The Department of Defense today (Monday) announced the death of Algona, Iowa native Sgt. Joseph A. Richardson.

Sgt. Joseph Richardson

The 23-year old was serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. Richardson died Nov. 16th during a patrol in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an Improvised Explosive Device and small arms fire. Also killed in the attack was 24-year old Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, of Greer, S.C.

Both Soldiers were assigned as infantrymen to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Richardson was assigned to the 1st ID in October 2008 and had previously served in Iraq with this unit. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

The family of Sgt. Joseph Richardson issued a statement, which read in-part:
“He was eager to come into this world and lived his life full of energy and with passion for everything he did. He loved his family and friends. Joe was always on the move and liked by everyone. There wasn’t a time that you spent with Joe that he wasn’t laughing or joking around. Everywhere you would go you would find someone that knew him or just loved how full of life he was.”

In a follow-up to our report over the weekend about an accident on Interstate 80 early Saturday morning, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Monday, said48-year old Dale Elmer Laparr, of Kingman, AZ, was traveling east on I-80 at around 1:25-a.m., when he fell asleep at the wheel of the 2010 Dodge Caliber he was driving. The car drifted off into the breakdown lane, and struck a legally parked 2000 Lincoln LS. The unoccupied, broken down car was registered to Zan Loroa of Sioux Falls, SD.

No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to an estimated $18,000. Authorities cited Laparr for Failure to Maintain Control.

Two people from Massena were arrested Thanksgiving Day on assault charges. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in Massena. As a result of the call, they arrested 54-year old Timothy Dayle Meyer, of Massena, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault 3^rd Offense,  and 46-year old Katherine Jane Gipple, also of Massena, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/Simple Assault. Both of the individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and released on their own recognizance the following day.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Thanksgiving Day, of Warren Sayers. The 57-year old from Malvern was arrested in Malvern at around 9-p.m., on a charge of Harassment. His bond was set at $300.

Authorities said also, no injuries were reported following three separate accidents during the holiday weekend. Early Thursday morning, a 1986 Mazda driven by 20-year old Sean Miller, of Pacific Junction, was traveling south on 195th Street, just south of Highway 34, when his vehicle entered the east ditch and rolled over. The accident happened about one-half mile north of Pacific Junction, at around 2:50-a.m.

The second accident happened Sunday afternoon, when a 2004 Dodge, driven by 18-year old Lucas Ring, of Glenwood, was backing out of a driveway about 5-miles north of Glenwood. Officials say the vehicle struck an illegally parked vehicle that had been left unattended on the east side of 230th Street, which is a gravel road. The second vehicle, a 2004 Pontiac,  was registered to Arthur Alexander.

That same day, a 1998 Jeep driven by 16-year old Sydney Johnson, of Glenwood, swerved to miss a deer, and rolled. The teen was not injured during the accident, that happened on Barrus Road at around 9:45-p.m., northwest of Silver City.

Sheriff’s Officials in Adams County say 19-year old Zachary Carlson, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday afternoon, on an OWI charge. Carlson was arrested after deputies received word about an erratic driver south of Corning. When they initiated a traffic stop, deputies determined the man was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He was also cited for failure to wear a seat belt, having no insurance, and failure to hold a valid license. Carlson was booked into the Adams County Jail, and held on $1,000 bond.

A traffic stop on Highway 71 in Audubon County early Thanksgiving Day resulted in the arrest of an Audubon man. Sheriff’s officials say 22-year old Jacob Gary Johnson, of Audubon, was taken into custody at around 2-a.m., and charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)/2nd Offense. Johnson was later released after appearing before a magistrate. His preliminary hearing takes place December 10th.

The teachers and staff at the Griswold Community School District will hold a spaghetti benefit supper one-week from this Friday, just before the Griswold Tigers versus Riverside Bulldogs basketball games. The meal consisting of spaghetti with your choice of meat or cheese sauce, plus Texas toast, dessert and drink costs just Six-dollars for Middle School students and Adults, and Three-dollars for Elementary age children. Children under 5-years of age eat for free. Serving begins at 5-p.m. on December 7th.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit scholarships and “Tiger Trait Awards.”