Authorities in Montgomery County have identified a woman from France as the person who jumped from an Amtrak train late Monday evening. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Stephanie Hatt of Savigny sur Orge, France was pronounced dead after being discovered lying along the north side of the railroad tracks in the vicinity of James and Broad Streets in Stanton.

Officials with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad officials reported the woman, who is believed to be a tourist who arrived in the U-S on October 31^st, jumped off Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr at approximately 9:50 p.m., Monday. She was on her way from Chicago to Omaha when the incident occurred.

According to Sheriff Joe Sampson, Hatt became nervous to the point where the conductor had tried to calm her down and get her to sit still, but she bolted from her seat, ran down an aisle, open the door, and jumped from the train, which was traveling at 79 miles per hour. She died from blunt force trauma to the head.

While foul play has been ruled out, it’s still unclear why the woman jumped from the train. Toxicology reports are being conducted to determine if the woman was under the influence of drugs or medications. Red Oak Police, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Amtrak Police, the Iowa State Patrol and Stanton Rescue also assisted in the investigation.

Authorities in Mills County report the arrest of five individuals over the past few days. On Monday, 26-year old Scott Eugene Jacobson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for violation of his probation, the bond for which was set at $3,000, and, he was held without bond, for being a Fugitive from Justice.

Arrested early Sunday in Mills County, was 40-year old Gary Edward White, Jr., of Silver City. White was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $4,300.

Three people were arrested Saturday in Mills County. 26-year old Eddie Valentine, of Omaha, NE, was arrested on an Assault charge. His bond was set at $2,000. 25-year old Seth Ryan Peters, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 19-year old Kelsey Blake Poe, of Malvern, was arrested Saturday night at the Bluff View Motel, on Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment charges. Bond was set at $3,300.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Monday (Nov. 4th), of 24-year old Cody Jacob Silence, from Corning. Silence was taken into custody on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, OWI 1^st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Tuesday on his own recognizance.

Five juveniles face numerous charges in connection with a stolen vehicle hit-and-run incident over the weekend. Lenox Police say officers were notified on Sunday about a hit and run incident in the 100 block of Bedford Av. The driver of the vehicle reported it was parked about 10:30 PM Saturday (Nov. 2nd) and on their return to it Sunday morning, they found it had been severely damaged. Officers identified witnesses that stated the car had been stolen and taken on a joy ride by several juveniles following their attendance at an under age alcohol party in Lenox, Saturday night.

An investigation determined four separate juveniles operated the stolen car at different times. The vehicle was driven on gravel roads to Clearfield where it was operated recklessly. The vehicle sustained a variety of damages and is considered to be a total loss at this time.

Officials say their investigation has resulted in criminal charges being filed with the juvenile court officer. A 14-year old male was charged with operating without the owners consent, an aggravated misdemeanor, a 13-year old male was charged with theft in the 2nd degree, a class D felony and contributing to the delinquency of a minor by providing alcohol to a minor, a simple misdemeanor. A 15-year old male was charged with theft in the 2nd degree, a Class D felony. A 17-year old male was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor by providing alcohol to a minor. And a 17-year old male was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor by providing alcohol to a minor and theft in the second degree, a Class D felony.

All the individuals involved are Lenox Junior-Senior High School students. Additional traffic charges are pending against several individuals. All of the juveniles remain in the custody of their parents.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County are expected to act on the setting of a date for a hearing on the vacating of a road, Wednesday morning. The action will follow a report from County Engineer Nick Kauffman, and pertains to the vacating of Etna Avenue in Washington township IN 23. The Board will also act on accepting proposals for designs of RCB at Lincoln W 16 and Bridges at Walnut N7 and Jackson W3.

The meeting begins at 9-a.m., Wednesday.

One person was killed another injured during a single-vehicle accident early Monday morning in Madison County. The Iowa State Patrol said the driver of a 2010 Chevy pickup, identified as 24-year old Shawn Lewis Bentall Goodrich, of Adel, was injured in the crash and flown by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where he was reported to be in critical condition today (Tuesday). He was not wearing a seat belt.

His passenger, 29-year old Ashley Nicole Nehls, of West Des Moines, died at the scene of the accident near Bevington off Interstate 35 southbound, at the 55.5-mile marker. The crash happened at around 2-a.m., Monday, but it wasn’t discovered until 9-a.m. Monday, when transportation officials were inspecting a sign that had been damaged following a semitrailer crash which occurred on Saturday.

The Iowa State Patrol says the pickup was traveling south on I-35 when for reasons unknown, it left the road and hit a sign for the Middle River, before it vaulted off the edge of the ditch north of a creek just north of the Middle River. The pickup came to rest wedged in the creek facing south, where the front of the vehicle had impacted.

The Shelby County Supervisors have set the date for a public hearing and an auction pertaining to an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan that would include the County’s five year plan for bridge and culvert projects. The county has notified the school districts in Shelby County, and after no comments were heard prior to today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting, the Board elected to forward and hold the public hearing 9-a.m. November 19th, for the amendment.

In other news, the Supervisors set the same date for the auction for cash rent of county owned land. Instead of bids, the supervisors have held an auction for the past two years. This year the solid waste ground will be auctioned as well. The county has installed a 4 year grid sampling and the winning bidder will have to pay to the company, Farm Service Co-Op.

Auditor Marsha Carter said “We have in the notice, it says, the county has ordered grid soil sampling on the farm. All dry fertilizer will be applied based on the results. In addition to the rent, the successful bidder will reimburse the county for 1/4th of the lime application and pay FSC Defiance directly for the fertilizer costs. Cash rent will include use of the 7,500 grain bid on the property. The successful bidder will be responsible for paying the electricity on the bin usage.”

The county land auction will begin at 9-am on November 19th. Supervisor Steve Kenkel gave another update on the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Regional Planning. The committee met in Atlantic this past Monday and has scheduled a few upcoming public input meetings. Kenkel said there will be three locations because nine different counties are involved.

“One will be November 26th in Shenandoah. One will be December 19th in Oakland and the other will be January 21st in Dunlap. That kind of spreads them out throughout the region so the public, their families can comment with what is going on and their concerns and we can learn some things from that also.”

The Mental Health Committee will be spreading the word with flyers and handouts when the date for the public input meetings gets closer.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A Harlan man was arrested last week on a sex abuse charge. Officials say 37-year old Steven Wayne Thompson was arrested October 25th, after officers were called to a disturbance at his residence in the 900 block of Baldwin. Thompson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with sexual abuse 3rd degree.