One person suffered possible, unknown injuries during a collision Thursday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 16-year old Miranda Nicole Jones, of Red Oak, was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by private vehicle following the accident at 3rd and Coolbaugh Streets, in Red Oak.

Officials say a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by 74-year old Bette Lou Larson, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Coolbaugh Street at around 3:30-p.m., while a 1998 Dodge Neon driven by Jones was headed south on 3rd Street. Larson ran the stop sign at the intersection as Jone was getting ready to cross the intersection.

Larson was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,200.

Railroad officials whose trains travel on several hundred miles of track across Iowa are urging hunters to resist the temptation to hunt on railroad property. Mark Vaughn, assistant general manager for the Iowa Northern Railroad, says walking on or near the tracks is illegal and it’s dangerous because it can take a mile or more for a train to stop. “We urge everyone to only cross the tracks at approved public crossings,” Vaughn says. “If you have to get to your favorite hunting spot or fishing hole, we also caution everyone on the dangers of walking across railroad trestles and bridges. Those areas are particularly dangerous because there is no place to go when a train approaches.”

Vaughn say the company’s trains often carry unusual and oversized freight, like wind turbine components and tractors from the Deere Assembly plant in Waterloo. He says those items could be dangerous if someone is walking nearby. Vaughn says, “Locomotives and railcars typically overhang the track by at least three feet on either side and the various cargos we carry can extend over even further, in addition to loose straps and tie-downs or cables that could extend farther over than those limits as well.”

Besides facing the dangers, Vaughn says those who trespass on railroad property could be arrested and fined. Union Pacific railroad crews in Iowa have been busy in recent weeks touching up “No Trespassing” signs along the tracks. The railroad has also launched a project called U-P CARES which stands for Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety.

(Radio Iowa)

There was a collision Wednesday night between Joni Ernst’s campaign R-V and a deer. Ernst was traveling in the R-V with Arizona Senator John McCain and a couple of campaign staffers. The deer and the R-V collided on the highway between Bloomfield and Keosauqua. No one inside was injured. The larger-than-life photo of Ernst and the map of Iowa on the exterior of the R-V weren’t marred, but the vehicle was in the shop Thursday, for repairs.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley says he finds some of the campaign ads running against him “painful” to watch.  “And remember, about 80 percent of the TV ads you’re seeing are not being put up by Joni Ernst or Bruce Braley and they’ve being put up by groups that don’t have to identify their donors,” Braley says. “They’re being put up by people who really don’t have a long-term stake in Iowa.” According to the latest report from the Center for Responsive Politics, almost 61 million dollars has been spent by outside groups trying to influence the outcome of Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. Braley says the ads from these groups are “drowning out” the voices of regular Iowans.

“Personally it’s very painful,” Braley says. “…In 23 seconds the truth can be destroyed by somebody putting up an ad that’s false and misleading.” Braley supports efforts to require immediate disclosure of the names of those who are financing the outside groups. Braley made his comments Thursday during an appearance before the Greater Des Moines Partnership, an organization that represents 21 chambers of commerce in central Iowa. Ernst said recently she and her family have quit watching T-V because of all the negative ads.

“What people really need to do is focus on the issues that are important to them and visit with the candidate,” Ernst says. Ernst says that’s why she’s spend the past 39 days making 112 stops around the state, ensuring she’s made at least one campaign appearance in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Kum and Go convenience store chain will spend millions of dollars to make changes at more than 400 stores in 11 states to settle a lawsuit that claimed its gas stations failed to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. A federal court judge on Thursday approved the settlement negotiated by attorneys for the company and the plaintiff from Clinton, Iowa, Gary McDermott.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a southwest Iowa man is in critical condition after accidentally shooting himself in the face. Red Oak police say 28-year-old Cody Tunnell was handling a weapon Wednesday night when it went off.

DANVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a motorcycle crash involving a deer injured three people in southeast Iowa. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year-old Joe Roth was traveling by motorcycle Wednesday night near Danville when he struck a deer and was knocked off his bike. Fifty-four-year-old Gail Schultz, in a separate vehicle, slowed her car after the crash. She was struck from behind by 19-year-old Emma Asher, whose vehicle went off the roadway and into a ditch. All three victims were hospitalized yesterday.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A train collision involving a tractor has injured a man in eastern Iowa. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office says 65-year-old Thomas A. Olson of Calamus was hurt in the collision Wednesday morning across a railroad track just south of U.S. 30.

Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning reports the Cass County Conservation Board would like to thank their business sponsors Cappel’s Ace Hardware and Robinson’s True Value, for donating prizes to the Lighted Halloween Campground. The Board would also like to thank everyone who signed up to decorate a site, and thanks also for sharing your Halloween décor with everyone!

(left to right) Johnson family, Gary Vetter and Melissa Ehrman-Johnson. (Photo provided)

On Saturday October 25th at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, 192 people voted for their favorite site. The first place winner was Site 2, the Johnson (Terri Ehrman) family, second place winner was Site 4, the Vetter family, third place winner was Site 1, the Johnson family, fourth place was Nichols family and fifth place was Kinney family.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) say Iowa’s furharvester season begins at 8 a.m., Nov. 1 and hunters and trappers can expect to find a significant increase in the raccoon population over last year. Other furbearing animals have a mixed outlook population-wise.

Vince Evelsizer, furbearer and wetland biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says “Muskrat numbers are better, but not like the heyday of 30 or 40 years ago. The coyote harvest nearly doubled last year and their numbers are relatively stable to slightly lower. Our red fox numbers vary by region with better numbers in central Iowa.”

The fur market outlook is weak for raccoon pelts going in to the season, while muskrat, coyote and fox seem pretty decent. According to Evelsizer, time will tell if the market improves for raccoons later in the season. He says harvest is highest during the first 2-3 weeks of the season and drops off significantly after Thanksgiving. The number of trappers has increased each of the past four years topping 20,000 last year. And he says “I suspect the numbers of furharvesters will remain stable or slightly decrease this year, due to the fur market, especially raccoon pelt prices.”

Furharvester are reminded to work with their local DNR contact to get their CITES tag and to collect the intact skull or complete lower jaw of otters and bobcats. Evelsizer said furharvesters should go through their equipment and brush up on the rules and regulations before going out.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that a slight increase in the fire danger can be expected for the next few days. Mostly sunny skies with above average winds over the next couple of days will facilitate drying of the grass and crops.

Officials say residents should use caution when responding to field fires. Some of the low lying ground is very soft and the weight of fire fighting vehicles may result in getting stuck in places difficult to get out of.

Fire Danger signs will be moved into the “Moderate” risk category, from now through Monday November 3rd.

The Harlan Police Department, Thursday, issued a report on recent arrests. Officials say 48-year old Jeffrey Rowland, of Harlan, was arrested Monday on an active Shelby County warrant. The warrant was issued as a result of an investigation of checks allegedly forged by Rowland. The warrant was for five counts of theft 5th degree. Rowland was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

The H-PD says on Oct. 18th, charges were filed against 30-year old Ty Jordan, of Atlantic, when officers were called to 1019 7th Street for an assault. Jordan was charged with assault for allegedly striking Tammy Nelson, Kirkman, who was transported to Myrtue Medical Center for her injures. Jordan was also charged with criminal mischief 3rd degree for damage allegedly done to a vehicle. Jordan was later arrested by the Atlantic Police Department and brought to the Shelby County Jail.

On Oct. 13th, two juvenile males were arrested in Harlan and charged with criminal mischief in the 3rd degree. 11-year old’s Jonah Culp and Cash Cleaveland, both of Harlan, were charged with allegedly damaging a garage door and vandalizing the bathrooms at Potter’s Park. Both boys were referred to Shelby County Juvenile Court.

On Oct. 12th, 45-year old Curtis Scheffler, of Harlan, was charged with allowing a dog to run at large when officers took a report of the Scheffler dog biting Michael Sciranko, also of Harlan, while he was running for cross country. A complaint on running at large has been sent to the Shelby County clerk of court.

And, on Oct. 7th, 22-year old Brandon Hunt, of Shelby, was taken into custody on an active Shelby County warrant for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Hunt was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials are hoping that work to raise overpasses on Interstate 29 will reduce frequent crashes by vehicles hauling tall loads. The Sioux City Journal reports that on Tuesday, a sand silo being carried on a tractor-trailer struck the bottom of an overpass near Salix. The silo landed in the interstate’s median, and then the semitrailer struck a crane in a ditch. The driver was taken to and later released from a Sioux City hospital after the accident.

Dakin Schultz of the state’s transportation department says the overpass that was struck by the silo will soon be gone and replaced with a taller one set to open later this year. Another overpass near Salix is expected to be replaced in 2016.