Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer today (Tuesday), said an accident took place Sunday morning, north of Essex, but no injuries were reported. Just before 7-a.m., authorities were notified of a single vehicle in a ditch off of D Avenue.  When a Deputy arrived at approximately 7:30 AM, there was nobody around the vehicle and the vehicle was cold.

The investigation determined 19-year old Tanner James Sharp, of Knoxville, was operating a 2010 GMC 1500 pickup  northbound on D Avenue just on the north edge of Essex.  Sharp said he had fallen asleep at the wheel.  The vehicle entered the west ditch and into a concrete culvert.  Sharp abandoned the vehicle, and stated in a phone conversation that he was uninjured from the accident.

No other property damage was reported. Damage to the vehicle is considered to be $15,000.00. No charges have been issued at this time.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope has updated an earlier report with regard to an investigation into stolen property and a pursuit. Aistrope reports two more people are in custody, and the man who ran from authorities was officially identified. A suspect who was previously reported to have run from a vehicle after it crashed during a pursuit, was identified as 46-year old Jerry Eaton, of Osceola, Missouri. He had previously refused to provide authorities with his name.

Eaton, along with 26-year old Brandon Wood, of Hollister, MO., and 45-year old Shanna Daniels Case, of Missouri, were taken into custody. Eaton and Case were wanted by authorities in Missouri. Both Wood and Case were found near the crashed vehicle. Case and Wood were being held without bond until making an initial court appearance. All three were arrested in connection with a ring of car thefts and burglaries in Fremont County.

The incident leading to their arrests began, when deputies, conducting an investigation into a series of stolen vehicle and thefts, Monday night recovered two stolen vehicle, a stolen camper, flatbed trailer, 4-wheeler, and other, miscellaneous stolen items. They were recovered in the vicinity of Green Hollow Road. During the investigation, Deputies came into contact with a suspicious vehicle, and they soon engaged in a pursuit on Green Hollow Road.

The suspect vehicle traveled south into Thurman, before heading east towards Highway 275 and then changing directions. The vehicle went south on 242nd Avenue and the driver shut off the lights before turning into a field entrance a little over one-mile from 160th Street. Deputies pursued the vehicle until it crashed. When the persons inside took off on foot, Deputies deployed the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Judge” and his partner, to track the suspects.

One of the suspects, later identified as Eaton, was tracked into the bluffs and down a creek bed. He was given numerous commands to surrender, but continued to resist, and fled on foot once again. The K9 foiled his efforts to run, though.  During the apprehension, the Eaton kicked the K9 in the face, but the dog never let go of his bite., and dragged him toward the handler. Eaton was then taken into custody and transported to Grape Community Hospital to be treated for dog bite and hypothermia. He was later transported to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. A Deputy was treated for frost bite, following the incident.

Eaton faces charges that include Eluding, Assault on a Peace Officer, and other infractions. Tabor Police and the Iowa State Patrol assisted in handling the incident. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the citizens who have called in suspicious activity, and the Fremont County Roads Department, for being aware of surroundings and suspicious activity.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has left the door open to Iowa requiring certain Medicaid recipients to work as a condition of health care coverage. Reynolds told reporters Tuesday “we’ll take a look at that down the road” when asked about work rules for able-bodied Medicaid recipients. Reynolds wouldn’t give a timeline, adding she’s focused on separate workforce development initiatives.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced recently it will let states implement certain requirements as a condition of receiving Medicaid benefits. It could involve making people enrolled in Medicaid find work, attend school, enroll in job training or perform community service. The Iowa Department of Human Services oversees the state’s privatized Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor and disabled. A DHS spokesman says the agency is reviewing the federal guidance.

Atlantic Police, today (Tuesday), arrested 36-year old Brian Beard, of Atlantic. Beard was taken into custody for Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense. He was booked-into the Cass County Jail.