Gas leak passes over part of county

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 19, 2002

LONDON -- A cloud of ammonia gas moved slowly through the southwest corner of Mower County Monday night.

A hose broke on an ammonia tanker at a farm site six miles east of Northwood, Iowa, causing the leak.

Worth County authorities warned people in the path of the cloud and even had some rural residents evacuate their homes, while the cloud passed overhead.

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The Mower County Sheriff's Department was alerted and Chief Deputy Terese Amazi went to the area.

According to Amazi, she could smell the ammonia gas in the vicinity of Mower County No. 6 and Highway 105 South.

No evacuations were made in Mower County and no injuries reported.

Search warrant executed

The Mower County Sheriff's Department executed three search warrants on Austin residences.

According to Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, the search warrants were in response to an investigation by the Austin Police Department after a "road rage" incident last Wednesday night.

A video camcorder was confiscated and the film viewed by authorities, which led to the search warrants.

Only one arrest has made since the incident on Nov. 13. A man was arrested, according to the Austin Police Department, on a felony warrant charging him with possession of stolen property.

The investigation continues today, according to authorities.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com