(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests, citations and accidents that took place from April 19th through May 1st. There were three arrests:

• 81-year-old Jackie Lee Batten, Sr., (no known address) was arrested at 1180 S. 16th Street in Clarinda, on April 19th, for Violation of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.
• 38-year-old Joshua Dean Cooney, of Villisca, was arrested April 21st, for Driving While Suspended.
• and, on April 22nd, 20-year-old Evan Lee Carpenter, of Clarinda, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on an active Page County warrant for Driving While Suspended.

There were two accidents in late April, in Page County. On the 16th, Jacob Lewis Cartwright was driving south in the 1100 block of Highway 48, when a deer entered the roadway. Jacob’s vehicle struck the deer, causing damage to the vehicle. And, on April 25th, Jane Maxwell Liles was driving north on G Avenue. When she swerved to miss a raccoon, her vehicle struck the guardrail and sustained damage.

Those who were cited in Page County, include the following:

4/16/2023 Sebastain Michael Walters of Nebraska City Nebraska. Highway #2 and 210th street. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/16/2023 Teah Nicole Stull of Malvern Iowa. Highway #2 and C ave. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/17/2023 Wyatt Taylor Barkman of Stanton Iowa. Highway #71 and 250th Street. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/18/2023 Virginia Kay Battaglia of Kansas City Missouri. Highway #71 and 120th Street. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/20/2023 Aradia Victoria Cox of Nebraska City Nebraska. Highway #48. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/21/2023 Joshua Dean Cooney of Villisca Iowa. 130th street and A ave. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/22/2023 Calle Vivian Mace of Marysville KS. Highway #71 and 250th Street. Stopped and cited for operation of a non registered vehicle and no proof of insurance.
4/22/2023 Paytan Annabell Hiatt of Clarinda Iowa. Highway #71 and 270th Street. Stopped and cited for operation of a non registered vehicle.
4/24/2023 Erin Lynae Sheldon of Sidney Iowa. Highway #2. Stopped and cited for speed.
4/26/2023 Jane Maxine Liles of Clarinda Iowa. O ave and 190th street. Stopped and cited for striking fixtures on a highway.
4/30/2023 Todd Alec Goertzen of Stanton Iowa. 140th Street and O ave. Cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.
5/1/2023 Jeryn Wyatt Parmer of Hamburg Iowa. Highway #2 and Hackberry. Stopped and cited for speed.
5/1/2023 Mitchell Eugene Kimpston of Riverton Iowa. 140th Street and J ave. Stopped and cited for speed.
5/1/2023 Michael Mathew Kennedy of Dayton Texas. Highway #71. Stopped and cited for speed.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak were called to the 1200 block of E. Summit Street at around 10:47-a.m. Saturday (May 13), for a report of a fight in progress. Following an investigation, officers arrested 36-year-old Cole David Rinehart, of Red Oak, for 3rd Degree Harassment, and Simple Assault. Rinehart was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – An 18-year-old man from Fort Dodge is in custody, charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, following a shooting this (Saturday) morning, in Ft. Dodge. Police says the Webster County Communications Center received a call at around 2:48-a.m., from someone reporting a person had been shot at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 10th Street Southwest. Officers and a Webster County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the scene, and found an unresponsive man laying in the roadway.

Officers immediately began given medical care to the individual, and while doing so, radioed-in a description of a suspect vehicle leaving the area. A responding officer saw vehicle a few blocks from the crime scene, and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. Two subjects in the vehicle were detained. Meanwhile, medics transported the unresponsive male found on the road, to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center, where the person was pronounced deceased. The victim was identified as 18-year-old Adrian D. Grover, of Ft. Dodge.

Patrol officers and investigators with the Ft. Dodge Police Department began interviewing witnesses and processing the scene. As a result of their investigation, 18-year-old Quanterious L. Altman, of Fort Dodge, was arrested on the aforementioned felony 1st Degree Murder charge, and a charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Ft. Police Department, or anonymously, by Crime Stoppers, at 515-573-1444. The Fort Dodge P.D. was assisted by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Attorney’s and Medical Examiner’s Offices, and the Ft. Dodge Fire Department.

(Iowa DNR News/Des Moines, Iowa) ⎯ Several state parks and forests will be hosting family-friendly programming and activities as part of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new Summer Kick-Off event, June 9-11. “Summer Kick-Off is our way of showing appreciation for our visitors with activities the entire family can enjoy,” said Sherry Arntzen, chief of Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau for the Iowa DNR. Planned events include hikes, nature programs, fireside chats, kayaking clinics and more. A list of parks and their programs, activity sheets and ideas for ways to explore parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/kickoffsummer.

Those wanting to camp during the Summer Kick-Off celebration are encouraged to make their reservation soon. Iowa has more than 4,400 state park campsites with most reservable in advance. Reservations can be made through the reservation system. “Iowa state parks are beloved overnight destinations for many people,” said Arntzen. “We offer campsites that appeal to a broad range of campers, from the more rustic hike-in sites to those with all the modern amenities.”

For visitors who prefer cabins over tents, the Iowa DNR has more than 90 cabins available to rent across 20 state parks and forests, Arntzen said. In the off season from Labor Day to Memorial Day, cabins can be rented for a two-night minimum stay. During the peak of summer, most cabins require a seven-night minimum visit. As of now, all state parks have water turned on, with shower and restroom buildings open for campers. A few parks do have renovations and closures, so check the park closure page at: www.iowadnr.gov/parkclosures when planning your visit. Visit the DNR’s website to sign up for electronic news updates and information about campsites, cabins, events and more.

(Iowa DNR News) – There’s a pretty good chance that, in the next several weeks, Northeast Iowa will be visited by a few wandering black bears coming down from Minnesota and Wisconsin ahead of the breeding season. It’s been an annual occurrence in this region each spring since 2014. While much of Iowa does not have the habitat necessary to support a black bear population, certain locations do, primarily northeast, eastern and southern parts of the state. As black bear populations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri are stable to increasing, it is possible that a small population could set up residence in Iowa.

“Within the next three to five years, we may see cubs show up and a small breeding population become established. If that occurs, we should look to our neighbors in Wisconsin and Minnesota who have learned to live with bears,” said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer and wetland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “It won’t be perfect and there will be bumps along the way, but we need to start having conversations about the idea of bears coming back to Iowa, at least in certain places along the Mississippi River and Northeast Iowa where suitable habitat exists.”

Wisconsin’s black bear population is estimated to be 23,300, Minnesota’s 12,000 – 15,000 and Missouri, which held its first bear hunt last fall, as many as 1,000. Missouri’s population is growing at an estimated 9 percent annually. “For example, in Wisconsin, with that many black bears, residents have learned to make a few adjustments to minimize bear conflicts, like putting away their bird seed in the spring, putting away their barbeque drip pans, and by keeping pet food and garbage in places bears can’t access. There are still occasional problems, but these basic precautions result in much fewer negative encounters between bears and humans,” Evelsizer said.

Bears are omnivores and their diet changes with the seasons. In the spring, bears emerge from their winter dens hungry. They’ll feed heavily on newly emerging tender grasses and sedges. In summer, its berries, ants, various plants, and grubs. In the fall, its acorns and other tree nuts. They are also known to feed on nontraditional sources, like row crops, orchard fruits, and honey – which is similar to striped skunks and raccoons. “They’re like a big raccoon, motivated by hunger and willing to take advantage of whatever food is available, from fawns to eggs, bee hives, bird feeders – this is where making some changes can minimize nuisance bear interactions,” he said.

Black bears are native to Iowa. However, Iowa has been without a resident bear population for more than 100 years. In the Iowa code, black bears are not listed as a species of wildlife found in Iowa because they were not present in the state when these laws were created, nor have they been since. This means the Iowa DNR does not have the legal authority to manage black bear populations through actions such as designating protection status or adding a limited hunting season if the population eventually support it in the future. Iowa is the only state among its Midwest neighbors where the state’s wildlife agency does not have regulatory authority to manage bear populations, which typically includes handling nuisance conflicts and conducting research.

While the Iowa DNR does not regulate bears, it does have a bear response protocol. “The objective with the response protocol is to provide guidance for our staff in dealing with any potential human-bear conflicts that arise. A proactive strategy will increase the odds for a better outcome for both the bears and for humans. For example, trap and transport of bears is a common scenario shown on TV shows, however in reality most states have moved away from this method because it often results in simply moving the problem to someone else’s backyard. It’s all about reducing conflicts where bears are instead,” Evelsizer said. “We want to keep Iowans informed about this interesting and emerging wildlife story and increase our collective knowledge about bears in order to live with them successfully and minimize conflicts.”

Since 2002, there have been 49 confirmed black bears in Iowa, and two to five per year since 2014. As bears have become more of a regular visitor, the chance to encounter a bear, although small, is a possibility. “Black bears have some general tendencies and habits, but individual bears may go against the norm. Some are shy, others are not. They are typically secretive and want to be left alone – while others are bold and may be more daylight active,” he said. Bears are typically nocturnal but get more active during late May to July breeding season, especially at dawn and dusk. Most of Iowa’s bear sightings start in late May continuing into early July.

“If you encounter a bear, avoid running away,” Evelsizer said. “Instead, back away slowly and cautiously while facing it. Make noise so they know you’re there.” There are a number of resources available to help people minimize conflict with bears, Evelsizer said, including www.bearwise.org.

(Collins, Iowa) – A wrong-way car collided with a semi Friday night in Jasper County, killing the car’s driver. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2020 KIA Soul driven by 79-year-old Ronald Vasey, of Maxwell, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of Highway 65 near Collins, at around 10:30-p.m., when the vehicle collided with a 2018 Freightliner driven by 39-year-old Martin Cory, of Cedar Rapids. Vasey died at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and EMS assisted at the crash scene.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Red Oak was arrested Friday night on Criminal Mischief charges. According to Red Oak Police, 45-year-old Jill Renee Coddington was arrested in the 300 block of E. Washington Street at around 8:20-p.m. She charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and two-counts of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Coddington was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Nebraska/Iowa) – Parts of central and eastern Nebraska were hit by tornadoes and large hail, Friday, while heavy rain caused street flooding in western Iowa. The National Weather Service in Valley, NE, says in western Iowa, thunderstorm winds caused damage in Hamburg at around 6:45-p.m., with tree limbs broken and shingles blown-off of roofs.

Flash flooding was reported at around 8:25-p.m. in Onawa, where streets were closed and vehicles were left stranded. Rain amounting to 4.4-inches was recorded in Harrison County, about three-miles west of Magnolia, at around 11-p.m., Friday.

Tornadoes and large hail were observed near Ames, Bend, Boone, Colfax, Hooper, North Bend, Oakland, Pawnee, Platte, Scribner, NE, and at least four other communities, with funnel clouds seen elsewhere in the southeastern part of the Cornhusker State.

Damage reports were received from numerous parts of the affected area, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.

(Lisbon, Iowa) – The driver of a 2016 Mack truck died, when the vehicle was struck by a train Friday afternoon, in eastern Iowa’s Linn County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver attempted to cross the railroad tracks in the 120th block of 115th Street in Lisbon at around 1:36-p.m., when it the truck was hit on the driver’s side, by an eastbound train.

The truck driver’s name and other accident information was being withheld by authorities, pending notification of family.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene, by the Lisbon/Mt. Vernon Police Department and Ambulance, Mechanicsville Fire Dept., the Iowa DNR and DOT.