JACKSON JUNCTION, Iowa (KCRG) – The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office is releasing more detail about a fatal crash involving a train and a tractor that happened near Jackson Junction Monday afternoon. Investigators said it happened at about 2:32 p.m. when the driver of a tractor was heading west on 128th Street, crossed Highway 24 and attempted to cross the railroad tracks.

The train conductor told law enforcement the tractor driver saw the train coming at the last second and attempted to stop. The train conductor also applied the train’s brakes, but collided with the center of the tractor at about 30 mph. The collision caused the tractor to split at the cab/engine compartment, and ejected the driver through the front windshield.

First responders arrived and began performing aid to the driver, but he died at the scene. The tractor driver has been identified as 60-year-old Carl Kuhn, of Fort Atkinson. The sheriff’s office said the intersection where the collision happened is an uncontrolled train crossing, with yield signs on both sides.

(Radio Iowa) Iowa motorists need to be especially vigilant today (Wednesday) as there are likely to be many more pedestrians and bicyclists on the roads as part of Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day. Matt Burkey, the Safe Routes to Schools coordinator at the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says hundreds of children in more than four-dozen schools statewide are taking part. “Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day is a national event, that happens twice a year in May and October, and on that day, schools across the country and across Iowa are promoting active transportation to school,” Burkey says. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the school car drop off line and how bananas it is in the morning, trying to drive around school zones, but when a lot of us were younger, we walked to school.”

He says the event shows Iowa students how to start their day with an active, healthier choice versus catching a ride to school on a bus or with one of their folks. “Kids aren’t burning off energy sitting in the back of the car. They’re not really talking to their parents, because the parents are focused on driving,” Burkey says. “Even if you get out of the car just a quarter mile from school and walk there together, you’re getting some steps in, you’re getting exercise, breathing that fresh air, and it’s one less car around the school, making it safer for everyone, just because there’s less cars, less noise pollution, less air pollution.” A total of 49 Iowa schools are taking part in this event, which represents an excellent showing, though Burkey says many more schools could join in.

“Right now ranked per capita, Iowa is 10th overall out of all 50 states and D.C. for participation, which is great, showing that here in the Midwest, we care about active transportation,” Burkey says. “We care about our kids getting to school safely, whether they’re walking, biking or rolling.” While today is the official date for the event, Burkey says schools can participate at any time throughout the month of October.

walkbiketoschool.org

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird traveled to Sioux City Tuesday to highlight the importance of the state’s new cold case unit. “We must never lose hope when it comes to cold cases and unsolved cases. And as a prosecutor, I fight for victims and for families and to bring criminals to justice, and nothing weighs on my heart more than a family that’s left in the dark or a murderer out there walking free,” Bird says. Bird was joined by family members of Maureen Brubaker Farley, a Sioux City teen who disappeared in 1971 while working at a Cedar Rapids diner. Her cold case was solved in 2021.

“Maureen, I think, shows us the importance of never giving up, because her case was solved 50 years after her passing, and while Maureen’s murderer had died by that point, at least at that point, those answers had come to light,” she says. Maureen’s body was found on the trunk of an abandoned car in Cedar Rapids in 1971 and D-N-A from the scene eventually matched George Smith to her murder in 2021. Smith had been dead for eight years when investigators told her sister Lisa Schenzel and the rest of family of the match on the 50th anniversary of Maureen’s death.

Lisa Schenzel with AG Brenna Bird talks about the cold case involving her sister. (KSCJ photo)

“It was no surprise to my mom, as she had known that name and discussed that name with the police back when the event happened in 1971 when Detective Denlinger called to tell us the case had been solved, we cried. We cried so much over the years, especially our mom, but we also felt a calmness or peace come over us as we finally had answers,” she says. Maureen was 17 and the oldest of seven kids when she died. Schenzel says the smallest bit of evidence can help solve a case and anyone with information in a cold case should contact law enforcement.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports 55-year-old Vernon Brinkley Warf, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:40-p.m., Tuesday, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. Warf was taken into custody in the 100 block of E. Prospect Street, in Red Oak, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. His bond was set at $7,500.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board will meet this (Wednesday) evening following a tour of the district’s buildings that begins at 4:30-p.m. When the meeting convenes sometime around 6-p.m., the Board will hear from Chad Alley, with the Iowa Construction Advocate Team (I-Cat).

The Board is expected to act on approving a Superintendent search firm vendor, and the following personnel matters:

Resignations –

• Jordan Zarbano, Evening High School Custodian
• Lindsey Thomas, Elementary Special Education paraprofessional (Effective Oct. 9th)

Retirements –

• Jon Peterson, Middle School Teacher (effective the end of the 2024-25 school year).

Recommendations to hire –

• Harrison Heogh, Volunteer HS Football Coach (Non-paid position)
• Dan Vargason, Interim HS Girls Soccer Coach
• Mackenzie Morris, Elementary Special Education paraprofessional.

And:

• CTSO sponsors requirement for Perkins Grant Funds.
• 2024 Volunteer Coaches for Winter Sports.
• 2025 Spring Sports Coaches.

The Board’s final order of business is to approve an FFA Fruit Sales Fundraiser request for Oct. 10th through the 30th.

PUBLIC 10092024 Agenda

(Radio Iowa) – Republican incumbent Zach Nunn and Lanon Baccam, the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s third congressional district, both say they’d support steps to reduce inflation, but they disagree strongly on the topic of abortion. The candidates debated for an hour on K-C-C-I Television last (Tuesday) night and the first question was about lowering costs for Iowans. Nunn says cutting taxes should be a priority.

“Make sure that Iowans get more money in their pocket to invest in their community. That’s how you grow and recover,” Nunn said. “…Pass a balanced budget.” Baccam says addressing the cost of housing and groceries should be priorities. “We have to go after the price gouging,” Baccam said, “big corporations…raising up prices for us and not passing down those savings.” Abortion has been a defining issue in the race and the two returned to the topic often. Baccam accused Nunn of being out-of-step with the majority of Iowans.

“The abortion ban that we have in this state, before most women even know they’re pregnant,” Baccam said. “He laid the groundwork for this when he was in the state legislature and what we have today is exactly what he wanted.” Nunn voted for a six-week abortion ban in 2018, when he was a state legislator. “I am pro-life. I have voted for exceptions for rape, incest and certainly for the health of the mother,” Nunn said. “I believe strongly that we should not have a federal abortion ban.”

Both expressed support for enhanced security at the southern border, but each accused the other of failing to support efforts to accomplish that goal.  “Mr. Baccam today will you stand up to your boss Biden and he can sign right now ‘remain in Mexico,’ he can sign a bill to make sure ‘catch and release’ is ended and he can build the border wall that would help everyone today?” Nunn asked. Baccam responded: “I think Iowans are tired of these political games where folks are trying to drive wedges between us. We actually want to see action and get things done…and Zach Nunn has failed to do that.”

It was the only debate the two are scheduled to have before November’s election.