DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) recently formed the first-of-its-kind-in-Iowa, Impaired Driving Coalition, in light of the seriousness of impaired driving across the state.

The Impaired Driving Task Force includes members of the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the DPS’s GTSB, the DPS’s Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory, Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Health, Department of Human Rights, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Attorney General’s Office, city, county and state law enforcement officers and private partners.

The GTSB has asked the Coalition, which includes many different perspectives and experiences, to review existing Iowa data, laws, regulations and programs and propose a coordinated statewide impaired driving plan for preventing and reducing impaired driving behavior.

The purpose of the statewide impaired driving plan is to provide a comprehensive strategy for preventing and reducing impaired driving, based on coordinated efforts designed to reduce deaths and increase public safety. The plan will eventually be submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for approval.

The GTSB has established a new award in honor of Officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales. Officer Farrell and Officer Puente-Morales were killed in the line of duty by an impaired driver who was driving the wrong direction on I-80.

The Farrell/Puente-Morales Award will be presented annually at the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau Conference to a law enforcement agency that has displayed a strong emphasis on addressing impaired driving throughout the year.

All agencies that have a GTSB contract will be reviewed by GTSB staff and one agency will be selected as the award recipient by reviewing their enforcement, education or public awareness efforts in the fight against impaired driving.

The deaths of Officers Farrell and Puente-Morales will not be forgotten and will be the impetus for all Iowans to push for new innovations and initiatives to eliminate impaired drivers once and for all from Iowa’s roadways. Effective enforcement efforts can save lives and make our communities safer and stronger, and these efforts are worthy of public recognition.

(DPS Press Release)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report one person suffered possible/unknown injuries during an accident last Thursday morning, in Afton. Authorities say 53-year old Carol Ann Cain, of Lorimor, was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, after her car was struck by a pickup driven by 17-year old Jacob Walter, of Afton.

The accident happened at the uncontrolled intersection of Grant and Polk Streets in Afton, at around 11:20-a.m., Thursday. Following an investigation, Walter was cited for Failure to Yield. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa lawmakers say a state director defied legislative intent behind a $750,000 allocation to hire disabled people and that his department ignored legislators’ requests to explain the actions. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa Department of Human Services director Chuck Palmer is expected to answer questions about the matter before a legislative committee Tuesday.

The $750,000 allocation in last year’s legislative session was intended to aid a program known as “Supported Employment,” which helps people with disabilities get and hold a job. But lawmakers didn’t include so-called clarifying language in the bill, and the department used the money to supplement the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid budget. Republican state Rep. Megan Jones and at least three other lawmakers say Palmer and his department should’ve been aware of the Legislature’s wishes regardless.

On the heels of votes last week by the Griswold and Lenox School District Boards of Education to continue discussions with regard to Superintendent Sharing, a community meeting will be held Wednesday evening in Griswold, for patrons of the district to hear more about the proposal to share the services of Lenox Superintendent David Henrichs. The community meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m. in the Griswold Middle School/High School library.

Afterward, the Griswold School Board will convene to make a decision on further pursuing the sharing possibility.

An incident late Thursday night in Adair, resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says 19-year old Adam Zachary Bolton, of Atlantic, was arrested early Friday morning on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. Bolton subsequently posted $1,000 bond and was released from the Adair County Jail.

Authorities say Bolton’s arrest stems from an incident that took place at around 11-p.m. Thursday, where a resident living in the 600 block of Broad Street, in Adair, reported someone threw something through his window. The resident said he was confronted by three men and told them if they didn’t leave, he would call the police.

The three men refused to leave. One of the subjects, identified as Bolton, allegedly said he was going to throw a brick at the house. The victim called police, and as the men were leaving, the victims’ sister saw Bolton allegedly throw the brick through the north window of the residence. Damage to the screen and window was estimated at $300. Bolton was picked-up a short time later, by Atlantic Police. He was transported to Adair County by one of their deputies and booked into the jail.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 26-year old Cody Andrew Carter-Baumgardner, of Dexter, was arrested May 4th, for Domestic Abuse by Strangulation. His arrest stems from an incident that was reported to a Crisis Intervention Center, and forwarded to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities there transferred the case to Adair County, since the offense allegedly occurred there.

Carter-Baumgardner was brought to the Adair County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. Today (Monday), 21-year old Derek Zook, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300. On Sunday, 55-year old Danny Cardin, of Homer, LA., was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

A woman from Polk County faces charges following an accident Saturday night in Audubon County. Sheriff’s officials say 24-year old Kasie Rae Simpson, of Des Moines, was charged with Failure to Maintain Control, Open Container, Failure to have insurance, and failure to carry a registration card, following an accident that happened at around 10-p.m., Saturday.

Authorities say Simpson was traveling south on Eagle Avenue near 250^th Street, when her vehicle entered the east ditch, hit a culvert and launched into the air. The vehicle hit a tree, causing the tree to fall over. The vehicle then came to rest, on the tree. Simpson refused medical treatment at the scene.

She was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released after posting a cash bond.

The annual, nationwide Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers is being held this weekend. The event will be held in more than 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. In its 23 years, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive has collected more than 1.4 billion pounds of food. Last year’s national drive collected approximately 71 million pounds.

Katrina James, Officer in Charge at the Post Office in Atlantic, says their local goal this year is to collect more than 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food items, and new this year…non-food items, such as new diapers, toothpaste, etc. James says “All donations go directly to our neighbors in need and help build a hunger-free community.”

Letter carriers, some of their family members and volunteers will be out from 9-a.m. until 4-p.m. Saturday, May 14^th, collecting donations, which can be left near the mailbox, on the porch or curb, depending on the weather conditions. James says there is also a drop box at the Atlantic Post Office, and, she says they are looking for volunteers to help the letter carriers pick-up the donations.

Trina says you can set the donated items in a plastic bag or whatever will make them easy to carry and safe from the elements. If you don’t have a bag, don’t worry…one will be coming your way this way. Postcards and Hy-Vee sponsored bags will be delivered by the carriers this week advertising the food drive.”

The Drop Box will be available this Friday, in the lobby of the Atlantic Post Office. If you have any questions, contact your local letter carrier or the Atlantic Post Office.