(Radio Iowa) – A sort of snowplow driving school is getting underway this week for hundreds of Iowa Department of Transportation workers who will be using those big orange machines to keep our roads clear of ice and snow in the season ahead. Craig Bargfrede, the DOT’s winter operations administrator, says trailers containing sophisticated snowplow simulators are being set up at many DOT garages across the state.

“It provides realistic training in the simulator,” Bargfrede says. “Ultimately, it’s refreshing our folks on winter driving skills, puts them in scenarios that are similar to being out on the road, but it does it in a much safer environment, and it doesn’t put wear and tear on our trucks.”

DOT Snowplow cam

Ideally, before the snow flies in Iowa, a wide cross-section of DOT drivers will have brushed up on their snowplow skills. “Each year, we shoot to get right around 500 across the state,” Bargfrede says, “which is about a third of our force, when you include both our full-time staff and then the seasonal staff that we get each year.” Bargfrede has been in the simulators himself and says the experience is very close to being in the large, lumbering vehicles in all sorts of difficult conditions.

“The scenarios are very realistic. The seat that you sit in, the controls are very realistic and very comparable to actually being in the truck,” Bargfrede says. “There’s such things as if you should kind of drift over to the edge of the road and you hit the rumble strips, the seat will actually shake.”

While this past Sunday was the start of fall, Bargfrede knows winter weather can sometimes arrive in Iowa early, and his goal is to have all crews and equipment ready for the roads by October 15th.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place over the past week. As previously mention, 52-year-ol Donnell Marie Griffith was arrested Sept. 16th in Fontanelle, on an Adair County Class D Felony warrant for Going Armed with Intent. The Sheriff’s report says that on Sept. 11th, Griffith allegedly went armed with a handgun, with the intent to use it without justification. The report said Griffith claimed the weapon  – a Smith and Wesson .38-Special –  accidentally discharged when she pulled it out of her pants and put it on a shelf in the kitchen.

The investigating Deputy informed her he responded because a 911 caller claimed she had pointed a gun at the caller. Griffifth said “If that would have happened, I would just put one right between his eyes.” Four unused rounds and a spent shell casing were taken into evidence at the scene. Griffith was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Friday afternoon, 32-year-old Amber Leigh Garrison, of Fontanelle, was arrested by Fontanelle Police, on warrants for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Reckless Use of a Firearm – resulting in property damage. Garrison was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond until making an initial court appearance. And, Saturday night, 22-year-old Dylon Lynn Dowdell, of Greenfield, was arrested by Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies on an Adair County Felony warrant for: the Domestic Abuse Assault of a pregnant person – impeding the flow of air/blood; Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness; and Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree.

Dowdell was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond until making an initial court appearance.

(Farmhamville, Iowa) – Authorities in northwest Iowa’s Calhoun County report that on Sunday, Sept. 22nd, a juvenile female was reported missing in Farmhamville. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office responded and investigated. During their initial investigation, a male subject was detained. Upon further investigation, law enforcement this (Monday) morning, located the deceased body of the missing person, who they are currently identifying as “Jane Doe.”

Authorities say at this time, they feel there is no ongoing threat to the public. Charges in the case are currently pending. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is being aided in its investigation, by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Iowa State Patrol, the Webster and Greene County Sheriff’s Offices, and several local police departments.

(Cass County, Iowa) – A Town Hall meeting will be held this (Monday) evening in Atlantic, with regard to the EMS public measure that will be on the November 5^th General Election ballot across Cass County (IA). The informational meeting takes place at 6-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center next to the fairgrounds. For those unable to attend, another meeting will be held from 2-until 3-p.m. Tuesday, at the Heritage House, in Atlantic.

The measure asked voters: Shall the Cass County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by the Cass County EMS Advisory Council, for the purpose of funding emergency medical services in Cass County, including, but not limited to, ambulance service, personnel, and equipment, be authorized, for a period of 15 years, to 1) levy and impose a local option income surtax of one percent upon the state individual income tax of each individual taxpayer who is a resident of Cass County on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with the calendar year 2025, and 2) levy and impose an ad valorem tax not exceeding seventy-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation on all taxable property within Cass County commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026?

County officials have previously said the levy will have very little impact on taxation.

A third Town Hall meeting will be held at the Legion Hall in Massena, on October 1st.