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Transportation commission approves farm use of school licenses, online CDL renewal

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved some driver’s license rule changes to comply with changes passed by lawmakers in the last legislative session. D-O-T Motor Vehicle Division director, Melissa Gillett, says one change involves school licenses. She says the changes allow driving for farm-related purposes with a minor school license if the holder is employed by a farm and the distance driven is no more than 50 miles. Those who are 14-and-half can get a minor school license and drive to and from school and school activities by themselves between 5 a-m and 10 p-m.

“Prior to the 2021 legislative change, driving for farm-related purposes was not a permitted operation of the minor school license,” Gillette says. Gillette says they did have one question about home-school kids being able to use a minor school license for farm work. “A school administrator is required to approve the minor school license — and home school students are eligible to be issued a minor school license if they are dual-enrolled in a school — and their designated school official provides that certificate of need for the license,” according to Gillette.

The Transportation Commission also approved rules allowing drivers who have a commercial driver’s license or C-D-L to renew online. “Prior to the 2021 legislative change, a C-D-L holder was not able to renew their license electronically — even though online renewal has been an option for several years for non-commercial driver’s license holders,” Gillette says. She says the rules create the online C-D-L renewals with a few special provisions those license holders must meet to renew online.

Casey Telephone, METC & Manning Mun. Utilities receive Broadband Grants from Iowa

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES –  Governor Reynolds and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Tuesday, announced the recipients of the State of Iowa Broadband Grants Program.  Thirty-nine applicants have been awarded a total of $97,500,000 for broadband infrastructure as part of the latest Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. OCIO received 178 applications from broadband providers for the Grant Program with requests nearing $300 million.

Among the recipients in this area, was:

  • The Casey Mutual Telephone Company: Rural Fiber Project, $2,648,200.05.
  • Manning Municipal Utilities: Manning Rural, Highway 141 north & south NOFA 006, $2,195,220.67.
  • Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC): POtt. County/Underwood rural fiber build – MEH, $4,550,861.64.

(The other Award announcements can be found online here.)

Due to the overwhelming amount of interest and success of this program, the State of Iowa will expedite a new grant opportunity utilizing ARPA federal funds to build upon the $100 million in state funding for this grant program. Details on this new grant opportunity will be released in the near future.

8 candidates file for City offices in Cass County

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

With the deadline to file nomination papers for City offices approaching, eight people submitted their nomination forms to run for various offices in Cass County, Tuesday. Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports the following persons filed on Tuesday:

Atlantic City Council – 2nd Ward: Harlan L. Sisco, of Atlantic

Atlantic City Council – 5th Ward: Dana Halder, of Atlantic.

Griswold City Council – Doug Moore, of Griswold.

Griswold City Mayor – Brad Rhine (Incumbent)

Lewis City Council Member (vote for 2):

Ryan Archibald, of Lewis

Mary L. Neece, of Lewis.

Lewis City Council Member (Vote for 1):

Teresa E. Comer, of Lewis

Wiota City Council (Vote for 3):

Charles Bechtold, of Wiota.

A final reminder: the deadline to submit papers with the proper number of signatures. is Thursday, Sept 16th 5:00 p.m. Candidates for City Offices must file their papers with the Auditor’s Office. Once the filing deadline passes, we will populate the entire list of candidates for you on the kjan.com news page. Those candidates’ names will appear on the ballot in your respective city.

Glenwood Police report, 9/15/21: 2 arrested for Child Endangerment

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests occurred Tuesday (9/14). 36-year-old Nicholas Goodsell, and 33-year-old Chandra Goodsell, both of Glenwood, were each arrested on a Mills County Warrant for Child Endangerment, with their cash/surety bonds set at $2,000 a piece.

1 injured during motorcycle accident in Mills County; 2 arrested on separate charges

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A man from Council Bluffs was seriously injured during a motorcycle accident last week, in Mills County. The Mills Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, said 39-year-old Patrick Lewis was traveling south on 360th Street near Lambert Avenue at around 3:10-a.m., when a deer entered the road. When Lewis’ 2000 motorcycle struck the animal, he was ejected for several feet before coming to rest.

The cycle burst into flames. Lewis was treated at the scene by medical staff before being flown by LifeNet to a trauma center.

In other news, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office said 70-year-old Rodney Leroy Majors, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday afternoon, for Operating a vehicle without registration/plate, failure to provide proof of insurance, and Driving under suspension. His bond was set at $900. And, late Tuesday (Sept. 14) morning, 38-year-old Nathan Palmer Hurley, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for assault with intent to inflict serious injury. His bond was set at $2,000.

DNR to eliminate the fish populations at three western Iowa lakes

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Fremont and Mills counties (Iowa DNR News) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will treat Folsom, Scott B, and Lake Virginia late this summer or early fall (pending workable weather conditions) with rotenone, a botanical pesticide, to eliminate the fish populations.

Two of the lakes, Folsom and Scott B, are borrow lakes created during the construction of Interstate 29. Flooding by the Missouri River in 2019 introduced rough fish into these lakes, displacing almost all sport fish. The most recent fishery survey included common carp, silver carp, shortnose gar and black bullhead.  These injurious fish species reduce water clarity, destroy aquatic plants, and prevent the fishery from reaching its full potential.

Lake Virginia, located in Waubonsie State Park, suffered severe winter kill during the past winter. Winter kill occurs during prolonged periods of ice and snow cover that eventually depletes the oxygen from the water. Bryan Hayes, DNR fisheries management biologist, says “Surviving fish including black bullheads and common carp have gained the upper hand at Lake Virginia. The most effective method to reclaim these lakes for fishing is to eliminate the existing fish populations with a fish toxicant, rotenone; clearing the way for restocking sport fish.”

Rotenone is used world-wide and has been since the 1930s.  It is a common tool that fisheries managers use for managing sport fish and improving water quality. Rotenone is a naturally occurring compound that comes from the roots of a tropical plant in the bean family. The DNR commonly uses the commercially available formulation, 5 percent Prenfish, which has been approved for fisheries management by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA has concluded that the use of rotenone for fish control does not present a risk of unreasonable adverse effects to humans or the environment. The EPA certifies all pesticides based on use according to label directions, which the DNR is equipped to fulfill these obligations.  Eliminating injurious fish species is an imperative step to achieve water quality and fishery improvements.  The three lakes will be stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish in the spring of 2022. Catchable-size fish are expected in the lakes as soon as 2023.

Council Bluffs School District to mandate masks effective Sept. 15

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Less than 24 hours after a federal judge temporarily halted the Iowa law banning mask mandates in schools, the Council Bluffs Community School District is issuing new mask guidance. KETV in Omaha reports Superintendent Vicky Murillo wrote an email to parents today (Tuesday), stating “Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15, we will expect all students, staff and visitors to wear masks at school during school hours when physical distancing is not possible. Students will not have to wear a mask when seated to eat breakfast, lunch or while participating in recess or outdoor classroom activities.”

Murillo acknowledged that this new mask policy could change pending legal action. “We do recognize that members of our school community have varying opinions on the wearing of masks. As a school district, we have the responsibility to make decisions based on state and federal law and are doing so with the implementation of this change in expectations based on yesterday’s order,” Murillo said.

Council Bluffs said it will continue to track and monitor case totals and trends in each school, notify parents of cases, and work with the Pottawattamie County Health Department to adjust practices as needed.

Air travel levels back within 90 percent prepandemic, highway traffic at 99 percent

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Travel levels for planes and automobiles have all bounced back this summer as things opened back up from pandemic shutdowns. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson gave an update to the Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) — including air traffic.

That holds true as well for the number of passengers flying.

Anderson says the car and truck counts on state and local roadways continues to hold steady.

Traffic on roadways had dropped by 44 percent back in May of 2020 during the height of shutdowns. Anderson says the travel on city roadways is the one are that has been behind due to companies allowing employees to continue to work from home.

SPEED Enforcement/fatal accident reduction Project set for Thursday

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs/ISP District 3) – The Iowa State Patrol, in Partnership with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, the Iowa Department of Transportation and local law enforcement agencies will be watching for speeders this Thursday, Sept. 16th. ISP District 3 Trooper/Public Information Officer Ryan Devault says the effort is an attempt to reduce fatalities, more than anything.

Of particular concern, is reducing the number of triple-digit speeders. Trooper Devault said he thinks speeds have come down from where they were when COVID was at its peak, but there are still egregious violations where drivers are in excess of 100 miles per hour.

The push to reduce speeding is intended to try and keep the number of speed-related fatalities below 300 for the year. Devault recommends drivers use their cruise control to break the lead-foot habit.

He acknowledges vehicles are much safer these days. They can brake for you when you are too close to another car on the highway, they can tell you when it’s safe to change lanes, and there may come a day when most vehicles are totally autonomous, (or, without human input).

The main thing to take away from this Speed enforcement effort on Thursday, is how speed affects the chances you will die in a crash.

He reminds you also: Don’t drive distracted. Don’t drive impaired. And buckle your seat belt.

Governor Reynolds sets special session for redistricting

News

September 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Updated/Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds has signed a proclamation to convene a special legislative session on October 5th to consider newly drawn maps for Iowa congressional and legislative districts. The Legislative Services Agency will release the maps with redrawn district boundaries this Thursday. The Temporary Redistricting Commission has scheduled three public hearings next week, to give Iowans a chance to comment on the new maps, then the commission has to submit a report to lawmakers before the legislature convenes in three weeks. Under Iowa law, members of the House and Senate must vote yes or no on this set of maps. No amendments are allowed to make changes.

If the legislature rejects the first set of maps, the Legislative Services Agency must draw up a new set. If the second set is rejected, there’s a third round, when lawmakers are able to propose their own changes to district lines. The reapportionment process — which happens every 10 years — is usually completed in the spring, but the Census Bureau didn’t give states the population data for redrawing district lines until August.