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Adair County Supervisors to hold Special Session on Monday

News

January 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a “Special Session” Monday morning, in Greenfield. During their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse, the Board will discuss and possibly act on some administrative matters, including: Taxable Mileage; the Area 14 Agency on Aging Fiscal Year 2012 Financial statement; and, a Travel Policy resolution.

At 9:15-a.m., the Adair County Board will review Valuation and Insurance information, and at 9:30, they’re schedule to hear a Fiscal Year 2014 funding request from the Adair County Historical Society, followed at 9:45, by a funding request as well, from the Adair County Tourism Bureau representative.  And, at 10-a.m., the Supervisors in Adair County, will receive a FY 2014 funding request from Chad Schrek, with Midwest Partnership.

Iowa School Bus Safety Study Released

News

January 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa departments of Transportation and Education, Friday (today) announced the release of the School Bus Safety Study to the Iowa legislature, as required by Senate File 2218, “Kadyn’s Law.” In response to the findings, Steve Gent, director of the Iowa DOT’s Office of Traffic and Safety said “The study conducted by researchers at Iowa State University and The University of Iowa evaluated school bus safety measures as required by the legislature. This report states that parents should be encouraged to have their children ride the bus to and from school because buses are one of the safest forms of transportation available. Yet, the safety of our children is still a real concern, primarily due to vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.”

Max Christensen, state director of school transportation with the Iowa Department of Education, said “Ensuring the safety of Iowa’s school children is a top priority for this department and all of Iowa schools and districts. Taking actions at the local level, such as evaluating the feasibility of home-side loading/unloading of students, and working with area law enforcement agencies, is essential.” The study addressed three specific safety elements:

  • Use of cameras mounted on school buses to enhance the safety of children riding the buses and aid in enforcement of motor vehicle laws pertaining to stop-arm violations.
  • Feasibility of requiring school children to be picked up and dropped off on the side of the road on which their home is located.
  • Inclusion of school bus safety as a priority in driver training curriculum.

Some of the key findings of the study were:

  • Twenty Iowa school districts confirmed they are currently using stop-arm cameras as a deterrent.
  • Stop-arm cameras do aid in the enforcement of motor vehicle laws and enhance safety if there is an effective and sustainable process to turn a camera image into a traffic citation and ultimately a court conviction.
  • The present method of identifying stop-arm violators captured on school bus cameras and subsequent issuance of citations by law enforcement agencies is a laborious task for all parties involved.
  • Although Kadyn’s Law imposes a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for the first offense, records show that 65 percent of fines imposed between Aug. 15 and Oct. 31, 2012, were less than the minimum. As with any new law, enhanced awareness within the judicial system of the changes in the Iowa Code resulting from Kadyn’s Law should result in an increased alignment of convictions and sentencing to the present Iowa Code provisions.
  • School districts should continue to be encouraged to consider home-side loading as a matter of best practice and discretion; but researchers stopped short of recommending this be a specific requirement.
  • As a best practice, inclusion of illustrations in driver training curriculum may improve driver comprehension of school bus stop requirements.

The study also mentioned that installation of a second stop sign at the rear of the school bus is a low-cost traffic control solution that enhances safety by increasing the visibility of the stop sign for vehicles approaching from the rear, thus preventing some motorists from overtaking a school bus when children are loading or unloading. A second stop sign is an option already available to Iowa school districts and is presently being exercised by some.

The study, sponsored by the Iowa DOT and Federal Highway Administration, was co-authored by Neal Hawkins, principle investigator and director, Center for Transportation Research and Education at Iowa State University; Shauna Hallmark, co-principle investigator and interim director, Institute for Transportation, Iowa State University; Dr. Susan Chrysler, co-principle investigator and director of research, The National Advanced Driving Simulator, University of Iowa; Dr. Dan McGehee, research scientist and director, Human Factors and Vehicle Safety Research Program, Public Policy Center, The University of Iowa; and graduate students Elizabeth O’Neal and Roderick Hoover of the National Advanced Driving Simulator at The University of Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety also played a key role in the study by sharing their valuable insights into the enforcement and educational aspects of this issue.

The report is available at: http://www.iowadot.gov/schoolbus/default.html

(Iowa DOT Press Release)

Red Oak teen arrested on drug charges Friday

News

January 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County say a teenager from Red Oak was arrested early Friday morning, on drug charges. According to Red Oak Police, 17-year old Nikolus Brenton Schooling was taken into custody at around 4-a.m, on charges that include unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Schooling was released to the custody of his father, and referred to juvenile court.

8AM Newscast 01-04-2012

News, Podcasts

January 4th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

Play

7AM Newscast 01-04-2012

News, Podcasts

January 4th, 2013 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

Play

Corning man arrested for false report

News

January 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says a Corning man was arrested Thursday night. 28-year old Trevor Benge was arrested at around 6:45-p.m.,  on a warrant for Filing a False Report to Law Enforcement.  The man was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, Jan. 4th 2013

News

January 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

(EARLY, Iowa) — The body of a western Iowa woman has been found in a Sac County residence, while authorities were investigating an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of another woman. A 21-year old man was arrested in connection with the kidnapping and assault. The identity of the victim and other details surrounding her death have not been released. An autopsy was scheduled at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — About 40 people spoke at a public hearing to oppose a rule that would establish a process for removing voters from registration rolls if they cannot prove they’re citizens. The hearing was carried statewide on the Iowa Communications Network to allow broad participation, and comments came from several locations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say smoke alarm systems saved a record number of people in Iowa last year. More than 200 people were alerted by their alarms and made it to safety. That’s an increase over 2011 when about 185 people were saved.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Supporters of a proposed criminal justice center in Iowa City are scaling back on the project costs hoping to attract the backing of voters. Johnson County supervisors have tentatively agreed to seek a $43.5 million bond issue. Voters in November rejected a $46.8 million bond request for the project.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has appointed former Iowa Senate GOP leader Stewart Iverson as chairman of the state Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board. Iverson is filling the term left by Richard Stradley, who resigned in November. It will run through April 2017.

Breaking News: Western IA woman’s remains found in Sac County

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported late Thursday night, that authorities in western Iowa were investigating the suspicious death of a western Iowa woman whose remains were discovered while officers were investigating the alleged kidnapping and attempted sexual assault of another victim. The body was located at 2242 Ira Avenue, and officials say the death was being treated as suspicious in nature. An autopsy will be conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. The name  of the victim was being withheld pending notification family.

In early May of 2011, a Carroll resident, 50-year old Dawn Allen was reported missing. Her vehicle was found in the parking lot of a club on the east side of Carroll. The last person known to have had any communication with her, 54-year old James Snovelle, committed suicide May 9th in Kansas, as authorities closed in on him. Allen’s remains were never found. It’s not clear if there is any connection with her disappearance though, and the remains found Thursday in neighboring Sac County.

The investigation into death of the woman found Thursday, started at around 8-a.m., when the Sac County Sheriff’s Office responded to Highway 20 and Ira Avenue, two miles west of Early, to investigate an alleged kidnapping. Law enforcement had received a 911 call from a local citizen who had encountered a 21 year old woman attempting to flee a vehicle and claiming she had been kidnapped. Once at the intersection of Ira Avenue and Hwy 20, law enforcement officials made contact with the victim and determined the suspect had fled on foot. A search of the area was conducted and sheriff’s deputies located 21 year old Kirk Riley Levin hiding in a nearby barn. Levin was taken into custody without incident.

The victim reported that Levin showed up at her Storm Lake residence at approximately 6:30-a.m., and initially asked her for a ride. Levin took her out of Storm Lake, to a residence at 2242 Ira Avenue, in Early. The residence is about one-half mile away from the roadside where the victim was discovered by the citizen and law enforcement. The victim reported Levin held her against her will and informed her she was being kidnapped.

Levin was being held at the Sac County jail on 20-thousand dollars bond. He’s facing felony charges of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse (a class D felony), assault while participating in a felony (a class D felony), and 3rd degree kidnapping (a class C felony). Levin is being held on $20,000.00 bond.

The investigation into the kidnapping and death is being investigated by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Storm Lake Police Department. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol assisted in the initial search for Levin.

Vehicle stolen from Union County recovered in Kansas

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Union County Sheriff Rick Piel reports a vehicle that was stolen late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning from a rural Union County residence, was found Thursday afternoon in Kansas. The vehicle, which was taken from a location about four-miles north/northeast of Creston, was found about 190 miles away, in Shawnee County, KS. No other details are currently available.

Clarinda man arrested for DUS

News

January 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, released details about an arrest which occurred Sunday evening. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 40-year old Merlin Glenn Lininger, of Clarinda, was pulled over for a traffic violation at around 6-p.m. Sunday, in the 1200 block of South 16th Street.

During the traffic stop, it was determined Lininger’s driving privileges were suspended. He was subsequently arrested for Driving Under Suspension (DUS), and brought to the Page County Jail. Lininger posted bond, and was released pending a hearing on the charge.