This is August 11th, what’s also known as 8-1-1 Day, as Iowa homeowners are reminded about the three-digit phone number they’re required to call in advance before doing any digging in the yard. Ben Booth, spokesman for Iowa One Call, says calling 8-1-1 can help keep you safe and besides, it’s the law to call first.

Booth says, “The reason you do that is so that when you’re digging or doing any kind of excavating, you don’t come in contact with something underground, something you don’t want to hit like a natural gas pipeline or a service line, or a broadband or fiber optics cable or even a high voltage cable.” Failure to comply with the law may mean you’ll face expensive fines and civil penalties if you cause a disruption in service. More importantly, if you don’t call 8-1-1 in advance, you could be badly hurt in an incident that also places the public, property and environment in harm’s way.

“You don’t want to dig into a natural gas line or an electric line, you don’t want to contaminate your city’s water systems,” Booth says. “Here’s the deal, it’s all free. It’s a free notification, a free call or you can go online and do a ticket for free, and the service itself, the actual locating and marking of underground facilities is also free.” Most people don’t dash off and buy trees to plant on a whim and Booth says you -do- need to plan ahead.

“You must make the notification at least 48 hours in advance of digging and that excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays,” Booth says. “If you’re going to do work on the weekend, make sure you call early in the week, your yard will be marked, you’ll know where to avoid and everything’s good.” Learn more at: www.iowaonecall.com

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An aide says Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is acting as an adviser to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on agricultural issues. The Des Moines Register reports Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes released a statement Wednesday saying Branstad, “will be offering his advice on important issues to Iowa, none more important than renewable fuels.” Branstad has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican nominee. His son heads Trump’s Iowa campaign.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency has approved changes to administrative rules regarding water pollution that two groups say will weaken environmental protections. The Environmental Law & Policy Center and the Iowa Environmental Council say the Iowa Department of Natural Resources scaled back protections to Iowa’s waterways by changing its anti-degradation standards on Wednesday. Those standards help regulate how pollution is added to the water. DNR says the changes will clarify the process.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton says Trump’s words could have “tremendous consequences,” calls on Republicans to support her campaign.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An internal investigation into a national jackpot-fixing scandal has concluded that a single former lottery employee was responsible for any drawings that were manipulated. The report for the Multi-State Lottery Association found that the group’s former security director, Eddie Tipton, worked independently to commit any fraud without help from current or former employees. But investigators also said they failed to determine how he pulled it off and found no smoking gun of criminal activity.

More than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roadways during the past four years, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Road debris has resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths between 2011 and 2014. AAA is calling for drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent dangerous debris.

AAA researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and found that:

• Nearly 37 percent of all deaths in road debris crashes resulted from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object. Over-correcting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver’s risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.
• More than one in three crashes involving debris occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:59 p.m., a time when many people are on the road hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment.
• Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.

Jurek Grabowski, research director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said “This new report shows that road debris can be extremely dangerous but all of these crashes are preventable. Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.”

About two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance and unsecured loads. Crashes involving vehicle related-debris increased 40 percent since 2001, when the Foundation first studied the issue. The most common types of vehicle debris are:

• Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.) and falling onto the roadway
• Unsecured cargo like furniture, appliances and other items falling onto the roadway
• Tow trailers becoming separated and hitting another vehicle or landing on the roadway

Drivers can decrease their chances of being involved in a road debris crash by:

• Maintaining Their Vehicles: Drivers should have their vehicles checked regularly by trained mechanics. Badly worn or under-inflated tires often suffer blowouts that can leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach to the vehicle can also rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.
• Securing Vehicle Loads: When moving or towing furniture, it is important to make sure all items are secured. To properly secure a load, drivers should:
  1. Tie down load with rope, netting or straps
  2. Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
  3. Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
  4. Don’t overload the vehicle
  5. Always double check load to make sure a load is secure

Currently every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10-$5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders. AAA encourages drivers to educate themselves about specific road debris laws in their state. Drivers should also practice defensive driving techniques while on the road to prevent debris related crashes from occurring.

William Van Tassel, Manager of Driver Training Programs for AAA, says “Continually searching the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead can help drivers be prepared in the case of debris. Always try to maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to steer around an object. If you see you are unable to avoid debris on the roadway, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact.”

AAA also recommends that drivers avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road.  Additional tips on defensive driving and how to report road debris to the proper authorities are available online at AAA.com/PreventRoadDebris.

The Atlantic School Board will leave it up to the Administrators for each of the District’s Schools to determine what their cell phone policies for students and teachers will be. Discussion on the subject lasted for about 15-minutes.

The decision not to have a “Blanket policy” for all the district’s buildings they said is really not necessary, for several reasons. Among them, each school in the district already has a handbook spelling out the policy for students, and how those policies will be enforced.

Schuler Principal James Northwick said “As we’re thinking about cell phone policies, and we have One-to-One computers, I question what a kid’s gonna do on a computer that they can’t do on a cell phone or vice-versa.” It was pointed out that those 1:1 laptops have the capability to send text messages to phones, and much more. Northwick said with regard to cell phones, if they take them away from students at the start of the school day, they might as well take away the laptops, too. That, he said, “Would be a huge step back.”

School Board President Josh McLaren, who is also a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy, said policing cell phones would be as fruitless as stopping everyone who travels more than 55 miles per hour on Highway 6 between Atlantic and Wiota. McLaren said they don’t want to become “Cell phone cops.” He said a lot of the concerns from comments people have made on social media, is that cell phones should not be used in the classroom. That’s already a rule in the student handbook.

Board member Kristy Pellet, speaking with regard to students’ personal responsibility, said she’s concerned if the students’ phone is taken away for eight-hours per day, the first thing they’ll do when they get in their vehicles, is to be looking at and sending text messages, while they’re driving. “Allowing our administrators to set up a policy that works for their building, is what’s important,” she said. None of the high school teachers, she said have ever mentioned cell phones are a problem in the classroom. She said it needs to be made clear at the beginning of the school year, that cell phones are not to be used in the classroom, for anything other than teacher approved educational purposes.

Assistant High School Principal Matt Alexander backed-up that assertion, saying that that had gone from 127 student referrals to the High School principal’s official six-years ago, with regard to the use of electronic devices, to 38 students last year. Alexander said “We are improving. [But] Is there more room for improvement? Absolutely.”

School Board member Dr. Keith Swanson summed-up the opinion of the Board “I get the feeling the Board wants to leave this up to the administrators, for the administrators to make a rule for their school, to say what’s going on in their school, and then enforce it.”

Another “No Party” candidate has filed papers to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors seat in District 5, meaning there’s now a three-way race for the position.

Deputy Cass County Auditor Sheri Karns said Wednesday evening, that J. Ford Lillard, of Wiota, will be on the ballot in November as a “No Party” candidate, hoping to win the seat currently held by Republican Frank Waters, of Cumberland.

Earlier this week, it was reported Randy J. Pollock, of Anita, had filed as a “No Party” candidate for the Supervisors seat.  Frank Waters, the incumbent is hoping to win re-election to his post on the Board.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency has approved changes to administrative rules regarding water pollution that two groups say will weaken environmental protections. The Environmental Law & Policy Center and the Iowa Environmental Council say the Iowa Department of Natural Resources scaled back protections to Iowa’s waterways by changing its anti-degradation standards on Wednesday. Those standards help regulate when new pollution is added to Iowa waters. It guides businesses that propose adding or expanding operations.

A DNR commission met and voted to implement changes that guide how to balance the potential costs of a proposed project with its environmental impact. It goes into effect Friday. The environmental groups say the tweak in language eliminates consideration of the environment. Groups supporting the changes disagree. A DNR spokesman says it will clarify the process.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Fair will begin an 11-day run that likely will draw more than a million visitors to the fairgrounds in east Des Moines. The fair will start Thursday morning, with most buildings open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the midway open from 10 a.m. to midnight. The fair will run through Aug. 21st.

The fair saw its largest attendance last year, when 1.1 million people attended. There will be plenty to see and do, with hundreds of performances, a giant livestock shows, Iowa’s biggest art exhibition, the midway, more than 75 kinds of food on a stick and, of course, the butter cow.

Regular gate admission is $12 for those 12 and older, $6 for children 6 to 11 and free for kids 5 and younger.

An Irwin man was arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection with a fatal car versus motorcycle accident that occurred last month, in Shelby County. Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County say 41-year old David Michael Hirsh was taken into custody on charges of felony Vehicular Homicide, and Reckless Driving, a simple misdemeanor.

The charges are the result of an investigation into an accident that happened Sunday evening, July 9^th. Officials said 46-year old Cole Jon Andersen, of Irwin, died during the crash, when  the 2004 Yamaha motorcycle he was riding, was struck from behind by Hirsh’ 2017 Hyundai Elantra, as both vehicles were traveling south on Shelby County Road M-47, just south of 1700th Street.

Authorities say Hirsch may face additional charges, depending on test results being processed at the state Crime Lab.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says two people were arrested on drug charges early Tuesday morning. 44-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Theft in the 4th Degree. His bond was set at $2,300. And, 54-year old Deborah Lynn Drummy, of Glenwood, was arrested on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Her bond was set at $8,000.

Also arrested Tuesday in Mills County, was 31-year old Michael Anthony Hollinger, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $10,000, and 32-year old James Frederick McClellan, of Glenwood, for Trespassing. His bond was set at $300.

On Monday, Mills County Deputies arrested 38-year old Heather Marie Hatcher, of Glenwood, for Failure to Appear in court on a Probation Violation charge. Hatcher’s bond was set at $1,000.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), tabled action on amending or rescinding the County Information Technology Policy, after members of the public and Department Heads said they found the policy confusing. Until the policy is clarified and a new draft is created, Board Chair Gaylord Schelling said he would meet with the Department Heads individually to come up with the best way to incorporate the necessary changes in the wording of the policy, to make sure everyone clearly understands how it’s meant to be used.

One of those opposed to the County adopting the policy as written, was Arlene Drennan, with the Cass County Abstract Company. She thought the policy would make obtaining information from the Recorder’s Office, that’s necessary to her business, inaccessible. Shari Karns, Cass County Deputy Auditor, said the public computer used to access certain information in the Recorder’s or Treasure’s Office, would not be affected by the policy that is intended to protect the network from viruses or other types of unauthorized activities. The policy, as currently written, was adopted by the Board July 29^th.

In other business, the Board voted to terminate Audubon County’s Plan of Reimbursement to Cass County for services rendered to the Audubon County Attorney’s Office by Beverly Groves, who works for Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein. Groves had been providing services to the Audubon County Attorney’s Office while their regular attorney was away for medical reasons. The Board also approved an increase in compensation for Groves, to $48,000 from $45,000, commensurate with what she had been paid for the same services in Audubon County. The pay rate reset and termination agreement are retroactive to August 1^st.

The Board also denied a request to provide $5,000 per year for five-years, to an individual who wanted to provide dental care for underserved persons (Including Medicaid recipients and low income individuals) at a local dental office. The purpose of the request was to help the person pay back their hefty college loans. If the Board had approved the request, the State of Iowa would have chipped-in 25% and Delta Dental 50% of the funds to a maximum of $100,000, under the “Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (or, FIND)” Project. The Board was uneasy with providing taxpayer dollars to help pay for an individual’s college expenses, and thought it would open the floodgates to other, similar requests.