After a long, cold winter and a wet, chilly spring, many Iowans are eagerly making plans for the first getaway of the summer season. Gail Weinholzer, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is forecasting an upturn in the number of Memorial Day travelers nationwide, compared to last year. She says almost nine out of ten vacationers will be on the road. “We expect an increase in personal automobiles as well as air travel,” Weinholzer says. “Eighty-eight percent of all travelers or about 31.8-million Americans will travel by personal automobile. In addition, air travel’s expected to increase 2.4% to about 2.6-million leisure travelers.”

With so many travelers driving over the upcoming holiday weekend, Weinholzer says they’ll be pleased to discover gasoline prices are down from last year. “In Iowa today, the average is $3.46,” Weinholzer says. “Not only is that 19-cents lower than the national average, which is $3.65, but it’s also 30-cents lower than a year ago on this date when Iowans were paying an average of $3.76.”

On the flip side, she says travelers this Memorial Day weekend will encounter slightly higher prices with airfares six-percent higher than last year, mid-range hotels are up two-percent and car rentals cost one-percent more.

(Radio Iowa)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested last week. On Tuesday, 54-year old George Leo Fraissinet, Jr., of Hamburg, was arrested for: Possession with the intent to deliver, Methamphetamine; Possession of Marijuana/1st offense; Unlawful possession of Prescription drugs, and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

That same day, 33-year old Donovan Edward Hankins, of Tabor, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, last Wednesday, 26-year old Christopher James Wyland, of Hamburg, was arrested on a Fremont County warrant stemming from an original charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The City of Elliott will host a ribbon cutting ceremony this Thursday afternoon (May 22nd), for the City’s Source Water Protection and Wetland Project, Outdoor Classroom/Shelter and Trails. According to former Mayor Steve Howell, the City of Elliott has, in the past recorded increasing levels of nitrates in its well water. Plans were developed to change reverse that trend after the Iowa DNR conducted a study of the City’s Well water.

Howell, Becky Ohrtman and Dan Cook with the IDNR, put together a Source Water Protection (SWP) Team, and held several meetings to discuss three options aimed at decreasing nitrates in thew water. The team presented its findings to the Elliott City Council, and recommended a shallow wetland and native grass buffer, which was the least expensive option.

The City Council approved the project and the SWP team applied for grants for: A outdoor classroom and teaching materials; a human sundial; and, walking trails. After receiving 10 grants, donations and in-kind services, the project, which cost $325,000, came at NO cost to the City of Elliott.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Oct. 2012. The ribbing cutting ceremony taking place this Thursday, will begin at 1-pm., north of the Elliott Elementary School.

In an update to our earlier story, the Iowa State Patrol says two motorcyclists were injured during an accident that happened late Sunday morning on Interstate 80, near the Shelby Exit. Officials say 67-year old Donald Dirks and 68-year old Sharon Dirks, both of Omaha, were transported to hospitals in Omaha and Council Bluffs following the crash, which happened at around 10-a.m, Sunday.

The Patrol says a 2013 Victory motorcycle driven by Sharon Dirks and a 2007 Harley Davidson cycle driven by Donald Dirks, were traveling eastbound on I-80 near the 36.1-mile marker, when for reasons unknown,  Donald Dirks’ cycle went out of control and entered the median before flipping end over end several times.

Sharon Dirks was following Donald’s cycle. The Patrol says she panicked and applied the brakes while attempting to stop on the north shoulder of the road. The quick action caused her cycle to go out of control and crash into the median, where it came to rest on its side. Sharon Dirks was transported by Avoca Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Donald Dirks was flown by LifeNet Helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha.

A report on their conditions is not available.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The driver of a car that was fleeing from a Monona County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured early Sunday morning, after the vehicle crashed on the west side of Onawa. The Iowa State Patrol says 18-year old Hannah Stier, of Onawa, was ejected from the 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo she was driving, after the vehicle entered a ditch and hit a field drive. The vehicle caught fire after coming to rest. Stier was flown to a Sioux City hospital after initially being transported by Burgess Ambulance to Burgess Hospital in Onawa. A report on her condition is not available.

The incident began when a deputy tried to stop the car for speeding on Interstate 29, at around 1:12-a.m., Sunday.

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) – A 66-year-old northwest Iowa man has died after being attacked by a bull.
Authorities say the attack occurred about 3 p.m. Thursday at a veterinary clinic in Mapleton. Police say Ronald Rude had left the bull for treatment at the clinic and was picking him up. Police say the bull trampled Rude in a pen as Rude was trying to load the bull into a trailer.

An autopsy was ordered.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Griswold and Elk Horn-Kimballton School District Boards of Education will hold their separate, regular monthly meetings, this evening (Monday). The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:45-p.m. in the Central Office Board Room at the Middle School/High School Building.

During the session a Public Hearing will be held with regard to the 2014-2015 School Calendar, including an Early Start Waiver and conversion to an hour-based calendar. Later on during the meeting, the Board will act on a Resolution pertaining to the School Calendar, along with taking action on: the Certified Negotiations settlement; Ethernet Lease Agreement; 2014-15 school lunch prices, adult and convenience fees, and, on community groups sending promotional fliers through the school.

In Elk Horn, the EHK School Board will act on resignations, including a pre-school aide and teacher, and on approving a Memorial Bench by the Senior Class. The meeting begins at 7-p.m. in the High School’s Family and Consumer Science Room.

DES MOINES, Iowa – This is National Stroke Awareness Month and Iowans are being reminded of the vital need for quick action with the onset of symptoms. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted so damage mounts with each passing minute, says Kassie Wessing with the American Heart Association in Iowa.

“The quicker that you can get treatment and the quicker that you can call 911 and emergency responders know what’s happening with you, the better chance you have to survive and suffer minimal damage to your brain,” Wessing says. Wessing adds that symptoms of stroke can be easily remembered with the acronym “FAST,” which stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness and Speech difficulty, along with Time.

While a stroke can happen to anyone, research shows the vast majority can be prevented and Wessing says there are a number of ways to reduce risk. “We kind of like to say what’s good for your heart is good for your brain. So, not smoking is a big one. Eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables and grains, and omega-3 fish oils. Definitely keeping active,” she explains.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Iowa. More info at www.strokeassociation.org.

(Iowa News Service)