A year-long initiative to reduce fatalities on rural roadways is being launched today (Thursday) in five Iowa counties. Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says this is the second year for the High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project. “When we looked at crash data, rural crashes in Iowa account for 78-percent of our traffic fatalities. So, we were looking for a rural project to turn that around,” Hoye said. The counties participating in the project this year are Boone, Jackson, Lee, Monona and Poweshiek.

They were selected because of their relatively high rates of crashes on rural roads and low seat belt compliance rates. The project will involve an increased law enforcement presence in the five counties and officers visiting high schools to talk to young drivers about obeying traffic laws and keeping their focus on the road.

And then also, working with the Department of Transportation and their engineers,” Hoye said. “We’re taking a look at doing road safety audits in these counties. Are there engineering issues that are causing some of these crashes?” Last year, the project included Allamakee, Fremont, Marion, Palo Alto and Webster Counties. Each county recorded an increase in seat belt usage with the most significant increase occurring in Allamakee County.

“When the program started, we did a pre-seat belt survey and 61-percent of the residents of Allamakee County surveyed were buckled. Upon completion, it had gone to 87-percent,” Hoye said. Roughly 80-percent of Iowa’s total roadways are considered rural in nature. Funding for the overtime enforcement efforts is provided by Federal Highway Safety Grants, according to Hoye.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Three people have been charged in connection with a fight and shooting that injured a high school principal. The Mills County Attorney’s Office says 42-year-old Hurl Beechum, 18-year-old Denver Cook and 21-year-old Colton McDaniel face different charges following Sunday’s altercation in Glenwood. Cook and McDaniel are accused of attacking Glenwood Community High School Principal Richard Hutchinson, and Beechum is accused of shooting McDaniel.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A disbarred attorney and former police officer has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit currency to an undercover agent. Federal prosecutors say 43-year-old Brian Stowe of Waverly entered his plea Wednesday in Cedar Rapids. Prosecutors say Stowe sold $900 in counterfeit currency for $250 in real currency to an undercover law enforcement agent in February.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A woman who was forced to find a new home for her dog is seeking to end Council Bluff’s 10-year-old ban on pit bulls. Shala Richardson started a petition which gathered about 700 signatures and is now in the hands of the City Council. Richardson was forced to place her dog, Stitch, with a family outside the city in July. The Daily Nonpareil reports council members will decide whether to keep or lift the ban.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John Kasich is ramping up his campaigning in Iowa. The Ohio governor spoke to more than 100 people at a town hall style meeting in Davenport on Wednesday. Kasich talked about balancing budgets and boasted about a recent video of him dancing at an event that was posted on YouTube.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Winterset man reported today (Wednesday), someone stolen more than $12,730 worth of items from a building he owns in Lorimor. The theft occurred sometime between 5-p.m. Sept. 22nd and 10-a.m. today (Wed.).

The items taken include: A vibrating compactor; Mathews compound bow; Ammunition; A 4000 BTU heater; KLX dirt bike; Suzuki LT5 4 wheeler; RM 50 dirt bike; A welder; A generator; An RM250 dirt bike, and miscellaneous tools.

If you have any information about the theft, contact the Union County Sheriff’s Dept.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office said Wednesday, that three individuals have been charged in connection with the shooting that occurred on September 27th, 2015 in Glenwood, Iowa. 18-year old Denver Cook, of Glenwood, has been charged with Willful lnjury, a class “C” felony, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor. 22-year old Colton McDaniel, of Glenwood, has been charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor.

42-year old Hurl Beechum, III, of Queen Creek, Arizona, has been charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, a class “C” felony; Willful Injury, a class “D” felony; Going Armed with Intent, a class “D” felony; and two counts of Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Denver Cook

Colton McDaniel

Earlier, investigators had said six people were walking near 209 North Myrtle Street in Glenwood, the residence of Glenwood High School Principal Richard Hutchinson. One of the individuals walking — a juvenile — was on the phone and uttered a racial slur. Hutchinson approached the group to reprimand them for the use of the slur and an altercation began.

During the altercation, Cook allegedly punched Hutchinson in the face, leaving him unconscious. Hutchinson’s step-son Hurl Beechum III, allegedly brandished a gun and shot McDaniel, twice, once in the left thigh, and once in the right ankle.

The Attorney’s Office says a class “C” felony is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of at least $1,000.00 but not more than $10,000.00 A class “D” felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7.500.00. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of at least $625.00 but not more than $6,250.00. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by up to up to one year in jail and a fine of at least $315.00 but not more than $1,875.

An accident that occurred Sept. 21st in Harlan resulted in one person being sent to the hospital. Harlan Police said today (Wednesday), Keri Ranney, of Harlan, was transported by Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Memorial Hospital following the crash that happened in the 1600 block of 12th Street.

An investigation determined Ranney’s 2011 Chevy was traveling south on 12th Street when it crossed the northbound lane and went over a curb. The car hit and broke through a cedar fence before crashing into a parked 2005 Nissan in a driveway. The Nissan then hit a 1989 Ford, parked beside it. Both parked vehicles belong to Remington Lee, of Harlan. The fence was owned by Steven Olsen, of Harlan.

Damage from the crash amounted to $14,500. The report did not indicate if any citations were issued or charges filed.

The Glenwood Police Department says a woman who crashed her vehicle into a legally parked car claimed she was distracted by a bee in her vehicle. 26-year old Rachel Marie May, of Glenwood, was traveling east in the 700 block of Green Street at around 9:05-a.m., Sunday, when her 2008 Chevy Cobalt hit the rear of a parked 1996 Ford Explorer. The impact shoved the SUV about 6-to 8-feet.

May briefly left the scene after leaving her insurance information with a witness, and when she returned, told police she was only driving 25-miles per hour when the accident occurred. A witness however, claimed the woman had her cell phone on her lap, and that they didn’t see May swatting at a bee while she was driving. The witness also said May was driving faster than 25 when the crash occurred.

An officer investigating the incident say the extent of the damage and distance the SUV traveled after the impact led him to believe May was traveling well over 25-mph. The officer also learned the woman was required by authorities in Kansas to have an ignition interlock device on any vehicle she drives, but no such device was found in her car.

May was cited for striking an unattended vehicle and failure to have a valid driver’s license. Damage from the crash amounted to $7,000.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 21-year old Shelby Oliphant, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday on a Mills County warrant for Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony. Her bond was set at $5,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A woman who was forced to find a new home for her dog is seeking to end Council Bluff’s 10-year-old ban on pit bulls. An animal control officer approached Shala Richardson and her pit bull mix, Stitch, in July and told her she had seven days to remove the family pet. She complied and placed the dog with family outside of Council Bluffs.

But Richardson was determined to make a change, so she started a petition which gathered about 700 signatures and is now in the hands of the City Council. The Daily Nonpareil reports that City Council members will decide whether to keep or lift the ban. Richardson says she would like to see an amended law with regulations similar to Omaha.

The Harlan Police Department reports a teen from Walnut was arrested Sept. 18th on burglary, theft and other charges. 16-year old Travis Osborn was arrested following an investigation into the theft of a vehicle in the 2000 block of 6th Street that led to a pursuit into the county in the stolen vehicle. He was charged with Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Theft in 2nd degree and cited for being a minor in possession of tobacco. Osborn faces additional charges in Shelby County related to the pursuit.

On Sept. 16th, Harlan Police arrested 44-year old Marc Morris, of Harlan, following a traffic stop. Morris was charged with OWI, eluding, driving while suspended, failure to comply with the order of a peace officer, failure to stop or yield, other moving violations and Theft in the 5th degree. He was being held in the Shelby County Jail.

36-year old Jason Wayne Anderson, of Harlan, was arrested Sept. 15th in Harlan, on a charge of Assault Causing Serious Injury. His arrest took place following an investigation to an incident involving Cody Haggerty, of Harlan.

And on Sept. 8th, Harlan Police arrested 45-year old Mary Kristen Nielsen, on an OWI charge. The arrest was the result of an investigation into a Harassment complaint.