A Rollover Accident Results In Injuries And Severe Vehicle Damage
A vehicle was totaled and two people sustained minor injuries from a rollover accident near Jefferson.
At 8:54am on Tuesday, the Greene County Sheriff’s office, Greene County Emergency Medical Services, the Jefferson Fire and Police departments and the Iowa State Patrol responded to a one-vehicle rollover accident on County Road E-53 just east of Jefferson.
State Trooper Jeff Cunningham said 52 year-old Martin Perez Velazquez of Perry was traveling west on E-53, when he tried to pass another vehicle and slid off the road. Cunningham blamed the frost on the road for the crash as Velazquez rolled his 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup into two trees at 1502 230th Street before it came to a rest on its top.
Velazquez and a 16 year-old male passenger from Rippey were taken to the Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services for minor injuries. They were treated and released later that day. The vehicle is considered to be a total loss and there was property damage.
Velazquez was charged with failure to maintain control.
Jefferson Man Charged For Abuse
A Jefferson man is charged with a felony for abuse.
Police Chief Dave Morlan said 39 year-old Russell Lee Gardner is charged with a Class D Felony for his third offense for domestic abuse assault and a misdemeanor for obstructing emergency communications.
Morlan says at 12:04pm on Tuesday, January 27th, Greene County Dispatch received two abandoned 911 calls. When dispatch called the number back, a female’s voice appeared to be crying. The call was traced to the 400 block of Russell Street.
Morlan stated when an officer arrived on scene, the accused left the residence and the female victim had a cut on the inside of her swollen lip. The officer determined an alleged domestic disturbance had taken place. The victim told the officer that Gardner threw her cellphone to keep her from calling police. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Morlan said on Wednesday, officers were notified of Gardner’s location in the 100 block of West State Street. The suspect was arrested and was booked into the Greene County Jail. He has since been released.
Online court records show that Gardner has been convicted twice of domestic abuse assault.
Grant Applications For Jefferson Rotary Due Tomorrow
The deadline to apply for a Jefferson Rotary Club grant is by the end of this week.
Grants will be awarded to those non-profit organizations in which their program or project will benefit a large group of people in Greene County. Considerations include social issues, promoting health, environmental issues, community development and supporting youth, education and literacy.
A Rotarian must sponsor the grant request. Grants will be not awarded to any religious or political organization.
The Rotary Club is dedicated to giving 80-85% its funds to activities, programs and projects that benefit the county. The other 15-20% will go toward Rotary sponsored events that benefits people internationally.
Applications are available at the Greene County Chamber office, Greene County ISU Extension office, Jefferson and Churdan Public libraries, Home State Bank and People’s Trust and Savings Bank locations in Greene County.
The deadline to submit applications is by Sunday, February 1st. Applications can be mailed to P.O. Box 459, Jefferson, Iowa 50129.
Grand Junction Woman Sentenced For Alleged Abduction
A Grand Junction woman was sentenced to two years of probation for a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to a public safety entity.
According to court documents, 36 year-old Tauwana Laue was sentenced in Greene County District Court on Friday. Her penalty was reduced from one-year in prison to two years of probation. She was ordered to pay $515 in fines, surcharges and court costs.
The charge stems from a incident on September 29, 2014 when Laue reported an attempted abduction of her daughter near the Greene County Intermediate School.
The Greene County Sheriff’s office handled the investigation. Video surveillance of alleged incident was consulted from the school and no evidence was found to support her claim. Laue later admitted that she lied.
Court documents reveal that she will also be ordered to pay restitution at a later date.
State Fire Marshall’s Office Investigates Rippey House Fire
The State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating a house fire in Rippey.
Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert tells Raccoon Valley Radio the State Fire Marshall’s office was in Rippey after the fire was put out at 308 3rd Street on Wednesday, January 21st. He says the fire appears to have started from an electrical source in the attached barn to the rental property. The fire is considered to be accidental pending completion of the investigation.
The couple who lived at the property were not home at the time of the fire. Haupert states that they found the male’s car a few blocks away and arrested 27 year-old Robert Lee Kraft from Perry for an outstanding warrant from Boone County in an unrelated case and the female was seen driving back to the home in another vehicle attached with a U-Haul. Haupert adds that 31 year-old Rachel Nicole Glover also of Perry was subsequently arrested and charged with interference with official acts relating to the incident.
Kraft was booked and released from the Boone County Jail and Glover was also booked and released from the Greene County Jail.
At this time, Haupert says neither individual is consider a person of interest in their investigation that is ongoing at this time.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.