The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported to the driver of a full-size pickup, after the vehicle collided with a deer, which landed on the windshield and side window. The accident happened at around 7:30-a.m. Monday, on Highway 48, between Avenues H and G.

Authorities say 43-year old Gary Longfellow, of Corning, was driving the 2002 Chevy C-1500 Silverado truck, when he came upon a herd of deer crossing the road. Longfellow was unable to stop in-time to prevent striking one of the animals. Damage to his truck was estimated at $2,500.

After an hour-long second public hearing, and 5-minutes of discussion, the Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved a last-minute amendment to a proposed ordinance pertaining to permitted uses, structures and parking requirements for Light Industrial Zones, and adopted the ordinance as amended, on the second reading.

During the hearing, the sticking point for many who were in attendance, was item 17 of the amendment to Section 3.12 of the Light Industrial Schedule, which stipulated that industrial facilities utilize renewable resources, including, but not limited to, agricultural by-products. The concerns were that any business could be built in a light industrial zone the uses even a fraction of renewable energy, and that it wording was entirely too vague.

The amended ordinance leaves in-tact, item 16, which simply includes “Alternative energy production facilities” in a Light Industrial Zone.It was Kathy Showalter, who represented Amaizing Energy site buyer Ron Fagen, who suggested that in order to expedite the proceedings, item 17 be dropped entirely.

Once the hearing was closed, Board Chairman Mark Wedemeyer thanked everyone for their input.The Board, with Supervisor Chuck Reiken absent to attend a required meeting in Council Bluffs, voted unanimously to approve the amendment and adopt it. It becomes official once publicized in the local papers.

The chairman of a key senate committee says teenagers with a learner’s permit need to have a full year of driving with a parent or guardian in the car before they graduate to a license to drive alone. Senator Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “Currently, we have a six-month requirement for the permit and I have a 16-year-old son who just went through this process,” Bowman says, “and what they don’t get is the opportunity to drive with an adult, a parent, through all seasons of weather.”

The day after last month’s blizzard, Bowman sat in the passenger seat as his 16-year-old son drove. “My son had already had his license, but he hadn’t driven in any of that, so we went out together driving, talking about down hill stop signs,” Bowman says. “We went to a parking lot and I tried to get him to put the brakes on fast so he would slide and feel how you’ve got to pump the brakes — all that stuff that you just don’t get in driver’s ed because if you don’t take driver’s ed at the right time of year, you get none of that.”

Not only should teens have a full year of adult supervision before they’re allowed to get a driver’s license, Bowman wants to change Iowa law to restrict who can be a passenger in a teen’s vehicle during the first six months they have that “intermediate” driving license.  “Only be allowed one minor in your vehicle, to minimize the distractions in your vehicle,” Bowman says.Siblings still would be allowed in the passenger seats, but no more than one teenager who is not a relative. Bowman says the data shows the more teenager passengers piled into a car, the higher the chance of an accident.

“If you’ve got a bunch of teenagers in there, turning the music up, having 20 different conversations, leads to that distraction,” Bowman says. Similar legislation passed the Iowa Senate two years ago, but never considered in the Iowa House. Under current Iowa law, teenagers can get a driver’s permit at the age of 14. Teens can get an “intermediate” driver’s license at age 16, after they’ve driven at least six months with an adult in the car.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Police in Red Oak arrested a man wanted in Missouri on a felony warrant for being a Fugitive From Justice. 40-year old Jason Christopher Sipes, of Red Oak, was being held in the Montgomery County jail this (Wednesday) morning without bond, pendng extradition to Missouri.

Sipes was arrested during a traffic stop in Red Oak, shortly after midnight, at the intersection of Broadway and West Joy Street.  Officials say during the stop, Sipes jumped out of the vehicle and began running east on Joy Street.  A Red Oak Police officer caught up with Sipes less than two blocks later and deployed his taser. Sipes collapsed onto the ground and was taken into custody without further incident.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and K-9 unit assisted in Sipes’ arrest.

One person was arrested Tuesday night in Adams County, following an investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred on Sunday. Sheriff’s officials say 20-year old Johnathan Locke, of Nodaway, was arrested at around 8:35-p.m. on a warrant charging him with Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree (a Serious Misdemeanor), and two-counts of Disorderly Conduct (A Simple Misdemeanor). Locke was brought to the Adams County Jail, posted a $1,500 bond, and was released.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press