The Iowa Department of Transportation said Friday, members of the public are invited to attend a bridge dedication ceremony honoring Iowa State Highway Commission Officer Philip J. Adams, who was killed in the line of duty in 1973.

Officer Philip J. Adams (IA DOT photo)

The Interstate 29 bridges that overpass U.S. 30 in Missouri Valley are being named in Adams’ honor. Officer Adams, a native of Neola, was a traffic weight officer who was working a portable scale operation along U.S. 30 near Missouri Valley on March 30, 1973, when he was struck by a motorist. He died March 31, 1973, from his injuries.

The bridge dedication ceremony honoring Officer Adams will be held 1-p.m. Dec. 17th, at the Rand Community Center (100 S. Fourth Street),  in Missouri Valley. Officers representing the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (formerly Iowa State Highway Commission) Motor Vehicle Division, as well as members of the Adams’ family, will be in attendance.

Adams began his law enforcement career with the Missouri Valley Police Department in 1958. He was employed by the Iowa State Highway Commission in 1963.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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A man hunting deer in Madison County Wednesday south of Truro was injured while using an unconventional weapon. Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman, Kevin Baskins, says the accident involved a 69-year-old man from Cumming. “In this particular instance we had a gentleman who was on a stand and took a shot at a deer when the muzzleloader he was using exploded,” Baskins says. The man identified as Theodore Larson lost a thumb in the explosion.

“He was unable to find his thumb after the gun exploded,” Baskins says. He says Larson was unable to find his thumb and was eventually flown to a Des Moines hospital for treatment. Baskins says the muzzleloaders are often new reproduction guns that are still loaded in the old way. Baskins is not sure what type of gun Larson was using, but said they will try to find out why it exploded. “Our officers are experts at looking at these firearms and being able to examine what’s left of the gun to determine what may’ve happened to make it perform that way,” he says.

Baskins says the muzzleloader shotgun season overlaps with the regular shotgun season. He does not believe there have been that many problems with the oldstyle weapons. “I think it’s an unusual case. It’s not unheard of and that’s obviously one of the reasons why we want to further investigate and determine why that gun did perform the way it did,” according to Baskins.

Baskins says the accident happened around five in the evening and Larson was likely airlifted to the hospital because it was the quickest way at that time of day to get him in for treatment.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Adams County had their hands full early Thursday morning investigating two accidents, one of which resulted in a pursuit. The Sheriff’s Department says both accidents happened at around 12:50-a.m., Thursday. In one of the incidents, deputies responded to a reported accident at Lake Binder. When they arrived, the deputies observed a vehicle take off from the scene. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle crashed and the driver, later identified as Anthony Castoe, of Hopkins, MO., took off. Castoe turned himself-in later in the day, Thursday. He was charged with Eluding, Criminal Mischief, Failure to have insurance, and failure to have a driver’s license. His bond was set at $7,000.

The second accident happened near 2152 Corning Carl Road, Thursday. The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says 19-year old Jeremiah Thomas, of Prescott, escaped injury after the 1989 Cadillac Deville he was driving went out of control on the gravel road. Thomas over-corrected and hit a light pole, causing significant damage to both the car and the pole.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Glidden teen suffered minor injures during a rollover accident Thursday night, east of Carroll. 16-year old Alexander Danner was wearing his seat belt when the 2005 Chevy Malibu he was driving went out of control and rolled once before coming to rest on the drivers’ side. The accident happened on Highway 30 near Quail Avenue, at around 8:40-p.m.

The car was traveling east on the highway when it went off onto the right shoulder. When Danner overcorrected, his actions caused the car to go into the north ditch. A passing motorist helped the teen out of the vehicle. Danner was treated for minor injuries at the scene, and released.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

One person was sent to the hospital for treatment of a minor leg injury after an SUV and a full-sized pickup collided on Atlantic’s southwest side, Thursday afternoon.

A GMC pickup involved in the collision with a Ford Escape in Atlantic. (12/6/12) Ric Hanson photo.

Atlantic Police Officer Spencer Walton told KJAN News one of the vehicles was trying to turn east from Highway Six on to 22nd Street, the second vehicle was unable to stop in time and struck the first vehicle from behind. The female driver of the Ford Escape which was hit was able to drive away from the scene to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. An infant riding in the vehicle was properly secured in a safety seat and was not injured. The female driver of the pickup was also not hurt.

The accident happened at around 3:40-p.m. The names of the drivers were not immediately available. Charges were pending completion of the accident investigation.

Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner, Thursday, issued a statement indicating a Cass County man who was scheduled to stand trial a second time next Tuesday on sex abuse charges, has instead plead guilty to one felony count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.  Roger Allen Ericksen, of Lewis, appeared in court Tuesday along with his attorney, and entered his voluntary plea as part of an agreement with the State of Iowa, represented by Feistner.

Ericksen had faced 46-counts of 3^rd degree sexual abuse, two counts of lascivious conduct with a minor and two charges of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. In entering his plea Tuesday, the other charges were dismissed. Ericksen admitted that on or between the dates of March 18th, 2011 to July 25th, 2011 he used a sex toy to perform a sex act upon a 14-year-old female victim.

Ericksen waived a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) and all constitutional rights as well as the right to a fifteen-day waiting period between plea and sentencing and the right to withdraw his guilty plea at least five days prior to sentencing and was immediately sentenced by the District Court. The judge sentenced to a maximum of 10-years in prison, but then suspended the entire sentence and placed Ericksen on two-years of supervised probation.

As part of the terms of his probation, Erickson is required to register as a sex offender in the State of Iowa, he must provide a DNA sample, have no further contact with the victim for 10-years, enroll in and complete a Sex Offender Treatment Program, and reside at the Residential Treatment Facility in Council Bluffs, until his term is satisfied. In the meantime, he will be held in the Cass County Jail until space is available at the RTF.

In addition, a special sentence was imposed committing Ericksen into the custody of the Director of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the rest of his life, with eligibility for parole as provided under the Code of Iowa. All remaining charges against him were dismissed. Feistner said it boils down to this: Ericksen is on probation for 2-years. If he successfully completes the terms of his probation, the 10-year sentence will no longer be held in reserve. However, if he commits a serious crime, the entire 10-year sentence could be invoked. The Special Sentence (Under Iowa Code 903B.1) means that he is technically “On parole” with the Department of Corrections for the rest of his life. If he commits a crime that draws their attention, the DOC can invoke a variety of punishments, at their discretion.

Last August, a mistrial was declared in Ericksen’s case, after the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on its verdict.

(For details on 903B.1, see: http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/cool-ice/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=iowacode&ga=83&input=903B)

The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a total of more than $5.4 million in grants to 25 Local Housing Trust Funds to move local affordable housing projects forward. The grants will aid in the development and preservation of nearly 2,000 affordable housing units throughout the state. The grants will provide nearly $5.5 million in funding and leverage an additional $6 million in local contributions to assist 25 Local Housing Trust Funds in moving housing priorities forward.

In western Iowa: COG Housing, Inc., which serves Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and Sac Counties, was awarded a $249,671 grant that will assist 28 low-income households through a combination of grants and low-interest loans. Eligible activities will include lead hazard remediation, owner-occupied rehabilitation, down payment assistance for homebuyers and emergency relocation and foreclosure prevention assistance; the Council Bluffs Housing Trust Fund, Inc. received a grant amounting to $152,230, to promote the development of an estimated 25 affordable rental and homeownership housing opportunities through the financing of rehabilitation, new construction or direct assistance activities. The funds will also be used to promote homebuyer and tenant education, including general maintenance information.

In addition, the Southern Iowa COG Housing Trust Fund (which serves Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties) received a $244,155 grant for seven affordable housing activities to assist an estimated 30 households: owner-occupied rehabilitation in support of homeownership, first-time homebuyer assistance, transitional/special needs housing (including assisted living), infrastructure for new development/infill housing, lead-based paint remediation, demolition and lot clearance for new construction and rental projects. And, the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund, Inc. (which serves Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties), received a $296,151 grant to assist an estimated 50 households by providing down payment assistance for low-income households and owner-occupied and rental rehabilitation assistance for extremely low-income households. In addition, lead-based paint stabilization assistance to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in owner-occupied and rental units will be provided. Local matching funds will also be utilized to finance a demolition.

The grant funds will be used for initiatives such as subsidizing local down payment assistance programs, providing low-interest loans or grants to assist Iowans in home rehabilitation, financing construction of new single-family housing for low-income Iowans, supporting transitional housing programs as well as homeless assistance and prevention.