United Group Insurance

Car hits bicycle in Creston – minor injuries reported

News

July 1st, 2016 by admin

A bicyclist escaped serious injuries after she was struck by a car Thursday afternoon, in Creston. Authorities said Friday Jayden Sexton, of Creston, was riding a bike westbound across West Adams Street, when she was struck by a 2003 Ford Taurus, driven by 43-year old Scott Little, of Creston, as Little was traveling south on Elm Street. Sexton and Little had both stopped at the intersection, but when Little pulled out, he failed to see the approaching bicycle. The accident happened at around 12:25-p.m., Thursday. Sexton suffered possible/minor injuries and was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center by one of her parents. No citations were issued.

Fatal house fire in Casey, Friday afternoon

News

July 1st, 2016 by admin

Fire claimed the life of a resident of a home located in the 200 block of West 1st Street, in Casey. Another person was said to have been injured. Firefighters from Casey, Adair, Menlo, as well as rescue crews from Stuart and Casey, responded to the blaze that was reported a little before 3:30-p.m. The names of the victims had not been released as of late Friday evening. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to investigate. Additional information is currently not available.

(Update) Garage destroyed by fire in Griswold

News

July 1st, 2016 by admin

Firefighters in Griswold were called to the scene of a garage fire Friday evening. The call went out at 7:17-p.m. for the blaze behind 906 Main Street. Griswold Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wyman lives nearby. He said he could see lots of smoke before crews arrived on the scene. He said when they got there just minutes later, the structure was fully engulfed in flames. Many construction tools were stored inside the garage, including air compressors, and propane tanks.

A power line (on the left near the tree) burns moments before showering sparks. (Ric Hanson/photos)

A power line (on the left near the tree) burns moments before showering sparks. (Ric Hanson/photos)

firegrz 001 firegrz 002Power lines nearby fell to the ground and produced some fireworks when as they burned and popped numerous times, showering sparks for several feet each time. Wyman said they have no idea what started the blaze, the flames of which scorched nearby, vacant homes and other structures.

He said the building was fully engulfed long before firefighters arrived, and he was surprised no one called it in before hand, especially since it was so close to the Griswold Casey’s Store. A VW Bug from the 1970’s parked near the structure was also damaged by the flames. No injuries were reported. Crews were on the scene for over an hour.

Garage fire in Griswold

News

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters in Griswold were called to the scene of a garage fire Friday evening. The call went out at 7:17-p.m. for the blaze at 906 Main Street. The structure was fully engulfed in flames at 7:27-p.m., and power lines were said to be down behind the garage, in the alley.

Additional information is currently unavailable.

JULY 2016

Birthday Club

July 1st, 2016 by admin

July 1st:

  • Michele Kirchhoff of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Mark Knudsen of Atlantic

July 2nd:

  • Sheryl Chisholm of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Kay Harris-Wickman of Atlantic
  • Julie Vais of Exira

July 4th:

  • Brandy Fiebelkorn of Exira (Winner)
  • Valerie Otten of Audubon
  • Joyce Jenkins of Exira

July 5th:

  • Chris Wahlert of Exira (Winner)
  • Katelyn Ketchum of Casey

July 6th:

  • no birthdays

July 7th:

  • Lynette Black of Audubon (Winner)
  • Arnie Lamp of Atlantic
  • Reid Mosier of Atlantic
  • Cheryl Christensen

July 8th:

  • Elizabeth Eilts of Cumberland (Winner)
  • Jena Brosam
  • Gail Morse of Atlantic
  • Bill Fancher of Audubon
  • Chelsea Petersen of Exira
  • Lynette Hansen of Atlantic
  • Shelly Brown

July 9th:

  • Cestra Dodson of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Jordan Saltmarsh
  • Spike Walker of Exira
  • Alex Clemsen of Exira

July 10th:

  • Ellie Wahlert of Exira (Winner)
  • Vicki Nordskog of Atlantic

July 11th:

  • Kenleigh Hardisty of Anita (Winner)
  • Lance Lage
  • Mike Bagshaw of Cumberland
  • Lynn Andersen of Exira
  • Kellie Jimerson of Atlantic

July 12th:

  • Fire Fighter John Johnson of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Leah Schmidt of Harlan
  • Bryce Thompson of Exira

July 13th:

  • Annette Andersen of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Ashley Parks of Omaha
  • Carol Seddon of Atlantic

July 14th:

  • Becky Mortimor of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Tami Shellberg
  • Mackenzie Schwenke
  • Jolene Ketchum of Casey

July 15th:

  • Merv Christensen of Wiota (Winner)
  • Brandon Shadden

July 16th:

  • Jayden Jensen of Lewis (Winner)
  • Connie Jensen of Exira
  • Bill Michael Stockwell of Elk Horn

July 17th:

  • Erin Kelly of Griswold (Winner)
  • Marian Stillian
  • Tracey Hardisty of Anita
  • John Walker of Brayton
  • Mike Haley, Sr. of Exira
  • Emily Pattee of Harlan

July 18th:

  • Mary Ottmar of Atlantic (Winner)
  • James Smith of Atlantic

July 19th:

  • Zach Zellmer of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Chris Nelson
  • Ethel Schuleter of Atlantic

July 20th:

  • Melissa Dodson of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Dennis Witt of Atlantic
  • Dorothy Wolf of Exira

July 21st:

  • Lillian Wilcox of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Hervetta Ronnfeldt of Hancock
  • Connie Beymer of Atlantic

July 22nd:

  • Seth Roenfeld of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Becky Buckman
  • Jennifer Johnson of Hamlin
  • Judy Hill of Exira
  • Patty Rogers of Wiota

July 23rd:

  • Matt Martens of Griswold (Winner)
  • Bill Bishop
  • Pastor Glen Meyers

July 24th:

  • Evelyn Knop of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Ruth Barton of Exira
  • Sierra Rold
  • Mary Ann Jespersen

July 25th:

  • Nancy Armstrong of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Mark McNees of Atlantic
  • Wanda Schwier of Atlantic

July 26th:

  • Kathy Schares of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Nick Templemen of Wiota

July 27th:

  • Bruce Schmelling of Casey (Winner)
  • Janice Rasmussen of Atlantic
  • Natalie Rucker of Exira

July 28th:

  • Fletcher Toft of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Brinley Rose Knudsen of Atlantic
  • Randy Steffen of Griswold
  • Carolyn Johnson of Atlantic
  • Richie Andersen of Atlantic
  • Dave Wheatley of Atlantic

July 29th:

  • Janet Adams of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Madison Mace
  • Kerrigan Larsen
  • Lorene Nelson of Audubon

July 30th:

  • Wyona Williams of Stuart (Winner)
  • Dennis Schwab of Audubon

July 31st:

  • Jacquie Aupperle of Wiota (Winner)
  • Sherri Sieck of Atlantic
  • Ray Hansen
  • Randy Harrison
  • Hogan Krull of Atlantic
  • Shelbi Meyer

Photo Released: Bluffs convenience store robbed Friday morning

News

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the robbery early this (Friday) morning of a convenience store at 1839 Madison Avenue. Authorities say at around 12:35-a.m., two black men entered the Bucky’s Express on Madison Avenue. One of the suspects pointed a black semi- automatic pistol at the clerk and demanded the money from the register. The suspect was handed an undetermined amount of cash. As the suspects exited the store the suspect fired one shot toward the clerk.The suspects then ran from the store.

The first suspect was described as being a black male about 5-feet 6-inches tall, wearing a tan canvas jacket with a black scarf wrapped around his face and armed with a semi-automatic pistol. The second suspect was thin black male, about 6-feet tall. He wore a blue hooded sweatshirt with a black scarf wrapped around his face.

cbrobbery7116

Surveillance photo of suspects

If you have any information regarding the incident, contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

CHRISTINE WARE-PETERSON, 46, of Greenfield (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CHRISTINE WARE-PETERSON, 46, of Greenfield, died Thursday, June 30th, at her home in Greenfield. Funeral services for CHRISTINE WARE-PETERSON are pending at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Exira man arrested on assault & child endangerment charges

News

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), said a man from Exira was arrested Thursday, following an investigation into an incident that occurred earlier, in the 500 block of Hill Haven, in Exira. 56-year-old Roger Thomas Waters, Jr. was arrested at around 8-p.m. on two counts of Domestic Abuse Assault and two counts of Child Endangerment. Waters was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before the Magistrate.

Farragut Community School District has dissolved

News

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

FARRAGUT, Iowa (AP) – The Farragut Community School District has involuntarily dissolved. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the district’s dissolution went into effect Friday after being placed into the Green Hills Area Education Agency’ receivership. The Iowa State Board of Education voted to revoke the district’s accreditation in November 2015, primarily because of years of spending more than what was allowed by the state.

The district’s superintendent, Tom Hinrichs, resigned a month after the district was put on the path to dissolution. Students have gone to the Shenandoah, Sidney, Hamburg and Fremont-Mills community school districts. Green Hills chief administrator Lane Plugge says the district’s buildings are now the property of the Shenandoah school district. Shenandoah now owns about 65 percent of the property.

(Update) Stuart woman arrested in connection with fugitive incident

News

July 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An escapee from the Ft. Madison Correctional Facility was captured Thursday afternoon, in Stuart, and a woman from Stuart was arrested as an accessory in harboring him. Stuart Police said a Stuart Police Officer was investigating the reported sighting of an escaped fugitive, 31-year old Joseph Leclair, Jr., at around noon Thursday, in the 300 block of N. Main Street.  Lora Sue Baudler, of Stuart, answered the door when the officer knocked but refused to cooperate with the officer.

Baudler then left the property and allegedly made a false 911 call reporting LeClair to be at a different location. The officer called in assistance from Guthrie and Adair County Sheriff’s Offices and the State Patrol to surround the house, while he prepared a search warrant. At approximately 3:30-pm officers entered the house with a search warrant and found LeClair hiding inside.

LeClaire was arrested and transported to the Guthrie County Jail. Baudler was arrested on charges that include False Reports to, or Communications with, Public Safety entities, and Accessory after the Fact.

You may recall LeClaire was involved in a similar incident last year when he escaped from work release for over a two month period from May-July. He was subsequently arrested in Polk County following that incident.