(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa trees that were stressed by the drought are already starting to drop their leaves, but soon, homeowners across the state will be delving into the chore of leaf raking. Adam Thoms, a horticulture professor at Iowa State University and a turfgrass extension specialist, says there may be a better alternative to raking that doesn’t require you to buy those leaf recycling bags some Iowa cities require. “The only thing is, as the leaves start to fall, you might want to consider mulching those leaves if they get really deep in the yard because they can smother out the grass,” Thoms says. “So, just run your mower over those to mulch those up and that’ll help.”

While some lawn mowers are sold as mulcher mowers, just making a few passes will typically grind up the leaves sufficiently. Thoms says mulching this fall can bring a healthier lawn next spring. “Yeah, absolutely,” Thoms says. “You can return those nutrients that are in those leaves back into your yard and that’ll add organic matter and make a healthier soil as well. So mulching is the way to go if you can do it.” Iowans who have bare patches in their lawns due to drought, construction or something else, might consider buying a bag of grass seed and a bale of straw.

“If you can apply any kind of seed to it, now is the time to do that because you’re not competing against crabgrass, things like that,” Thoms says. “Make sure that you rake a little soil over the top and that’s fine. Straw can be added as well, if you want to. It just kind of holds the moisture longer.” This is also a good time to aerate your lawn, he says, as that process reduces compaction, improves soil health, and produces deeper rooted plants which should stay greener, longer during dry spells.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak were called to the intersection of 5th & Corning Streets Sunday, following a report of a man using drugs while with a juvenile. On the scene, officers arrested 66-year-old Calvin Merle Watt, of Red Oak, at around 1:30-p.m.

He was charged with: Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense; Possession of Meth/2nd offense; Gathering where controlled substances are used or consumed; Child Endangerment; and distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of 18, which is a Class-B Felony offense.

Watt was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

(Exira, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a semi tractor-trailer in Exira, Sunday afternoon, resulted in the death of a woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 2:48-p.m. in the area of 418 W. Washington Street, on the west side of Exira.

Authorities say a 2009 Ford Focus driven by 75-year-old Phyllis Elaine Hoffman, of Exira, was traveling eastbound, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center of the road and struck a westbound 2016 Mack tractor-trailer, head-on. The semi was driven by 24-year-old John Joseph Schultes, of Exira.

Schultes was not injured in the collision. Hoffman died at the scene. She was wearing her seat belt. The accident remains under investigation.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office posted on their social media page, Sunday morning, information about a horse rescue that occurred Saturday. Authorities say “Members of the Sheriff’s Office were called to assist in an animal rescue yesterday. A horse had fallen about 50 feet down to a creek bottom and was stuck in the mud and water. The horse was stuck for several hours until many hands were on scene to help get her out. The horse was very thankful to her rescuers and is now doing great.”

Responding agencies included the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Neola Fire and Rescue, and Dave Lyon Towing & Repair. (click on these images to enlarge. Photos via Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office & Creston Police reports two separate, non-injury accidents occurred Friday. The first happened at around 7:10-a.m., on U-S Highway 34. Authorities say a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 27-year-old Robin Mae Johnson, of Leon, was traveling westbound, when a deer came out of a ditch and into the path of the vehicle. Johnson was unable to avoid the deer. Her car struck the animal, causing damage to the left front side of the car and its windshield. The damage was estimated at $2,000.

The second accident happened at around 4:05-p.m., Friday. Creston Police say a 2004 Volvo semi tractor-trailer hauling a full load of pigs, was traveling east on Highway 34 in Creston. A traffic light changed to yellow as the semi approached. Authorities say the driver, 74-year-old Dennis Michael Kinsella, of Creston, knew he couldn’t stop in-time, especially with a full load, so he continued through the intersection.

A 2009 Pontiac G5 driven by 24-year-old Charles Thomas Claytor, of Creston, was traveling to turn south onto Laurel Street from Highway 34. He told Police he was in the intersection waiting to turn, and did not see the semi before his car was struck. Following the impact, his car was sent sliding across the road. It struck a 2017 GMC Canyon (pickup) driven by 52-year-old Kara Sue Larson, of Corning, as it was stopped at the traffic light.

The semi and GMC Canyon sustained minor damage ($1,500 total) and were driven from the crash scene, but the Pontiac was totaled ($5,000 damage), and was towed from the scene. Police cited Charles Claytor for having no proof of insurance.

(Benton County, Iowa) – Two people died Saturday afternoon during a collision in eastern Iowa between a UTV and a pickup truck. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2013 Polaris Ranger UTV and a 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup, were both traveling eastbound 68th Avenue, southeast of Vinton. When the pickup, driven by 74-year-old Francis R. Baldus, of Jewell, went to pass the UTV, the operator of the Utility Terrain Vehicle made a left turn, in front of the pickup.

The truck struck the UTV, causing it to roll into the north ditch. Two occupants of the UTV were ejected and died at the scene. They were not wearing seat belts. The pickup came to rest on the north shoulder of the road. The victims in the crash were identified as 76-year-old William C. Geater, and 60-year-old Mary F. McElhinney, both of Vinton. It’s not clear which of the individuals in the UTV were in control of the machine at the time of the collision.

The accident, which happened at around 4:04-p.m., Saturday, remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A Ivy League professor is warning a proposed railroad merger that would increase train traffic through parts of eastern Iowa poses an environmental threat. Canadian Pacific is asking federal officials to approve its acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway. It would establish a rail line that stretches from Canada to Mexico. Mike Hepler, an engineering professor at Princeton, says “This rail is likely to carry a lot, an increased number of holding tar sands oils and bitumen,” Hepler says. “And again, these are going to be moving through the towns that carry risks to health, the environment.” Tar sands are a combination of sand, clay, water and bitumen. Bitumen is the black oil that’s sticky, like molasses.

Hepler says derailments and spills are likely to increase as train traffic increases. “Given a spark, given a flame — a fire source, this also presents an issue for air quality,” Hepler says, “and the quality for the environment, the soil, the waters that surround the trains.” The initial environmental assessment from the Surface Transportation Board concludes there is a small risk increased train traffic would lead to derailments and hazardous material spills along the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern route.

Hepler says it’s strange that the agency considers noise to be the major environmental impact of increased train traffic. Hepler made his comments during a recent public hearing about the merger.

Bellevue, Iowa – Authorities in eastern Iowa report during the early morning hours of October 9, 2022, Jackson County resident, Christopher Prichard was taken into custody without incident by law enforcement officials. He was arrested on warrants issued on September 30, 2022 for:  Adjudicated Charge(s) – Violation of No Contact Order/Protective Order-Contempt. Original Charge(s) – Violation of No Contact/Protection Order Contempt. Prichard is currently being housed in the Jackson County Sheriffs’ jail.

The investigation into the death of Angela Prichard is ongoing. An autopsy by the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner is scheduled for today. No further information will be released at this time.

(Previous version follows)

Bellevue, Iowa – On October 8, 2022 at approximately 7:49 AM, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at the Mississippi Ridge Kennels located at 31821 Highway 52 Bellevue, Iowa. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Angela Prichard, age 55, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Law Enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Christopher Prichard, a subject of interest in the investigation. Christopher Prichard is a white male, approximately 5’07” and weighs approximately 145 pounds. Clothing and vehicle description is unknown.

Photo of Richard Prichard

If the public sees this individual, use caution and do not approach. The public is advised to call  911, the Jackson County Dispatch Center (319)-652-3312 or the Cedar Rapids State Radio (319)-396-4414.

This is a joint investigation conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Bellevue Police Department and the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, US Fish and Wildlife and the Jackson County Conservation.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Enjoy Iowa’s beautiful weather and fall colors this weekend. Fall colors appear more vibrant this year, possibly due to the recent crisp weather. Cottonwood, hackberry, elm, basswood and walnut are turning yellow in northeast Iowa. The hillsides have splashes of color mostly from sugar maples. Yellows and oranges mixed with green dot the landscape in north central and northwest Iowa. Cottonwoods are vibrant. Silver maples are just starting to lighten in color.

Major river valleys in central Iowa like the Des Moines, Boone, and Iowa rivers are at 20-25 percent color change. More maples are turning red and yellow. White ash and dogwood are showing a little bit of purple in southeast Iowa. Some urban maples are starting to show a little red and orange. Most shrubs will be at peak color, which provide most of our reds in west central and southwest Iowa. Fall prairie flowers are still showy this week to bring vivid colors to your prairie hikes. 

Enjoy a fall drive and take in all the beautiful colors!

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop Friday night west of Red Oak resulted in the arrest on a drug charge, of a man from Mills County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 34 at Evergreen Avenue, at around 9:52-p.m.  Upon investigation, Deputies arrested 58-year-old Michael David Longcor, of Henderson, for Possession of Methamphetamine/2nd offense. Longcor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.