Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Friday of 31-year old Steve Pedersen, of Atlantic. Pederson was taken into custody on a charge of assault. He was booked into the Cass County Jail pending an appearance before the magistrate.

An Anita woman is lucky to alive after a fire occurred at her home this (Monday) morning. Firefighters from Anita and Wiota responded to the call about smoke and flames coming from the home at 306 Elm Street just before 8:30-a.m.

Fire at 306 Elm St. in Anita (Ric Hanson photo)

Anita Fire Chief Duane Murphy says when they arrived there was a large amount of smoke venting from the windows on the north side of the building and up in the attic. Murphy says firefighters were able to get control of the situation “pretty quick.” He said while the cause remains under investigation, there was a report of a “boom” or a “bang” ahead of their arrival. He says they suspect the air conditioner may have burned through and vented into the home, but natural gas was not immediately thought to have been to blame. The initial investigation leads them to believe that it started on the inside of the home in the attic area, which is where most of the damage occurred. The Chief said there was extensive damage to the home.

306 Elm St. Fire (Ric Hanson photo)

A woman believed to be in her 50’s was in the home, along with her dog. Murphy said the woman had some injuries, but is “very lucky.” She showed indications she had taken in a lot of smoke and soot. She was transported by Anita Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic for treatment, before being flown by helicopter to a burn unti in Nebraska for additional treatment. Chief Murphy said her refusal leave the home to try and find the dog, could have cost her her life. He says it’s hard to get across to people that their health is more important than their pets. He says they spent 25-minutes trying to convince her to go to the hospital. He says if a human’s health is in jeopardy, the health of the animal isn’t going to matter if there’s no one around to take care if it. Firefighters and neighbors were still searching for the animal late this morning.

The Clarinda Police Department says only minor injuries were reported following an accident late Saturday morning near the intersection of Lincoln and 16th Streets. Officials say a 2004 Chevy Impala driven by 60-year old Carol Jean Shipley, of Clarinda, was traveling east on Lincoln approaching 16th Street at around 11:35-a.m., when she failed to stop at the posted stop sign. Shipley’s car hit a northbound 2000 Dodge driven by 19-year old Kaytlynne Jo Gregory, of Clarinda. The collision caused the Gregory vehicle to spin around.  Shipley’s car continued northeast at the intersection and came into contact again with the Gregory vehicle before it jumped a curb and came to rest in a yard. Gregory was transported to the Clarinda Hospital by Clarinda EMS. A passenger in her car, and Shipley, both refused medical treatment. Damage from the crash amounted to $8,000. Officials say Shipley was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Clarinda Police report also an  arrest Saturday night following a domestic disturbance. Officers were called to the Meadow Run Apartments at around 11:15 p.m. Following an investigation, they arrested 29-year old Edward Dawayne Mays, of Clarinda, for violation of a domestic violence protection order that was issued pursuant to a domestic altercation earlier in the month. Mays was being held in the Page County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before a Page County Magistrate.