The Iowa State Patrol reports a motorcycle versus deer accident Saturday in Crescent caused a Honey Creek man to be hospitalized with incapacitating injuries.

Shortly after 9:00 Saturday morning, 78-year-old Judson Bock of Honey Creek was riding a 2012 Jonway motorcycle south on County Road L-20 approaching Heritage Lane in Crescent when a deer entered the roadway.  He hit the deer after he tried to avoid the collision by swerving to the right. 

Bock sustained incapacitating injuries and was transported to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha by Crescent Rescue.  An update on his condition is not currently available.

The State Patrol says Bock was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.  The Pottawatamie County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Iowa State Patrol at the scene.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is considering presenting a proposal to the 2013 legislature which would change Iowa code related to re-defining the definition of bait and to limit an angler when trolling and bait casting to one hook on each of the trolling spoons or artificial baits when used on one line.

The proposal to re-define the definition of bait would specifically identify what types of bait an angler may use.  Included in this definition is a clear recognition of what live fish may be used as bait.  The proposed definition will continue to allow anglers to use the baits that are now most commonly used.  According to the proposed definition an angler would no longer be allow to use any live fish that is not listed as bait.

Inconsistency was found in Iowa code language in determining the legality of the Alabama rig, also known as an Umbrella rig.  The proposal to limit an angler when trolling and bait casting to one hook on each of the trolling spoons or artificial baits when used on one line will correct the inconsistency in code and clearly make the Alabama rig illegal.  One hook includes all hooks that are attached as a part of an artificial bait or lure.

The DNR will be accepting comments on the proposal until July 31, 2012.  Three meetings have been scheduled to obtain public comment.  Written comments can be sent to Martin Konrad, Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9^th St., Des Moines, IA 50319-0034, by email to martin.konrad@dnr.iowa.gov or fax at 515-281-6794.  Persons who wish to convey their views orally should contact the Fisheries Bureau at 515-281-6976 or at the Bureau offices on the fourth floor of the Wallace State Office Building.

At the public meetings, persons may present their views either orally or in writing. Participants will be asked to give their names and addresses for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of the amendments.

Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special needs, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the DNR and advise of specific needs.

Comments received during the commenting period will be used by the DNR to determine if this proposal should be presented to the 2013 legislature.

–Press release from Iowa DNR

A Crescent woman has been hospitalized after being hit by a car on Saturday.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that 52-year-old Pamela Shea of Crescent was hit by a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by a 15-year-old girl that was attempting to tun onto West Broadway from 2nd Street on Saturday night.  Shea was transported to Alegent Health Mercy Hospital with unknown injuries.

After Shea was struck, the vehicle hit a brick wall as the girl hit the accelerator instead of the brake.  The Daily Nonpareil says the girl told police she did not know she hit a pedestrian.  She was cited for failure to maintain control.

No other details about the incident are currently available.

Utility customers across Iowa are being warned of a scam that promises them a deal on paying their power bills. Tina Potthoff (POT-off), spokeswoman for MidAmerican Energy, says more than four dozen Iowans have already been duped.

“Customers are being told they can make a utility payment by using a bank routing number that (scammers) supply and they’re also being told they can use a series of numbers from their Social Security cards as the bank account number,” Potthoff says. “We want to make sure our customers are well aware that any personal information should not be given out over the telephone.” The scammers may claim to be with MidAmerican Energy, Black Hills Energy, Alliant Energy or some other utility. The con artists may sound convincing, but Potthoff says you need to be wary.

“This scam is claiming that President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills,” Potthoff says. “Also, these scam artists are contacting customers via phone, social media and they’re really relying on word of mouth for this to travel. We’re trying to put a stop to it before it gets carried away.” People have to be especially cautious as the con artists are finding ways to make their false claims appear to be from one of your friends.

“They’re using things like Facebook or social media sites to post a message to get people to bite and then pass that information on to their friends and family,” Potthoff says. “If the deal sounds like it’s a good deal and it might be too good to be true, give us a call, give local law enforcement a call and make sure that it is valid before you participate in anything like this.” She says at least 49 incidents of this scam have been reported in Iowa during the past few weeks, as the routing numbers provided by the con artists were used by customers in cities including: Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa City and Waterloo.

Two Iowans given life sentences for murders committed when they were teenagers will get new sentences. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has vacated the mandatory life sentences of Christine Lockheart and Thomas Bennett based on the recent U-S Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life sentences for those who commit crimes as minors is “cruel and unusual punishment.” Lockheart was found guilty of first-degree murder committed during a robbery in Scott County in June of 1985 when she was 17. She was convicted along with her boyfriend of stabbing a retired Davenport bus driver. Bennett was convicted in Polk County of murder in 1988 after he and two friends shot and killed a neighbor who had just cashed his Social Security check. Bennett was 17-years and four months old when the crime happened. The Iowa Court of Appeals has sent both cases back to the district court for resentencing. The Appeals Court rulings in both cases indicated that while a mandatory life sentence is not proper, that does not prevent the district court from imposing a life sentence in each case if the court rules it is appropriate. The Iowa Department of Corrections estimates there are some three dozen cases that could be impacted by the U-S Supreme Court ruling. See the ocmplete rulings on RadioIowa.com.