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Should Iowa enact new gun rules? Iowa governor won’t say

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is declining to comment on whether the Iowa Legislature should enact new gun regulations in response to a mass shooting in Florida. Reynolds said Wednesday when asked about the issue: “I’m not saying yes. I’m not saying no.”

A 19-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. Authorities have since revealed the alleged gunman had an extensive record of warning signs. The Republican governor says it’s important to ensure current systems for addressing public safety issues are working. Reynolds says she’s asked Iowa agencies to review existing policies. She says it’s not clear whether that will lead to legislation because possible changes may not require it.

Reynolds’ response to the shooting has included highlighting mental health. The GOP-controlled Legislature is considering legislation to expand mental health services.

Man arrested in Montgomery County for attempted enticement of a minor

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Clarinda man was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, for allegedly Attempting to Entice a Minor. 40-year-old Rodney Adams Jr. was arrested as the result of an investigation that concluded at the Casey’s Store in Villisca. His arrest happened at around 8-a.m. Adams was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

3 students and school bus driver injured in southern IA bus accident

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A school bus accident this (Wednesday) morning in southern Iowa’s Decatur County injured the school bus driver and three students. The Iowa State Patrol reports the 2008 Thomas School Bus driven by 31-year old Bruce Wayne Miller, of Leon, was traveling on 215th Street, about one-quarter of a mile north of County Road J-20 at around 7:47-a.m., when the bus ran off the road to the right. Miller over-corrected, sending the bus to the left, and into a corn field, where it came to rest. The students, ages 18, 15- and a minor child, were transported to the Decatur County Hospital.

The 15-year old was taken to the hospital by their parents, the 18-year old and the other child were transported by ambulance. Miller was taken to the hospital by Leon Police. None of the injured wore seat belts.

Dense Fog Advisory until Noon for parts of western/southwest IA

Weather

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

1042 AM CST Wed Feb 28 2018
Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties…

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY…

* VISIBILITY…A quarter mile or less.

* IMPACTS…Limited visibilities and possible slippery roads will make travel difficult. Moisture deposits from the fog may freeze on surfaces creating slippery spots on roads, bridges and sidewalks.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Dense Fog Advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.

Commuters face months-long detour amid Iowa bridge closure

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SABULA, Iowa (AP) — Safety concerns have forced the closure of a small bridge that offers the only Iowa access to a much-larger bridge spanning the Mississippi River and connecting eastern Iowa to western Illinois. Motorists commuting from Sabula to Savanna, Illinois, or vice versa, are facing a 36-mile detour after the unexpected bridge closure Tuesday. Iowa Transportation Department Planner Sam Shea tells the Telegraph Herald that the bridge could be closed until May and reopened around Memorial Day.

The closure comes after state officials found portions of pavement on the Sabula bridge to be settling Monday. A more thorough inspection Tuesday found more issues. Officials already had been planning to replace the bridge, which was built in 1933. Shea says it’s unclear how the early closure will affect bridge replacement costs.

Union County Sheriff’s report (2/28)

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Carlisle man reported to the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, that sometime overnight Monday into Tuesday, someone entered his property on 265th Street in Union County, and took a windmill with an estimated value of $900. And, a Thayer man reported on Tuesday, that sometime during the time frame, someone entered his property on 265th Street in Union County, and took the top of a windmill, valued at $6,000.

U of Northern Iowa takes over student bookstore

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The University of Northern Iowa has taken over operation of its student bookstore. In December university regents approved the purchase of University Book and Supply near the campus in Cedar Falls. The university took control Tuesday of the renamed UNI Bookstore. The store’s private shareholders first approached the university nearly a year ago.

University vice president Michael Hager told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that UNI Bookstore will be a not-for-profit entity, allowing it to hold down costs for students. Also, students will be allowed to charge the cost of their textbooks and other materials to their university bill and use their financial aid to cover those purchases.

Clarinda Police Investigate Clarinda School Bus Vandalism Incident

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that at around 3-p.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to the area of 17th & Main to investigate a report of a Clarinda Community School District School Bus being struck with a projectile fired from what appeared to have been pellet- or bb-gun type device. The school bus was on its afternoon transportation route and did not have any students on the bus at the time of the incident.

The bus was struck on the driver’s side, striking the window immediately behind the driver’s position, damaging the window. The cost of replacing the window is not yet available. Anyone having information with regard to who may be involved in the incident, is asked to contact the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194. Individual(s) who provide information that leads to charge(s) being filed in this incident will be eligible for a cash reward.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (2/28)

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released an update on recent arrests. Officials say on Monday, a Deputy made contact with a woman from Carson, with regard to Domestic Assault incident that took place, Sunday. She reported 54-year old Troy Dean Stuart, of Council Bluffs, who has a No Contact/Protection Order against him, contacted the woman by phone Monday, when he got out of jail. Stuart was taken into custody on a warrant for Violating the court order. 37-year old Eric Gabriel Thomsen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, for Driving While Revoked/OWI Test Failure. Thomsen was taken into custody following a traffic stop. Thomsen later bonded out of jail.

A Nebraska man was arrested Tuesday evening, in Pott. County, on four valid Pott. County arrest warrants for Making a False Claim on a hunting/fishing license, non-resident. 51-year old Larry Eugene Rohatsch, of Omaha, was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $1,200 bond. A traffic stop on Highway 92 Tuesday night in Pott. County, resulted in the arrest of 43-year old Ryan Daniel McMullen of Silver City, for Driving While Barred. And, 61-year old Michelle Rae Lett, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday night, on a Felony warrant for Forgery or Theft of a Lottery ticket. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop.

Date change for Missouri Valley bypass corridor study areas in Harrison County

News

February 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation has rescheduled the public information meeting that will now be held Tuesday, March 13, to discuss two Missouri Valley bypass corridor study areas. The northern study area extends along Harrison County Road F-50 from Interstate 29 to U.S. 30. The southern study area includes an area south of Missouri Valley and extends along U.S. 30 from I-29 to 280th Street. The public information meeting was originally scheduled for Jan. 23, which was postponed due to inclement weather.

All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. at the Rand Community Center, 100 S. Fourth St., in Missouri Valley. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the meeting, please notify the Iowa DOT contact listed below by March 9th.

For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting, contact Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, phone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, email scott.suhr@iowadot.us.