Voters in Adair County managed to brave the howling winds and frigid temperatures, Tuesday, to cast their ballot in a Special Election. Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer says unofficial results show 277 registered voters (a 5-percent turnout) cast their ballots, with the result being 175 yes (or, 63.2%) votes approving a Courthouse Elevator Bond, and 102 voting against. A 60% majority was needed in order for the measure to pass.

The Special Election was held with regard to passing an additional bond for the courthouse elevator project. The question was “Shall the Board of Supervisors bond for an amount not to exceed $650,000 for the purpose of installing an elevator?” The elevator will be installed in the Adair County Courthouse, and will replace an elevator installed in the 1980’s that is no longer ADA compliant and never intended for commercial use.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports another candidate has filed nomination papers for the June 5th Primary Election. Linda Templeman, of Atlantic, has added her name to the Republican ticket for Cass County Board of Supervisors, District 3. Her challenger is fellow Republican Dana Halder.

County positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the June 5th Primary include: District 2 County Supervisor; District 3 County Supervisor; County Attorney; County Recorder and County Treasurer.

Persons wishing to file nomination papers have until March 28th to do so.  Nomination papers are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to western Iowa and eastern Nebraska is one in a series of stops to tout a recently approved federal tax cut, as well as attend a fundraiser for Republican Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. Pence spoke at an America First Policies event in Council Bluffs, the latest in his bid to sell the American public on the tax overhaul signed into law by President Donald Trump in December.

LAKOTA, Iowa (AP) — An autopsy shows a northern Iowa woman whose body was found in a home died of “sharp force injuries.” The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office also determined 38-year-old Krista Lynn Hesebeck’s death was a homicide. The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and medics were sent early Saturday to a Lakota home after a domestic assault. They found Hesebeck’s body at one address and then found an injured man at another address. Chad Dietrick, of Lakota, was charged with first-degree murder.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Court records indicate a former information technology worker for the city of Urbandale will change his plea later this month on charges that he stole from the city library. Chad Nielsen pleaded not guilty in December to nine theft counts stemming from the theft of more than $47,000 worth of computer hardware. The records say Nielsen and his attorney have been working on a plea deal with prosecutors.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A former paraeducator at a Fort Dodge high school has been accused of having sex with a student. Court records say 22-year-old Denico Johnson is charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee.

A former Atlantic resident who died early Saturday morning in Kossuth County, suffered from “Sharp force injuries.” The determination was the result of an autopsy performed on 38-year old Krista Lynn Hesebeck, of Lakota, whose body was found in a home. Her death was ruled a homicide. 45-year old Chad David Dietrick, of Lakota, faces a charge of 1st Degree Murder in connection with her death.

Deputies discovered Hesebeck’s body after a 911 call was made from a separate residence in Lakota, where Chad Dietrick said he suffered from a laceration to his arm.

Kossuth County authorities were advised to check on another residence where they located Hesebeck who was already deceased.

A collision in Page County Tuesday morning resulted in one person being transported to a hospital. Authorities say the accident happened at around 7:32-a.m on Highway 2 near V Avenue, about one-mile east of Clarinda.

An investigation determined 73-year old Elaine Lucille Whitehead, of rural New Market, was westbound on the highway in a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup.  22-year old Stefanie Kole Johannes, of Villisca, was eastbound at the same location driving a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Whitehead’s pickup began to slide into the eastbound lane.  Johannes attempted to move to the westbound lane to avoid the pickup.  Whitehead corrected her vehicle and contacted the passenger side of Johannes vehicle in the front passenger side fender / door area.  Both vehicles then spun around and came to rest in the slow moving lane of the westbound lanes.

Whitehead was not hurt, but Johannes was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by the Clarinda Ambulance Service, for treatment of unknown injuries. At the time of the accident, Highway 2 was icy. No citations have been issued. Both vehicles are considered a total loss.

The Iowa State Patrol has released the identities of persons involved in a fatal Adair County crash. Authorities say 60-year old Julie Compton, of Bridgewater, who was wearing her seat belt, died from her injuries at the Adair County Hospital, in Greenfield.

Injured in the crash was 34-year old Serena Sims, of Fontanelle, 34-year old Julie Holmes, of Bridgewater, and 32-year old David Nail, of Corning. Sims and Holmes were wearing seat belts, but Nail was not. All of the accident victims were transported to the Adair County Memorial Hospital by EMS. Compton and Holmes were passengers in Sims’ SUV.

The accident happened on Highway 25 south of 160th Street in Adair County, at around 6-a.m. Officials say a 2002 Ford Explorer, driven by Serena Sims, was southbound on the highway, when the SUV went out of control on the snow covered road. The vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2012 Buick Regal driven by Nail, head-on.

The Explorer came to rest on the east shoulder of the highway, while the Buick spun around and came to rest in the middle of the road. A 2015 Dodge Journey driven by 42-year old Dale Zoubek, of Katy, TX, came over the hill after the initial collision, and was unable to stop due to the road conditions. His vehicle struck the Buick in the rear.