Authorities in Council Bluffs have released the name of a man who was found dead in a hole Friday, as 34-year old Sasha Padowinikoff, a transient whose last known address was in California. His body was discovered in a hand-dug 4-foot deep hole in a wooded area just east of the 1600 block of North 15th Street. Officials say it appeared that he had been digging a hole for shelter or storage of his belongings, when he fell in as he tried to retrieve some items, and became trapped. Foul play is not suspected.

Officials say Padowinikoff had been staying at Mohm’s Place. His family members from Idaho were located and informed of his death, on Monday.

One person escaped serious injury during a rollover accident Tuesday morning, north of Villisca. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 51-year old Mary Lynn Kuzemko, of Villisca, lost control of her late model VW Beetle on a gravel road near the intersection of Union Avenue and 242nd street. The accident happened as her car was topping a hill.

Officials say the car slid into the ditch and rolled over before landing on its wheels. Kuzemko refused medical treatment at the scene. No citations were issued.  The car was estimated to be a total loss.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested on Missouri drug charges Tuesday afternoon. According to the Sheriff’s Department, 25-year-old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m., on a warrant from Nodaway County, MO., charging Fitzwater with possession of marijuana up to 35 grams.  The man was being held without bond in Montgomery County, pending extradition to Missouri.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton School District’s Boards of Education will gather Monday night in Exira for a joint Board meeting. During the 7-p.m. session in the Media Center at 105 East School Street, the Boards will discuss and possibly take action on Reorganization of the two districts, including: Whole Grade Sharing versus Reorganization; Reorganization Timelines – which includes approving a petition to reorganize and possibly setting a vote on the matter for April 9^th; and, approve Joint Committees for SIAC (the School Improvement Advisory Committee), Pre-School, the District Leadership Team and Teacher Quality.

Special guests at the Joint Board meeting Monday night, include Area Education Agency (AEA) representatives Paula Vincent and Lane Plugge, who will answer the Boards’ questions about the reorganization process.

State transportation officials are encouraging motorists to consider driving during “off peak” times to increase their chances for a safe holiday travel period. Dennis Kleen, with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says this (Wednesday) evening, tomorrow (Thursday) morning and Sunday afternoon and evening will likely be the busiest times on Iowa’s roadways and the added traffic can increase the risk of a crash.  “It’s a lot more crowded…a lot more traveling during those certain parts of the holiday weekend,” Kleen said. “If you don’t have to travel during those times, we’d prefer you didn’t.” If traveling during an off-peak period is NOT possible, Kleen suggests allowing a little extra time for the trip.

“This isn’t one of the easiest things to change. Sometimes, you have to be at a certain place at a certain time…but if you don’t have to, we’re trying to get people not to do it then,” Kleen said. And of course, drivers should watch their speed, avoid using cellphones, and be careful not to drive under the influence of alcohol. Last year in Iowa, there were 180 confirmed injuries and four deaths from car crashes over the Thanksgiving weekend. That was down from eight traffic deaths during the same period in 2010.

(Radio Iowa)

The consensus of the Atlantic City Council following a public hearing Tuesday night, was to leave the speed limit along West 22nd Street, from Chestnut to Palm, at 45-miles per hour. They reached their decision after reviewing two-letters of support for reducing the speed limit from 45-to 35, and hearing from four citizens who wanted the speed limit reduced. City Clerk Deb Wheatley-Field say she had only received two letters of support for keeping the speed limit the same. Mayor Dave Jones asked the Council their opinions on the speed limit issue, after all the discussion was said and done.

Councilmen Steve Livengood and Shaun Shouse, along with Mayor Jones spoke first. Livengood said he was hesitant to lower speed limits without some sort of uniform criteria on why it’s being done. Shouse said he wants to see a total review of 22nd Street. Mayor Jones agreed, because of the calls he’s received pertaining to other sections of the street, not just the western one-third.

Councilman Chris Jimerson said he wants to see increased patrols by the Atlantic Police Department. Livengood added that he wants double-yellow lines painted along that stretch of road, to encourage people not to speed-up and pass slower vehicles and, the installation of signs warning of “Hidden Driveways” ahead, especially near the hilly terrain, which will prompt motorists to slow down. The Council will also send the matter back to the Community Protection Committee for review. Steve Livengood and Chris Jimerson serve on the Committee.

Councilperson Kathy Somers says the engineering studies that were conducted prior to the road being built, was done with the “best intentions,” but the community has changed, and so has its needs. Shouse added that the problem with residents being worried about being hit as they pull out of their driveways could have been avoided prior to the road being built, if the City had been less worried about saving the developer of the area money, and more about functionality of the streets that feed into 22nd Street, as well as the size of the turn-arounds in the housing development area.