(Red Oak, Iowa) — A man suspected of damaging residence in Red Oak being held on a $5,000 bond. According to Red Oak Police, 31-year-old Eric Alan Vannausdle, of Red Oak, was arrested early this (Thursday) afternoon, for allegedly causing an estimated $3,500 damage to a home in the 1200 block of Circle Drive.

Vannausdle faces a Class-D Felony charge of 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, in connection with the incident.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University Extension and the D-N-R are offering more sessions of a program called Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassadors. I-S-U Extension’s, Chris Janke, oversees the program. “The idea here is that we can take people that are already may be interested in deer are interested in the management of chronic wasting disease, and equip them with the technical knowledge and skills that they really need to sort of take their education and advocacy in their community to the next level, to try to help us sort of build this broad coalition to address the challenge that chronic wasting disease poses,” Janke says. He says one of the sessions will be in Wayne County.

“That’s kind of a partnership of a bunch of counties in southern Iowa, but we’re hosting it in Corydon,” he says. “And so we’re hoping to get participants from Wayne and neighboring counties. And then also Greene County, because that’s a new area in the state where we’ve just recently found chronic wasting disease.” He says the disease is really complicated and there are some common misconceptions about how to manage it, and what sort of risks that it poses.

“So what we do with this class is we try to get these committed learners caught up to speed on that science and those technical details. And then we actually talk about how to communicate effectively about this disease and how to sort of dispel common myths,” according to Janke. He says it helps supplement the wildlife biologists in the state — which can’t cover every county. C-W-D was first found in wild deer in Iowa in 2013 — and it has been found in wild deer in at least 12 counties. Janke says the best way to deal with it is to try to contain it.

“There is no cure for this disease, it’s 100 percent fatal. And when it gets into a wild population, it basically just continues to become more and more prevalent through time. And so everything we do about C-W-D management right now is trying to reduce it spread across the state,” Janke says. He says reducing the spread also reduces its prevalence within a population of deer. Janke says controlling the disease is important for everyone in the state.

“There are of course, a lot of hunters and we harvest over 100-thousand deer every year, and it’s an important protein source for many families,” he says. “But even if you don’t deer hunt, it impacts you because deer like to run out in front of vehicles or deer can impact agriculture or forestry in the state. So any sort of major disruption to our approach to managing deer is a unique challenge that impacts multiple different sectors of the economy.” If you are interested in taking part, go to the Iowa State Extension website under natural resources — and you’ll find a button that says Chronic Wasting Disease ambassadors.

(Radio Iowa) – Boaters on both sides of Iowa need to use caution during the upcoming holiday weekend, but for different reasons. Water levels are expected to rise more than a foot on the Mississippi River due to snow melt and rains to the north. On the Missouri River, however, D-N-R fisheries biologist Bryan Hayes says it’s exceptionally dry and the water levels are very low. “The lakes that are really affected are the oxbow lakes along the Missouri River corridor,” Hayes says. “Last winter, the Missouri River was historically low and when the Missouri River is low and the groundwater is low, it lowers the level of these oxbow lakes.”

Some of the trouble areas in the west include Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County, which is is three feet below crest. The water level at Lake Manawa has been down a few feet all spring. Elsewhere, low levels are reported on Blue Lake in Monona County, DeSoto Bend in Harrison County, Snyder Bend and Browns Lake in Woodbury County, and several others along the Interstate 29 corridor.

“Boaters headed out this Memorial Day weekend will see abnormally low conditions in those lakes,” Hayes says. “It’s going to impact access through the boat ramps to these water bodies as well as present hazards while out boating, so we just really urge caution.” The watershed of the Missouri River extends all the way to Montana, with several flood control reservoirs in South Dakota.

“The Corps of Engineers has increased the releases for the navigation season on the river, so eventually we’ll start to see water come back into these systems,” Hayes says, “but the lag time, it’s just not going to happen before Memorial Day weekend and it may not happen this summer at all.”

Meanwhile, National Weather Service forecasters say the Mississippi River is rising quickly and currents are strong. That waterway is expected to crest at Davenport on Sunday around 13-and-a-half feet, that’s about 18 inches shy of the initial flood stage.

(Red Oak, Iowa) The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate warrants, today (Thursday). 42-year-old Robert Lee Bopp, of Shenandoah, was arrested at the Page County Jail, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $20,000. And, 37-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The governor has signed a bill into law that requires testing for radon gas in public school buildings. The legislation is named in honor of Gail Orcutt, a retired teacher from Pleasant Hill who died of radon-inducted lung cancer in 2020. She had lobbied for the bill for a decade. Senator Jackie Smith of Sioux City is among the lawmakers who paid tribute to Orcutt before voting “yes” on the bill.  “This is a bill about the lungs,” Smith says, “but it was pushed by the heart.” The bill lets school districts use local option sales taxes to install radon mitigation systems. Testing to screen school buildings must be completed by July 1st of 2027. Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City voted for the bill, but raised concerns about that deadline.

“Do you think it makes sense to wait five more years to have a radon test in a building that might have a radon problem and kids being exposed to radon gas for the next five years?” Bolkcom asked. Senator Craig Johnson of Independence says it’s his understanding many schools have already been tested for radon, but this will spur others to do so. “My wife works in a public school,” Johnson says. “Believe me, I want this to get started as soon as possible myself.”Officials estimate about 400 Iowans will die of radon-inducted lung cancer this year. Radon is an odorless gas that seeps into homes and buildings through cracks in the foundation and every Iowa county is considered to have high levels of radon in the soil. In addition to testing of existing school buildings, the new law requires radon control systems to be part of any new school construction projects.

Representative Art Staed of Cedar Rapids is a retired teacher. “This will save lives,” Staed says. “It’ll save students’ lives and it’ll save teachers’ lives.” The bill passed with the support of all but two members of the legislature. The governor held a private bill signing ceremony on Tuesday for advocates who’d pressed for passage of the legislation.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa man with multiple previous convictions is going to spend more than 15 years in federal prison for dealing meth. Fifty-five-year-old David Alan Tafolla of Oelwein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance., Tafolla admitted that he was involved in drug trafficking from October 2020 to May 2021 and sold meth on four occasions.

Officers searched his home in May of 2021 and recovered meth, marijuana, and more than 36-thousand dollars in cash from drug sales. Tafolla has previous convictions in more than twenty cases that include assaults, going armed with intent, burglary and stalking.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Animal Shelter at 309 Sunnyside Lane, in Atlantic, had numerous visitors this (Thursday) morning, during the Shelter’s Grand Opening, following the addition of a “cattery” and many improvements for both cats and dogs. Factoring-in COVID, the project took roughly 2 ½ years to complete.
Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson said a generous donation got the ball rolling on making the shelter a better place for dogs and cats while they await adoption or, in the case of lost animals, returned to their owners.

The $135,000 gift from the Lorraine Eppelsheimer Estate was based on the stipulation that it would benefit animals at the shelter, and included a provision the dog and cat areas be separate. The addition includes new floor and office space, an increase in the number of cat cages in a separate area from the dogs, proper food storage, as well as an exam and grooming table, in addition to a more efficient water heater.

In addition to the bequeath, the Shelter went after and obtained grants and methods to reach their funding goal for the project, which was originally estimated to cost around $151,620, but ended-up being $215,000.

Erickson said there are so many people to thank for making the improvements possible.

She said while the cattery and other improvements are finished, there’s still a “wish-list” of items they want to add to make life better for the animals.

You can help out by attending their fundraisers, buying a “Don’t poop” sign for your yard or other areas where picking up animal droppings should happen. You can adopt a cat at the Atlantic animal shelter for only $100, or a dog for only $200. Vet Fees may apply. Follow them on Facebook for events and notification of animals up for adoption. The Shelter is open Monday-Tuesday-Friday, from 9-a.m. Until 3-p.m. For more information, call (712) 243-5281.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – May 26, 2022 – Two major changes to the interstate near I-29/I-480/West Broadway will occur late this week and early next week.

Eastbound I-480/West Broadway:

On Friday, May 27 by 6 a.m., eastbound I-480/West Broadway will be shifted to its new permanent alignment.

Avenue G ramps:

The southbound I-29 ramp to Avenue G will be closed beginning Tuesday, May 31, at 6 a.m. This ramp will be closed until mid-July. The ramp from Avenue G to southbound I-29 will be permanently closed.

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Iowa DOT is working hard to keep the public informed of construction impacts and actively seeks opportunities to update the public. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit the program website at www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov.

You can also contact the program office at 712-216-3339 or info@CouncilBluffsInterstate.com.

CRESTON, Iowa – May 26, 2022 – A project to repair the Iowa 92 bridge over Jordan Creek one mile east of Carson will require closing Iowa 92 in both directions between U.S. 59 and Pottawattamie County Road M-47 starting Wednesday, June 1 at 7 a.m., weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office. The closure is expected to be in place until Aug. 18. During this project, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using U.S. 6, U.S. 59, and Iowa 48 (see map below).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts. 

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

(Radio Iowa) -The first days of the summer travel season arrive this weekend and the Iowa Department of Transportation reminds that despite it being a holiday, drivers need to obey the rules in construction zones. Pete Hjelmstad, with the D-O-T’s Mason City office, says even though work crews will likely not be in those areas this weekend, you need to obey the posted speed limits. “Those speed limits, when those signs are up, whether people are there working or not, you need to slow down to that new speed limit,” Hjelmstad says. “As long as the sign is telling you to slow down, I don’t care if it’s 3 in the morning when you are working an overnight shift and you’re driving through a work zone with nobody there, or if it’s a Saturday and there’s a lane closure and there’s nobody working, you still need to slow down to that new speed limit.”

Hjelmstad says during this Memorial Day weekend, Iowans need to slow down and focus on driving — and not other things inside the car.  “Keep the cell phones down,” he says. “We always talk about that as a distraction, but there are all kinds of other distractions in the vehicle, too, as far as from talking to your passengers, to looking in the back seat to see what the kids are doing, to playing with a navigational system or radio or whatever. Anytime you’re driving, try to leave that stuff alone, but it’s even more important when you’re driving through a work zone.”

The D-O-T’s Pete Hjelmstad says you can use the D-O-T website 511ia.org to find out about where road construction is happening. He adds, most states have their own version of that website.

ISP via Facebook

On Wednesday, the Iowa State Patrol posted on social media, a picture of a dash-mounted radar showing a vehicle was traveling 111-mph on I-35 southbound, near Van Wert. Trooper Nguyen encountered the Kansas City driver that was passing through Iowa Monday. The driver claimed they were “unaware of the speed limit”. The Patrol said ” NEWSFLASH – nowhere in the United States is the speed limit OVER 100 MPH on a roadway.”