(Radio Iowa) – The 2024 General Election ballots in several Iowa counties will let voters decide whether to raise local taxes to support ambulance services. Emergency Medical Services are generally staffed by volunteers in rural areas and response times vary widely. In 2021 the Iowa legislators passed a law allowing county-wide votes on proposed property tax levies that support emergency medical crews and equipment.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett says if Cass County voters approve their local referendum, the county’s board of supervisors would come up with a plan on how the money would be spent.  “We are wanting to pass this in November to make it an essential service,” she said, “which will allow us to take funds and specifically allocate them to EMS.”

In the past three years, about a dozen counties have approved raising local taxes for ambulance services. The most recent was last month in a special election in Henry County, as 92 percent of voters approved the move to raise property taxes to fund Emergency Medical Services.

(Worth County, Iowa) – A single-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in northern Iowa, Sunday afternoon west of Kensett, claimed the life of the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2017 Cadillac CT6 was traveling south on I-35 near the 208 Exit ramp, when the car went out of control for reasons unknown. The vehicle entered the median, passed through a cable barrier and struck a bridge pillar before coming to rest.

The accident happened at around 1:45-p.m. The driver was identified as 33-year-old Samuel Joseph Poquette, of New Ulm, MN. The Patrol says he was not wearing a seat belt.  The crash remains under investigation.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board is set to hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30-p.m. Monday, Oct. 14th, in the CAM High School  Media Center. Discussion and/or action items on their agenda include:

• Approval of Daycare Agreement
• Approval of Board Policy Revisions
• Approval of SBRC Modified Supplemental Amount Application and Supplemental Aid for the 2023-2024 Special Education Program Deficit of $1,062,396.81
• Review and Approve FY22 Audit Report
• Approval of Iowa Connections Academy School Handbook
• Discuss Iowa Association of School Board Convention November 20-22nd
• Discuss Facility Updates.

(Delaware County, Iowa) – A head-on collision between a car and a semi tractor-trailer early this (Sunday) morning in northeastern Iowa, claimed the lives of three people, and left one person injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2014 Chevy Impala was traveling east in the west bound lanes of U-S Highway 20 at around 3:36-a.m., when it collided head-on with a 2018 Freightliner semi. Upon impact, both vehicles become fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the semi was injured. Their name was not released.

The driver of the car and two passengers in the vehicle died at the scene. The names of those who died were being withheld pending an autopsy by the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s Office. The passengers were not wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Delaware County and Dubuque County Sheriff’s Offices, Dyersville and Manchester Police Departments, Earlville Fire and Ambulance, and Dyersville Fire Department.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man on an assault charge, late Saturday night. 31-year-old Thomas Andrew Schooling, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:17-p.m. in the 200 block of 1st Avenue, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Schooling was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held without bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 506 N. Palm St at around 1:40-a.m., Sunday (today). Authorities say the home’s owner was alerted by her smoke detector and called 911.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a small fire in the basement, likely caused by an overheated electric fan. Firefighters used several ventilation blowers to push fresh air into the house while forcing the smoke out.

The Creston Fire Department on social media, said thank-you to the Creston Police Department, whose officers were first on the scene, and assisted the homeowner.

Creston Fire Dept. Facebook page (photo)

Fire officials remind area residents to “Please test and clean your smoke alarms monthly and replace the battery at least once a year or as needed. If you have a fire or smoke in your home, get out fast. Don’t stop to take anything.”