(Grinnell, Iowa) – A 19-year-old man from Harrison County died Wednesday night during a rollover accident south of Grinnell, in Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Bryce C. Hudnut, of Logan, was driving a 2016 Nissan Titan pickup, traveling south on Highway 146 at around 11:40-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control.

The truck rolled over and came to rest in the west ditch. Hudnut, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by Deputies with the Poweshiek and Mahaska County Sheriff’s Departments, and Searsboro Fire/Rescue.

[Updated 10/7] (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved a fireworks display contract, an exemption for chickens within the City limits, and an Order approving a 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreement with Cass County, for the rehabilitation of a bridge.

Following discussion with regard to a 2022 4th of July fireworks display, and presentation from two local men who wish to put on a fireworks show, the Council voted 5-to 2, to award a contract to Wild Wayne’s owner Jason O’Brien, contingent upon his getting ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) approval and passage of what’s called an “Igniter’s class,” which is coming up in a few weeks.

He has not yet received his license/permit. O’Brien has proposed having a 20-minute show for $10,000. Another local provider, Dan Vargason, had offered to conduct a 20- to 40-minute show for $8,800. Vargason also sells fireworks locally.

Vargason is also awaiting approval from ATF approval, which typically takes about 90 days once the application is filed. Both shows would use an electronic firing system. On a side note, the Council approved Wild Wayne’s shooting off fireworks whenever there is a touchdown by the Atlantic Trojans, during their homecoming game Friday night, against Knoxville.

The Council considered, and approved by a vote of 5 to 2, a request for an exemption to allow chickens within City Limits. Brad and Sara Strouth live at 1609 E. 22nd Street. The couple has eight laying hens on their 2.35-acres of land just south of East Ridge Park.  The City’s Code Enforcement Officer, Kris Erickson, said she had received two complaints from neighbors, but the complaints were with regard to the chickens being in violation of City Code, not because of an odor. A clause in the Ordinance does allow for the Council to use its discretion in granting exemptions. If someone wishes to have those types of animals in the City, they must show her proof of the Council’s approval, such as a permit.

The two councilmen who opposed the exemption, Dick Casady and Gerald Brink, both stated they were against it because the Ordinance already prohibits chickens and other farm animals inside the city. Council woman Grace Garrett said the decision to allow or disallow, should be on a case-by-case basis.

Brink said the Ordinance is clear, but it should have been amended long ago.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved an Order to close certain streets on Friday, Oct. 8th, between 2:15-p.m. and 3:30-p.m., for the Homecoming Parade. The parade line’s-up and begins at 10th and Linn. From there it proceeds west to Chestnut Street, then north to 3rd Street. The participants will then proceed east to Walnut, and south to 6th Street before the event concludes.

And, in his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund addressed complaints the City has received with regard to vulgar political signs on private property. He said the under the First Amendment, the City cannot legally order such signs to be removed, but it can strongly suggest it or ask the signs be re-worded to be less offensive. Kris Erickson said she approached the property owner(s) in question, and asked them to consider removing their sign(s), but they refused. The only way signs can legally be removed from private property, according to Lund, is if it incites violence against a person (especially a government official), or if it is deemed to be pornographic.

Dick Casady alluded to possible future consequences persons with vulgar signs may face…

(Radio Iowa) – The Department of Transportation has opened up the online renewal process for commercial driver’s licenses. The Transportation Commission approved new rules to allow the online renewal option for all C-D-L holders at its meeting in September — after lawmakers approved the change. Other drivers have been able to renew their licenses online for several years.

The one exception to the online C-D-L renewals are those with a hazardous materials endorsement — as they are required to take a test each time they renew. Drivers moving from a commercial learner’s permit to a C-D-L also cannot do so online. More information is available on the D-O-T’s website.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Legislature could be able to vote on a second plan for reconfiguring the boundaries of Iowa congressional and legislative districts in late October. On Tuesday, the 32 Republicans in the Iowa Senate voted down the first plan for redrawing district lines for 150 state House and Senate seats and for Iowa’s four congressional districts. The non-partisan Legislative Services Agency has notified lawmakers it will deliver Plan 2 for redistricting on October 21st.

That’s more than two weeks earlier than the deadline established in Iowa law. Public hearings are required before the Iowa legislature can vote on the plan. October 28th would be the earliest date lawmakers could return to Des Moines for a special session to vote on the second set of proposed district maps.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two arrests took place last week. On Sept. 30th, 28-year-old Brian Marcus Deandre Currie, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop.

63-year-old Randy Lee Sorensen, of Irwin, was cited Sept. 29tyh, for Driving While Suspended.

And, 33-year-old Jeremy Steven Mannion, of Logan, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, as well as Theft in the 5th Degree.

(Minden, Iowa) – Two people were injured during an accident Wednesday morning on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the collision happened at around 11:08-a.m. on I-80 eastbound, near the Minden Exit.

Officials say a 2009 Freightliner semi driven by 47-year-old Ramone Worthy, of Fremont, NE, failed to move over for a stationary utility vehicle in the right lane, before it failed to stop in an assured clear distance. The semi struck an attenuator trailer being pulled by a 2021 Chevy truck, driven by 18-year-old Keeton Pfaffenberger, of Holdingford, MN.

The pickup struck 36-year-old Travis Juno, of St. Cloud, MN, who was outside of the pickup at the time. Following the collision, the semi came to rest in the traveled portion of I-80 eastbound, blocking both lanes of travel. The pickup came to rest in the right lane.

Juno and Pfaffenberger were both transported by Minden  and Neola Rescue, respectively, to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst is the lead sponsor of legislation that would make it clear immigrants and refugees seeking asylum should be barred from entering the United States if they have been convicted of a serious sex crime.  “Right now, the current laws on the books don’t effectively target those who have been convicted of sexual assault and sexual violence,” Ernst says. “We desperately need to update these laws to make sure we block sexual predators from immigrating to the U.S.”

Under current federal immigration law, those seeking entry into the U.S. may be barred or deported if they have been convicted of an aggravated felony or deviant behavior in another country. Ernst suggests federal law should be more specific.  “This is a common sense, urgently needed solution to modernize our immigration policies and combat sexual violence and those seeking to exploit our law,” Ernst says.

Eleven Republican Senators are co-sponsoring the bill, including Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Ernst says there’s no hard data about how many foreign nationals with a sex crime conviction may have been admitted into the United States. “We need to make sure that we’re not allowing unvetted people into the United States,” Ernst said, “especially those that have been charged and convicted of a sexual offense.”

The U.S. Border Patrol recently announced it had arrested a Guatemalan man in Texas, near the Mexican border, who had been convicted a dozen years ago of a felony sex crime in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The agency said the man had been properly processed, but it’s unclear if that means the man was held in U.S. custody or deported.

CRESTON, Iowa – Oct. 6, 2021 – A project to repair the beams of the westbound Interstate 80 bridge over U.S. 169 in De Soto requires closure of U.S. 169 for five nights beginning on Wednesday night, Oct. 6, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

U.S. 169 at I-80 (exit 110) in De Soto will be closed on the following nights:

• Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. until Thursday, Oct. 7 at 5 a.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 8 at 5 a.m.
• Monday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. until Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 5 a.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. until Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 5 a.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. until Thursday, Oct. 14 at 5 a.m.

Detour Route:

• Northbound U.S. 169 traffic will travel east on I-80 to Dallas County Road R-16/Veteran’s Memorial Drive (exit 113), then turn west onto I-80 before exiting onto northbound U.S. 169 (exit 110).

• Southbound U.S. 169 traffic will travel west on I-80 to Dallas County Road F-90 (exit 100), then turn east on I-80 before exiting onto U.S. 169 (exit 110).