Shelby County Emergency Manager Bob Seivert reports a section of Yellowwood Road just south of 600th Street is closed due to a bridge being out. Emergency responders and residents in the area should adjust their travel and response plans accordingly. (click on the image below to enlarge)

Several events are scheduled across Iowa this April as part of “National Donate Life Month.” Iowa Donor Network spokesman, Tony Hakes, says the events will focus on everyone involved in organ donation and transplants.  “The entire month is set aside for everyone in America really to reflect about donation, to honor donors and donor families, a change for recipients to thank their families. And we just do that by partnering with hospitals, medical examiners, E-M-S services, law enforcement, pretty much all these professional partners throughout the state,” Hakes says. He says the publicity about the need for donors has helped them make progress.

“At the end of last year we reached a five-year low on the number of people waiting for a transplant in Iowa. And it looks like we’ve got more people signing up, registering as donors each month, each year,” Hakes says. “So, it’s definitely helped, it’s definitely saved lives, impacted lives, enhanced lives.” While more people are signing up to donate, there’s still a waiting list for those needing a transplant.

“Well in Iowa it’s anywhere from 550 to 600, and of course, one is too many. But Iowa is a pretty good place to have transplants and get listed,”according to Hakes. “Nationally, there’s anywhere from 120 to 125-thousand waiting at any given time.” He says they’d like to continue improving on the progress made in getting more people to donate. “We really feel that this is a solvable problem and we just need everyone to register as a donor — make sure their family knows and understands their wishes — and we think that we can take that wait list down to zero,” Hakes says. Hakes says it doesn’t take long for you to sign up.

“Registering as a donor in Iowa is incredibly easy. Pretty much you can mark yes on your driver’s license and just make sure your family knows and understands your wishes. You doe those two things and you are all set,” Hakes explains. “If someone doesn’t want to wait until they renew their license — or they maybe don’t have a license or I-D — they can go to Iowa Donor Network o-r-g (www.ioadonornetwork.org) and register on-line. Again, once you register on-line, you are good and you don’t have to do anything else other than let your family know your wishes.” Hake says being an organ donor can allow you to have a big impact on a lot of people.

“One person can save up to eight people’s lives through organ donations, and enhance up to 50 to maybe even 100 through tissue donation, when you start talking about donating skin, bones, ligaments veins, tendons, those types of things,” Hakes says. The Iowa Donor Network helped transplant 216 life-saving organs in 2014, and recovered tissue from 982 donors.

(Radio Iowa)

Severe winds Wednesday blew a motorcycle off the road, injured the driver. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says David Barrett, of Glenwood,was transported by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Authorities say Barrett was traveling north on 195th Street, north of Paddock Avenue, when his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was hit by a strong southerly gust of wind as Barrett was trying to round a curve, causing the cycle to leave the road. The accident happened at around 4-p.m.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man reported Tuesday, someone had taken numerous items from his shed located off of Redwood Avenue. The theft occurred sometime over the past weekend, and included: Gas cans and chain oil, chain saw, and several miscellaneous tools. The loss was estimated at $1,672.

An Exira man wanted on an Audubon County warrant for 3rd Degree Theft, has turned himself-in. Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports 30-year old Randy Cole Pasquale was arrested in connection with a theft that took place March 5th, in the 1600 block of 190th Street, where he allegedly stole two new security systems from a shed, and attempted to sell the property.

Pasquale was seen by the magistrate this (Thursday) morning, and then released. His preliminary hearing was set for April 20th.

A man from western Iowa was arrested recently on drug charges, in northern Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County.

Barrett booking photo

KIMT-TV in Mason City reports 59-year old Cleo Ray Barrett, of Audubon, was found to be in possession of drugs, during a routine traffic stop Monday morning. Barrett was pulled over  near the interchange of I-35 and Highway 18 for a seat belt violation. A Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol learned Barrett’s license was suspended, and called for a tow truck.

During an inventory of the vehicle, the patrolman says he detected the odor of marijuana. After a search of the vehicle, Barrett was found in possession of $3,200, a scale, a large amount of marijuana, as well as two small baggies of methamphetamine. When asked whether he had documentation for the money, Barrett said he didn’t have any and chose to remain silent on where the money came from.

Barrett is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, failure to affix a tax stamp, and a controlled substance violation.