AMES, Iowa – Feb. 6, 2012 – The Federal Railroad Administration, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), is kicking off the Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study. The Iowa DOT will host an online, self-directed, open house meeting beginning Feb. 13, 2012, available at www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha.

The online open house will be the first opportunity for the public to participate in the study, which is intended to: Evaluate potential route alternatives; Evaluate levels of service and ridership; Analyze environmental impacts; and, Determine a preferred Chicago to Omaha passenger rail route alternative.

Tamara Nicholson, Iowa DOT director of the Office of Rail Transportation, said “Potential improvements to the passenger rail system from Chicago, through Iowa, to Omaha will help complete the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative’s vision for developing an improved and expanded passenger rail system in the Midwest. The study will be a major step in assessing the viability of a high-speed, regional passenger rail system for Iowa and the Midwest.”

Comments can be submitted at the online open house. Meeting materials and a comment form can also be downloaded at www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha/ and mailed to: Tamara Nicholson, director, Office of Rail Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010. For those without Internet access, meeting materials and a comment form may be requested by calling 800-488-7119.

For more information, visit the study’s website or call the toll-free comment line at 800-488-7119.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports a Michigan man was arrested early Sunday morning on an outstanding Audubon County warrant. 25-year old Bryan Stanley Curtis was picked up from Cass County authorites. He faces charges which include: Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Harassment of  a Public Officer. The charges stem from an incident which allegedly took place in Audubon, on December 20th. Curtis was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released, after appearing before a magistrate. His preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 23rd.

And, a Pottawattamie County man was arrested this (Monday) morning, in Audubon County. 35-year old Phillip Bradley Pool, of Walnut, was taken into custody on an Audubon County warrant charging him with Child Endangerment. The charge stems from an investigation by Exira Police, into an incident which allegedly occurred at the Exira School on January 15th. Pool appeared before the magistrate and was released, with orders to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on Feb. 23rd.

AMES, Iowa – Feb. 6, 2011 – Registration is now open for the Ninth Annual Motorcycle Safety Forum. This rider-focused event is facilitated by Iowa’s “Ride Bright” motorcycle safety team, a diverse partnership of motorcycle safety advocates from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, along with motorcycle trainers, dealers and riders. The event is being held Friday, April 27, at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last year’s forum was a sold-out event, so don’t wait too long to register. Registration is only $10 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, breaks and an opportunity to enter a drawing for an Aluma motorcycle trailer. 

The Motorcycle Safety Forum brings together stakeholders, including individuals representing the Iowa Motorcycle Rider Education Program, Iowa departments of Transportation and Public Safety, and motorcycle associations, along with enthusiasts, riders and dealers. The theme for this year’s event is “All the Gear – All the Time,” emphasizing “conspicuity” or wearing rider apparel that helps get you noticed by others sharing the road.   

Beyond making themselves more easily seen, there are plenty of ways motorcyclists can increase their safety, including continuing on a path of lifelong learning. For the first time in the event’s nine-year history, all paid forum participants will be provided a free coupon (value up to $245) that can be used to register for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Basic Rider Course I or II . Both courses are part of the Iowa DOT’s Rider Education Program and taught by Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches. The coupons can be redeemed at any of the approved sites located throughout the state. Courses are available from early April through mid-October. 

This one-day, interactive forum will feature several presentations, safety displays, rider training, an exhibitor tradeshow and other motorcycle-related exhibits. Presentations include: 

• Dan Petterson, ENABLE Consulting – Regarding Rider Responsibility
• Sherry Williams, Motorcycle Safety Foundation
• Pete Leehey, Pete Leehey Law Firm, PC – Don’t Let a Motorcycle Crash Destroy You Financially
• Brittany Morrow, MSF and founder of www.rockthegear.org – Rock the Gear

To register for the forum, contact Iowa State University’s Conference Services by phone at 515-294-6222, fax 515-294-6223 or e-mail usc-info@iastate.edu. Participants may also register online at www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/motorcycle/home.html.  Participants are asked to be prepared to share ideas and thoughts with forum committee members and other riders throughout the day.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report three people were arrested over the past few days on unrelated charges. Among them, was 24-year old James Erickson, of Atlantic, who was arrested Saturday, on a warrant from the U-S Military, for Desertion. Erickson was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Also arrested Saturday, was 18-year old Colton Ireland, of Massena. He was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. And, on Friday, 50-year old Dwaine Landon, of Exira, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Ireland and Landon were booked into the Cass County Jail.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a business owner was shot by an employee in the western Iowa town of Onawa. Officers who were sent to a storage building around 6 p.m. Sunday found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to one of his legs.  The man was identified as 32-year-old Darren Hieber. Hieber was taken to Burgess Health Center in Onawa and is expected to survive his wound. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation officials had said Hieber probably had interrupted a burglar. Now investigators say they think Hieber was shot by one of his employees.  Authorities wouldn’t discuss what led to the shooting. No arrest has been reported.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details about a single-vehicle accident which occurred near Wiota Friday night. As we told you over the weekend, the accident happened at around 10:15-p.m., on Hamburg Road. Officials say a 2004 Chevy Avalanche owned and driven by 63-year old Christopher Ray French, of Wiota, was traveling westbound on Hamburg road, when the truck went out of control and hit a bridge railing before rolling off the side of the bridge.

No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $14,000. An investigation into the crash resulted in French being arrested on a charge of OWI 1^st Offense. He was brought to the Cass County Jail, and released Saturday, on $1000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials report also, the arrest on Sunday, of 24-year old Aaron Lee Ihnken. Ihnken, who’s from Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth. He was being held in the Cass County Jail on $50,000 bond.