As you plan to celebrate the New Year, authorities are hoping safety is your number one concern. No matter what kind of partying you maybe doing, the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement hope that safety is a priority. Iowa State Patrol Trooper John Farley says the last few years the patrol has seen an improvement.

“The New Year’s Eve celebration is one that is traditionally recognized and I think through the years that they have understood that law enforcement will be out this evening looking for those drunk drivers.” He says the STEP program has been beneficial in keeping Iowa roads safe.  “The availability of extra officers being visible and then the public PSAs or media notices that law enforcement is going to be out there has been a great deterrent in itself.”

If you are planning to celebrate the New Year, make sure you are taking a long a cell phone in case of an emergency along with a car kit and before heading out choose a designated driver for the evening. Most local Police Departments, including the Harlan PD, will offer rides to those unable to make it home for free with no strings attached. Contact your local law enforcement agency in your area to confirm a ride will be offered.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

w/ Ric Hanson

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SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) – A dive team is expected to help recover a truck that was spotted in the Missouri River southwest of Sergeant Bluff.  The Sioux City Journal says an Iowa Natural Resources Department crew saw the truck roof around 1:40 p.m. Monday. Woodbury County sheriff’s Lt. Tony Wingert says the truck was submerged near the boat ramp at Weedland Access Area off 235th Street.

The dive team will help a towing company hook up to the truck so it can be pulled out. Officials don’t know when the truck went into the water.

Police in Red Oak arrested three people on burglary and criminal mischief charges Monday night, after they received word about a burglary in progress at a residence in the 900 block of North 4th Street. A relative of the property owner called police at around 835-p.m. When officers arrived, the person who called told them a man had entered the residence and was in the upstairs doorway.

Officers established a perimeter and called for assistance from other officers and the Red Oak K-9 Unit. After the initial suspect was taken into custody, officers learned two more individuals were in the home. The K-9 unit, officers with the Red Oak P-D and deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department entered the building and arrested the two other suspects. The Iowa State Patrol also assisted at the scene.

Charged with felony Burglary in the 3rd degree and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree (a Serious Misdemeanor), was: 29-year old Kenton Jarvis Schooling, 19-year old Kaylie Louise Hudson, and 30-year old Samantha Jo Abraham, all of Red Oak.

Abraham also had a warrant for her arrest on a Probation Violation issued out of Montgomery County. Schooling and Hudson were held at the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond each, while Abraham’s bond was set at $10,000.

A man wearing what authorities say was “an obvious disguise,” robbed the American National Bank in Council Bluffs Monday morning. The incident happened at around 9:45-a.m. at the bank, located at 1600 W. Broadway. Police say the suspect, a possibly light-skinned black male, about 30-to 35-years of age, wore a white hat, glasses, novelty beard, hooded jacket with hood up, a white sweater and scarf.

Photo submitted by Council Bluffs Police.

The man handed the teller a note informing the woman “she was being robbed.” The noted demanded money and “to give it to him quickly,” police said. The bank teller gave an undetermined amount of money to the suspect in a white plastic bag he had provided. The suspect then fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Police say the suspect, who was about 6-feet tall and weighed 200-pounds, did not show any weapon or make reference that he had one.

Authorities in Fremont County report a man was arrested Saturday for an alleged sex abuse incident involving minors. The Sheriff’s Department says deputies were called to a report of a crime in progress in the Randolph area. Following an investigation, 23-year old Andrew James Kluver, of Randolph was taken into custody on three felony charges of second-degree sexual abuse involving minors. If convicted on all charges, Kluver could face up to 75 years in prison.

Officials said there was at least one victim involved with the incident, and possibly as many as two others. The Sheriff’s Department says additional charges against Kluver are pending. Kluver was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — A southern Iowa town has agreed to pay $67,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by a mentally disabled woman who was shocked with a police Taser. The Des Moines Register reports that Cherish Storm was shocked three times by a Chariton police officer in August 2010, including once while she lay in the back of a squad car in leg shackles and handcuffs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in Iowa City are asking the public for help locating a man who is wanted on charges of stealing from an elderly resident. The police department said Monday that 25-year-old Matthew Jacob Brown is facing two arrest warrants for second-degree theft. Investigators say that Brown bilked an elderly resident out of “thousands of dollars” after performing a small amount of yard work and charging exorbitant fees.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Staff at Iowa State University’s Wildlife Care Clinic are treating two pelicans after one of the birds was injured and the other stayed with him. KCCI-TV reports the clinic began treating the birds Dec. 14 after they were found at a frozen pond near Iowa City. One of the pelicans suffered an injury and had to have one wing amputated. The other bird had a droopy wing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Medicine says the number of physicians in the state is increasing, but Iowa still has far fewer doctors for its population than the national average. The board says that Iowa had 6,414 active physicians in 2012, for a rate of 208.6 physicians per 100,000 people. That compares to a national rate of 260.5 physicians. Nationally, Iowa ranks 41st in active physicians.

Authorities in Harlan report the arrest on Saturday of a Polk County man. 32-year old Nicolas Wayne Randolph, of Ankeny, was arrested after Harlan Police officers were called to the Myrtue Medical Center for an individual involved in a fight. As a result of the investigation, Randolph was taken into custody on an active Illinois warrant. He was transported to the Shelby County jail where he is being held pending extradition to Illinois.

On Friday, 19-year old Dylan Hansen, of Harlan, was taken into custody following a traffic stop. Hansen was arrested on an active Shelby County bench warrant for violation of probation. Hansen was transported to the Shelby County jail where he was also charged with driving under suspension.

And, officials say on Dec. 16th, charges were filed with the Shelby County Clerk of Court when it was determined by officers, that 33-year old Stephen Nichols, of Harlan, had violated the no contact order with Melissa Nichols, also of Harlan. Stephen Nichols was charged with the violation of the no contact order.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. On December 25th, 35-year old Phillip William Church, of Griswold, was arrested on charges of OWI 2nd Offense, Driving While Revoked, and Driving Under Suspension. Church was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on December 27th, 21-year old Brandon Adam Fredericksen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. Fredericksen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $600 bond.