As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day Holiday, Iowa law enforcement officials are urging everyone to buckle up. Law enforcement officials will be out in full force as part of the 2013 National “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement mobilization cracking down on motorists who are not belted, as well as other traffic violators. While this Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20th through June 2nd, officers are enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

In 2012, Iowa had 364 fatalities and according to Iowa DOT data, 167 of those victims or almost 46%, were unbuckled. For those killed in crashes at night, the percent unbuckled grew another 15.5%.

Iowa has had a seat belt law since July 1st, 1986. Randy Hunefeld, sTep Coordinator with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says “Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many Iowans still ride unbelted, especially at night when the risk of a crash is even greater. We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists-clicking that seat belt, every time day or night.”

For more information on the National Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov or contact: Randy Hunefeld, sTep Coordinator with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau at 515-725-6124 or email at hunefeld@dps.state.ia.us

Two Town Hall Meetings have been arranged for area residents to learn more about RAGBRAI©, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride
Across Iowa. Tens of thousands of riders have been confirmed for the event which will begin in Council Bluffs July 20-21, 2013. Barry
Cleaveland, Executive Director of the Council Bluffs RAGBRAI Committee, says  they are scheduling the two opportunities for more information. He says they want residents to be excited, informed, and to volunteer.

The first meeting will be held Tuesday, May 28, 6:30-7:30pm in the Club Room at Hy Vee, located at 2323 W. Broadway  The second meeting (at the same location), is on Wednesday, May 29th, from 6:30-7:30pm.

Officials say volunteers are needed for a variety of duties July 20th and July 21st. In addition, there’s a great need for persons who have a spare bedroom, or deck or backyard for camping to volunteer as well.

The Iowa Department of Transportation, Tuesday, presented the Iowa Transportation Commission with the draft Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program. The Program reflects Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system through inclusion of investments in aviation, transit, railroads, trails and highways. A major component of the Program is the highway program, which documents programmed investments in the Primary Highway System for the next five years.

For FY 2014-2018, approximately $2.6 billion is forecast to be available for highway right of way and construction. The highway section was developed to achieve several objectives. The Commission’s primary investment objective remains stewardship (i.e., safety, maintenance, modernization) of Iowa’s existing highway system. More than $1.1 billion is programmed from FY 2014 through FY 2018 for modernization of Iowa’s existing highway system and for enhanced highway safety features.

The highway section also includes significant interstate investments on Interstate 29 in Sioux City, I-29/80/480 in Council Bluffs, and I-74 in Bettendorf/Davenport. Portions of the investments address stewardship needs. Another highway programming objective is developing and constructing capacity and system enhancement projects.  The multiyear corridor improvement projects include: U.S. 20 Woodbury County from east of Moville to Correctionville , and Iowa 196 Sac County.

The draft Program is posted and available for public comment on the Iowa DOT’s website www.iowadot.gov/program_management/five_year.html. The Commission is currently scheduled to consider approval of the Program at its meeting June 11 in Council Bluffs.

A Massena man was injured during an accident involving a car and a dump truck this (Tuesday) afternoon, in Massena. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 77-year old George August Kuesel was transported by Massena Rescue to the Adams County Hospital, following the crash that happened at around 12:30-p.m. Officials say Kuesel’s 1993 Olds Cutlass was traveling southbound on 750^th Street when it struck the rear of a 2005 International 7000 dump truck, driven by 62-year old Hollis Austin Dodge, of Creston.

Damage from the accident amounted to $5,800. Authorities say Kuesel was cited for Following Too Closely.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers say they have an agreement on an overall budget figure, a signal that the end of the legislative session may not be far behind. Legislative leaders say Tuesday that they have a deal to set the state general fund budget at just under $6.5 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Senate and House leaders say votes could start on individual budget bills as early as Wednesday.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen both say they are moving forward on two key issues of the session — education policy and property tax reductions. But they say there has been less progress on whether to expand Medicaid or approve an alternate low-income health plan.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Board of Trustees will hold a regularly schedule meeting Wednesday morning in conference room 1 at the hospital. During the 7:30-a.m. session, the Board will discuss and/or act on, matters pertaining to the FY 2014, and FY 2014-through 2018 Operating budgets; Rehabilitation services. They’re also expected to set the date for a Public Hearing on June 26th.

Following other business, and prior to adjournment, the CCMH Board of Trustees will enter into a closed session under the provisions of Code of Iowa, to discuss strategy with counsel pertaining to matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent, and where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of a governmental body in that litigation.

The Cass and Adair County Board’s of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meetings Wednesday, beginning at 9-a.m.  In Greenfield, the Adair County Board will hear from County Engineer Nick Kauffman, with regard to a DOT construction agreement for Antique Country Drive, and VA Director Rick Schaecher, about cell phone matters. The Board will also hear from Bryan Beldon, with the City of Stuart, with regard to consent to a Local Option Sales Tax TIF Resolution.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Supervisors will act on an appointment to the County Zoning Board of Adjustment (if a person is available to fill the vacancy position), as well as a resolution to add a Farm-to-Market or Locally Funded Project (not currently in the FY 2013 road construction program). The project was identified as a bridge deck replacement on Jackson Road, S-14.

In other business, the Supervisors will act on the abatement of taxes for a property owned by the City of Lewis, and, at 1o-a.m., they’ll discuss and possibly take action on an FY 2014 Licensed County Software Code Support agreement, and FY 2014 Information Technology Services agreement, both of which are with Solutions, Inc., out of Spencer.