(Shenandoah, Iowa) –  A collision Tuesday morning about one-half mile south of Shenandoah, resulted in injuries to drivers of two vehicles. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports at accident happened at around 9:05-a.m. at the intersection of Highway 2 and A Avenue. An investigation determined 93-year-old Darrel Dean Allely, of rural Shenandoah, was behind the wheel of a 2015 Acura on Highway 2 and A Avenue. A 2020 Ford Explorer driven by 60-year-old Cynthia Ann Wainwright, of rural Bedford,  was on Highway 2 just east of the intersection with A Avenue.

Authorities say Allely was traveling north on A Avenue, when he drove into the path of Wainwright. Wainwright’s SUV struck Allely’s car on the passenger side front fender / front door area with the front end of her vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest in the northwest portion of the intersection. Both Wainwright and Allely were transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. Charges are pending at this time.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Shenandoah Ambulance service, Shenandoah Fire Department, Shenandoah Police Department, and Page County EMA.

Sheriff’s officials in Page County report two arrests. On Tuesday (April 5th), deputies arrested 56-year-old James Randall Gomel, of rural Northboro. He was taken into custody on a Christian County, Missouri warrant for a Sex Offender Registry violation. Gomel was being held in the Page County Jail, pending extradition proceedings to Missouri.

James R. Gomel

And, on Monday, deputies in Page County arrested 19-year-old Braden Alan Gray, of Council Bluffs. He was wanted on a Page County warrant for Failure to Appear. Gray was being held in the Page County Jail on $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Braden A. Gray

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – Six fire crews from three different southern Iowa counties fought an overnight fire on the town square in Osceola. The fire in an abandoned building in Osceola late last night and was extinguished just before sunrise. Osceola’s fire chief told a reporter for WHO-TV that a fire wall had protected apartments in the building next door. Apartment residents were safely evacuated. Police have blocked off a corner on the town square as fire crews monitor the burned out structure. The site of the fire is just north of the Clarke County Courthouse, which is open for business today.

Osceola’s commercial district, including the town square, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places four years ago, as some of the buildings date back to the 1890s.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will continue to use their Conference Call service during their Board meetings. That decision was reached during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, in Greenfield. The Board began using the Conference Call when the pandemic limited attendance at in-person meetings. The call-in, access code system is especially helpful to the media and others who wish to listen to the proceedings, but are not able to attend. The system comes at no cost to the county.

The Board approved Courtyard use permits for the April 16th Easter Egg Hunt, “Summer Kick-off,” and 4th of July.

In other business, Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson presented the Board with a proposal for the use of American Rescue Plan funds for “i-Crimefighter.” The program is a mobile and tablet evidence collection system for Law Enforcement.The applications allows officers to capture pictures, videos, audio recordings and notes in the field and upload evidence to secure cloud hosting. It would benefit all Law Enforcement Agencies in the County, at a cost of $4,500 per year, for three-years ($13,500 in total).

She said the app has other benefits as well.

Sheriff Jeff Vandewater explained the system is very versatile and can be helpful during investigations. That’s especially true where there is video evidence available from the public.

The Board passed a motion to move forward with acquiring the program. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman requested the Board approve setting April 20th at 9:30-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the vacating of 140th Street for one-half mile on the north side of Section 30, Lincoln. The request was approved. Kauffman also discussed the County 5-year Construction Program, during which there were some changes in the cost and scope of some projects. The Adair County Supervisors approved the revised plan as presented. Nick Kauffman also discussed some current and future road maintenance and related activities.

(UPDATED} (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), after having conducted interviews, selected and appointed Republican Sara Harris, of Atlantic, as County Auditor, to fill a vacancy. Dale Sunderman, who served as the County Auditor for more than 37-years, had announced his intention in February, to resign from the post, effective April 15^th. Board Chair Steve Baier read from Sunderman’s resignation letter to the Board.

The Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning, regretfully accepted his resignation.

Cass Supervisors discuss Dale Sunderman’s amended resignation letter (Dale and his wife Sheryl are seated near the flag)

Afterward, Chairman Baier administered the Oath of Office to Sara Harris.

Board Chair Steve Baier administers the Oath of Office to Sara Harris.

Harris will serve the remainder of Sunderman’s term, which expires at the end of the year.