The Union County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following two separate accidents last Friday (March 20th). The first took place on Highway 25 between Creston and Orient, at around 7-a.m., Friday. Officials say a 1994 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 24-year old Matthew Buchanan, of Essex, was traveling north on Highway 25 near 150th Street, when he missed his corner, backed up and was attempting to turn west onto 150th. As he did so, his vehicle was struck on the right rear fender by a 2000 Dodge Neon, driven by 25-year old Julie Russell, of Orient, who was traveling south on Highway 25. Russell failed to see the pickup due to dense fog in the area. Damage from the accident amounted to $2,500. Buchanan was cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance/accident related, Failure to yield upon left turn, and driving while license suspended.

The second accident happened in Afton at around 1:15-p.m. Friday, at the intersection of Highway 169 and Kansas Street. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 2007 box truck driven by 44-year old Keith Barnett, of Runnells, was stopped on Kansas Street at the intersection with Highway 169, and pulled away from the stop sign, failing to see a southbound 2014 Harley Davidson driven by 21-year old Lewis Ripperger, of Ankeny. Ripperger applied his brakes, which caused the cycle to lose control and hit the ground. The cycle sustained $1,500 damage. No citations were issued.

In an update to our story Sunday morning about a collision between a Red Oak Police cruiser and a compact car, an Iowa State Patrol investigation resulted in a citation being issued to Red Oak Reserve Police Officer Collin Weaver. Weaver was cited for Failure to Signal when required.

The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m. Saturday on Highway 34 at the intersection with Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Officials say Officer Weaver was traveling east on Highway 34 near the intersection with Eastern Avenue, when he saw a vehicle going in the opposite direction traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. When he attempted to initiate a U-turn to stop the speeding vehicle, his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria was hit by a 2000 Ford Focus driven by Cheyenne Hilgerson, of Red Oak, as she was traveling east on Highway 34. The car is registered to Angela Booker, of Red Oak.

Authorities said Reserve Officer Weaver’s vision may have been partially obstructed by the prisoner cage in the rear of his vehicle. Officials say Hilgerson hit the brakes in an attempt to avoid the collision, but was unable to do so in time. The car hit the left rear of the police cruiser, causing a total of $7,000 damage. Following the collision, the patrol car spun and came to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 34.

Officer Weaver, Hilgerson and two others in her vehicle, Brian Wickham, of Red Oak, and Mack Ellison, of Stanton,  were transported to the Montgomery County Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries and complaints of pain.

ISU Theatre’s spring musical, Les Misérables, based on the French novel by Victor Hugo, opens April 10th at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theater. Universally beloved as one of the world’s most popular musicals, Les Misérables is a passionate story of redemption, sacrifice, and love, and it is filled with some of musical theatre’s most powerful and iconic songs, including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” and “Do You Hear the People Sing.” ISU Theatre’s production features students of Iowa State as well as children from Boone, Ankeny, and Ames.

Area students taking part in the production include: Angela Burg (assistant stage manager), a senior in Performing Arts from Bridgewater; Austin Farwell, a senior in Performing Arts from Council Bluffs; Sam Johnson, a senior in Music, from Atlantic; and Samantha Koontz, a senior in Performing Arts, from Lewis.

Sam Johnson, from Atlantic

Samantha Koontz, from Lewis.

In addition to the April 10, 7:30 p.m. performance, other performances are scheduled for April 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Sunday, April 12 and April 19 at 2 p.m. Admission is $24 for seniors and adults and $16 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Iowa State Center Ticket Office in Ames (located in the ground floor of Stephens Auditorium at Lincolnway and Beach Avenue) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the door in Fisher Theater, although advance purchase is strongly suggested.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a woman from Malvern was arrested Saturday morning. 42-year old Carrie Darlene Dejarnett was taken into custody on Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Her bond was set at $2,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs man is currently in first place in voting for the chance to do his dream job by spending two weeks in Norway as a photographer. The Daily Nonpareil reports that voters have put 35-year-old Jeremiah Knutson in first place on DreamJobbing.com, which works with companies to place people from across the United States in their dream jobs. Past positions include a week as a producer for CBS television and backup singer for Michael Bolton.

The winner of the competition will travel Norway taking photos and maintain a journal about the adventure. As of Saturday, Knutson has 3,051 votes. The trip would also be an opportunity for Knutson, who is of Norwegian heritage, to visit relatives and explore his history. The organization was created by three people with ties to reality television shows.

Two people were arrested recently in Fremont County on drug & child endangerment charges. The Sheriff’s Department says 31-year old Lacey Jo Smalley, of Clarinda, was arrested Saturday for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment. On Friday, deputies arrested 38-year old Michael Shawn Beltran, of Bellevue, NE., for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving Under Suspension, and Child Endangerment.