A distracted driver is being blamed for an accident Saturday evening, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 36-year old Megan Sullivan, of Clarinda, was traveling west on Highway34 at around 5:50-p.m., and slowing to turn north onto N. 4th Street, and had come to a complete stop, when her 2011 Dodge Durango was struck from behind by a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. The driver of the car, 16-year old Noah Roberts, of Red Oak, told authorities he looked down at his cell phone “for just a second,” when his car hit the SUV.

Airbags on the Pontiac deployed upon impact. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $17,500, with the Pontiac said to be a total loss. No citations were issued.

At least four area school district Boards of Education will hold their separate, regularly scheduled meetings, Monday evening. In Griswold, the Board meeting gets underway at 5:30-p.m. in the Central Office Board Room. The Board will discuss the latest with regard to the District Facilities and hear a report from the Facilities Committee. They’ll also view the results of the Nov. 8th General Election and hold the second reading of various Board Policies before swearing in newly elected Board Member Donald K. Smith. And, the Griswold School Board will hold their annual election, selecting a Board President and Vice President, prior to acting on annual administrative matters, such as setting their future meeting time and dates, the school calendar and more. They’ll also act on the sale of District vehicles and the purchase of District Vans.

The CAM School Board will meet 6:30-p.m., Monday, at the High School in Anita, during which they will hear from Jordan Aggen with regard to Literacy Instruction and Assessment. Joni Ehm and Grace Kopp will then present a TLC (Teacher Leadership Compensation) overview. The CAM School Board will also discuss a resignation, contracts for Chelsey Vais [para educator], Todd Russell [H.S. Boys Track] and Sheri Blair [Guidance Counselor]. They’ll also discuss the sale of buses, bids for telephones, and a Fundraiser Request.

The Audubon School Board meeting gets underway at 7-p.m. in the High School Board Room. During their session, the Board will act on an SBRC request for At Risk/Dropout Prevention, and Policy Review Committee recommendations. They’ll also receive updates for, and possibly act on approving: Early Retirement options; Tax Sheltered Annuity changes; a report from the Transportation Committee meeting and Staff Survey Instrument update.

And finally, the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board meeting takes place 7-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. The Board is expected to act on Contracts (2 new hires and 1 resignation), and later in the meeting, bids for Snow Removal and Revisions of various Board Policies. They’ll also discuss a District Facilities Assessment.

Governor Terry Branstad is not ruling out the idea he would accept an invitation to be the U.S. Ambassador to China. President-elect Donald Trump touted the idea himself during his last campaign rally in Iowa before the Election. Trump invited Branstad onstage in Sioux City. “I think there’s nobody that knows more about trade than him. He’s one of the ones. In dealing with China, boy, you would be our prime candidate to take care of China,” Trump said. “He has done so, so well for the people of Iowa. Nobody knows it better.”

Branstad left immediately after the Election for a trade mission in China. He spoke with reporters in Des Moines Saturday night.  “I’m not ruling anything out, but you know my focus has always been on Iowa and I want to serve the people of Iowa and accomplish as much as I can and I’m really proud of what we did in this election and I’m going to continue to work hard and accomplish as much as we can,” Branstad said.

Aside from living elsewhere while serving in the miltary, Branstad has spent his entire life living in Iowa. Has he envisioned living overseas? “Well, I haven’t really thought about that, I’m really focused on wht we want to accomplish with a Republican-controlled legislature.” The governor isn’t sharing what his wife, Chris, thinks of relocating to China. “Her opinion is important,” Branstad told reporters. He was asked: “And what is her opinion?” Branstad laughed, then said: “Well, it’s too early. We haven’t even — you know, this is something a lot of people are speculating about, but it’s not something that has been discussed with the people that have the responsibility.”

Branstad’s son, Eric, was Trump’s Iowa campaign manager. The elder Branstad told reporters he’s headed to New York City in early December for long-scheduled trip to meet with business prospects for Iowa. New York City, of course, is where Trump and his transition team are headquartered. Branstad says there “may be an opportunity at that time” for him to meet with Trump’s team.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Democratic Party sponsored a county-wide Food Drive to stock the shelves at the Atlantic Food Pantry. The donated items were taken to the Pantry on November 17, 2016, and presented to Shara Cooper by County Chair Sherry Toelle. “I want to thank the community for donating to this cause. As Democrats, we want to live our Democratic values. Happy Thanksgiving to all.”

Police in Council Bluffs have arrested a woman after her 10-month old male child was admitted to Jennie Edmundson Hospital suffering from 2nd Degree burns, Saturday afternoon. Officers responded to the hospital at around 12:30-p.m. to investigate the incident, and learned the child had burns to his left hand and forearm. The Medical Staff were given an account of how the injuries occurred by the child’s mother, 36-year old Rebecca L. Brahier, but the injuries were not consistent to her story.

Rebecca L. Brahier

Medical Staff contacted Law Enforcement and the Department of Human Services to respond. Investigators interviewed the parents of the child, during the interview with the mother, Investigators found that the mother had intentionally placed the child’s left arm into a tall coffee mug full of hot coffee to prove a point to the child that the coffee was hot. Investigators were told the child tried to touch her hot coffee several times prior to her placing his arm in the mug.

Investigators did not find the father to have had knowledge of this incident. The 10 month old was placed into Protective Custody along with a 12 year old Sibling. The Child was transferred to UNMC for treatment of his injuries. Brahier was arrested and charged with Willful Injury and Child Endangerment.

Authorities in Creston say minor injuries were reported following two, separate multi-vehicle accidents late this past week. One of the collisions happened at around 7:10-p.m. Friday, at the intersection of Sumner Avenue/Highway 25, and W. Adams Street. Officials say a 2006 Ford Fusion driven by 19-year old Morgan Knust, of Corydon, was traveling south on Sumner Avenue in the left lane, with her left turn signal on, in preparation to turn left onto Adams Street. Knust had the green light, but had stopped in traffic to let a northbound vehicle clear the intersection.

A2005 Mazda driven by 55-year old Rita Foster, of Creston, was in the left lane behind to Ford and was waiting for Knust to make the left turn. A 2009 Saturn driven by 19-year old Bria Hoffman, of Shannon City, was also in the left lane. Hoffman’s car struck the rear of the Mazda, which then hit the rear of the Ford. Foster suffered unknown, suspected injuries, and was transported by EMS to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Damage from the collisions amounted to $4,500. No citations were issued.

The other, multi-vehicle accident happened at around 4:35-p.m. Thursday, at the intersection of Highway 26/Sumner Avenue, and Sheldon Avenue, in Creston. Officials say 29-year old Joshua Thurman, of Grant City, MO., was stopped on southbound Sumner and waiting for a vehicle to turn left into the parking lot of a fitness facility. 19-year old Chelsi Sams, of Dearborn, MO, was also southbound on Sumner in a 2012 GMC SUV, and had stopped behind Thurman’s 2009 Chevy pickup. A 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by17-year old Alexander Davis, of Afton, was also southbound and slowing for the vehicles stopped in front of him, when he was  struck from behind by a 2009 Ford Taurus, driven by 36-year old Kristal Allen, of Creston.

The impact caused Davis’ SUV to be pushed into the rear of Sams’ SUV, which in-turn, rear-ended Thurman’s pickup. All persons involved in the accident were seen by medical personnel on the scene. Alexander Davis was transported by ambulance to the Creston hospital, after complaining of neck pain. Chelsi Sams and a passenger in her SUV were treated by medics after complaining for neck pain, but did not request to be transported to the hospital. Kristal Allen complained of ankle pain, but did not immediately seek medical attention.

Allen was cited for Failure to Stop within an assured, clear distance. Damage to all the vehicles amounted to $3,610.

No injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon, in Elliott. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a van driven by 41-year old Ann Ross, of rural Red Oak, was backing out of a parking stall in the 300 block of Main Street in Elliott, at around 1:45-p.m., when her vehicle struck a parked car owned by 48-year old Kimberly Hallcock, of Elliott. The damages amounted to $1,700. No citations were issued.