A 15-member team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) “Go Team” were ordered to the scene of a train derailment this (Friday) morning, in northwest Iowa’s Palo Alto County. The incident involving three locomotives and 101 rail cars, 100 of which were hauling ethanol, resulted in a massive fire that could be seen from about 8-miles away. Palo Alto County Sheriff Lynn Schultes says the accident happened near Graettinger at around 1-a.m.

The ethanol tanker cars had recently been filled at an ethanol plant in Superior, Iowa. Railroad crews were able to unhitch most of the tankers and move them away from the crash site. 27 tanker cars derailed during the incident. Initial reports indicated an unknown amount of ethanol spilled into a nearby creek. There were no reports of injuries or death.

Photo by Ryan Long/KCID in Spencer, via Radio Iowa.

The NTSB says the tanker cars involved in the crash are of a design known to have many vulnerabilities that create the risk of hazardous materials release or flammable liquids when those tanker cars are involved in an accident. Congress has mandated the DOT-111 style tanker cars be cease being used by 2029, and retrofitted, or replaced with a new, more robust DOT-117 standard tanker be used for hauling hazardous or flammable materials.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Thursday afternoon following a Theft investigation. 43-year old Laura Vaughn, of Bedford was arrested for having in her possession items allegedly stolen from the Sidney Foods store, in Sidney. Vaughn faces charges that include Theft in the 5th degree and Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was set at $600. 36-year old Casey Lee Baker, also of Bedford, was arrested for Theft in the 5th and Interference with Official Acts, the bond for which was set at $600. Baker was also found to have a warrant for his arrest from the State of Wisconsin and was being held without bond as a Fugitive from Justice.

Casey Lee Baker

Laura Vaughn

Their arrests happened after deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office were called to Sidney Foods in Sidney at around 4:45-p.m., Thursday, for a report of a theft in progress.  The callers advised that a male and female were observed stealing items from the store and when confronted fled on foot into a nearby trailer park.  Witnesses advised the male was possibly seen running in a field in the area.

Deputies located Laura Vaughn near the intersection of Clay and Nebraska Streets. A K9 was deployed in the area of the of the trailer park located in the 2000 block of Illinois Street, however the male suspect (Baker) was not located at that time. A later search resulted in Baker being found hiding in a trailer home in the area.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Sioux City School District’s chief financial officer has been placed on paid administrative leave for reasons the district won’t disclose, just weeks before next year’s school budget is due.

District spokeswoman Alison Benson tells the Sioux City Journal that CFO John Chalstrom was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 13. Neither she nor school board president Mike Krysl would discuss why, saying it was a personnel matter.

The move comes as Superintendent Paul Gausman is being considered for the superintendent position at Nebraska’s largest school district, Omaha Public Schools.
State law requires Iowa public schools to adopt their budgets by April 15. Recent school board meetings indicate the district is facing a budget shortfall.

NEW YORK (AP) – Author Robert James Waller, whose best-selling, bittersweet 1992 novel “The Bridges of Madison County” was turned into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood and a Broadway musical, has died in Texas, according to his literary agency. He was 77.

Lucy Childs of Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency said Friday that Waller died either Thursday or early Friday. Childs did not know the cause but said the author had been ill. In “Bridges,” which Waller famously wrote in 11 days, a photographer spends four days romancing a war bride from Italy married to a no-nonsense Iowa farmer.

Waller’s novel reached No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list and stayed on it for over three years; the Eastwood-directed 1995 movie grossed $182 million worldwide.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), issued a report on recent arrests. At around 9-p.m. Thursday, 26-year old Heather Jean Vorthmann, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/2nf offense, following an investigation into an accident that took place at around 6:50-p.m., in Neola. Authorities say a Cadillac CTS driven by Vorthmann struck a 2006 Ford Free Star van.

And, at around 8:45-p.m., 51-year old Timothy Michael Evans, of Avoca, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after a deputy observed Evans’ vehicle swerving in its lane while traveling on Tamarack Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted near 400th and Tamarack, after which Evans was deemed to be under the influence. In addition to the OWI charge, Evans was cited for improper use of lanes.

An Underwood man was arrested just before midnight, Thursday, following a traffic stop. A records check indicated 55-year old Kyle Edward McCreary was wanted on a felony warrant for Violation of Probation issued out of Council Bluffs, and a hold for Harrison County authorities. He was also cited for improper equipment (a defective license plate light)

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office said also, 57-year old Floyd Henry Brinkman, of Honey Creek, was arrested following a traffic stop Thursday afternoon. He was taken into custody on a Fugitive from Justice warrant out of Sarpy County, NE, for Terroristic Threats.

A popular interior designer on cable T-V home decorating shows is in central Iowa this weekend, offering tips to spruce up our rooms, houses and lives. Vern Yip may be best known for his appearances on T-L-C’s “Trading Spaces” as well as on H-G-T-V. Yip suggests making a list of long-term goals for your home, much like you would make long-term plans for your money or retirement.

“Whether you’re renting or if you’ve purchased, if you live in a tiny studio apartment or if you live in a 50,000 square foot mansion, these basic rules of design apply universally to everybody of all budgets,” Yip says. “These rules really are designed to help you transform your house into even more of a home.” Designers frequently encounter people who are reluctant to take the leap, either due to the money involved, the work required, or they’re just averse to change.

“I do understand that people suffer from design paralysis,” Yip says. “It’s a big deal, a much bigger deal than purchasing a sweater or a new pair of shoes. When you buy a sofa or repaint your walls, it’s a pretty big investment financially and also an investment in your time. You want to get it right.” The 48-year-old Yip was born in Hong Kong and runs a design studio in Atlanta. His newest book, “Vern Yip’s Design Wise: Your Smart Guide to a Beautiful Home,” provides a pathway to improving the appearance, the efficiency and the comfort level of your space.

“I understand why people are hesitant but I want your home to feel like a physical manifestation of you,” Yip says. “When you get it right, you should be able to walk through that front door with the biggest smile on your face, more so than any five-star resort.” Yip is appearing at the Des Moines Home and Outdoor Living Show, running today (Friday) through Sunday at the Iowa Events Center near downtown Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)