Mike Cornelison

The family of Des Moines stage and film actor and Atlantic native, Michael Cornelison, says the 59-year old died Saturday, from liver complications. Mike’s son Nick told the Des Moines Register his father had been in declining health for 10 days and had lived with liver problems for many years. In 1993, following a surgery, doctors estimated he would only live another 10 years.

Throughout the weekend, condolences and remembrances were posted on Cornelison’s Facebook page, where his death was first announced on Saturday by his son. Cornelison graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and made a career of acting in Hollywood and in Iowa. In Des Moines, Cornelison worked with the Des Moines Playhouse, StageWest Theatre Company and Charlie’s Playhouse.

He acted in feature films alongside Bill Murray in “Where the Buffalo Roam,” Albert Brooks in “Lost in America” and fellow Iowan Tom Arnold in “The Final Season.” After a stint in Hollywood between 1978 and 1984, Cornelison returned to Iowa, where he became involved not only in stage productions, but Iowa independent films.

Cornelison was a movie buff and loved popular culture, especially filmmaking, old horror movies, comic books and jazz music, said his son. A memorial service is being planned at the Des Moines Playhouse. The date and time have yet to be announced.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report two people were injured when the pickups they were driving collided Sunday evening, just north of Stanton. 39-year old Robin Michelle Sanders, of Corning, was taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Stanton Rescue, while 42-year old Anthony James Clark, of Red Oak, was transported by private vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department says Sanders was traveling east on Highway 34, approaching the intersection with O Avenue (County Road M-63), at about the same time Clark was traveling south on O Avenue. Clark told authorities he stopped at the intersection, looked both ways and thought it was clear. As he proceeded south, his 1999 Chevy 1500 pickup was hit in the middle of the intersection, by the 2005 Chevy 1500, driven by Sanders. The accident happened at around 5:45-p.m., Sunday.

The truck driven by Sanders, and registered to Greg Fort, of Corning, sustained $8,000 damage while Clark’s truck was considered a total loss. Officials say Clark was cited for Failing to Yield, upon entering a through highway.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer is asking for motorists to be extremely cautious when traveling the roads, especially the gravel and dirt roads due to the dusty conditions, and for slow moving,  and sometimes over-sized vehicles used during this harvest season.  The advice follows two separate accidents that happened over the weekend, during which four people were injured. Palmer says the dust from the roads and harvest equipment can make it extremely hard to see traffic in any direction at times, especially during dusk and at night.

Palmer says the first accident happened Saturday,when 49-year old Kimberly Walker, of Essex, lost control of her vehicle about four-miles northwest of Red Oak. The Sheriff says Walker was traveling east on 150th Street at around 10:15-a.m., when, as she rounded a curve and started down a hill, she came upon a large cloud of dust. Walker came up on a grain wagon being pulled by a tractor, and was unable to stop in time. Her 2011 Chevy Suburban hit the back of the trailer, but the driver of the 1992 John Deere tractor, 50-year old Harve Johnson, of Essex never felt the impact, and continued on, to Essex. Walker, and her six- and four-year old grandsons, Jacob and Caden Robinette, of Essex, were not injured. Her suburban sustained $60,000 damage, and was considered a total loss. No Citations were issued.

The second accident in Page County, happened at around 12:30-a.m. Sunday, near Clarinda, when 16-year old Joshua Sickels, of Clarinda, lost control of the SUV he was driving. Sheriff Palmer says Sickels was traveling westbound on 200th Street when he looked over to the passengers and failed to keep his eyes on the road. The 2003 Chevy Suburban he was driving came to rest against some trees, on the south side of 200th Street in the 2700 block.

Sickels, who was wearing his seatbelt, was not hurt. Four passengers in the vehicle, 15-year olds Natalie Donahue, Halle Goude, and Christie Ross, along with 16-year old Samantha Swanson, all of Clarinda, suffered possible, unknown injuries. They were transported by Clarinda EMS to the Clarinda Regional Hospital. Deputies were not immediately able to determine if the teens were wearing their seatbelts.

Sickels was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The SUV sustained $12,000 damage, and was considered a total loss.