One person suffered minor injuries during a collision between a car and a pickup truck this (Saturday) morning, north of Atlantic.

Mazda Protege in the north ditch off of Boston Road (Ric Hanson photo)

The crash between a Mazda Protege driven by Mike Anderson, of rural Atlantic, and a Ford F-350 pickup driven by Rick McDermott and owned by Smith Farms, of Atlantic, happened at around 10:30-a.m., about one-quarter of a mile west of Olive Street, on Boston Road. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff Bill Ayers told KJAN News the car was traveling west on Boston Road,  which he described as being like a washboard. As Anderson tried to move away from the side of the road and was left of the center, the eastbound truck topped the hill and the vehicles collided, despite efforts by both drivers to avoid the collision.

Accident scene (east to west view) – Ric Hanson photo

Following the collision, the car rolled onto its top into the north ditch, while the truck came to rest on the gravel road. Anderson was treated for cuts and abrasions, but did not require transport to the hospital. Chief Deputy Ayers said Anderson was cited for Failure to Yield half of the roadway.

The car being loaded onto a wrecker.

While the scene was under investigation, the unoccupied pickup apparently popped out of gear and rolled on its flat left front tire, into the north ditch.

The pickup rolled into the ditch about 30-minutes after the collision.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors on Friday, acted to appoint one of their members to the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Regional Planning Committee. General Relief/Mental Health Coordinator Teresa Kanning told the Board there has been interest in the community regarding the appointment. The Board voted to appoint Supervisor Frank Waters as a member of the committee, and Supervisor Gaylord Schelling as the alternate.

The  Supervisors in June signed a letter of intent to join with other counties in a 28-E agreement for Mental Health services. In May, Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation that reform’s the state’s mental health system. It shakes up the current county-based format in favor of one based on “regions.”

A domestic situation in Red Oak early this (Saturday) morning, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police report 27-year old Aaron Lucas Allen, of Red Oak, was arrested after allegedly causing damage to an apartment in the 1800 block of East Summit Street. Allen, who was found behind the property, allegedly resisted arrest. He faces a charge of  3rd degree criminal mischief. Allen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,300 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, decided to take under advisement a recommendation by the County Public Safety Commission, to relocate the 9-1-1 Center from the basement of the courthouse, to the third-floor, where the County Emergency Management Office is currently located. CPC Chairman Steve Livengood said the 3^rd floor is the most logical place for the 9-1-1 Center, which has outgrown its current space. Livengood said consolidating with the Iowa State Patrol Communications Center in a new, separate building may still happen somewhere down the road, but it’s not in the scope of vision for the immediate future, because of the current “political climate,” and the lack of funds available. Livengood says they need more information on what types are funding are needed before any equipment is moved to the 3^rd floor.

One of the concerns the Supervisors had with moving the 9-1-1 Center to the 3^rd floor is, where will the voting machines on the floor go to? The machines require a climate-controlled environment and security. There is not enough room in the Comm Center for the voting machines and EMA offices. Supervisor Chuck Rieken he couldn’t give the CPC his blessing to move forward with relocating the Comm Center until some important questions are answered.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, Friday, approved the setting of October 17^th at 9:05-a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing on the proposed vacation of a portion of 662^nd Lane (Benton Township, Section 7). The road was originally established in July of 1895. And, they approved the closure of certain roads on Saturday, Sept. 15^th, as part of the “Fly Iowa 2012” airshow at the Atlantic Airport.

Gary Maas, Flight Boss for the show says since part of the show’s flight activity will be over Secondary roadways, those roads must be closed, and the FAA requires an “Air Box” to be established for the air show performers, that they must adhere to for safety reasons. The box has vertical and horizontal spatial limitations, that extend to the ground and cover a couple of local roads, which again, must be blocked-off during the show.

Airshow Chairman Gary Pellett has spoken with the affected farmers, property owners and the Iowa Interstate Railroad about the temporary changes, all of whom are agreeable to the restrictions. Maas says there’s been tremendous community support and cooperation for the free air show. You can find out more about it by surfing to the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce’ website at www.atlanticiowa.com, or by using this direct link: http://www.atlanticiowa.com/visiting-atlantic/atlantic-municipal-airport