ATLANTIC, IOWA — The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) is happy to welcome Mindy Jensen to our staff in the role of Communications Coordinator. Mindy will oversee community outreach, public engagement, and media communications for SWIPCO and SWITA. She will work to increase awareness of public transit services in order to better connect the people of the Southwest Iowa region to employment, school, and wherever they need to go.

“I have lived in Southwest Iowa the majority of my life and I am passionate about being part of an organization that helps people here every day,” said Jensen. “This position offers me an opportunity to make a difference by getting the word out about the countless ways this organization makes our region a better place to live.”

Jensen is a graduate of Atlantic High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Communications from Dana College. She has many years of experience working with the public and setting up services for community members through her role as a community-based case manager. She is also an accomplished photographer.

“Mindy is a great addition to our team. Also, she has over 15 years of experience connecting our disabled friends and neighbors to community services as a case manager. Couple that with her training and experience as an effective communicator and I have great confidence that she’ll do a wonderful job better connecting us to our members and clients,” SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said.

Two companies were sentenced to probation for one year and ordered to pay millions in restitution in a federal fraud case.

A judge ordered Energae of Clear Lake and I-Lenders to each pay more than one million dollars restitution and to forfeit more than two-point-four million dollars. The sentencing is related to a scheme by Darrel Smith of Forest City and his brother David Smith, of Pocatello, Idaho. Court information shows Darrell Smith used money from his investment clients to pay expenses related to the operation of a now-defunct ethanol plant in Hopkinton.

Darrell Smith was sentenced in 2018 to more than 14 years in federal prison for his conviction of one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. David Smith, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to two months in federal prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.

The Iowa D-O-T has canceled its fall in-person equipment and vehicle auction. Spokesman David Bollenbaugh (Boll-en-bah) says they just don’t have enough vehicles available.

He says they continue maintaining the trucks they have until they can get a replacement. Bollenbaugh says when they do get new trucks — it’s not very many.

He says the amount of time they normal keep trucks can vary — with the larger ones usually around for ten years before they are rotated out. Bollengaugh says they will continue selling the vehicles they are rotating out online. He says they will have several smaller trucks, a passenger van and some larger trucks for sale online — and the mileage will be more than what you would normally see in a sale.

Bollenbaugh says they hope to have another in-person auction in the spring where they will have inventory from the D-O-T and others.

He says they will keep trying to sell the items online until then.

Bollenbaugh says they have been doing some remodeling and will also have some office furniture available online. You can go to GovDeals.com to see the items the Iowa D-O-T has for sale.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday morning of 52-year-old Chadwick Zucco of Red Oak. Zucco was arrested at 9:37 a.m. at 600 N Highland Avenue for Possession of 25.21 grams of Marijuana, 3rd Offense. He was booked in to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Sunday, September 25th at 6:15 p.m. of 30-year-old Jamie Gene Neville of Red Oak. Neville was arrested for Driving Under Suspension in the 700 block of 7th Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $491.25 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports one recent arrest and a few accidents.

On Friday, September 24th Deputies arrested 39-year-old Christopher Patrick Schoening of Glenwood on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. He was arrested at 9:32 p.m. on Hershey Avenue and booked in to the Mills County Jail on no bond.

Also on Friday, September 24th two accidents were reported. At 10:50 a.m. at 188th Street and Highway 34 20-year-old Zachary Fischer was driving a 1997 Ford westbound on Highway 34 approaching the intersection of 188th Street. A 2022 Chevy driven by 58-year-old Patrick John of Mineola was traveling south and turning west onto Highway 34. Fischer stated he was talking on his cell phone and thought he had a green light. He collided with the Chevy. Fischer was shaken up and unable to recall many details of the collision. He had a small cut on his forehead but refused medical treatment at the scene. John was transported from the scene to Mercy Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries.

The other accident on Friday occurred at 4:36 p.m. when a 2014 GMC pickup operated by 83-year-old William Richardson of Thurman was attempting to back into a parking stall at the BP Gas Station on 190th Street. The vehicle struck the building causing damage to the building and the vehicle. No injuries were reported. It is unknown if Richardson’s foot slipped off the brake or he unintentionally hit the gas pedal.

On September 25th at 1:10 p.m. 21-year-old Zachary Updegraff of Hastings was driving a 2000 Ford west bound on Highway 34 near Kidd Road and went off the shoulder. He overcorrected and slid across all 4 lanes of traffic, sending the Ford into a rollover. The vehicle came to rest on its top on the eastbound side of traffic on the opposite shoulder. No injuries were reported and the vehicle was deemed a total loss.

Also on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. 37-year-old Marli Anderson of Glenwood was driving a 2012 Toyota north bound on 195th Street when the passenger tire blew, causing the vehicle to lose control and leave the roadway to the West. The Toyota then struck a tree on the property of 56910 195th Street. No injuries were reported.

The Creston Police Department reports two separate arrests on Monday.

At 4:05 p.m. 34-year-old Corry Donald Johnston of Creston was arrested at his residence. He was charged on 2 Union County Warrants for Failure to Appear. The first on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and the second on charges of Eluding-Injury, Drugs, or Particpate in a Felony, Driving While Barred, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Johnston was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

At 10:27 p.m. 53-year-old Timothy Dean Coleman of Lenox was arrested at the Casey’s store on Highway 34 in Creston. Coleman was charged with Driving While Revoked and taken to the Union County Jail where he later posted $1,000 bond.