely tell an elderly woman that she had won a lottery or sweepstakes, but could only claim the winnings if she paid a fee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Des Moines and the Animal Rescue League are re-evaluating their longstanding partnership after concerns about the agency’s euthanasia rates and transparency. The Des Moines Register reports that the city delayed a $2.2 million contract with the agency last month after animal supporters questioned the agency’s kill rate and cooperation with residents. But despite the city’s reservations, it’s expected to approve the agency’s three-year contract Monday night.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Work has begun in Iowa on an oil pipeline despite repeated attempts by landowners and environmental groups to stop it. The Iowa Utilities Board signed a final order Wednesday allowing construction on the $3.8 billion, 1,150-mile pipeline. And Lisa Dillinger, a spokeswoman for Texas-based Dakota Access, which is building the pipeline, confirmed Thursday that work is underway.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that an investigation following a call about a truck in a ditch Thursday, resulted in two arrests. Deputies called to the 1500 block of Western Avenue subsequently took into custody, 32-year old Skip Skalak, of Malvern, and 33-year old Tammy Hammers, of Thurman.

Tammy Hammers

Skip Skalak

Skalak was arrested for driving revoked with other pending charges. He was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center being held on $300 bond. Hammers was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine, and also charged with 4 counts of Unlawful possession of Prescription Medication (271 units) Possession of drug paraphernalia, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. Her bond was set at $10,300.

Deputies are still investigating the incident. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Dept. K9 Unit assisted in the arrest.