(Omaha, Nebraska) – A motorcycle accident in Omaha, Friday, claimed the life of a man from Pottawattamie County. According to Omaha Police, at around 3:24-p.m., officers were dispatched to a personal injury crash involving a motorcycle at the on-ramp from southbound 60th St to I-80 East. An investigation determined that a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 54-year-old Jamie Richardson, of Council Bluffs, was traveling on the on-ramp when it left the roadway.

The motorcycle and Richardson separated as both went down the embankment. Citizens performed CPR until Omaha Fire Department Medics arrived. Richardson – who was wearing a helmet -was transported to Nebraska Medicine with life-saving measures in progress, but he died during surgery.

Alcohol impairment is being investigated as a factor in this crash.

Police in Red Oak, Christmas morning, arrested a man for 5th Degree Criminal Mischief. 35-year-old Torrance Fitzgerald Hillard was arrested at around 2:30-a.m, and transported to the Montgomery County jail, where he was being held on $300 bond.

And, 63-year-old Michael Edward Smith, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Red Oak, for driving while barred. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000.00 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – While some Iowans’ homes will be visited by a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer tonight (Friday), it’s hoped there’s not a visit tomorrow from a fire truck. Andrea Vaspis, public education director for the National Fire Protection Association, says if you’re trying to add some holiday ambience to the room by lighting a few candles, do so with caution.

Vaspis says, “Candles, on average, cause 21 homes fires a day in the United States with the peak days of candle fires being Christmas Day — at almost three times the rest of the year — and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.” December is the peak time of year for candle fires and studies find almost three of every five December home fires are started by candles.

“Candles are great but they are an open flame and when they’re placed too close to a mattress, bedding, cartons, decorations,” Vaspis says. “People leave the room and think they’ll be gone for 30 seconds but they’ve actually left for a lot longer, and now this candle is left unattended.” Christmas Day is also one of the top three days of the year for home cooking fires, but she says lighting candles may only increase the risk of a disaster.

“The key here is, if you’re going to use a candle, make sure it’s on a sturdy base. Make sure it’s at least 12 inches — one foot away — from anything that can burn,” Vaspis says. “We are big supporters of battery-operated candles because you can use them anywhere and not worry about putting them with your decorations.” Christmas tree fires don’t happen often, but when they do, they tend to be serious.

An association report finds, on average, one of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 135 total reported home fires.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) — Police in Shenandoah, Thursday, arrested a man for OWI/2nd offense, after he was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in the Burger King drive-thru at around 10-p.m. Authorities report 33-year-old Travis Lee Bears, of Shenandoah, was remained in the Page County jail Friday, after be was unable to post a $2,000 bond.