(Osceola, Iowa) – A man from Union County died in a crash Tuesday afternoon on I-35 in Clarke County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2016 Chevy Impala was driving erratically southbound on the interstate at around 2:13-p.m., when the car left road to the right, re-entered the interstate and crossed over the southbound lanes before it entered the east ditch at near mile marker 31. The vehicle rolled and impacted trees before to rest on its passenger side.

The driver of the car, 33-year-old Tyrell D. Miller, of Creston, was partially ejected and died from his injuries. His body was transported by Clarke County EMS to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol, Tuesday (May 31), released information about a crash in Cass County that claimed the life of a man from South Dakota. Authorities say a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 78-year-old James W. Spaulding, of Jefferson, SD, was in the right lane of I-80 eastbound, near mile marker 55, at around 2:25-p.m., Friday.

A 2017 Nissan Rogue SUV driven by 67-year-old Gale Eugene Linden, of Kimballton, was also in the right, eastbound lane. As the SUV slowed due to heavy traffic congestion from a lane closure in front of him, Spaulding was unable to slow down in-time. His motorcycle came into contact with the rear of the SUV in the right lane. Spaulding was ejected during the crash and also came into contact with the rear of the SUV.

When law enforcement arrived, they found him on the south shoulder of the interstate. He was sitting upright and talking with officers as they administered first aid. Spaulding was subsequently flown by LifeFlight Audubon to UnityPoint Hospital in Des Moines, where he died from his injuries over the weekend.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa DOT.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a youth fishing derby at Cold Springs Park near Lewis, on June 11th 2022. The event is open to the first 50 youths age 15 and under to register for the event. Check-in will run from 8:15am to 8:45am with the derby starting at 9:00am and running till 10:30 am.

Prizes will be awarded for the most total weight, heaviest single fish, longest single fish and shortest single fish. There will also be a raffle following fishing. The Conservation board with have some live bait for use and a limited number of fishing poles for use as well.

The Board and Conservation Dept. staff want too thank all those that donated items for the event: Weirich Welding for the trophies, and Cappel’s Ace Hardware for prizes. To register or for further details please contact Micah Lee with the Cass County Conservation Board at 712-769-2372.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report six arrests from May 10th through the 30th:

• On Monday (May 30), 31-year-old Anthony Michael Bennett, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.
• Last Wednesday (May 25), 32-year-old Jesse Eugene Hutton, of Omaha, was arrested on an active Pottawattamie County warrant.
• On the 23rd, 40-year-old Jasper William Daniel, of Atlantic, was arrested following a traffic stop, for Driving While Barred; and, 29-year-old Adams Tyrone Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Assault, and Criminal Mischief.
• May 13th, Harlan Police arrested 41-year-old James Steven Ortiz, of Harlan, on an active warrant out of Colorado.
• And, on May 10th, 34-year-old Cory Robert Kyle, of Avoca, was arrested in Harlan for Driving While Barred, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Maintain a registration plate.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests occurred Monday (May 30):

41-year-old John Adams, of Glenwood, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense, bond set at $5000 cash or surety. And, 42-year-old Sara Johnson, of Glenwood, was arrested for driving while suspended, bond set at $300 cash or surety.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate says there is gaming fatigue in the state Capitol and that’s why a temporary moratorium on new casino licenses was quickly passed last week. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says “Please just said, ‘We want a pause and see how this shakes out over the next couple of years.'” Whitver notes there was zero push back during Senate debate of the moratorium. “There were a couple of changes that the casinos wanted to make this year that really aren’t that drastic of changes, but one thing that our people wanted to see is they don’t believe we need another casino right now,” Whitver says.

There are 19 state-licensed casinos operating in Iowa today. The moratorium on new licenses would last until July of 2024 — if the governor signs the bill into law. In August of 2019, sports betting became legal and Whitver says that was a factor. “Especially after the sports gaming bill that passed, there’s so many ads, so much talk about gaming, that people said: ‘We just need to put a pause on this,'” Whitever said.

And legislators this year tabled the casinos request to allow wagering on video game competitions, often called E-sports. “Over the last few years there’s been a lot of changes to our gaming laws in the state of Iowa, and then there have been changes that will affect Iowa, like Nebraska bringing casinos on board,” Whitver says. “And so there’s a little — a lot of gaming fatigue within the Capitol.”

Whitver made his comments during last weekend’s “Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. On Monday, dozens of local investors and Cedar Rapids officials said they intend to apply fo a casino license as soon as state law allows. The plans for a 250 million dollar casino and entertainment complex in downtown Cedar Rapids include flood control measures.

Sheriff’s officials in Dallas County report a Union County man was injured during a collision Saturday between his motorcycle and a deer. The accident happened on I-80 near mile marker 110. Authorities say Anthony Hoadley, of Creston, was traveling westbound when the accident occurred. Hoadley was transported to Methodist by Dallas County EMS. Damage to the motorcycle was estimated at $10,000.

Police in Red Oak, Tuesday morning, arrested 58-year-old Rhonda Joann Sperber, of Red Oak. The woman was taken into custody at around 10:35-a.m. in the 800 block of Broadway, for Public Intoxication. Sperber’s bond was set at $300.

(Iowa DNR News) – The calls have been coming in to Iowa DNR field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season. Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. The DNR says “Rest assured this is normal deer behavior.”

“The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe and on occasion those places are not what we may think of as ideal. She chose that location because it made sense to her,” said Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR. “The worst thing someone can do is to ‘rescue’ the fawn. Mom is likely nearby and watching you. Leave it be or if you did handle the fawn, return it to where you found it and walk away.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not be rehabbing or co-mingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease – or other disease – to new areas. The spindly legged newborn fawn is designed with a few survival tools built in –its spots are cryptic camouflage that emulates the sunlight spots on the leaf litter on the forest floor and its lack of movement the first two weeks helps to reduce scent patterns. This combination is its best chance at survival until it is able to follow the doe. After the fawns are born, the doe will return to fairly normal behavior – sleeping, feeding – but returning to nurse and care for the fawn.

The fawning season also coincides with an increase in deer vehicle collisions. “There is a lot of movement this time of year that is part of the social structure of deer. The doe is on the move looking for the safe isolated place to have the fawns.  In addition last year’s fawns – teenagers now – are starting to venture out to find new space. These yearlings have to make their own decisions for the first time, encounter other adult deer and build new social structures,” Coffey said. “This movement behavior can occur during all times of the day. Once it settles out, the active time will return to dawn and dusk.”

Drivers are reminded to drive defensively, avoid distractions, and slow down and not to veer for deer. If they hit a deer, drivers can get a salvage tag by calling either the local conservation officer or local law enforcement. There is no fee for a salvage tag it does require that the entire deer is taken.

Davenport, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 29-year-old Samantha Ann May, who was convicted of Burglary 1st Degree in Muscatine County, failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release Facility as required Sunday morning, May 29, 2022.

May is a white female, height 5’3″. She weighs 140 pounds. The woman was admitted to the work release facility on May 25, 2022. Persons with information on May’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Samantha May (IA DOC photo)