The Lenox Police Department reports a Clearfield man plead guilty last week to arson charges, in connection with an investigation into a fire at the Lenox Hotel. 25-year old Christopher Jo Cameron, plead guilty of 3 felony counts of Arson in the second degree on July 17th. He was charged as the result of a joint investigation with the Lenox Police Department and the State Fire Marshals office into a fire at the Lenox Motel.The investigation also provided information which showed Cameron was responsible for two additional fires in Clearfield.

Cameron was sentenced to 10 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections and a $1000 fine for each of the three counts of arson. Additionally he was ordered to pay $118,256 in restitution, $4,050 in jail fees to the Taylor County Sheriffs office and $1,039 in medical restitution to the Taylor County clerk of court. Cameron has been transferred to the custody of the Iowa Medical Classification Center at Coralville.

Three people were arrested in Atlantic over the past few days. According to the Atlantic Police Department, 22-year old Devin Register, and 23-year old Tara Woodard, both of Atlantic, were arrested Friday on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, on Sunday, 25-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. Knight was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident this (Monday) morning northwest of Stanton. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says they received a 9-1-1 cell phone call at around 9:15-a.m. about the crash west of Nature Avenue, on 200th Street. When deputies arrived, they determined a 2000 Chevy 1500 pickup, owned and operated by 64-year old Gary Merl Jackson, of Stanton, was traveling west on 200th Street and had attempted to pass a tractor.

In the process, Jackson noticed an eastbound vehicle approaching. He locked-up his pickup’s brakes and cut -in behind the tractor before the pickup caught traction on the pavement and rolled onto its top. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000. No citations were issued.

(12-p.m. news)

One of the attractions at the upcoming “Fly Iowa” Airshow in Atlantic this September, is an aerobatic performance by a man who’s used to flying….upside down.

Koontz' plane

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says Greg Koontz has been doing aerobatics for over 30 years and will give the audience at Atlantic’s Fly Iowa Air Show on September 15th something to watch in amazement, hold their breath during and go home talking about. His show is billed as a “wacky, fun air show comedy act.” Greg (Clem Cleaver in the show) arrives at the show as a misfit from the hills of the Deep South with no idea how to act in the city. He and his dog, Rat Dog, make a hilarious show that includes loops, vertical rolls, snaps, tumbles and inverted passes.

The Atlantic Fly Iowa Heritage & Homecoming Air Show begins with a flight brunch that is open to everyone. A hot air balloon, skydivers, many planes displayed for people to walk around and look at, and aerobatic acts, such as Greg Koontz will be performing.

Greg Koontz, aerobatic stunt pilot

Koontz started flying air shows in 1974, performing in comedy acts in a 1946 J-3 Super Decathlon Cub for Colonel Moser’s Flying Circus. He worked with Colonel Moser in St. Augustine, Florida, teaching aerobatics and flew in the Flying Circus all over the southeast and part of the Caribbean. He also developed solo aerobatic routines in the Bellanca Citabria, Great Lakes biplane and the Bellanca Decathlon.  Koontz brings the small, Super Decathlon Piper Cub to the Atlantic Fly Iowa Air Show.

Koontz has over 22,000 flight hours in over 165 different aircraft types. He   spent his career as a flight instructor, charter pilot and corporate flight department manager, flying everything from Cubs to jets. Today, he runs a bed and breakfast aerobatic school, Sky Country Lodge, on a private airstrip in Alabama. For more information about the Atlantic Fly Iowa event, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Iowa State Patrol has released some additional details about the five people who were injured during a three-vehicle crash this (Monday) morning, in Pottawattamie County. Officials say four people in a 1997 Honda Odyssey van were injured, while the driver of a 2004 Honda Accord suffered life-threatening injuries. No names have been released at this time, however, until relatives can be notified.

The Patrol says the accident happened at the intersection of Highway 6 and Hunt Avenue (east of Council Bluffs), at around 7:25-a.m. Authorities report a 2012 Mazda 3 was slowing or stopped for turning traffic. The driver of the Accord failed to stop and rear-ended the Mazda before the Accord came to rest in in the westbound lane of Highway 6. The vehicle was then hit broadside by the van on the drivers’ side door. The driver of the Mazda was not injured.

An investigation into the crash continues.

The CAM Community School District’s Board of Education met in a special session this (Monday) morning, at the High School in Anita. Superintendent Steve Pelzer says the board approved the resignation of Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Berns. He said she has been offered and verbally accepted an Elementary Principal’s position with the Villisca Community School District.

Pelzer says they were fortunate to have filled her position with a previously interviewed candidate. Julie Green, from Atlantic, has been offered and accepted the job. She will be a first-year teacher. Pelzer says the Board also approved a Custodial position contract, and, a Management Fund Bill. He says that covers their liability and property insurance, and allows the district to pay the bill for the upcoming year.