Iowa motorists can expect to see more deer darting across roadways in the coming weeks. Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Tom Litchfield says the early harvest this year has deer on the move. They tend to be especially active around sunrise and sunset near creeks and wooded areas.

“I always tell motorists to be especially vigilant as they’re nearing low spots in the landscape,” Litchfield said. The DNR has taken steps to reduce Iowa’s deer population over the last decade after a peak road kill total of 15,361 was recorded in 2004. Last year, the road kill total dropped to 10,626 deer.

“The last four years, the (road kill) rates compare well to the mid 1980s through the early 90s. There’s been quite a difference from what we had between 2002 and 2006,” Litchfield said. The potential for deer/vehicle collisions in Iowa could decline more in the years to come. Litchfield notes hunters killed just over 121,000 deer in Iowa in 2011.

“I expect this year our reported harvest should drop six-to-seven percent just due to the decline in the deer herd,” Litchfield said. Deer population goals set by the DNR have been reached in roughly two-thirds of Iowa’s counties, according to Litchfield. The chances for deer/vehicle collisions will rise a bit more in late October and early November as the “rut” or breeding season begins.

A teenage girl was injured in a one vehicle accident that occurred Monday afternoon near Shenandoah.

At about 5:30 PM, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Shenandoah Rescue were dispatched to a scene of a one vehicle accident at the intersection of 170th St and 390th Ave in Fremont County near Shenandoah.  Upon arrival officials found a 1995 Chevy Pickup owned by Kevin Wilson but driven by a teenage girl in the ditch where it had struck a power poll.

The girl had possible injuries to her hand.  Two other teenage boys who were passengers in the pickup did not sustain injuries.  All the teens were released to their parents.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency is offering a FEMA course called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Fire Training Center in Council Bluffs at 3405 South 11^th St.  CERT was started in 2003 by the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency.  Pottawattamie Emergency Management Office Specialist Eva Fisher says they have a class every 1-2 years that teach disaster preparedness for individuals.  She says they keep a database with volunteers and train 15-20 people each 20 hour class.  Last year they helped in the EOC with phones because of the flood.

Iowa Farm Service Agency State Executive Director John R. Whitaker announced that preparations are being made to issue Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Direct and Counter Cyclical Program (DCP) payments.   The annual rental payments for CRP and the direct payments for DCP, are generally made in October and will begin after FSA receives the authorization to issue payments.

“Payments are considered timely when they are issued within 30 days of the authorized date,” said Whitaker. “Many people are not aware of the amount of work that goes into ensuring the payment process goes smoothly.  Our offices know in years such as this, these funds support the agricultural economy and responsible stewardship of America’s production acreage.”

Many variables will go into this year’s payment process.  “Producers who were part of the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) review may need to file these and others forms before payments can be issued,” added Whitaker.   While the AGI review is one example of how payments are affected, producers who signed up for emergency haying and grazing will see their annual payment reduced by the acreage that was hayed or grazed, if this was not prepaid.

Whitaker added that, producers who are affected by office consolidations should not see payments delayed due to this reason alone. “Our agency has taken steps to ensure that these payments will be generated at the same time that the rest of the state’s payments are issued.”

Iowa producers hold over 106,000 CRP contracts and approximately 154,000 DCP contacts in the state.

For more information on CRP, DCP, or other programs administered by FSA, contact your local FSA office or visit FSA’s Website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ia

–FSA Press Release

A New Market man was injured in a two vehicle crash Monday afternoon near Clarinda.

Shortly before 6 PM, the Page County Sheriff’s Office reports that 33-year-old Amy Wilmes of New Market was driving a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan eastbound on Tahoe place, turning onto 210^th Street, which is a gravel road.  A 2000 Buick Lesabre, driven by 19-year-old Christian Nook of New Market was westbound on Tahoe Place.  Wilmes turned in front of Nook causing both vehicles to collide.  Prior to the crash another vehicle had just turned, causing dust to be blown from the gravel road.

Nook was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by Clarinda EMS with unknown injuries.  Both vehicles sustained heavy damage from the collision.

A Villisca teenager faces an assault charge after an incident at Villisca junior high on Tuesday.

At about noon, a 14-year-old boy was arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly assaulted a 12-year-old student at Villisca junior high.  The teen was charged with simple assault and released to a parent.

One woman and her three passengers were injured in a single vehicle accident in Fremont County Tuesday afternoon.

At about 2 PM, a 1995 Toyota Camry driven by 68-year-old Bettye Brown of Omaha was southbound in the right lane on on I-29 at mile marker five near Hamburg.  Brown drifted to the left lane and over corrected causing her to lose control of her Camry.  Brown’s Camry went off the road into the west ditch and rolled several times.  She was ejected from the vehicle.

Brown was air lifted by life net helicopter to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha with non life threatening injuries .  Three other passengers in Brown’s vehicle were transported to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg with non life threatenining injuries.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Rapids man has been indicted on charges of a false Hepatitis B claim to FDA investigators. Luke Truesdell made his initial court appearance today and was released on bond. Authorities say he falsely told FDA investigators that a Hepatitis B carrier had bled into batches of a consumer product made by his former employer.

CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) – A fire has consumed one business in the Centerville town square and extensively damaged two others. Eyewitnesses said thick black smoke and flames could be seen 10 to 15 feet in the air after yesterday’s fire. The Centerville Fire Department sought help from six surrounding departments.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Federal lawmakers from Iowa and other states along the Mississippi River are pressing to modernize the waterway’s system of locks and dams. They say upgrades are badly needed to handle barges that have gotten bigger over time. The busiest lock on the river — near St. Louis — was closed last week for emergency repairs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ordered a survey of jurors to determine if pretrial publicity has made them too biased to decide the drug and assault charges against the father of one of two missing Iowa girls. The results will determine whether Daniel Morrissey can receive a fair trial in Black Hawk County. Morrissey is the father of Lyric Cook, who disappeared with her cousin, Elizabeth Collins.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session Tuesday evening at the high school. The meeting in the Media Center, begins at 7:30-p.m. During the session, the Board will enter into a closed session to discuss whether or not to conduct a hearing on the suspension or expulsion of a student. Other discussion will focus on the District’s Capital Needs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A University of Iowa fraternity is being shut down after hazing allegations. The national headquarters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon says it’s expelling the chapter’s 90 members. Authorities haven’t discussed details about the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa state senator says more than $240 million in state and local tax dollars that’s being committed to attract a fertilizer plant to southeast Iowa is part of the “worst economic deal in state history.” Iowa City Democrat Joe Bolkcom says he believes the $1.4 billion Orascom project was already headed to Iowa and the state didn’t need to be so generous. Iowa’s money was on top of $300 million in federal subsidies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Union employees at Anderson Erickson Dairy are returning to work in Des Moines after a one-day strike. The company and the Teamsters union agreed last night to meet to discuss union members’ health care benefits.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new consultant’s report says Iowa could save nearly $116.3 million a year if it overhauled state worker benefits. Aon Hewitt officials say the state should have 29,000 state employees pay higher deductibles and 20 percent of their health care premiums.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers and police officers will gather to dedicate a bridge in honor of a trooper who died in the line of duty. A Cedar River bridge on Interstate380/Highway 20 will be dedicated tomorrow in honor of Trooper Charles Whitney. He died in June 1985 when he was struck by a vehicle whose driver had fallen asleep.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa prison officials will conduct an emergency drill that could cause traffic delays in the corridor between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale plans to conduct a “full-scale emergency preparedness exercise” today. Authorities say motorists will experience an increase in traffic near the prison.