The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Monday (Today) a young black bear in northeast Iowa was struck and killed by a truck Friday evening on Highway 76 near the Yellow River Forest in southeast Allamakee County. Officials say the bear is believed to be the same one that had been pictured on social media last week in a corn field near the Yellow River Forest. It was a young bear weighing about 200 pounds.

The last bear reported to be killed in a traffic collision in Iowa was just over a year ago on U.S. Highway 20 near Jesup. DNR Conservation Officer Burt Walters said the bear has been frozen and will be analyzed. It is likely the bear will be put on display at a new Allamakee County nature center being constructed in Lansing.

Bears are believed to wander into Iowa from neighboring states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri where there are breeding populations of black bears. Walters said the wooded terrain of Allamakee County combined with the Mississippi River provides prime habitat for bears.

People seeing a black bear, or finding sign (tracks or scat), are urged to contact local Iowa DNR wildlife or law enforcement staff to report the animal’s presence. If the bear is causing conflicts with humans, livestock, pets, or bee hives then measures can be taken to deal with the situation. Human safety will always be the first concern, however respect for that animal receiving the attention from the public and how it is handled is also a primary concern.

Even though the black bear is not currently managed in Iowa with wildlife management laws or a regulated season, the Iowa DNR’s law enforcement and wildlife personnel will continue to play a lead role in public reports of black bears. However, in cases where human safety or livestock depredation are a concern, the DNR will work closely with the following partners: USDA-Wildlife Services, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – State Veterinarians (IDALS), local police departments, county sheriffs, and other officials as needed.

In 2015, there were at least three to four black bears reported several times as they moved around northeast Iowa. In addition to the bear killed on the highway near Jesup, mushroom hunters found a dead bear along the Fayette-Clayton County border in May of 2015.

QUIMBY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say the body of a Cherokee man has been found in a roadside ditch north of Quimby in northwest Iowa. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were sent around 10:45 a.m. Sunday to a county road intersection to check reports of a body on a bicycle. They found the body of 45-year-old Norman Needs.  The cause of death is being investigated.

Police in Glenwood report two arrests. 48-year old Dennis Graham, of Stanton, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. And, 52-year old Danny Pierce, of Centerville, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for failure to appear in court. Both men were arrested today (Monday). Graham was being held in the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond, while Pierce’ bond was set at $1,000.

Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office have identified a man who was arrested Friday night following an incident in Massena. Authorities today (Monday), said 23-year old Taylor James Gardner was being held in the Cass County Jail on $6,000 bond. Gardner, whose last known address was listed as being in Massena, faces charges that include felony Unauthorized Possession of an Offensive Weapon,  Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Domestic Abuse Assault.

Taylor James Garnder (booking photo courtesy Cass Co. S/O)

As we first reported late Friday night, at around 8:02-p.m., Cass County Communications received a call from the Des Moines Police Department, with regard to a domestic situation in Massena. Shortly thereafter, the Comm Center received a 9-1-1 call from Massena. Dispatchers were able to ping the cell phone to determine a general area where the incident took place. McLaren and Deputy Ryan Johnson responded. Eventually, the residents at 101 Pine Street were contacted.

An adult male and adult female came out of a residence. The female was distraught, and advised an altercation had taken place with her boyfriend. At that time, the boyfriend (identified as Gardner) was inside the home, with a minor child. The deputies went inside the home and located the child and gave the child to its mother. They then repeatedly tried to make contact with the boyfriend, but were unable to do so.

The Communications Center advised deputies the subject might be armed, therefore the deputies left the home and requested assistance from other law enforcement officers. Deputies from Adair, Adams, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties, along with the Iowa State Patrol, all responded to the scene and set up a perimeter. MidWest MedAir was also notified and were enroute in case they were needed, but they were subsequently cancelled.

Gardner was seen by a family member going to an apartment in Massena, but a search revealed he was not there. He was later seen traveling on foot toward the Massena Sale Barn, and while the search efforts were concentrated at the area, a short time later, it was learned the subject was inside another residence occupied by a female. The deputies arrived and took Gardner into custody without incident a little after 10-p.m. He was unarmed.

A weapon was recovered after from the original residence once the scene was secured.

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County arrested an Anita man Saturday on an assault charge. 46-year old Daniel David Becker was taken into custody for Domestic abuse assault. He was later released from the jail on his own recognizance.

And, last Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 38-year old Julie Ann Simmons, of Atlantic, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Simmons was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on her own recognizance.

A traffic stop Sunday evening in Exira resulted in the arrest of 28-year old James Aaron Humlicek, of Exira. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says Humlicek was charged with Possession of Prescription pills, driving while revoked, failure to wear a seat belt and having no insurance. He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond. Humlicek is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

A Madison County teen suffered possible/unknown injuries during a rollover accident early Saturday morning, in Union County. Sheriff’s officials say 15-year old Alexis Hawkins, of Winterset, was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston following the accident that took place near Lorimor at around 2:35-a.m., Saturday.

Officials say Hawkins was driving a 2003 Saturn Ion southbound on Highway 169, when she lost control of the car. The vehicle entered the west ditch and rolled once before coming to rest upright. Hawkins was later cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Driving without a license. The car sustained $5,000 damage during the crash.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 27-year old Tyler Scott Sutton, of Osceola, was arrested Sunday morning for possession of drug paraphernalia and 2nd degree Theft. Sutton was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center after he was found to be in possession of a 2001 Chevy Silverado that was reported stolen from Creston last week. Sutton remains in the jail while awaiting an appearance in front of the magistrate.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol, says they are in need of your help in locating  an adult male.  Authorities are looking for a 2012 Black, Ford Dually, with Tennessee license plate# J414234. The man’s name is Frank Dietz.

Dietz is said to be sick and disoriented.  When they last spoke to him, he advised he was ”stuck on a road.”  Frank Dietz’s phone was pinged in Guthrie County.  Please check your farms, the roads around your farms and contact the Sheriff’s Office if you see Mr. Dietz or his truck. Call the Guthrie County Sheriff’s  641-747-2214 if you have any information about Dietz’ location.

Authorities are looking for a truck very similar to this one.

(click on the image to enlarge, and then again on the page that will open)

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports the intersection of 300th Street and Peach Road is currently closed for a replacement pipe project. Construction on the project is expected to last one-week.The pipe is located between Monroe Township Sections  19 and 30, and Fairview Township Sections 24 and 25.

Since the area has many dirt or Level “B” roads, considerable alternate route planning will be necessary for some emergency responders if they should need to aid nearby residents. If you have any questions, call the Shelby County Engineer’s Office at 712-755-5954.