CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – Floyd County has joined other counties in seeking changes to the state’s master matrix for siting animal feeding operations. The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Tuesday that will be sent to lawmakers.

The Iowa Natural Resources Department’s master matrix is a scoring system that can be used to evaluate the siting of confinement feeding operations. The supervisors expressed concerns Tuesday that the system is failing to protect air and water and the health and quality of life of county residents.

Allamakee and Winneshiek supervisors also have formally called for changes in the matrix, and Pocahontas and Webster county officials last year asked legislators and environmental regulators for a moratorium on factory farms and changes to the master matrix.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports two women were injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident Tuesday afternoon, about four-miles north of Walnut. Officials say a 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Elsie Anthis Deyanes Welsch was traveling north on Shelby County Road M-47 near 400th Street at around 12:38-p.m., when the vehicle slipped off the traveled portion of the road and entered the east ditch.

Welsch over-corrected, sending the vehicle back across M-47 and into the west ditch, where it rolled several times before coming to rest on its wheels.  Welsch, and her passenger, Theodora Anthis, were transported by Walnut Rescue and Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Shelby and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies, Harlan Police, the Iowa State Patrol, Walnut Fire and Rescue and Elk Horn Fire, all assisted at the scene.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A traffic stop Tuesday night in Creston resulted in the arrest of 37-year old Victoria Brammer, of Creston, on an OWI charge. Brammer taken into custody at around 9:30-p.m. and brought to the Union County Jail, where she was charged with OWI/1st offense. Brammer was later released on a $1,000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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An accident Tuesday afternoon in Red oak caused several thousand dollars damage, but no one was injured. Authorities say 20-year old Colton Story, of Henderson, was arrested on a charge of OWI/2nd offense after the 1990 Honda Accord he was driving hit the rear of a small utility trailer and a Bobcat 2200 UTV it was hauling, as well as a pickup pulling the trailer. The pickup was driven by Will Horsley, of Villisca.

Story was also cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol and Failure to Obey a Traffic Control device (Stop light). According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the collision occurred at the intersection of W. Cherry Street and Highway 48, in Red Oak. Official say Horsley was exiting the Hy-Vee Plaza and turning north onto Highway 48 after the light turned green. Story was southbound on Highway 48 and had a red light. Horsely told investigators Story did not slow down upon approaching the intersection and he was unable to avoid the collision.

Horsley’s trailer, was a total loss, while the UTV sustained about $2,000 damage. The pickup sustained damage to its trailer hitch. Story’s car was considered a total loss.

The Iowa State Patrol is reporting troopers are seeing more motorists who are traveling 20 to 30 miles-an-hour over posted speed limits. Patrol Sergeant Nathan Ludwig has a few ideas about why these drivers are taking such risks. “I think cars are faster and people, just bottom line, they’re in a hurry. So, they want to push the pedal as fast as they can go and see if they’re going to get caught or not,” Ludwig says.

There are fewer troopers monitoring Iowa’s roadways than there were many years ago, but Ludwig says there are many ways for the patrol to spot speeding motorists.
“One of the things we try to utilize a lot more is aircraft for speed enforcement,” Ludwig says.

Other motorists, who are obeying the speed limit, can also help the patrol track down extreme speeders. “Safely call 911, that’s probably the best thing, because they’re a risk to everyone else out there that’s on interstate,” Ludwig says. “We get broadcasts all the time on the police radio about a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and if there’s an officer in the area, we’ll try to get that person stopped.”

Last week, the Iowa State Patrol posted a photo on its Facebook page showing a vehicle was clocked at 102 miles-an-hour on Interstate 80 near Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature have pushed back scheduled votes on a bill that would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers in the state. The House chamber, which debated the bill for several hours, agreed after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to adjourn until Wednesday morning. The Senate took similar action shortly after 8:30 p.m. Democrats, now in the minority, have filed dozens of proposed changes to the bill.

UNDATED (AP) — Despite President Steven Leath’s claim that the sale should make money, Iowa State University expects to lose tens of thousands of dollars unloading an airplane it purchased 2 ½ years ago for his travel. A notice seeking a broker to handle the sale says Iowa State will likely list the 2011 Cirrus between $429,000 and $480,000. That would be less than what the university has called the “exceptional price” of $498,000 it paid in 2014 _ before the broker gets paid a hefty fee.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — An audit is questioning whether Iowa State University President Steven Leath violated policy in storing and transporting firearms in school housing and airplanes without written approvals. The Board of Regents audit report says the university has no documentation that Leath applied for and received waivers required by policy to bring guns on campus. The report says Leath stores multiple firearms at the president’s mansion, the Knoll, and has brought them on university planes.

WEVER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a man whose body was found in an eastern Iowa park. The Hawk Eye reports that the body of 47-year-old James Merlin Nelson was found Saturday in Indian Path Park in north Lee County. Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber said Monday that an autopsy has been ordered. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into Nelson’s death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature have pushed back scheduled votes on a bill that would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers in the state.

The House chamber, which debated the bill for several hours, agreed after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to adjourn until Wednesday morning. The Senate took similar action shortly after 8:30 p.m.

Democrats, now in the minority, have filed dozens of proposed changes to the bill. At least one amendment in the Senate to gut the measure failed.

The legislation is expected to pass amid support from GOP legislative leaders, Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, the incoming governor. However, the timing of final votes remained unclear.

Audubon County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Jensen is putting out the word early, about a bridge replacement project slated to begin in March along Lark Avenue. Jensen says beginning the week of March 13th, contract crews will begin replacing a bridge in the 1900 block of Lark Ave. The closure will be in effect until sometime this June.

Lark Avenue will be closing just south of Audubon County Road F-32 while contractors replace a bridge located in Leroy Township, section 24. Construction, which again starts March 13th, is expected to last about 65 working days.

Residents and emergency responders should plan for alternative routes in order to reach properties in the affected area. If you have any questions, please call the Audubon County Engineer’s Office at 712-563-4286.

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