The driver of an SUV was injured Tuesday morning in Union County, when his vehicle collided with the rear of a semi. Sheriff’s officials say 60-year old David Stonehocker, of Thayer, suffered suspected, serious/incapacitating injuries when the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving hit the rear of a trailer being pulled by 1994 Freightliner semi. The accident happened on Willow Avenue (County Road P-64), just before 10-a.m.

Officials say Stonehocker, was driving too fast for conditions, was wearing a lap belt only. The SUV’s airbags also deployed during the crash. Stonehocker was trapped in his vehicle following the impact, and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He was transported to the hospital in Creston. The driver of the semi, 62-year old Danny Neisemier, of Thayer, complained of pain, but was not transported to the hospital.

Damage from the crash amounted to $16,000.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved a Resolution of Support for “Stepping Up,” a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jail, and make further efforts to help them on a path to recovery.

The resolution was presented last week by Supervisor Frank Waters, for the Board’s consideration. During the previous meeting, Auditor Dale Sunderman read a portion of the resolution as presented. In summary, the Resolution acknowledges that an estimated 2 million people with serious mental illnesses are booked into jail each year, and that the prevalence rates of serious mental illness in jails are three-to six-times higher than for the general population. It also acknowledges adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jails and upon release are at higher risk of recidivism, and, that without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for those individuals and their families.

The Resolution says since Cass County is a member of the Southwest Iowa MHDS Region, and is working cooperatively with other counties to provide funding necessary to meet the needs of the mental health and disability community, the County will support an expansion of the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Court through its services and staff, law enforcement and attorney’s offices in the MHDS Region. It will do so through the Stepping Up program. For more information on Stepping Up, go to https://stepuptogether.org/

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Emily Paulsen, of Elk Horn, to the Cass County Food Policy Council, with the term of appointment ending Dec. 31st, 2018. The Board also received a quarterly report from Cass County Veteran Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 19-year-old will stand trial in the August 2014 crash deaths of two teenage girls in western Iowa, now that prosecutors have withdrawn a plea offer. Trevor Feauto was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday on two felony counts of reckless vehicular homicide. He’d pleaded guilty. But the county attorney says he withdrew the offer because relatives of the two girls say the deal doesn’t provide adequate justice.

A date hasn’t been set for Feauto’s trial on four counts: two for reckless vehicular homicide and two for felony vehicular homicide while intoxicated.  Sac County authorities say Feauto was driving drunk on Aug. 23, 2014, when his pickup crashed into a car near the town of Breda. Sixteen-year-olds Bailey Jacobsen and Lindsey Quirk were killed. Both were Wall Lake residents.

Police in Creston say a child passenger in a car was checked for injuries but found to have been uninjured, following a hit and run accident Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say just before 3-p.m., a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am driven by 31-year old Justin Miller, of Creston, was traveling south on Elm Street in Creston, and nearing the bottom of the hill the intersection with Summit.

A vehicle described as a small, dark colored pickup…possibly a Ford Ranger…failed to stop at the intersection as it was traveling west on Summit, and struck the car, causing $4,000 damage. According to Police, the pickup, whose driver was at fault, fled the scene. The accident remains under investigation.