(Radio Iowa) – Many thousands of Iowans will be traveling long distances this Thanksgiving week and a few of them likely won’t make it home. Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says too many motorists are giving in to the temptation to speed, and some are risking their own lives and those of everyone around them by -doubling- the speed limit, and worse. “One-hundred-ten, 120, we’ve seen speeds even in the 130s and 140s on some of those,” Tjepkes says. “It’s not just the state patrol. These are law enforcement officers all over the state that are seeing these dangerous driving behaviors.”

As of today (Tuesday), more than 316 people have died on Iowa’s roads so far this year, which is at least 30 deaths more than at this time a year ago. Tjepkes says speeders are causing a significant number of deaths and injuries. “Distracted driving is another cause. In 2020, four people died as a direct cause of distracted driving so, put down your phones,” Tjepkes says. “Thirty deaths can be attributed to excessive speed in 2020 and 51 deaths can be attributed to alcohol impairment.”

Iowa law enforcement had hoped to keep this year’s traffic deaths below 300, a figure that hasn’t been seen in decades.  “The under-300 goal is really an incremental goal. What we’d really ultimately like to see happen is that nobody dies in traffic-related crashes,” Tjepkes says. “Someday, I think that could possibly be a reality with engineering, education and enforcement.”

In 2016, the state recorded more than 400 traffic deaths, while the worst year in recent history was 1995 with 527 traffic deaths. Seat belt use, Tjepkes says, can reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 45-percent.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, received a request from West Central Community Action Executive Director Wendy Mueller, for continued funding in the next fiscal year, and an extension of an agreement for funding/services with the County, effective July 2022. Mueller requested $4,000 from the County, which is the same as last year. She said the funds would be used to continue the organization’s outreach efforts and more. Mueller said over the past year, West Central Community Action has provided numerous services to the citizens of Cass County, including:

WCCA she said has provided more than $1.2-million worth of services to the residents of Cass County, including Head Start.

They also work with Child Care Resource and Referral.

Administrative costs come in at less than 5% and delivery costs at 20% or less. Superintendent Steve Green had high praise for the organization.

In other business, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken reported the Adair/Cass road opened last Friday (Nov. 19th), and bridge #208 on Indian Creek Road has one more pour next week. The Board approved the Cass County Five Year Construction Program (2022-2026), with regard to:

• L-280-73-15 Bridge Replacement of Bridge #280 on 700th St., over Jim Branch of Turkey Creek, from Jackson Rd., South 0.8 miles, on the West Line S26-T76-R35.

They also approved a contract with Cunningham-Reis from Van Meter, for a bridge replacement project on 700th Street, south of G-25, for a total of $69,500.  The Board discussed, but took no action on an updated employee cell phone policy, with regard to the use of personal phones and the reimbursement rate/eligible personnel.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope, Tuesday (today), said an arrest has been made in connection with the theft of a motor vehicle. An investigation into the incident began on May 22nd, 2021, when deputies took a report of a 1977 Ford F250 stolen from a previously flooded residence in Hamburg. Six months later (on Nov. 22nd), Fremont County Deputies arrested 51-year-old William Charles Maddox, of Hamburg, on an active Fremont County warrant for Theft 2nd Degree, a Class D Felony, in connection with the stolen vehicle.

Maddox was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 bond.

William C. Maddox

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) reports four prisoners were transported from other agencies to the Pott. County Jail over the past 24-hours:

• 40-year-old Max Amillion Schlund, of LaVista, NE, was taken into custody Monday at the Harrison County (Missouri) Jail on a valid State of Iowa felony warrant and a hold for another agency. He faces charges that include Theft in the 2nd and 3rd Degrees, with bond set at $7,000 altogether.
• 20-year-old Kyaw Shar Wah was taken into custody Monday at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a State of Iowa warrant for Forgery -ID Theft (loss less than $1,000).
• 26-year-old Trevon Roy Barber, of Council Bluffs, was transported from the Douglas County, NE Jail to the jail in Council Bluffs, on a State of Iowa warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Bond was set at $3,000.
• and, 37-year-old Cory Ross Smith was transported from the Montgomery County Jail to the Pott. County Jail, to address two Pottawattamie County warrants for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.