OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Better Business Bureau that serves Nebraska, South Dakota and southwest Iowa has announced a merger with The Kansas Plains Better Business Bureau that serves most of Kansas.  The new combined territory will have nearly 10,000 accredited businesses.   Jim Hegarty is president of the bureau based in Omaha says that the merger will let each bureau “build on each other’s strengths, combine resources and initiate new programs to meet the needs of today’s businesses and consumers.”

The bureaus expect the merger to be completed in the next few months. The merged bureau will have its headquarters in Omaha, with in Lincoln, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Wichita, Kan.

No injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon, north of Corning, in Adams County. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the driver of a 2007 Chevy Impala, 55-year old Teresa A. Pratt, of New Market, and two unidentified passengers were traveling south on Highway 148. When Pratt lost control of the car, the vehicle entered the east ditch.

A Red Oak Police Department patrol vehicle sustained $5,000 damage Thursday night, when the vehicle struck a deer. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Officer Allen was traveling east on Coolbaugh Street at around 10:15-p.m., when the 2007 Dodge Charger he was driving hit a deer that entered the road from the north. The deer was killed in the collision, but Officer Allen was uninjured.

The Clarinda Police Department is keeping busy these days, investigating reported incidents of theft. Chief Keith Brothers says on Wednesday, November 7^th, the Kum & Go Convenience store in Clarinda reported a gas drive off amounting to just over $35. That same day, Clarinda resident Michael Foster reported the theft of a Lenox 3 ton air conditioning unit and 4 bin stainless steel buffet table from the rear of a business owned by Foster located at 215 South 16^th Street. The loss was estimated at $3,800.

On Monday, November 5^th, Mikayla Westover, of Clarinda reported to Police that a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier she owned had been tampered with while the vehicle was parked in the 300 block on N. 11^th Street. Officials say it appeared a white granular substance had been poured into the gas tank. The incident occurred sometime during November 2-5^th.  There is no damage estimate available. Also on Monday, Rodney Johnston, of Clarinda reported that a chainsaw and case valued at $250was stolen from the bed of Johnston’s truck while it was parked in the Hy-Vee Food Store parking lot.

And, on Saturday, November 3^rd, Griff Taylor, of New Market, reported his identity had been fraudulently used at the Akin Building Center in Clarinda to purchase approximately $2,700 of building and construction supplies.

All of the incidents remain under investigation by the Clarinda Police Department, with the Page County Sheriff’s Department  assisting in the identity theft investigation.