Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County, Monday afternoon, released some information with regard to a fatal accident that took place Monday morning, in Avoca. Authorities say at around 6:30-a.m., the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and Avoca and Walnut Fire and Rescue responded to the 45000 block of State Highway 83 in Avoca, for a single vehicle traffic collision.  Upon arrival Deputies determined a 2005 Pontiac G6, with a single occupant/driver, was traveling west on State Highway 83.

The vehicle left the roadway on the right side, struck a utility pole, and came to rest in a farm field.  The driver suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.  The identity of the driver was being withheld, pending notification of next of kin.

The accident was being investigated by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Collision Investigation unit.

(Radio Iowa) – That giant container ship was finally freed in the Suez Canal earlier today (Monday), unclogging a vital trade artery which might mean a slight drop in gasoline prices in Iowa. Over the past few weeks, gas prices have been creeping upward in many Iowa communities, but not just because of the grounded ship. Nick Jarmusz, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the reasons for the recent rise are pretty straightforward.

“The simplest way to explain it is actually that we’re beginning to get back to normal in a lot of ways,” Jarmusz says. That’s “normal” in both demand for gasoline and in our travel habits. A year ago, droves of Iowans were driving very little as COVID-19 closed down many offices and stores. “The prices we’re seeing now are pretty much right in line with what we’ve seen in the last two, three years, before last year,” he says. It’s simple supply and demand, as more people are now driving, the gas prices will rise.

The prices may seem high, but Jarmusz says they’re really not that inflated compared to where prices were -before- coronavirus arrived. “You can’t forget that a year ago,” he says, “we were experiencing an unprecedented drop in demand, as people were staying home and off the roads in huge numbers.” The statewide average price for gas is two-76 a gallon.

A year ago, Iowa’s average price was a dollar-80. Dubuque now has the most expensive gas at two-90 a gallon, while Davenport has the cheapest at two-71.

(Radio Iowa) – The deadline for INDIVIDUALS filing and paying Iowa income taxes has been moved from April 30th to June 1st. Federal officials recently extended the deadline for filing federal income taxes from April 15th to May 17th and now state officials are extending Iowa’s tax filing deadline by a month as well. The moves come after a key tax change was made in the American Recovery Act that cleared congress last month. Expanded unemployment benefits approved by congress last year — and provided by the federal government — have been exempted from federal taxes. The Iowa House has voted to do the same for state income taxes. The Iowa Senate has not taken a vote on the issue.

Iowa Department of Revenue director Kraig Paulsen says the new June 1st deadline for filing AND paying Iowa income taxes will help Iowans whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic. Paulsen signed the order moving the tax filing deadline for individuals, including Iowans who make estimated quarterly payments to cover their income taxes. However, businesses are still required to meet Iowa’s April 30th tax filing deadline.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests occurred Sunday. 31-year-old Joshua Ehser, of Lake Charles, LA, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000. And, 45-year-old Casey Helmer, of Karlsruhe, ND, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance along with Carrying Weapons. His cash/surety bond was set at $3,000.

Rescue crews on Monday found the body of a missing Iowa State University student involved in a Sunday boating accident at Little Wall Lake.  According to a report from KCCI, Hamilton County Sheriff Douglas Timmons said crews were able to recover the body quickly Monday morning thanks to some advanced technology. He said the Ventura, Iowa fire rescue team used advanced sonar technology Sunday night to create a 3-D scan the lake. They were able to identify a likely location of the body. Rescue crews resumed the search at 7 a.m. and were then able to recover the body at about 9:45 a.m., before weather conditions deteriorated due to strong winds.

Five students in all were involved in the accident. One was found dead Sunday and one remained missing. Crews resumed the search for the student Monday morning before discovering the body. Timmons said the names of the individuals will not be released until family members are notified. Iowa State University spokesperson Angie Hunt confirmed members of the Iowa State Crew Club were practicing on the lake when the boat capsized. Three of the five students were rescued.

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen released the following statement Sunday:

“The Iowa State community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident at Little Wall Lake. At this time, we are focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends. We ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts during this very difficult time. On behalf of the university community, I want to thank the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Story County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University Police Department, Jewel Fire and Rescue, Gilbert Fire, Mary Greeley Medical Center and community members for their response and continued search efforts.”

(Radio House) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says resolving the impasse over Iowa’s so-called Bottle Bill has historically involved finger-pointing among the interest groups involved — but lawmakers in the House may be nearing an agreement.  “If anything’s going to happen with the Bottle Bill, the legislature has to make a decision of what’s best for our constituents, what’s best for the long term viability of the program and just go forward,” Grassley says, “and the folks in the industry may not love that solution, but at some point we’re just going to have to do it.”

Grassley says a potential deal in the works would increase the amount of money for redemption centers. In addition, the requirement that grocery stores and other retailers that sell beverages accept the empties and pay back the nickle deposit could be waived. “If you choose to make that business decision, it’s going to probably cost you some money to pay someone else to take those cans, because in the state one of the pieces that we struggle with is is it’s not enforced that everyone that sells that product has to take them back,” Grassley says, “so I think requiring everyone to take them back or if you don’t want to take them back, you would either have to contract with someone or pay an additional fee to get them out of your store.”

Grassley, who is entering his 15th year in the Iowa House, is the grandson of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and the younger Grassley says the elder Grassley opposes repealing the Bottle Bill.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 1:10-a.m. Sunday, of 18-year-old Savanna Kristine Housley. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop for a stop sign violation and nonfunctioning brake light. Housley was subsequently arrested on a warrant out of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense.

Friday afternoon, a Pott. County Deputy served a warrant for a Sex Offender Registration Violation/1st offense, on 35-year-old Jacob Russell Kolhof, of Council Bluffs. The warrant was presented to him at the Pott. County Jail where he was being held on other charges.

And, at around 6:20-a.m. Wednesday (3/24), 37-year old Justin Christopher Sneed, Sr., was arrested following a traffic stop on a speeding 2021 Chevy Equinox. Authorities say the stop turned into a narcotics investigation, with Sneed being arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd Offense – Marijuana.

CRESTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DCI, Monday, said a Creston Police Officer was arrested on an assault charge over the weekend. Officers with the Creston Police Department were dispatched at around 5-a.m. Sunday, to 306 West Seneca in Creston, to investigate an incomplete 911 call. Responding officers were met by an adult female with visible physical injuries,  including deep cuts to her head. The female reported being assaulted by Eric Shawler, an off-duty officer with the Creston Police Department.

Investigators say the woman told police Shawler had smashed her head into a table, thrown her into a door and kicked her several times. Shawler denied he had attacked the woman, but investigators say there were inconsistencies in his story. Shawler, who was at the home, was transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center for follow-up investigation.

Eric Shawler

At the request of Creston Police Chief Paul Vermeer, a Special Agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation conducted an independent investigation into the assault. At approximately 12:00-p.m., Sunday, Eric Shawler was charged with one count of Domestic Assault Causing Injury (Aggravated Misdemeanor). Shawler was transported to the Adams County Jail. He has since posted bond.

Shawler has been placed on paid administrative leave.