Most drivers say they’d support laws banning the use of cell phones while behind the wheel, but an insurance company survey finds, those drivers don’t practice what they preach. Ann Avery, spokeswoman for State Farm in Iowa, says the company just wrapped up its 6th annual survey on cell phone use by motorists. “There has been a steady reduction in the number of drivers talking on a hand-held cell phone, which is great,” Avery says, “and the number of people who report texting while driving has remained stable over six years.” If you didn’t have a smart phone a few years ago, the odds are, you have one now.

“In 2011, 52% of drivers reported owning a smart phone,” Avery says. “By 2014, that number has grown to 80%. We see the greatest increases in smart phone ownership to be among adults age 40 and older.” While devices like iPhones and Androids put a wealth of information, navigation and convenience at our fingertips, Avery says there’s also a big problem with them. “The interesting things about smart phones is, those do create new distractions,” Avery says. “There’s a significant increase over six years in drivers who use their phones for such things as accessing the internet, reading email, responding to email, reading social media.”

The survey found road conditions have a lot to do with whether drivers have one hand on the wheel and the other on the phone.”There are some things that drivers say make them more likely to use their cell phones, such as stopping at a red light or being on an open highway,” Avery says. “On the other hand, drivers say there are some circumstances under which they’re less likely to use their cell phones, such as weather conditions, it’s dark outside, it’s foggy, snowy, icy, they’re in heavy traffic or in a school zone.”

Only nine states prohibit all drivers from using hand-held phones while driving, and Iowa is not one of the nine. Iowa is among 35 states that prohibit texting while driving. A spokeswoman for the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says a cell phone ban for motorists would greatly improve driving conditions on highways and interstates.

(Radio Iowa)

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (AP) — Pudding maker Kozy Shack Enterprises is recalling some of its puddings because they are not labeled as containing milk. The voluntary recall involves 4-ounce cups of Foodservice Kozy Shack Simply Well Chocolate Pudding. The recalled pudding was distributed through foodservice distribution channels and not sold in retail stores.

The product was distributed to 20 states — Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Minnesota-based cooperative Land O’Lakes owns Kozy Shack Enterprises.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economic outlook for rural areas of Iowa, Nebraska and other Plains states improved in November. But the monthly survey of bankers doesn’t suggest much growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss in Omaha says low grain and energy prices continue to limit the economy in rural areas.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Board of Regents member Nicole Carroll says she has resigned from the group that governs the state’s three public universities. Carroll says in a news release that the resignation is due to her family’s move out of Iowa. She says the decision was effective yesterday. Carroll says she wanted to make the announcement ahead of the board’s next meeting.

WILTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials are assessing damage to a warehouse for an electric service provider in eastern Iowa following a small vehicle fire. The Muscatine Journal reports the Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative says a vehicle fire inside the warehouse in Wilton was reported Wednesday morning. The fire was extinguished in 45 minutes and no one was hurt.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — A Cherokee man has pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection to a lengthy standoff with police on October 30th. The Sioux City Journal reports 35-year-old Joshua Allender entered his written plea Wednesday in Cherokee County District Court.

Officials with the City of Atlantic have announced a seasonal change in operation of hours for the Yard Waste site. Effective Monday, Nov. 24th, the Winter Hours of Operation for the site are as follows:

Saturdays, from 9:00 am. to 5:00 pm.

The City reminds the citizens to bring only trees, branches, grass, garden waste, and/or leaves.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa school districts have decided not to share grades in the upcoming school year. The decision means the Remsen-Union and Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn school districts will have to make big budget cuts. Together, they face budget cuts totaling about $600,000.

The Le Mars Daily Sentinel reports Remsen-Union will have to make about $400,000 worth of reductions in general fund expenditures to not face a budget shortfall. The MMC district will have to make about $200,000 worth of budget cuts. The decision was made at an MMC school board meeting Monday. Remsen-Union school board members also were in attendance.

Both school boards had to approve a whole grade sharing plan before February. Grade sharing would have meant sending students in grades five through eight to one district and those in grades nine through 12 to another.

As part of a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Atlantic’s youth, officers with the Atlantic Police Department will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments, in the near future. The checks are part of the “I-Pledge” program, in partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (IBD), and serve to educate local retailers as well as enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products law.

Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement personnel, will enter establishments and attempt to purchase tobacco or similar products. Clerks who make the illegal sale, will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says the intent of the I-Pledge Program is not to hand out citations, although that may be the result. The intent, he says, is to educate sales clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community.

For more on I-Pedge, go to www.iowaabd.com.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A Cherokee man has pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection to a lengthy standoff with police. Thirty-five-year-old Joshua Allender entered his written plea Wednesday in Cherokee County District Court. He faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a firearm or offensive weapon by a domestic violence offender, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, assault while participating in a felony and assault on a police officer.

The Sioux City Journal reports police responded to a call on Oct. 30 about a suicidal person. Allendar is accused of refusing to come out when officers arrived and firing a gun from an upstairs window. After six hours, a tactical unit fired tear gas into the home and Allender was arrested.

Edward Fisher, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, will be joining Myrtue Medical Center and Cass County Health System in February 2015. Dr. Fisher is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 25 years of experience.

Edward Fisher, M.D., orthopedic surgeon

“We are thrilled to bring a highly skilled orthopedic surgeon to live and practice in southwest Iowa on a full-time basis,” noted Todd Hudspeth, CEO of Cass County Health System. “This will allow patients to receive quality orthopedic care, including joint replacement surgeries, with the convenience of staying in their hometown hospitals.”

MMC and CCHS have a long history of working collaboratively to enhance services and employment opportunities. This joint venture is the most recent in that ongoing partnership. “It is great to be able to work together to bring Dr. Fisher to both of our communities,” said Barry Jacobsen, CEO of Myrtue Medical Center. “Rural hospitals need to be creative and work together in order to ensure we continue to meet the healthcare needs of the citizens who depend on us.”

Dr. Fisher will provide full orthopedic services at hospitals, conducting clinics and performing surgeries at least two days each week in Atlantic and Harlan. His care will encompass a wide variety of orthopedic surgeries including:
• Joint replacement (hip and knee)
• Carpal Tunnel
• Arthroscopies (knee and shoulder)
• Rotator cuff
• Fracture and dislocation procedures

Dr. Fisher completed medical school and his orthopedic internship and residency training at the University of California, Irvine. After practicing in California for seven years he moved to Russellville, Alabama where he practiced for 15 years. He has been working in Clarksdale Mississippi since 2009.

Dr. Fisher and his fiancée, Maggie Doran, will relocate to southwest Iowa in early 2015.

(CCHS Press Release)

A Montgomery County man was arrested Wednesday in Cass County on an OWI charge. Sheriff’s officials report 50-year old Randall Joe Conry, of Elliott, was taken into custody on charges of OWI 3rd or Subsequent Offense and Driving While Barred. Conry was brought to the Cass County Jail where he remained pending a hearing before the Magistrate.

Firefighters from Audubon, Templeton and Dedham were on the scene of a hog confinement facility fire this (Thursday) morning, in Audubon County. Audubon Fire Chief John Ballou told KJAN News the blaze at the private hog confinement facility located at 2516 150th Street, northeast of Audubon, was reported at around 7:20-a.m.  About 20 hogs were lost, but another 360 were saved.

Ballou said when the arrived the entire attic space was on fire. At that point tanker trucks from Templeton and Dedham were called-in to assist.  The flames were confined to the attic area and knocked down to prevent them from spreading. The Chief said a man at the facility told him he saw arcing and burning around the wires leading into the attic.

A dollar amount of the damage was not available, but Ballou said the roof will likely need to be replaced. No injuries were reported. Crews were on the scene for a little more than two-hours.