Officials with the Walnut Fire Department say they will be hosting a benefit for Gene Eblen at 5-p.m.  Saturday, May 11th ,  at the Walnut American Legion Hall.

Gene Eblen

Gene has been a member of the Walnut Volunteer Fire Department for 33 years, and is recently a double amputee due to complications with diabetes. He will require extensive physical therapy, and will require a complete remodeling of his home to accommodate for these life changes.

The benefit aims to help raise funds for the home remodeling and addition that Gene will require. There will be a dinner starting at 5. Followed by an auction. All donations are welcome, and 100% of the proceeds will go to help Gene.

If you would like to donate or have questions,  contact  Donnie Bauerkemper (712) 784-3665, Brett Petersen (712) 784-3771, Darrell Stamp (712) 789-0869, or Angie Mitchell (712) 307-0025.

No injuries were reported following two separate accidents Friday, in Montgomery County. An accident occurring at 2nd and Oak Streets in Red Oak at around 3:40-p.m., happened when a car driven by 16-year old Erica Sherman, of Red Oak, rear-ended a pickup being driven by 16-year old Kendra Hardy, also of Red Oak.  According to Red Oak Police, the pickup was traveling westbound on Oak Street and had stopped at the intersection with 2nd, and intending to make a left turn. Sherman didn’t notice the truck had come to a compete stop. The resulting collision caused $3,400 damage altogether, with the 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Sherman sustaining the brunt of the damage. No citations were issued.

Earlier in the day, Friday, an accident occurred that involved a 2009 Chevy Cobalt driven by 17-year old Cheryl Hallcock, of Elliott. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the teen was traveling north on County Road M-63 at around 7:45-a.m, when several deer entered the road. When the teen took evasive action in an effort to miss the animals, she lost control of the car, which entered the west ditch, crashed through a field fence, and became stuck in an alfalfa field owned by Judy Sandin.

Damage from the mishap was estimated at $3,000 altogether. No citations were issued.