A popular new game played on smart phones may be endangering the lives of some Iowa drivers and pedestrians. Pokemon Go uses “augmented reality,” where you switch on your phone’s camera, look at your screen and see virtual creatures you’re trying to catch superimposed over the real world view. Gail Weinholzer, at Triple-A-Iowa, says you should never try to play the game while driving.

“The three most important things you can do while driving are: keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and your mind on the task of driving,” Weinholzer says. “Obviously, playing this game while driving violates all three of those most important issues.” The game is appealing to people in their teens and 20s and that’s the age group which the motor club says is already at the highest risk for crashes.

“Younger drivers are the most vulnerable drivers, they’re the least experienced,” Weinholzer says. “If they’re participating in these sorts of activities, they’re only enhancing the risk of being involved in a serious or even fatal crash.” Another problem, pedestrian players are wandering into traffic, too engrossed in the game to realize their lives may be at risk.

“We’ve seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities across the United States over the last year and certainly, participating in this game is not going to assist us in reducing those numbers,” Weinholzer says. “It’s important that drivers and pedestrians alike both focus on the tasks they should be involved with.”

A recent AAA report showed distraction was a factor in 58-percent of all crashes. It also found six out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen driver crashes involved distraction, four times more than was reported on police records.

(Radio Iowa)

A new convenience store chain is being launched in Iowa. Yesway is the brand name for this new convenience store chain. The Yesway website says there will be a “grand opening” sometime this summer. The Des Moines Register reports Yesway stores will open in Newton, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Waterloo, Clarion, Story City, Belmond, Ottumwa, Centerville, Elkhorn, Harlan, Walnut, Audubon, Missouri Valley, Manilla and Logan. Six of the new Yesway stores are in Mason City. The company hasn’t released a list of its other locations in Iowa.

Yesway is being started by B-W Gas and Convenience which is part of a Boston-based private equity firm. BW ultimately aims to have more than a thousand Yesway stores in “selected regions” of the country. To start, the company is buying 21 Kum N Go stores in Iowa. It acquired 10 Country Store locations in Iowa late last year.

The company’s news release touts “neighborly customer service” and executives promise to “completely upgrade and remodel” all 31 stores the company now owns in Iowa. There will also be some sort of “loyalty program” for repeat Yesway customers. A headquarters for Yesway will be based in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More acres of corn and soybeans were planted than initially estimated this year, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to boost the fall harvest expectations for both major crops.

The agency said in its monthly update Tuesday that farmers are expected to bring in 14.5 billion bushels of corn, which would break 2014’s record of 14.2 billion bushels. Farmers planted 94.1 million acres of corn, about a half-million acres more than first projected.

The soybean harvest is estimated at 3.88 billion bushels on a record 83.7 million acres planted, 1.5 million more acres than projected. Prices for both crops are up compared to earlier this month, because the USDA says soybean exports are higher than expected and corn exports will rise since drought-stricken Brazil produced less than projected.

Swimming, canoeing and floating the river on tubes is a summertime tradition in Iowa. But as relaxing and enjoyable as a river float is, it does come with an element of risk.
Iowa rivers are dynamic systems in a constant state of change and can hide obstacles just beneath the water surface. Todd Robertson, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Trails Program, said river users can enjoy the scenery while keeping an eye downstream to avoid any hazardous surprises.

“We’ve had some reports of trees being blown over during the recent storms and blocking parts of different rivers. We would encourage paddlers and tubers to watch for fallen trees and other hazards that can pull you in and suck you under the water,” he said.  “This is the busy season for floating our rivers. When we have consistent hot weather, there is an increase in the number of paddlers and tubers and we want everyone to be mindful that our rivers are in a constant state of change.”

• Robertson said there are a few tips to keep you safe on the river.
  Wear your life jacket: Life jackets, when properly fastened and cinched, have saved lives. Life jackets are mandatory for any child under 13 in any vessel underway in the state of Iowa.
• Know the weather forecast: Always get off the water if lightening is in the area.
• Recognize and avoid hazards: Most water incidents involve an obstruction – downed trees and branches create a “strainer” effect that can trap boats and people under water, sometimes leading to drowning. A bridge pier or boulder can get a boat pinned on its upstream side. Low-head dams can re-circulate, trap and drown victims. These hazards are most difficult to avoid at mid to high range flows.
• Consider your experience: Novice paddlers and tubers generally have less control as rivers get swifter, and should factor in more caution.
• Beat the heat: Dehydration, heat exhaustion stroke, and heat exhaustion can become serious problems in by mid-summer. Bring plenty of water on river trips, cool off periodically by getting yourself wet or swimming, use sunscreen, and for tubing or paddling trips make sure to choose shorter trips when the river’s flow is low.
• Set the example for your kids: Be vigilant with kids in rivers, make sure they wear their life jackets before getting in the water, and explain to them the other safety points on this list.
• Watch your kids: Even with a life jacket, be aware of common river hazards, and keep a watchful eye on kids in a river at all times, to help them avoid hazards such as woody debris and other objects, or low-head dams.
• Other factors: You can improve your odds by not consuming alcohol, considering weather factors, and being vigilant about what’s around the next bend.

Marne and Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC) and Walnut Communications, longtime partners during their 100 years in business, today (Tuesday) officially extended that partnership further when they announced they would merge later this year. The merger was recommended for approval by the Board of Directors of each company, and officially approved by the shareholders of both companies earlier this week. The Iowa Utilities Board and the Federal Communications Commission still need to approve the merger before it is final, according to company staff.

The merger is expected to provide both companies with the opportunity to share staff resources, reduce combined operating expenses, and continue to provide customers with the excellent service that both firms have historically provided in their respective areas. The merged company, which will be managed by Janell Hansen, has the capacity to grow in ways the two separate companies could not.

Bruce Heyne, Walnut Communications, General Manager said, “This merger allows our communities to be served by a local, committed and forward looking communications provider who understands our customers and our rural communities and employs a team of local experts.” Marne & Elk Horn G.M. Janell Hansen said “We have worked on projects and partnerships for years, so this really is a continuation of a lifetime of work together.”

Hansen added, “One of the many reasons this merger works is because we understand rural communities and the people and businesses in western Iowa. There are no plans to close any offices, change staff members or immediately change the names of the companies. Together we are a stronger local entity which can better serve all the customers in both serving areas.”

According to Hansen and Heyne, staff members have expertise in providing state-of-the-art Internet, Digital TV, Voice and cellular services to rural residents. METC is just completing a fiber-to-the-home network that delivers ultra-fast Internet, digital TV and voice services to customers. Walnut is using fiber-to-the-home and other technologies to deliver services to customers.

Adair Fire and Rescue has scheduled a DOT approved Traffic Incident Management (TIM) class for area Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Dispatch, Public Works and Towing Company officials. The program covers multiple aspects of training in response to traffic accidents, and is designed to reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities to those emergency personnel who are on the scene by providing safer and more effective techniques of traffic control as well as additional accidents.

In addition to the goal of keeping emergency responders safe, the TIM program will demonstrate ways to keep traffic from backing-up, reducing incident clearance times and secondary crashes, fewer insurance claims, and additional cost savings.

The program is supported by: The International Association of Chiefs of Police; International Association of Fire Chiefs; The National Volunteer Fire Council; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Towing and Recovery Association of America.

The TIM program will be held 1-p.m. August 2oth, at the Adair Community Center, in Adair. Reservations are requested by August 12th. Call or text Adair Fire Chief Jordan Smith at 641-745-5254, or e-mail smithjorden@hotmail.com.

Police in Harlan, today (Tuesday), issued a report on numerous, recent arrests. This past Sunday, 30-year old Jason Fuhs, of Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to a disturbance in the 1000 block of 7^th Street.  Fuhs was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with intoxication in public, assault causing bodily injury and disorderly conduct.

Last Thursday, 26-year old April Stinn, of Harlan, was arrested when a search warrant was served at a residence in the 600 block of Durant Street.  Stinn was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts penalties.

Harlan Police arrested six people on the 4th of July.31-year old Daniel Pedersen, of Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to a disturbance in the 900 block of Dye Street.  Pedersen was arrested on an active Polk County warrant and taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Three Harlan resdients were arrested following a traffic stop, July 4th.  All three were transported to the Shelby County Jail.  18-year old Nicholas Haner was charged with 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, and prohibited acts penalties.  Haner was also cited for failure to have a valid driver’s license, failure to prove security against liability, operation without registration, and improper tail lights.  19-year old Cassie Swensen was charged with 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and permitting an unauthorized person to drive.  And, 26-year old April Stinn was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also arrested July 4th, was 58-year old Walter Gaul, of Harlan, who was taken into custody following a traffic stop.  Gaul was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.  Gaul was also cited for failure to obey stop or yield.

And, on July 2nd, 50-year old George Hadfield, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Hadfield was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited acts penalties.  Hadfield was also cited for failure to prove security against liability and cracked windshield obstructing view.

Rescue crews from Anita and Wiota, along with Medivac Ambulance, were called to the scene of a tractor-trailer rollover accident, in Cass County this (Tuesday) morning. According to dispatch reports at 9:46-a.m., the semi blew a tire on Interstate 80 westbound near the 72 mile marker and struck a bridge before it entered the north ditch and rolled onto its side. The driver, Pedro Diaz Alvarez, from Florida, suffered a minor hand injury but refused transport to the hospital.

Photo courtesy Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator Mike Kennon.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Polk County was arrested Monday afternoon on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear in court, on Child Support matters. 52-year old Christopher Lee Thurmond, of Des Moines, was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,500 bond.

And, a Lorimor woman reported to the Sheriff’s Office, Monday, that sometime over the weekend, someone got into her house and took her TV valued at $600, and $690 in cash. The incident remains under investigation.

(9-a.m. News)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, at the courthouse in Atlantic.

On their agenda is action on an order approving Audubon County’s plan of reimbursement to Cass County for Administrative Assistant Services rendered to the Audubon County Attorney’s Office, and action on a Resolution calling for Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold to execute the certification on completed work and final acceptance, with regard to Farm-to-Market roads.

The Board will also act to set ordinance hearing dates on an ordinance to establish a policy for the construction and reconstruction of roadways and bridges on the Cass County Secondary Road System.