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Iowa News Headlines: Tue., March 13 2012

News

March 13th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s mental health system would be subjected to statewide standards under an overhaul approved by the state Senate. The proposal would also create six regional hubs to coordinate services instead of the current county-based system. The proposal would cost $42 million in the first year but the measure that was sent to the House doesn’t include funding. Lawmakers said debate for that would happen later in the session.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State lawmakers are scheduled to begin debate on Governor Terry Branstad’s school reform plan today. Branstad set the tone for their talks yesterday by urging bold action. His plan includes embracing new technology, testing students more often and evaluating teachers more harshly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State law enforcement officials will be cracking down on driving violations this week. About 250 agencies are expected to patrol the roads Thursday through Sunday not only to target drunken drivers during St. Patrick’s Day but also to ticket those not wearing seatbelts. Last March, a safety enforcement effort resulted in more than 18,000 traffic citations and warnings.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police have arrested an 18-year-old man who allegedly took part in a February armed robbery. Daveon Curry has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, first-degree robbery and going armed with intent. Police say he was the lookout man in a robbery at Cedar Rapids’ Creekside Market.

Madison County to fall under a burn ban beginning Tuesday

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The State Fire Marshall’s Office reports Madison County will be included in a ban on open burning, beginning 8-a.m Tuesday, March 13th. A request to institute the ban was requested by Madison County Sheriff Craig Busch, after consultation with various County Fire Chiefs. At this time, Madison County is the only county in western Iowa to placed under a ban on open burning.

Iowa DOT to hold public meetings this week on Iowa’s long-range transportation plan

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold two public information meetings this week regarding the update of Iowa’s state transportation plan. One of the meetings will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15th, at the Iowa DOT District 4 Office, in Atlantic.

At the meeting, a presentation will be made at 5:15 p.m. Personnel will be available between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. to individually discuss the plan. The meeting rooms are accessible for persons with disabilities. To provide comments, or to request special accommodations at a meeting, please contact the Iowa DOT, Office of Systems Planning, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010, telephone 515-239-1520, email Iowa.Motion@dot.iowa.gov.

The Iowa DOT will be accepting public comment on the plan through March 30, 2012. To view information concerning the plan, go to the Iowa DOT’s website at http://www.iowadot.gov/iowainmotion/state.html.

State plans special traffic enforcement this week

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa traffic safety officials are stepping up enforcement of driving violations later this week. The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says about 250 law enforcement agencies around the state will be on the roads from Thursday through Sunday for a special traffic enforcement program. They’ll be looking for drunken drivers, those not wearing seatbelts, and other traffic violations. Last year the March safety enforcement effort resulted in more than 18,000 traffic citations and warnings. The bureau says a record number of traffic fatalities in January and February show a need for additional education and enforcement to change driver behavior. The bureau says 59 people died on Iowa’s roads in the first two months of the year. About a third had not worn seatbelts.

Iowa Senate approves mental health overhaul

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has easily approved a proposed overhaul of Iowa’s mental health system. The measure approved Monday would put in place statewide standards for mental care. It also would create regional units to coordinate services, replacing a county-based system. Services would still be provided locally. The Senate approved the package on a 32-18 vote, sending it to the House. Des Moines Democratic Sen. Jack Hatch says the measure would cost $42 million in the first year. The measure approved Monday doesn’t include funding. Hatch says there would be more debate later in the session about how to pay for the new approach. The change was designed to ensure all Iowans get similar services, as residents of some counties now receive less than others.

Monday morning pursuit in Pottawattamie County leads to arrest

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A Nebraska woman was arrested this (Monday) morning in Pottawattamie County, after an Iowa State Patrol Trooper performed a PIT maneuver. The Patrol says a vehicle driven by 41-year old Wendy Johnson-Delong, of La Vista, NE, was eluding law enforcement on Interstate 80 at around 1:50-a.m., about two-miles east of the Walnut exit, when 40-year old Trooper Brian Beenen, of Council Bluffs, used the 2009 Dodge Charger he was driving to nudge the woman’s car near the left rear quarter panel, causing Johnson-Delong’s car to spin into the median. 

After the vehicle came to rest and the woman was taken into custody, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department charged her with Assault with a weapon, eluding, and OWI/1st Offense. She was booked into the Pott. County Jail at around 4-a.m., and posted a $5,000 bond a few hours later, before being released from custody. 

Damage to the vehicles involved in the incident amounted to $3,000.

Two arrests reported in Atlantic

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department says two people were arrested recently, on unrelated charges. 48-year old Allen Siegle, of Omaha, was arrested Friday on a warrant out of Douglas County, NE, for a Sex Offender Registry Act violation. Siegle was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, on Sunday, 25-year old Christopher Castillo, of Adair, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Castillo was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

(12–p.m. News)

Two accidents Friday in Atlantic

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department said today (Monday), no injuries were reported following two separate accidents Friday morning. The first accident happened at about 8:30-a.m., at 9th and Chestnut Streets. A vehicle driven by Rachel Fulk, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 9th Street and approaching Chestnut, at the same time a car driven by Michael Redler, of Atlantic, was traveling south on Chestnut. Officials say Fulk stopped at the intersection but then proceeded forward, where her car collided with the Redler vehicle. Damage was estimated at $4,500. Fulk was cited for Failure to Yield.

The second accident happened at around 10:40-a.m. Friday, as a vehicle driven by Ivalen Kindred, of Atlantic, was traveling through a parking lot at 15 West 3rd Street. Her car was struck a vehicle driven by Bobbi Jo McNees, of Atlantic, as McNees was backing out of a parking stall. Damages amounted to $2,100. No citations were issued.

Griswold man arrested on forgery charge

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Griswold man was arrested last week on felony forgery charges. 22-year old Alexander Paul Dvorak was taken into custody Wednesday on three charges of Forgery (a Class-D Offense), and one charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Dvorak was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $6000 bond.

The Sheriff’s office reports also three people were arrested over the weekend. On Saturday, 24-year old Jesse Cavin Meier, of Lewis, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Meier was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day following a plea of guilty before the Magistrate. And, 24-year old John David Nelson, of Griswold, was arrestewd on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. 

On Sunday, 31-year old Timothy George Myers, of Lewis, was arrested by Cass County Sheriff’s deputies, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Myers was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

(12-p.m. News)

Nodaway Valley Park assault under investigation

News

March 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged assault. Officials say a Red Oak woman informed the Sheriff’s Office Sunday, that her son had been assaulted at around 10:30-p.m.  March 2nd, at Nodaway Valley Park in Page County. Charges of aggravated assault are pending completion of the investigation.

Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports also, 24-year old Rebecca Ann Hart, of Shenandoah, was arrested Sunday at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant out of Fremont County. Hart was unable to post bond. She was subsequently transported to the Page-Fremont County line by a sheriff’s deputy and turned over to Fremont County authorities. Hart was being held in the Fremont County Jail.