A burn pile fanned by gusty winds caused a corn crib to be destroyed Sunday morning, on the outskirts of Walnut. Walnut Fire Chief Justen Tooley told KJAN News the call from 5327 Whippoorwill Road, just northeast of town, came in at around 8:15-a.m.

Tooley says a tennant on the land had dug a hole last week to burn brush and other debris or trash, and thought it would be contained, but the embers from the fire flew into a corn crib which, Tooley says, was destined to be torn down. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the storage bin had already burned to the ground.

No injuries were reported. Crews remained on the scene for about one-half hour.

One person was critically  injured during a motorcycle accident Friday night, in Harlan. According to the Harlan P-D, 46-year old Richard “Rick” Jones, of Harlan, was unresponsive but breathing when authorities arrived following the crash, which occurred at around 9:10-p.m., when the cycle hit a curb on the side of the road, as it was traveling on Hawkeye Avenue.

Jones was taken by Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, before he was flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha by LifeNet helicopter. An official with the Harlan P-D said Tuesday (June 7th), that Jones remained in the hospital late Monday afternoon, but a report on his condition was not available.

The accident, which caused about $6,000 damage to the cycle, remains under investigation.

The Atlantic United Church of Christ recently received a donation from an Atlantic jeweler, to help with tsunami relief efforts in Japan. Rich and Nedra Perry, owners of Geis-Perry Jewelry, presented a check for $1,125, to U-C-C Pastor Nancy Jensen, and church treasurer Marlene Hummel.

The check represents proceeds from the installation of watch batteries at the store, from March 11th…the time of the Tsunami…through Easter, April 25th. The funds will go directly to the Japanese relief efforts through “One great hour of Sharing,” with no administrative costs deducted.

A Neola man was arrested late last week after he allegedly fired a handgun in the direction of another person. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s office says deputies arrested 48-year old Scott Boyer, after he allegedly fired a .22 semi-automatic handgun at 34-year old Jason Miller, around 11-p.m., Thursday.

Miller told deputies two shots were fired, with one going over his head and the other hitting gravel in front of him, ricocheting rocks into Miller’s leg and resulting in an abrasion.

Pott. County Sheriff’s officials say the incident reportedly started when 36-year old Janelle Spencer, Miller’s sister, asked for Boyer’s help because Miller was quote “in a rage and was going to get physical with her.” Boyer and Spencer were in a vehicle in an alley near Boyer’s residence, and that of Miller’s mother’s.

After Boyer blocked a vehicle driven by Miller and 35-year old Holly Zimmerman, Boyer and Miller are said to have gotten out of the vehicles and a verbal altercation ensued. Each of the individuals live in Neola. When Miller entered Boyer’s property, Boyer allegedly warned him to reportedly leave the property before the shots were fired.

While investigating the scene, deputies found a sawed-off shotgun in Boyer’s residence in plain sight. A .22-calibur handgun was also recovered after a search warrant was executed. The gun contained a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber. Drug paraphernalia was also found in the residence.

Boyer faces charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, reckless use of a firearm without injury or damage, disorderly conduct, assault with injury and possession of drug paraphernalia. Miller was charged with assault with injury, 2nd-degree harassment, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication.

(final update at 6:15-p.m.)

Only minor injuries were reported following a motor coach rollover accident this (Monday) morning, in Pottawattamie County. The accident happened at around 7:45-a.m. on Interstate 80, about a  mile east of the Minden exit.  The Iowa State Patrol says a bus registered to Global Transportation, L.L.C in Commerce City, CO and driven by 61-year old Bradley Moe, of Rock Valley, Iowa, was traveling  eastbound on the interstate when the right front tire blew out.

When Moe lost control of the bus, the vehicle, carrying 39 high school-aged passengers, flipped onto the driver’s side and slid down an embankment into the south ditch, and came to rest on its side in a field.  All of the passengers, who are members of “The Troopers” – a competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Casper, Wyoming, and en-route to a competition in Indiana, were transported to four hospitals in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.  Each was treated for minor injuries, such as minor bruises and cuts, which required stitches. All have since been released from the hospital.

The bus driver suffered the most serious injuries. He was flown by medical helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center, where he also received treatment and was later released.

Most of traveling musical team was asleep when the accident occurred. After being tossed about as the bus tumbled onto its side, they managed to escape through emergency hatches built into the bus’ roof.  The first emergency crews on the scene reported there were anywhere from 28-to 33 “walking wounded.”

Crews from no fewer than seven area fire and rescue departments along with various ambulance services responded to the crash, which caused eastbound I-80 to be shut down for a little more than two-hours. Other buses carrying corps members continued on to the group’s destination for the night, Greenfield, Iowa.  The Troopers is comprised of performers from across the nation, Canada and Europe, although most members come from the western U.S.