CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 9, 2022 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires closures of west- and eastbound I-80 between Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) and Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) and a full closure of Ashworth Road overnights. These closures will now begin on Wednesday night, Sept. 14, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10 p.m. until Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 a.m.

• Full closure of westbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of eastbound I-80 to allow crews to set four beams.

Thursday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. until Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 a.m.

• Full closure of eastbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of westbound I-80 to allow crews to set four beams.

During these closures, traffic will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Friday) said that following an investigation, on September 7, 2022, 42-year-old Chad Ryan Koch, of Indianola, Iowa, was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of Theft 1st Degree and two (2) counts of Fraudulent Practices in Polk County.  All four charges are Class C Felonies.

Authorities say this continues to be an active criminal case, and agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) wish to speak with anyone who has had financial dealings with Koch in an attempt to identify additional victims. Koch was previously a certified police officer who worked in multiple jurisdictions around Central Iowa.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact DCI Special Agent Chris Forsyth at (319) 883-6108 or forsyth@dps.state.ia.us .

A criminal charge is only an accusation, and criminal defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

CASS COUNTY, IOWA– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that on Thursday, Sept. 8, the Iowa DNR was notified that a crane overturned into the West Nodaway River approximately 2-3 miles northeast of Massena in Cass County. It was initially reported that approximately 20 gallons of diesel and engine fuel from the crane were spilled.

However, during a follow-up visit today (Friday), DNR staff observed a sheen downstream of the absorbents. DNR staff also found dead and stressed minnows between the bridge collapse and approximately 1/2 mile downstream. Similar conditions were not observed Thursday.

The crane is owned by Mammoet Crane Company, who is working with MidAmerican Energy. MidAmerican Energy and subcontractors responded quickly by placing absorbents in the river.  To date, Clean Harbors has pumped approximately 1,500 gallons of fuel and water from the river. Because of rain chances over the weekend, absorbent booms will be placed in the river every 75 feet between the bridge collapse and the bridge downstream about 1/2 mile. Booms will remain in place for 7-14 days.

Downstream users are advised to stay out of the river. A wrecker is expected to remove the 61-ton crane from the river today. Also, an access road is being built to allow better river access for the clean up company.

The DNR will continue to monitor clean up efforts and consider appropriate enforcement action with Mammoet Crane Company.

(Cass County, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier reports, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken told KJAN News a bridge that partially collapsed Thursday afternoon northeast of Massena, was due to the operator of a crane taking a short cut to the job site, and crossing the bridge with an overweight load. The driver – whose name has not yet been released – was trapped in the crane cab , but managed to get out. He suffered lacerations to his face and neck. Wolken said the three of the five concrete double-T panels on the Pella Road bridge collapsed, causing the crane – owned by Mammoet Crane Company – to topple over into the creek. The accident happened around one-quarter of a mile east of 765th on Pella Road, at around 3-p.m.

Wolken said the bridge had just been replaced about five-years ago. Replacement panels have been ordered, but with delays in supply and shipping, it will likely be several weeks before the road is re-opened at the scene. Wolken said also, the crane was enroute to one of the South Rolling Hills wind turbine “re-power” project sites, to help with the removal and replacement of certain wind turbine blades. It was NOT permitted to use that route. Wolken said the bridge, like most in the County, had a legal load rate of 80,000-lbs, but the crane was about 120-thousand pounds, and was not being transported on a trailer for load displacement, as it should have been if it were permitted.

Cumberland-Massena Fire and Rescue, Cass EMS, and Sheriff’s Deputies were initially dispatched to the scene, but the incident was handled by a Massena unit, and the others, with the exception of the Sheriff’s Department, were told to disregard. No information has been released (as of this report), with regard to any charges the driver and/or crane company may face, if any.

(Radio Iowa) – The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office says one man was involved in two accidents minutes apart. According to officials, a 911 call was received Thursday at 3:01 PM concerning a hit-and-run accident on Highway 5. The caller said a vehicle continued traveling southbound on the highway after the wreck. At 3:05 PM, the Appanoose County Law Center received a second call of a single-vehicle rollover accident. 58-year-old Robert Logston, of Cincinnati, was in critical condition at the scene and life-flighted to Des Moines.

Law enforcement later determined Logston was the driver who departed the scene of the first accident minutes before the rollover crash. Authorities have not yet filed any charges or citations. Both accidents are still under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa is the state school that has struggled the most with maintaining enrollment and saw another drop in the just released fall numbers. University spokesman, Peter Morris, says they have seen some positives in their efforts despite the fall drop. “You know, really what we’re focused on is the fact that, you know, we really had an uptick in transfer students, you know, we’re up 22 percent in our transfer students, and some of that is due to our partnerships with the Iowa community colleges,” Morris says. He says getting transfers students is one way to handle factors out of their control –like historically low unemployment rates.

He says the historical data shows a correlation between higher unemployment and enrollment at all levels of colleges. A majority of U-N-Is students are Iowans and Morris says is another issue facing the college — as more high school kids are going straight into a job. “So that combined with the economy, we’re more of those folks are choosing go directly into the workforce and positive pursuing a higher ed degree, you know, those are contributing factors,” he says. The school recently rebranded and is trying to create a larger presence throughout the state. Morris believes that is working.

“I think one of the things that I’ve consistently heard is, hey, you know, we’re, we’re seeing your presence, we’re seeing your brand in places that maybe it’s been absent before. So I think we’re seeing some return on that investment,” Morris says. Fall enrollment on the Cedar Falls campus dropped around 200 students to eight-thousand-949. It was the fifth straight drop in enrollment at U-N-I. Iowa State University saw a drop as well, while the University of Iowa saw a slight increase for the fall.

Atlantic, IA—Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of Suicide Awareness Month on Saturday, September 17, 2022 beginning at 7:00 pm at the Rotary Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The event is being co-hosted by Healthy Cass County and Cass County Iowa State University Extension. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), there are, on average, 130 suicide deaths per day, and throughout 2020, there were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts. Each September, many across the country work together to help bring awareness to suicide and encourage education to help in the prevention of more lives lost.

Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions, says “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is a chance to take time to stop and assess yourself and those around you to ensure those you need help have access to it and aren’t living at risk. By raising awareness and educating people about the signs that can indicate someone is having suicidal thoughts or are possibly in danger of attempting suicide, we can help to prevent suicide from happening.”

The event will kick-off at 7:00 pm with local speakers who will share their story on how suicide has touched their lives. The walk portion of the evening will begin around 7:30 pm. Participants will walk the trail loop at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Information about mental health services and community resources as well as light refreshments will be available at the Rotary Shelter.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

For more information about the walk, check out the Facebook event or call 712-250-8100.

(Radio Iowa) – Proud Iowa parents who’ve already posted photos online of their kids heading back to school might consider taking them down. Lisa Schiller, with the Better Business Bureau, says sharing pictures of your child holding a sign on their first day of the new school year could create risks.  “Back to school photos with those children holding a board with their full name, age, height, and other details,” Schiller says, “that’s great for your own personal information, keep it in the home, but don’t put it on social media.”

Schiller explains how those popular photos could become dangerous in the online environment.  “Scammers or predators could actually use this information to commit identity theft or they could use it to earn your child’s trust,” she says. Also, all of that data could be used to steal your — or your child’s — identity, or it could be used to guess passwords and break into online accounts.  Schiller says, “You may want to remove personal information from your account that others can see, like your telephone number or your address.”

It’s important to check your social media settings to see with whom you’re exchanging information. Also, look over your “friends” list and make sure what you’re sharing is going to the correct people. Some settings mean if a friend hits “like” on your post, all of their friends can see it, too.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal agency suggests increased noise would be the major impact of a railroad merger that would increase train traffic in some parts of eastern Iowa. The Surface Transportation Board is considering Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway. Joshua Wayland, an environmental specialist at the agency, says the increased traffic along the merged line would increase the risk of derailments, hazardous materials spills and collisions. “But we expect that the risk of such incidents would remain small throughout the combined network,” he says, “and that most incidents that would occur would be minor and would not result in any injuries or fatalities.”

The agency calculates there would be a small increase of vehicle delays at rail crossings along the proposed Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern line.  “We project that there would be approximately 24.9 involving trains and motor vehicles per year under the proposed acquisition,” Wayland says, “compared to 19.1 accidents compared to the no-action alternative.” The agency’s Environmental Impact Statement suggests a rail line that stretches from Canada to Mexico would reduce truck traffic in the United States. “The applicants expect that approximately 64,000 truck would be removed from highways each year due to these truck to rail diversions,” Wayland says.

There could be increased truck traffic at terminals where products are unloaded from the trains, but Wayland says regulators don’t expect that to cause much disruption on streets and highways.

Police in Creston arrested a man from Polk County, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. 24-year-old Aristides Esau Perodomo was taken into custody at the Union County Courthouse. He later posted a $300 bond, and was released.