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One person complained of neck pain following a collision that happened a little after 1-p.m. today (Wednesday), just west of 7th and Plum Streets. Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue told KJAN News, a non-contact semi was traveling east on 7th, and slowed for traffic waiting at the stop light, and to allow a Buick passenger car to exit a parking lot near Brown Electric.

The driver of the car proceeded to cross the eastbound lane in an attempt to turn left (west) onto 7th, when his car was struck by a GMC that was eastbound in the turning lane, in advance of turning north at the intersection, to enter the Orschelns parking lot.

A passenger in the Buick was transported to CCMH to be checked out. No names were released. The accident remained under investigation.

Medivac Ambulance was called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) afternoon, near 7th and Plum Streets, across from Orscheln’s.  Early indications are one person was injured in the collision that happened around 1:06-p.m.. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Police were also on the scene. Currently, no other details are available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld a $4.9 million jury verdict awarded to a Texas woman after she fell outside an eastern Iowa hotel on an icy sidewalk. The court in its ruling Wednesday rejected arguments by Marriott International that the jury’s 2018 verdict was excessive and the result of jury prejudice against the corporation. The lawsuit was filed by Brenda Alcala, a software consultant for Genesis Health Systems. She was staying at the Bettendorf Courtyard by Marriott in January 2010 when she slipped on ice and broke an ankle.

The appeals court ruling affirms a district judge’s decision that the verdict was supported by the evidence. It’s the second time the case has been before Iowa appellate courts. In 2016 the Iowa Supreme Court threw out a $1.2 million verdict from the first trial in 2014 and ordered a new trial over errors in jury instructions. The court’s ruling on Wednesday upholds the higher verdict from the second trial held in 2018.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a Nebraska man was arrested early Tuesday morning, following a pursuit. Authorities say 41-year-old Jacob Tuttle, of Omaha, was driving a stolen 2013 Nissan on 195^th Street at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone at around 2-a.m. When law enforcement attempted to pull the vehicle over, Tuttle attempted to elude them. During the pursuit, speeds reached in excess of 100-mph while the chase was northbound on 195^th Street. When Tuttle approached the intersection of 195^th Street and Bunge Avenue, he failed to make the turn. The vehicle entered the north ditch and came to rest in a field north of the ditch. No injuries were reported.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from Omaha on November 24^th. Tuttle was taken into custody on numerous charges, including: Theft in the 2nd Degree; Eluding; A Controlled Substance Violation; OWI 1st offense; Felon in Possession of Firearm; Interference with Official Acts; Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia; Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device; Failure to Maintain Control; Speeding and having No Valid Driver’s License. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on $50,000 bond.

And, one person was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital Tuesday afternoon, following an accident on Highway 275, in Mills County. A 1991 International dump truck driven by 57-year old Clay Moore, of Omaha, was northbound on Highway 275 at around 3:40-p.m., when the dual axle of the truck came off the vehicle and struck a southbound 2015 Mitsubishi driven by 33-year old Jamie Flora, of Pacific Junction. Flora was transported to the hospital by Tabor Rescue, for treatment of suspected, minor injuries.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a 1993 Dodge pickup that was stolen sometime Tuesday night, ran a stop sign at around 3-a.m. today (Wednesday), knocked down a stop sign and went through a fence before it continued into a field and hit a tree. The accident happened on the southeast side of Creston. The vehicle, owned by Paul Clark, of Afton, sustained $5,000 damage and was declared a total loss. Damage to the fence owned by Hulett & Sons Salvage, and the Union County Secondary Roads Department sign, amounted to $800 altogether. The person driving the truck was unknown.

As families and friends gather to celebrate the holidays, discussions surrounding current events and politics can boil over, turning a joyous occasion into a sour situation. Mary Lee Brock, assistant professor and assistant director of Creighton University’s Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (NCR) program, says the anticipation of divisive issues debated around the dinner table can be the most stressful. “We can experience stress when anticipating family gatherings because we often know the political beliefs of our family members and suspect how they might behave,” Brock said. “Holiday dinners are often a time where new partners are introduced, or children are moving into an age of awareness.”

In advance of family gatherings, Brock recommends reflecting on goals and/or setting ground rules for conversation topics to keep the peace. In addition to a plan, Brock recommends the following:

• Realize that disagreements about politics are emotional, not factual. Focusing on what you see are the facts and trying to reason with someone could exacerbate the conversation.
• Show understanding. Acknowledge strong feelings about a topic without agreeing with the statement. Offering an acknowledgment can help build a bridge. For example, “Keeping our community safe is important to you.”
• Stay curious. Rather than trying to change the subject or shut the speaker down, recognize it as a learning opportunity and ask open-ended questions. For example, “Can you help me understand your perspective?”
• Be true to your own perspective. Brock says individuals can still be true to their beliefs and keep the peace at a family dinner. That means making the tough decision to let some comments slide.

“If you hear something that is extremely hurtful or offensive, respond from your own perspective, ‘It is very hard for me to hear you use the word ___________.’ Be prepared to be told to ‘get over it’ as these emotions and patterns run deep,” says Brock. Take the long view. This holiday dinner is simply one chapter in a long trajectory of the family. Decide whether to maintain relationships with family members, even if that means with someone who holds such different views and values.

Remember not everyone is interested in keeping the peace. Accept the reality that many people get enjoyment out of debate, evocative statements and “stirring the pot.” Some individuals feel the need to be right at all costs. If discussions do get heated around divisive issues, Brock says it could provide a realistic view of family dynamics and serve as an opportunity for discussion afterward to debrief the important topics that came up during dinner.

Authorities in Fremont County report a body was found late Tuesday evening on Interstate 29, north of Thurman. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is involved in the investigation. No other details are being released at this time.