On the heels of news about two young boys who died after falling through the ice in a rural farm pond in Adams County over the weekend, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued some tips for those thinking about venturing out into area ponds and lakes…..

• There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
• The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.
• Ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water.  Things like current and springs slow ice growth. Rocks, trees or docks that poke through the ice like will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable.
• There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so it would be wise to check ice thickness as you go out.
  • The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
  • Safety items in the bucket: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.
  • Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
  • Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
  • Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t look right, stay off.

Authorities found what is being called a “shocking amount of child pornography” during a search of a doctor’s home in southwest Iowa. Sixty-eight-year-old Dr. Dennis Jones, a pediatrician in Council Bluffs, is accused of sexually abusing a five-year-old girl. He’s scheduled to go on trial in January. Several searches of Dr. Jones’ home have been conducted since May and authorities say two computers and eight hard drives were seized.

The number of pornographic files allegedly found and their nature has not been released. Jones says he’s innocent. If convicted, he could face a 50-year prison sentence.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning after authorities received a call about an allegedly intoxicated person at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Upon arrival and an investigation, deputies arrested 27-year old Joshua Trevor Hughes, of Red Oak, on a charge of Public Intoxication. He was taken into custody at around 9-a.m.

Hughes was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Two public hearings will take place Wednesday morning in Greenfield, during a regular meeting of the Adair County Board of Supervisors. The hearings are with regard to the vacating of sections of Orange and Etna Avenues, and will be followed by action on resolutions approving the vacating of those roads.

The meeting begins at 9-a.m., in the Adair County Boardroom at the Courthouse, in Greenfield.

Authorities in Iowa have released additional information with regard to a State Trooper- involved shooting incident that took place Sunday morning, near Council Bluffs. Officials said Tuesday (Today), that 27 year-old Michael Lee, of Carter Lake, was shot while trying to elude Iowa State Patrol Trooper Tim Sieleman.  Trooper Sieleman was attempting to stop Lee for not having license plates on a Dodge Ram Pick-up.

Trooper Tim Sieleman

Michael Lee

Trooper Sieleman, a 16-year veteran of the patrol, has been placed on paid administrative leave for the duration of the investigation per departmental policy. Lee remains hospitalized recovering from his non-life threatening injuries.

Lee was eventually stopped by other troopers, after they successfully rammed the truck he was driving, on Veterans Memorial Highway in Council Bluffs.  Lee’s truck rolled across the median from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes, where he was taken in to custody and transported to UNMC hospital in Omaha, NE.

While investigating the incident, it was discovered that Lee had outstanding warrants and that the Dodge Ram Pick-up that he was driving was stolen.

The on-going investigation is being conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office.

A woman from New York was injured when the car she was driving went out of control and collided with a semi, in Audubon County. Sheriff’s officials say 25-year old Erin Elizabeth Lower, of Rochester, NY, was transported to the Audubon County Hospital by Exira Rescue, following the crash north of Exira at around 9-a.m., Monday.

Authorities say 31-year old Justin Kyle Wells, of Woodward, OK, was traveling north on Highway 71 in a 2005 Peterbilt semi,  as 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Lower, was traveling south. When the right front tire of Lower’s car slipped off onto the shoulder, Lower over-corrected, sending the vehicle across the centerline of the road, where it collided with the semi.

Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch. Wells wasn’t injured in the crash, but his semi sustained $10,000 damage. Damage to the Toyota was estimated at $12,000. Officials say Lower was charged with Failure to Maintain Control.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released details about an accident that occurred Sunday night. Officials say at around 8:18-p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Highway 92 west of Highway 71. A White Ford F350 pickup driven by 27-year old Tanner Paul Preston, of Atlantic, was eastbound on Highway 92 when Preston lost control of the truck, which rolled approximately six times, coming to rest in the north ditch.

The man was ejected from the vehicle and transported by Griswold Rescue to Cass County Memorial Hospital before being flown by helicopter to University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. The vehicle is considered a total loss. The accident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County have released details about an accident causing injuries, which occurred Sunday morning, just west of Menlo. Authorities say a 2008 Toyota driven by 18-year old Carly Dycus, of Des Moines, was traveling north on Redwood Road at a high rate of speed, when Dycus failed to obey a stop sign at the intersection with White Pole Road (Highway 6). The vehicle ramped over the intersection and continued north onto Ranch Trail before going out of control, spinning around and entering the east ditch.

The left rear of the vehicle impacted the ditch embankment, causing the car to roll over one and a half-times before coming to rest on its passenger side on the northbound lane of the road. The accident happened just before 2-a.m., Sunday.

Dycus and a passenger in the car, 16-year old Zana Jarett, of Earlham, were transported by Stuart Rescue to Mercy hospital in Des Moines. Three other teens in the car refused treatment. They were identified as 16-year old Taylor Coffman and 15-year old Olivia Canelos, both of Earlham, and 14-year old Devin Hensley, of Dexter.

Dycus was charged with First Offense OWI, Failure to Obey a Stop Sign, and Failure to Maintain Control. The car, registered to Ronald Dycus, of Des Moines, sustained $8,000 damage.

w/ Ric Hanson

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