(Cherokee)--An Ayrshire man was seriously injured in a semi accident Thursday afternoon in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened on Highway 3 shortly before 4:30 p.m. Responding deputies found a semi had been attempting to navigate a curve when the driver lost control and dropped the tires into the ditch.

The truck then rolled causing the cab to become detached from the chassis trapping 69-year-old Ronald Brodersen inside.

Brodersen was extricated from the truck and airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the crash.

He reportedly told law enforcement officials he was not wearing a seat belt and had been using a hands free device to make a phone call at the time of the incident.

(Estherville)--A Wallingford man is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop Wednesday evening in Emmet County.

According to Emmet County Court records, 18-year-old Israel Tapia of Wallingford was the driver of a vehicle that was stopped around 5:25 p.m. for spending in the 1800 block of Highway 4. Upon further investigation, marijuana was located in the vehicle.

Tapia was charged with a controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug tax stamp, both class D felonies, OWI-1^st offense and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

He was being held in the Emmet County Jail on $7,000 bond.

Tapia’s preliminary hearing is set for September 23^rd at 3 p.m. in Emmet County District Court.

(Estherville)--An Estherville man was sentenced to prison this week in Emmet County District Court for convictions in two separate cases.

According to court records, 24-year-old Brody Metzger was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance-marijuana with intent to deliver. Metzger was also fined $750 with a $262 surcharge. The fine and surcharged were suspended.

On March 16^th, 2017 Metzger was the driver of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation in Wallingford. Deputies discovered 42.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle along with cocaine, methamphetamine and a loaded 40-caliber handgun.

The five year prison sentence will be served concurrently with a sentence in a sexual abuse case. Metzger was sentenced to two years in prison for 3rd degree sexual abuse.

The alleged incident occurred on December 28th, 2018 at a residence in Estherville. The victim was a 14-year-old female.

Metzger was also given a special 10-year sentence to be served after the two year sentence.

A $625 fine and $218 surcharge were suspended.

Metzger is also required to register as a sex offender.

(Washington, D.C.)--Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this week after an extended summer recess with a short window to tackle some major legislative priorities. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the main priority for the Senate is passage of several spending bills to avoid a government shutdown.

Grassley outlined his priorities as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Democrats are expected to push for stricter gun control measures during the session. Grassley says any gun control bills are unlikely to pass the Senate unless they have the support of President Trump.

(Wahpeton)--Lakeside Lab will kick-off its 2019 fall dinner/lecture series with the return of "Science on the Menu" on Tuesday, September 17^th. Social time is at 6 p.m., with the 7 p.m. program "Why Does My Lake Look Like Pea Soup?" to follow. Dr. Mary Skopec will present the story of blue green algae in the Iowa Great Lakes.

Tickets are $15. Lakeside Lab will also be honoring local volunteers with the Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project or CLAMP.

RSVP to Lisa Roti, Friends Executive Director, by phone at 712-337-3669 Ext. 1 or send an e-mail to friendsoflakesidelab@gmail.com.

(Estherville)--On September 21st, Iowa Lakes Community College music students will travel to Fort Dodge to perform as part of a concert band. The concert band will honor veterans returning from a visit to Washington D.C. at Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight, one of many similar programs nationwide, helps fly veterans to visit war memorials and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., at no cost to them. Initially set up for World War II veterans, Honor Flights have since expanded to include those who served in the Korean and Vietnam War eras.

More than 150 veterans spend the day in Washington D.C. and upon their return to Fort Dodge, they receive a Hero’s Welcome ceremony that includes a band concert. Iowa Lakes students have participated in the event for several years, demonstrating support and service for our country’s veterans.

(Estherville)--An Estherville man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly firing a gun inside an apartment.

At 9:00 a.m., Officers with the Estherville Police Department were dispatched to 515 North 13^th Street apartment #12 following a report that someone had shot a hole through the window of the apartment. Police arrived and observed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the window located on the south side of the apartment. Officers secured the scene and started to evacuate the other residents in the apartment complex.

Police were able to contact the suspect in apartment #12 and he was taken into custody without incident. 54-year-old Darron Pearson of Estherville was arrested and charged with reckless use of a firearm and discharging a weapon within city limits. As a result of the investigation, Estherville Police located a loaded 9 mm handgun inside the apartment.

Pearson was transported to the Emmet County Jail and appeared in front of a Magistrate. Pearson was released later that day on a $2,000 unsecured signature bond.  

(Spencer)--The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a residential burglary that occurred on an acreage north of Peterson last month.

Authorities say a large safe was stolen containing cash, jewelry, and firearms. The burglary took place sometime between the afternoon hours of August 27th, and the early morning hours of August 28th.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The Clay County Crime Stoppers are offering up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and a conviction for those responsible.

(Spencer)--Wednesday was the 18^th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Clay County fairgoers can learn more about that fateful day by visiting the  “9/11 Never Forget” mobile exhibit. The museum travels the country in a 53-foot semi-trailer and is staffed by former members of the New York City Police and Fire Departments who were at Ground Zero on 9/11. One of them is retired Fire Chief John Bruckner who says the exhibit was made possible in part through funds raised by the Steven Sillars Tunnels To Towers Foundation.

Bruckner provides more details about the Smart homes that are built for multi-amputee veterans.

Bruckner details what people will see if they visit the traveling exhibit.

In addition to those who died on September 11^th, Bruckner says many more New York City police officers and firefighters have died from diseases contracted by working at the Ground Zero site.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks. The 9/11 mobile exhibit is open daily at the Clay County Fair from noon until 6:00 p.m.

(Graettinger)--Students from three area high schools are getting set to participate in a program called No Boundaries that will enable them to provide assistance to local businesses and industries. The schools involved are GTRA, Okoboji and Spencer. Marc Benedict is the Site Facilitator for the program at GTRA. Benedict gives an update on the work that has been done over the past few months to get ready for the program.

Benedict details some of the projects students will be working on.

He says students will begin work on their projects next week.

Benedict says students are looking forward to starting their projects.

Benedict made his comments on the GTRA Spotlight program which can be heard every Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. on KILR FM 95.9.

(Spencer)-- A man wanted on warrants for stalking, harassment in the 3rd degree, violation of a no contact order and careless driving was arrested Wednesday by the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say 34-year-old Cody Lee Taylor was taken into custody around 10:00 a.m.  and was being held in the Clay county jail without bond.

(Spencer)--The Spencer Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire Tuesday evening in the McDonald’s parking lot.

Spencer Fire Chief John Conyn says prior to firefighters arrival, Spencer police had evacuated the restaurant as a precaution.

Conyn says a pickup was fully involved in flames from the front bumper to the cab. He says firefighters used foam to suppress the fire and then worked on putting out a couple of hot spots.

Firefighters then checked the restaurant to make sure it was safe to enter.

No one was in the pickup at the time of the fire.

(Estherville)--The Oak Hill Cemetery Association has approved an increase in the plot price. Starting November 1^st, plots in Oak Hill will sell for $500 per plot.

Jeff Sievert with the Oak Hill committee says the increase is needed to pay for the care and maintenance of the cemetery. Sievert says they are also looking for volunteers to do weeding at the cemetery.

If you purchase a plot before November 1st, you will get it at a reduced rate. For more information contact Ursula Nath at 712-209-2004.

(Spencer)--Godbersen Metal Works has announced the purchase of the facility at 1701 38th Avenue West in Spencer. The facility is being updated and will reopen in the near future for contract manufacturing specializing in steel fabrication, welding, machining, painting and assembly for a variety of industries.

The new company was founded by Kent Godbersen and his family from Ida Grove. Kent Godbersen will serve as President and CEO. Todd A. Kruse and Greg Besaw of Spencer, will serve as General Manager and Plant Manager respectively for the company.

Godbersen said the company is looking forward to bringing state-of-the-art, advanced manufacturing to the facility in Spencer.

(KILR)--Voters in three area school districts on Tuesday voted for an extension of a one-cent local option sales tax for their schools.

The program is known as SAVE, or “Secure an Advanced Vision for Education”. School officials say it has no impact on property taxes, and that it raises about $1 million a year for student enrichment.

Voters in the Okoboji Community School District approved the penny sales tax extension with 336 votes for the extension and just 49 votes opposed the extension.

Voters in the Spirit Lake Community School District also passed the penny sales tax extension by a wide margin. 366 voters approved the extension while just 16 voters were opposed.

In the Spencer Community School District, voters easily approved the sales tax increase with 147 yes votes and just 8 no votes.

(Jackson, Minn.)--The Jackson, Minn. Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new Chamber Director. Sharon Henning, who has held the position for the last 7 years, has submitted her resignation to the Chamber Board.

Henning will remain in the post through September and will work part time in October to help train the new director.

A job description and application information will be posted through the Chamber’s Facebook page in the next day or two.