Sunday is Father’s Day and while it’s usually a time reserved for celebrating our dads with gifts of neckties and golf putters, a study finds it’s the most dangerous day of the year to take a drive in Iowa. Alex Murphy, spokesman for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says new figures show Father’s Day has become the state’s highest single fatality holiday.

“When we started looking through this data, it surprised all of us in the office and we thought if it surprised us, it has to surprise everyone across the state,” Murphy says. “Nationally, the 4th of July is the deadliest holiday on roadways, but then we started looking closer at Iowa’s numbers and it turned out Father’s Day is the deadliest.” Murphy calls it an “alarming” traffic safety trend. During the past 10 years, Iowa has recorded 19 traffic fatalities and 23 serious injuries in crashes on Father’s Day, Murphy says, “also, on June 22nd, that single day is the single most deadly day on Iowa roadways.” While New Year’s Eve is also a dangerous night to drive, given the typical winter weather combined with a higher potential for drunk drivers, Murphy could only speculate why Father’s Day has moved to the top spot of the deadliest days list.

“It’s nicer out, you have a lot more motorcycles on the roads, many more people are out traveling,” Murphy says. “It’s really hard to attribute it to anything specific but the nice weather could play a role in that, having more people out on the Iowa roadways.” For travelers this weekend, he reminds Iowans to buckle up, obey the speed limit and other posted signs and laws, watch for pedestrians and motorcyclists, don’t drink and drive, and avoid distracted driving.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10:52-p.m.)

Police in Council Bluffs have apprehended a 35-year old female transient and her alleged male accomplice, who were said to be involved in the theft of a tow truck from a convenience store. Sgt. Darren Budd with the Council Bluffs P-D, said at about 9:06-p.m., Friday, uniformed officers of the Council Bluffs Police Department with the assistance of Adult Probation officers, located and arrested Jennifer Rae Malone, of Oakland (IA), without incident. Malone was taken into custody on a warrant for the following charges:
1.Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree
2.Theft 1st Degree
3.Conspiracy to Commit a Non-Forcible Felony
4.Control of a firearm by a felon
Bond on the warrant was set at $500,000.00. No additional charges have been filed.

Suspect Jennifer Rae Malone, 35, from Oakland.

The incident leading officials to suspect her in the case began at 9:48-a.m., Friday, when Todd Gochanour, the owner of Action Towing reported that his tow truck had just been stolen from the lot of Casey’s at 2301 S. 24th Street, in Council Bluffs. According to Gochanour, he had been called to Casey’s to unlock a car door. As he pulled into the lot, a female (later identified as Malone) waved him over to a white car. As Gochanour was getting out of his truck, a man standing near the white car stated, “I got it, we don’t need it unlocked”.

The woman that had waved Gochanour down became apologetic and asked him how much they owed him. When he told her that there was no charge, she offered to buy him something to drink. The two of them went into Casey’s, got a soda and approached the register for payment. The female then stated that she had forgot her money in the car and would be right back. The female exited Casey’s and got into the unlocked and running tow truck and sped off. The man who was with the female was seen following the tow truck on a black motorcycle. The white car in the parking lot actually belonged to one of the Casey’s employees and was not associated with the either of the suspects.

A customer inside Casey’s, who had witnessed the theft, followed the stolen tow truck into Omaha, where he witnessed the truck become involved in an accident near 13th and Dodge and then leave the scene. Minutes later, the tow truck was found abandoned in Council Bluffs, near 38th Street and Avenue C. Missing from inside the truck was an undetermined amount of cash and a .45 caliber Glock handgun that belonged to Gochanour.

At 10:25-a.m., another witness reported seeing a black motorcycle circling the parking lot at Ameristar Casino. As Officers approached the man, he fled on the motorcycle, leaving Ameristar’s property and traveling south on River Road, which dead ends under I-80. Once the man came to the dead end, he went off road and onto the bike trail system, traveling in a south easterly direction. A short time later, he was located on the motorcycle near an apartment complex in the 3200 block of Renner Drive. The man then abandoned the motorcycle and a short foot pursuit ensued, with him being apprehended in that same general area.

He refused to speak with the Police, or identify himself. Video from Casey’s General Store was used to positively identify him as the same man involved in the theft of the tow truck. The black motorcycle that the man had been riding was stolen out of Omaha. The man, who was booked into Pottawattamie County Corrections under the name John Doe, faces charges that include: Conspiracy, Theft 1st Degree, Theft 2nd Degree, Eluding, Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities were in the process of positively identifying the man through fingerprint comparisons.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A New York City company the Iowa attorney general says was running a fraudulent psychic mail campaign targeting elderly Iowans has been ordered to pay $200,000 to a state consumer protection fund.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) today (Friday) announced she will host town meetings in Adams and Union counties next Saturday (June 27) as part of her 99 county tour. These town meetings are open to the public.

The first meeting is in Corning, 12:30-p.m. June 27th, at the Corning Opera House (800 Davis Avenue). The second meeting is in Creston, beginning at 5:30-p.m., at  the Southwestern Community College Performing Arts Center, Multi-purpose Room 124 (1501 W Townline Road).

Officials with the Cass County Landfill near Atlantic, have received notice the County intends to closed the landfill (Jackson) road, west of the landfill, effective June 24th. The closure, which will last about three months, is necessary due to a bridge replacement project. Persons seeking to drop off items at the landfill should seek an alternate route. If you have questions, call 712-243-1991.

The 17th Annual Cass County Relay for Life takes place this evening at the Atlantic High School track. The event sponsored by the American Cancer Society is a celebration of life in support and memory of those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

A tractor ride kicked-off the day’s activities, that continue this evening, with a 4:30-p.m. check-in for a free, cancer survivor’s meal, provided by Hy-Vee. The meal begins at 5-p.m., and will be served to all cancer survivors and one guest, each.

At 6-p.m., is the Survivor’s Lap. Cancer survivors and caregivers are invited to walk around the track, with wheelchairs available upon request. Several teams have formed to take turns walking or running around the track, with the proceeds benefiting the fight against cancer.

Also getting underway at 6, is a bid on the silent auction angel food cakes in the Education Tent. You can purchase luminaries in memory of those lost to cancer until 8-p.m. Entertainment gets underway at 6:30, with Salute Gymnastics, kids play in the bounces house until 8-p.m., and at 7-p.m., there’ll be a performance by Villa Dance, along with a Scavenger Hunt, with a $20 first prize.

The Kids’ Cake Walk starts at 7:30 on the south end of the field, and at 8-p.m., Zumba with Allison Knox-Westmeyer, will be featured. The Luminaria Ceremony begins at 9-p.m., followed by Music to Walk by, at 10-p.m.  For more information, call Carole Schuler at 712-243-7545, or check out the Cass County Relay For Life on Facebook.