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Hwy 6/Keg Creek Project conceptual image (IA-DOT)

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is replacing the U.S. 6 bridge over Keg Creek in Pottawattamie County using a unique accelerated bridge construction (ABC) design – a first for Iowa. Officials say you can watch it all happen live, via the project webcam. 

To accelerate construction, the bridge is being completely prefabricated off-site. Once the bridge sections are delivered to the site, only a two-week road closure will be required for installation. If traditional construction methods had been used for this project, the road would have been partially or completely closed for several months, resulting in substantial traffic disruption.

The Iowa DOT has launched a new website so the public has easy access to detailed information about the project, complete with an animated video depicting the construction process. The website also includes a live web camera to follow the construction process and a brief user satisfaction survey. Access the website at www.iowadot.gov/us6kegcreek.

An altercation at the Harlan High School Wednesday resulted in one student being sent to the hospital, and another charged with assault. According to the Harlan Police Department, 15-year old Aaron Mikels, of Harlan, was charged with assault causing injury, following an altercation between the teen and Justin Dickinson, who is also from Harlan. Dickinson was transported to Myrtue Medical Center following the incident, where he was treated for a possible head injury. Mikels was cited for the alleged offense, and released to the custody of his father. The case was referred to Juvenile Court.

On October 6^th, three teens from Harlan and a fourth from Elk Horn, were cited for offenses which included assault, disorderly conduct, and false reporting to police, following an altercation at the Harlan Skate Park. Authorities say 17-year old Hannah Shackelford, of Harlan, was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Assault with Injury, and False Reporting to Police. Tabatha Wyatt, age 17, of Harlan, was charged with Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct, and Assault with Injury. 16-year old Shantel Ayers, of Harlan, was charged with Disorderly Conduct, and, 17-year old Dylan Jager, of Elk Horn, was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Assault with injury, and False Reporting to Police. Each of the teens were cited and released to their parents or guardians. Their cases were referred to Juvenile Court.

In other news, Police in Harlan report a Harlan man was arrested October 5^th, after he allegedly struck an off-duty police officer in the chest. 21-year old Dane Dodge was charged with assault. Dodge posted a $300 cash bond on Tuesday. His trial was set for March 13^th, 2012 in Shelby County District Court. And, a Harlan teen was charged with assault on October 5^th, following an investigation into an incident which occurred September 24^th between 16-year old Haley Miller and another girl. The assault charge was filed by the alleged victim and her mother against Miller, who was cited for the alleged offense. Her case was referred to Juvenile Court.

Shelby County Emergency Coodinator Bob Sievert has increased the fire danger level in his county to “High,” due to a lack of moisture and anticipated strong winds. Sievert says the County has received less than one-quarter of an inch of moisture since Monday. The lack of moisture, coupled with forecasted strong winds over the next couple of days, mean conditions in the fields will be extremely dry, and result in an increased risk of field fires caused by machinery, or timber fires created by open burning. Sievert notes that Shelby County is not currently in a burn ban. Cass and Greene Counties have instititued Burn Bans here in western Iowa.

Seivert is asking residents of Shelby County to call 755-2124 to report any controlled burns. The caller will be instructed to notify their local Fire Chief. He says it’s hoped that by increasing public awareness and through public cooperation, officials can avoid placing the County in a burn ban.

The Sheriff of Guthrie County is warning parents and children in the area about a suspicious person who has contacted young people in an apparent attempt to solicit them for a movie role. Sheriff Marty Arganbright told KJAN News a man who claims to be from Los Angeles has been communicating with young people through Facebook, about making a movie early next year, in Guthrie Center. Arganbright says the man has made contact with at least a half-dozen people, who are in the eighth-grade to high school age group.

He says some of the young people responded to his inquiry, which Arganbright says sets the stage for their classmates and friends to be solicited as well. The Sheriff says he was alerted to the attempted contacts by school officials. He says students in Dallas, Polk and other nearby counties have also been contacted by the individual in question.

The man identifies himself as “Dan Worthington.” Arganbright said his office has been in contact with the FBI, which advised him he should continue to investigate the matter. He says there haven’t been any new reports of attempted contact with students in Guthrie County since last Monday or Tuesday, but if adults hear of any such attempts, they should contact law enforcement. Parents in the Panorama and Guthrie Center School Districts received notices about the dangers of having a “Public” profile on Facebook. He says “Worthington” contacted one student through a “Public” profile page, and from there attempted to contact that person’s friends.

Sheriff Arganbright says there are some rules Facebook users of any age, but especially young people, should follow. Don’t arrange to meet with someone, don’t put your picture on your page or any identifying information, such as name, home address and school.

Arganbright says Worthington isn’t being charged with anything, but his intentions are suspicious.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.7MB)

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w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

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A Shelby County man is set to appear in court next month on charges he photographed a naked female in her bathroom. 27-year old Daniel David Pauley, of Defiance, was charged with invasion of privacy, after he allegedly took the picture through a screen window on the back of a home, while the woman was nude in her bathroom. A complaint filed against Pauley says the victim did not give him consent to photograph her, and the bathroom was not viewable from any public right of ways. The offense allegedly took place on August 14^th. Pauley has entered a written plea of not guilty to the charge.

A pre-trial hearing in the case was scheduled for November 28^th, with trial set for December 20^th. If convicted on the serious misdemeanor charge, he faces up to a year in jail with an additional fine totaling $1,500.

Pauley faces an additional trial on February 14^th, 2012, on a 3^rd Degree Harassment charge and for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order, associated with the August 14^th incident. He’s plead not guilty to both charges.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Wilson Trailer Co. is laying off 68 workers at its plants in Sioux City and Moberly, Mo., citing a slowdown in the national economy and bad weather in crop-producing states. The Sioux City-based company produces livestock, grain, flatbed and gooseneck trailers. Demand fell this year in the wake of a multitude of bad weather, from flooding along the Missouri River to drought in some Midwest and southern states.

Human Resources Director John Kreber says the company hoped to avoid the layoffs, but the reductions became necessary. Employees were told of the decision at a meeting in late September. The layoffs are effective Oct. 31.

Iowa businesses located along the Missouri River are struggling to recover from this summer’s flood. A survey from the Safeguard Iowa Partnership (SIP) shows respondents noted impacts to their workforce, supplies, customers, transportation and in some cases were forced to relocate. SIP executive director Jami Haberl says 140 business owners completed the survey.  “Over 70-percent of them were small businesses with less than 50 employees,” Haberl said. The survey results were included in Governor Branstad’s recent appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide financial assistance to Iowans. The businesses were not asked to provide a dollar figure on their damages, but most reported they spent a lot of money to prevent or mitigate flood damage. Haberl says over 70 percent of respondents did not have flood insurance and 80 percent did not have business interruption insurance

She said it’s important for business owners to work with their insurance agents to understand their coverage plans. Many of the businesses were not flooded, but lost business because residents were forced to leave the area. Branstad’s request to FEMA for individual disaster assistance noted the Missouri River flooding destroyed 189 homes in Iowa, while 161 sustained major damage.

(Radio Iowa)