The Iowa State Patrol says a man from Stuart has died from injuries he suffered during a motorcycle crash in Guthrie County. A 1980 Yamaha motorcycle driven by 53-year old Alan Whitecotton, of Stuart, was found this (Thursday) morning in the south ditch along Whitepole Road (Highway 6), just east of 345th Trail. The Guthrie County Medical Examiner pronounced Whitecotten dead at the scene.

Officials say it’s not clear when the accident occurred, but the man was last scene at around 5-p.m. Monday (Aug. 5th). The accident remains under investigation.

A Shelby County resident will be honored at the Iowa State Fair this week. Steve Leinen,  of Panama, has been selected as “Iowan of the Day” at this year’s Iowa State Fair. The Iowan of the Day program is sponsored by the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and selects 10 lucky Iowa residents who are nominated by others for the award. The Foundation receives hundreds of nominations each year. Every Iowan of the Day gets his/her special day at the State Fair. Leinen’s day at the fair is Friday. Leinen says he was nominated by Lois Kramer.

“She nominated me and I didn’t really know the program existed and called me one night and told me you have been nominated for Iowan of the Day. It has a lot of perks to go with it.” Leinen and three of his guests will get the royal treatment on Friday. He said “We get four free passes to the fair along with a parking pass up close and get in early. We get a golf cart to drive around, cash to spend and four tickets to the concert that night. The highlight of the day is getting on the Bill Riley talent stage to get the award. It is a pretty special deal.”

Leinen will  share the award with his wife, adding “That’s the reason I am today because of her. We work as a team on any volunteering that we do and the award is somewhat based on that so she deserves it just as much as I do.” The Leinens serve on the Harlan Community Booster Club, Panama Athletic Association, the Panama Fire Department and Steve is Secretary on the Shelby County Cattlemen Board. Steve Leinen says on the night he found out he won, he originally thought he was suppose to help the Kramers with redecorating work.

He said “Dave and Lois invited us to their house to supposedly look at some landscaping. It happened on the day they tore down their kitchen wall and I thought I was going to be asked to help as she had a stack of papers in front of her. All of sudden she started telling me about what she did and she showed me a bunch of pictures that she had sent in. So I was surprised.”

As Iowan of the Day, Leinen received a free night stay for this (Thursday) evening at the Marriott before starting his day at the Fair Friday.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning in Lenox, lead to the arrest of a Central Iowa man. Lenox Police pulled over a vehicle driving erratically on Brooks Avenue, at around 12:30-a.m.  When the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle located drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Trever John Wiebenga

The driver, 22-year old Trever John Wiebenga, of Dexter, was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs office for processing. The vehicle was impounded.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – At least three people in two states will split the $448 million Powerball jackpot. Lottery officials say two winning tickets were sold in New Jersey and one was sold in Minnesota.  Minnesota lottery officials say that state’s winning Powerball jackpot ticket was sold in Anoka County.

New Jersey lottery officials say one of the winning tickets in that state was purchased at a Super Stop & Shop store in South Brunswick. The other one was bought at an Acme Markets store in Little Egg Harbor.  Phil Weber, the director of the Acme store, says he’s just happy that, in his words, “someone’s life is changing for the positive.”

No winners have come forward yet.  The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 05, 25, 30, 58, 59 and Powerball 32.