Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) say contrary to published reports, I-DOT has not established an online driver’s license renewal system. Reports that a system took effect July 1st are inaccurate. Senate File 2338, an Act relating to government operations and efficiency and other related matters, contained a provision authorizing the Iowa DOT to begin online driver’s license renewal effective July 1st,  however, that bill was vetoed May 25th.

Because online driver’s license renewal is more cost effective to administer and convenient for the public, the Iowa DOT says it remains committed to establishing such a system in the future, however, no firm date has been set. The Iowa DOT says it is presently exploring options that may permit establishment of such a system without necessitating revisions to the Iowa Code. When a system is made available, the Iowa DOT will notify the public.

Meanwhile, the Iowa DOT is making an increasing number of driver services available online. If you want to look at your driving record or receive an electronic reminder when it is time to renew your driver’s license, sign up today at: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/.

A Page County man was arrested Tuesday evening on a federal warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says 34-year old Rodney Dean Adams, Jr., of Clarinda, was taken into custody without incident at his residence, at around 6:50-p.m.  He is currently being held in the Page County Jail without bond, awaiting extradition by federal authorities.  The federal arrest warrant for Adams, Jr., stems from an earlier incident that occurred on April 27th, 2012, in the 100 block of West Washington Street. Brothers says the Page County Attorney’s Office, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Clarinda Police Department jointly investigated the incident which resulted in the man’s arrest.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office this (Thursday) morning, identified the victim of a drowning Wednesday night in the Nishnabotna River, near Lewis. Sheriff Darby McLaren said the woman was 31-year old Nicole Roberts, of Lewis. Roberts was last seen at around 9-p.m. in the river, just south of the “rock cut,” a popular picnic area along the West Nishnabotna River near Cold Springs Park, Southwest of Lewis.

The Cass County 9-1-1 Center received a 9-1-1 call at 9:14-p.m. Wednesday, from a person who reported a possible drowning. Divers from the Midwest Regional Dive Team responded, and recovered Roberts’ body at 11:24-p.m. Memorial services for Nichole Roberts will be held 11-a.m. Monday, July 9th, in the chapel at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Authorities in Cass County do not recommend persons swim in the river area of the rock cut. The currents are very unpredictable, and the river is very deep at that location. The area is over three-quarters of a mile from the nearest access road, which makes access to the area by emergency responders, problematic.

Responding to the scene of the incident Wednesday night, was: The Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Lewis, Griswold and Atlantic Fire Departments; Griswold Rescue; Medivac Paramedic Ambulance; Cass County Emergency Management; the Iowa State Patrol, and the Midwest Regional Dive Team. The team consists of members from Cass and Ringgold Counties, along with personnel from the Red Oak and Clarinda Dive Teams.

The Red Oak Police Department reports two teens were arrested early this (Thursday) morning, in connection with recent burglaries. Officials say an unnamed 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old male were both arrested without incident, at around 4- a.m.  The older teen was being held in the juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs, while the 14-year-old was released to the custody of a parent. No other details are available. 

The Red Oak P-D says also, 45-year-old Kevin Wayne Triplett, of Red Oak, was arrested Wednesday evening following a traffic stop. Triplett faces Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia charges. The man was being held in the Montgomery County jail on $2,000 bond.