(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of 2007 Ford Mustang was cited following a non-injury accident Tuesday afternoon, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the car, driven by 41-year-old Christopher David Zimmerman, of Clearfield, was traveling east on Highway 34 at around 1:20-p.m., when Zimmerman tried to pass multiple vehicles at one time. The attempt started in a legal passing zone, but ended-up in a no passing zone at the crest of the road.

Zimmerman saw a 2018 Ford Transit van approaching from the west, and tried to evade a collision by traveling toward the north shoulder of the road. The driver of the van, 28-year-old Sean Ray Hodges, of Carlisle, also took evasive action toward the same shoulder at the same time. The reaction of both drivers resulted in the vehicles colliding before they came to rest in the north ditch.

Union County Sheriff’s Deputies cited Zimmerman for Unsafe Passing. Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee says the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Healthy Cass Coalition are currently planning the Family Fun Day at the Cass County Fair. The event will be held July 27th from noon until 4-p.m., at the Cass County Fairgrounds. The event is meant to encourage families to visit the Cass County Fair, by hosting fun activities for the entire family. In past years, booths have included Water Fights, Yard Games, a Duck Pond, a Book Walk, and more.

Mark your calendar for July 27th for this free family fun event. If your community organization would be interested in hosting a free activity booth at Family Fun Day, please get in touch with Grace McAfee by Tuesday, June 25th, at mcage@casshealth.org or 712-250-8170.

Getting ready for the Free Family Fun day, 2024

(Kellerton, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning in Ringgold County claimed the life of a man from Lucas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2015 Chevy Express 3500 van driven by 34-year-old James Cody Sage, of Lucas, was traveling east on Highway 2 west of Kellerton at around 4-a.m., when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the south ditch before striking a tree. James Sage was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office.

(Creston, Iowa) – Three people from Union County were arrested on separate charges recently. According to the Creston Police Department, a little after 1-a.m. today (Wed., June 12th), 58-year-old Melody Ann Miller, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Miller was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Late Tuesday evening, 20-year-old Jordyn Marie Gonzales, of Creston, was arrested the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Gonzales was charged on two Union County Warrants, for Failure to Appear (FTA) on an OWI/1st offense charge, and FTA on five-counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Gonzales was later released on a $2,200 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 7:30-p.m., Tuesday, 18-year-old John Jeremy Scarpello, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Violation of No Contact/Protective Order. Scarpello was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by the Magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – State, federal and local agencies are coming together with farm industry groups for three one-day events to help those in agriculture who have been hit by the recent severe weather. FEMA’s Jessica Pugh said the Agriculture Recovery Center events are for those impacted by the storms. “They will kind of be walked through events designed as resource fairs to provide information on addressing agricultural needs that are not covered by standard programs within FEMA or the state of Iowa,” she says. The first one is Thursday from noon until 8 pm at the Treynor Community Center in Pottawattamie County. Pugh says there are a lot of different types of agriculture that have been hit by the severe weather.

“As an example, just recently we had a conversation about honey bee damage. There was a honeybee agribusiness that was impacted by the tornadoes and their business was obviously sustained physical damage, and it would not be covered by individual assistance or public assistance under FEMA,” Pugh says. She says you need to bring identification and verification of where you live.

“So your driver’s license or an I-D would be great. If you have damage, photos of the damage is always helpful. If you have your insurance documents that say what’s covered and what’s not covered, that’s also helpful so that we can look at what’s covered and what’s not,” she says. “And we’ll also have our individual assistance and Disaster Survivor Assistance programs on the ground for anyone who hasn’t been able to get with those programs yet.” Pugh says this is a great opportunity to access all the information in one stop.

“I would encourage you to come out even if you aren’t 100 percent sure that your items may be covered,” Pugh says. “We’d love to have a conversation with you and just see if things can be worked out.” The second Agriculture Recovery Center is set for June 18th in Union County at the Southwestern Community College in Creston. The place and time for the third event is still being finalized.