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Mills County Sheriff’s report (8/3)

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested on separate charges over the past few days, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Wyatt Kane Bailey, of Red Oak, was arrested Saturday night, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $2,000. And, at around 9:30 this (Monday) morning, 36-year old Travis Mitchell Long, of Honey Creek, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Service his sentence in Mills County. Long was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, a Nebraska man was injured during an accident Saturday night in Mills County. Authorities say 30-year old Elijah Edmonds, of Plattesmouth, NE., was traveling west on Lambert Avenue at around 9:55-p.m., when he failed to stop at a T-intersection with Lincoln Avenue. His 2019 Ford continued through the intersection for reasons unknown, and struck a two-car garage belonging to property owners at 309 E. 3rd Street. Edmonds was transported by Malvern Rescue to the UNMC in Omaha.

The vehicle was considered a total loss, which damage estimated at $7,000.

Fire officials say 1 woman found dead in Iowa apartment fire

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one woman has died in an apartment fire in downtown Fort Dodge. The Messenger reports that the fire happened Sunday afternoon, when firefighters were summoned to Central Avenue for reports of smoke coming from an apartment. Arriving fire crews found heavy smoke in the apartment and upon searching it, found an unresponsive woman inside. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not released her name. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Updated) CLAYTON ELLINGSON, 93, of Atlantic (Celebration of Life 8/8/20)

Obituaries

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CLAYTON ELLINGSON, 93, of Atlantic, died April 26th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life for CLAYTON ELLINGSON will be held 1:30-p.m Saturday, Aug 8th, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Atlantic. The family requests the use of a mask while in attendance at the service and visitation. A mask will be provided for those who do not have one. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

A visitation and luncheon will be held prior to the service Saturday, from 11-a.m. until 1-p.m., at the church.; You’re invited to join the family for a final toast to Clayton, 4-p.m. Saturday, at the Nishna Hills Golf Course.

A private family burial will be held in the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, in Atlantic.

Memorials may be directed to the family, in care of the funeral home.

CLAYTON ELLINGSON is survived by:

His daughter – Kathy (Rhett) Leonard, of Ida Grove.

His sons – Jim (Neala) Ellingson, of West Des Moines, and Steve Ellingson, of Des Moines.

His brother – Byron Ellingson, of Excelsior, MN.

5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and his daughter-in-law: Connie Ellingson, of Ames.

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery on the options for upcoming basketball season

Sports

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa coach Fran McCaffery is confident there will be a college basketball season even if it looks different from past years. McCaffery says there are a variety of options being discussed.

McCaffery says among the options are a January first start date and an NCAA Tournament that is pushed back into spring.

After having the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament canceled this past season McCaffery is confident there will be a postseason next year.

Private property rights again a flash point with Iowa lawmakers

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Three G-O-P members of a key committee say they plan to block state regulators from expanding their authority to turn over private property for wind energy developments. Some Iowa counties have passed local zoning ordinances restricting where wind turbines may be placed. Critics say those restrictions would be overruled by the proposed Iowa Utilities Board rules — because if the board approves a wind farm project, eminent domain authority could be used to convert private property for the public use of renewable energy generation. Senator Zach Whiting of Spirit Lake says he has a number of concerns about the dramatic expansion of eminent domain authority the Utilities Board appears to give itself.)

Private property rights and utility development have been a flash point for lawmakers from both parties for years. In 2006, then-Governor Tom Vilsack vetoed legislation that limited the power of local governments to seize private property for commercial development through the eminent domain process — and 87 percent of the Iowa legislature’s members voted to override that veto. A year ago, Governor Kim Reynolds said she favored local control and opposed statewide regulation of where wind turbines may be located.

Iowa governor has stopped AG from joining anti-Trump suits

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican governor has rejected two-thirds of the Democratic state attorney general’s requests to join multi-state lawsuits. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ actions were made possible by an unusual compromise that has allowed her to repeatedly block the state’s involvement in challenges to Trump administration policies. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller agreed in May 2019 to seek Reynolds’ approval before he would join mult-istate lawsuits, and Reynolds in turn vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have prevented the state’s top lawyer from joining any multi-state suit unless the governor or Legislature requested it.

Miller says the compromise importantly is temporary and won’t hamstring future Iowa attorneys general.

2 from Offutt AFB die in Mills County crash, Sunday

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 8/5/20) – A man and a woman from Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE., died early Sunday morning during a single-vehicle crash in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 21-year old Senior Airman Nicholas David Johnson, of Union, New Jersey, and 21-year old Olivia Hope Johnson, died at the scene of the crash. The accident happened at around 4:50-a.m., when the 2020 Subaru WRX Nicholas Johnson was driving, went off of the road as it was traveling west on Bunge Avenue. The car entered the north ditch, vaulted across Allis Road and struck a tree before coming to rest on its top.

Mills County Deputies assisted the State Patrol at the accident scene. Officials say Olivia Johnson had her seat belt on, but Nicholas Johnson did not. Officials did not say how or whether the two were related.

New ENT coming to Atlantic Medical Center Surgery Clinic

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC- Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) say Dr. Rick Rinehart, E-N-T (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist), will begin seeing patients on August 17, 2020 at the Atlantic Medical Center Surgery Clinic.  Dr. Rinehart will provide care for all ages in the clinic and also perform surgeries in Atlantic. He is a board certified Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon (ENT) with over 20 years of experience.

Dr. Rick Rinehart, ENT. (Photo submitted)

The doctor was born and raised in Iowa and did his undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. He then completed both medical school and his residency at the University of Iowa. Rinehart served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in ENT for the University of Iowa and instructed ENT residents in Des Moines for over a decade. In 2013 Des Moines Magazine presented him with the “Best Doc” award in his field as voted by his ENT peers.

CCHS CEO Brett Altman says “Dr. Rinehart is an exceptional physician. We strive to develop relationships like this with the best, brightest, and kindest doctors so that our patients can get
outstanding healthcare services right here at home.”  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rinehart, patients should call the AMC Surgery Clinic (formerly Southwest Iowa Surgery) at 712-243-7535.

Red Oak man arrested for Serious Assault

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by Shenandoah Police and Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sunday afternoon, arrested 24-year old Christopher Andrew Blackwell, of Red Oak. Blackwell was charged with Serious Assault, following an investigation into an incident at a residence in southwestern Page County, about eight-miles south of Shenandoah. A call came into PAGECOMM Dispatch via 911 at around 1:42-p.m..

The caller said Blackwell, the alleged suspect, was still in the residence and possibly armed with weapons.  Blackwell taken into custody and transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings. Shenandoah Ambulance Service also assisted at the scene.

Pott. County Sheriff’s Dept. releases info. about accident near Cass/Pott. County line

News

August 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County have issued a report about an accident that took place near the Pott./Cass County line last Thursday evening. As we mentioned in our previous reports, the crash took place at around 5:25-p.m. in the area of 53386 Elmtree Road, northwest of Griswold. Authorities say 25-year old Brett Tyler Martin (address not given) was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

A little after midnight, Saturday, Pott. County Deputies arrested 24-year old Selena Naomi Herrera, following a disturbance in Oakland. Herrera was charged with Assault – without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness. Saturday evening, 52-year old Darren Keith Brooks, of Oakland, was arrested at a residence in Oakland, following a domestic disturbance. Brooks allegedly assaulted his wife, and was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense with serious injury and intent. Brooks was also arrested Sunday afternoon for Contempt of Court, with regard to Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order.

Saturday night, 36-year old Trent Matthew Suhr, of Walnut, was arrested in Oakland, for OWI/3rd or subsequent offense (six prior convictions within the past 12 years). He was also cited for speeding. His bond on the felony OWI charge, was set at $5,000. Late Friday morning, 43-year old Harry James Schneckloth, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a State of Nebraska warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $1,000 bond associated with a Possession of Controlled Substance charge.

And, Thursday afternoon, 34-year old Joseph Brian Samuelson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Assault without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness. Samuelson, who was already being held in the Pott. County Jail on other charges, was served with the warrant for Assault, and returned to the custody of Corrections staff.