Two-Vehicle Collision

by Michael Cooley

A two-vehicle crash in Creston on Monday leaves a Creston woman with a citation. An accident report from the Creston Police Department says 45-year-old Laurel Gross of Creston was backing her car out from a parking spot in the 300 block of N. Pine Street at about 2:15pm, when she hit an SUV that was being driven southbound on Pine by 31-year-old John Egly, III, of Diagonal.

No injuries are reported. Total estimated damage to Egly's vehicle is $500, while authorities estimate Gross' car sustained $800 in damages. Gross is cited for unsafe backing.

Creston Man Arrested

by Michael Cooley

A Creston man arrested over the weekend in Atlantic is cited. Authorities with the Atlantic Police Department say 39-year-old Joseph Lamasters was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with driving on a suspended driver's license. Officials report Lamasters was taken to the Cass County Jail, pending a court appearance.

USDA Grant App for C.A.R.E.

by Michael Cooley

The C.A.R.E. facility located near Afton may soon see some improvements after a grant application that will be filed to the USDA Rural Development program. Jeremy Rounds, community development planner for the Southern Iowa Council of Governments, is working on the application on behalf of Union County. He told the Union County Board of Supervisors that the grant is for improvements that would increase public safety.

“An adequately-sized generator to power the entire facility in the event of disasters or other incidents where power is lost to the facility,” Rounds told the Supervisors at their meeting on Monday. “It would also install two automated door systems for handicap accessibility, one for each structure – to get you into the commons area, then individuals can go to their own individual rooms.”

Rounds says the grant would pay for 35% of the total project, and SICOG will work to find more grant money and other sources of funding to minimize the cost to the county. Meanwhile, Terri Siglin, representing the county's general relief program, says layoffs in production factories in the area are bringing in more people to ask for assistance.

“Our traffic has probably doubled, I would say, and that's been since November,” Siglin says. “We thought, oh holidays, you know, and it will back off, but it's not. It's rent. They've all applied. We've had more LIHEAP applications this year too, which is good, because they raised their point system. They're getting more money, so that's helping them, but we've got the rent issue. There are no jobs.”

The general relief program helps eligible individuals apply for financial assistance for help in paying rent, as well as paying utilities through the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program.

Four Arrested in Winterset

by Michael Cooley

Authorities with the Winterset Police Department report four recent arrests.

On Sunday, officials say they apprehended 18-year-old Aaron Turlock. Turlock is charged with public intoxication.

Another Sunday arrest involved 29-year-old Joseph Beeson of Peru. Police report Beeson is charged with domestic assault, a class “D” felony.

Meanwhile, Winterset police say 54-year-old Noel Wight of Winterset was arrested last Monday. Wight is charged with simple domestic abuse assault.

Also taken into custody last Monday is 30-year-old Jason Henderson of Winterset. Henderson was wanted on an arrest warrant from the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Muddy Roads Cause Accident

by Michael Cooley

Gravel roads now turning muddy in the warm weather are not only causing dirty vehicles, but are also to blame for a two-vehicle crash that happened Friday afternoon. An accident report from the Union County Sheriff's Office says 57-year-old Diana Schroeder of rural Thayer was driving an SUV westbound on 210th Street at about 4:00pm, the same time as 17-year-old Stacia Mongar of rural Thayer was in a car traveling east on the roadway. Investigators say the mud sucked both vehicles into the middle of the road when they met, causing a sideswiping crash.

Both drivers were wearing a seat belt in the accident and were not injured. Total estimated damage to Schroeder's vehicle is $3,500. Mongar's car sustained an estimated $1,500 in damages. No citations were issued.

Uncontrolled Intersection Crash

by Michael Cooley

A two-vehicle collision at an uncontrolled intersection in Creston resulted in a citation for a Creston man. Authorities with the Creston Police Department say 25-year-old Jacob Ingraham of Creston was driving a car westbound on Harsh Street at 12:15pm on Friday, the same time as 21-year-old Kristina Shields of Creston was in a car traveling south on Chestnut Street. Investigators say Ingraham hit the driver's side of Shields' car when both came to the uncontrolled intersection at the same time.

Neither driver was injured in the accident. Total estimated damage to Shields' vehicle is $5,000, which totaled the car. Ingraham's car sustained an estimated $1,500 in damages. Ingraham is cited for failure to yield to the vehicle on the right.