The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a fatal vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident that took place a little after 1-a.m. today, in southern Iowa. Authorities say the accident happened on Highway 34, about three-miles east of Albia, when a 2011 Chevy sedan struck 23-year old Zachary Allen Bates, of Albia. The driver of the car, 23-year old Marcus Anthony Major, of Albia, was traveling west on Highway 34, when for reasons unknown, Bates entered the westbound lane near a driveway.

Major took evasive action by braking and swerving to the left, but was unable to avoid hitting Bates, who died at the scene. Marcus Major and his passenger in the car, were not injured.

(Radio Iowa) — An analyst from an international non-profit group that conducts school safety training has been in two Iowa cities this week. Chris Dorn of “Safe Havens International” spent Tuesday in Fort Dodge. On Monday, he was in Algona, meeting law enforcement, school staff and the public. “It’s really nice to get the message out and talk about a cohesive approach to lots of different stakeholders,” Dorn said.

One of the points Dorn emphasizes is that making a school safe involves more than just locking doors and keeping people out. “Schools have risks every day and we’ve seen for hundreds of years risks of medical emergencies, natural disasters, severe weather, violence — any number of things,” Dorn says. “…We need to train school staff to be able to recognize danger and respond quickly to it, no matter whether it’s a shooter or an allergic reaction.”

While Dorn offers advice on expensive things like security cameras, Dorn also points to research suggesting school violence is often perpetrated by students who do not have the influence of a caring adult in their lives. “Some of the most valuable things and impactful things in school safety are those relationships,” Dorn says, “those intangible things that may not cost anything.”

Dorn’s organization conducts safety assessments. The group also provides schools with books and videos that cover a number of safety issues — including whether teachers and school staff should be armed with a gun. “We ask people, basically, to think very intentionally about safety and their personal security,” Dorn says.

Dorn has recently authored a book titled: “Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters.”

Coca-Cola Days will be held September 27th and 28th in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second largest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbeque open to the public, a Show, Swap & Sell, “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable” raffle and many more activities for all ages. The theme for the 2019 Coca-Cola Days in “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable”.

Raffle items include: A Coca-Cola mini fridge, Coca-Cola Corn Hole game, Coca-Cola Wireless Headphones, Coca-Cola Water Cooler, Coca-Cola Tailgate Cooler, Two Cases of Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Bear, Coca-Cola Patio Umbrella, Hy-Vee Gift Card, Olsen’s BP Gift Card and Coca-Cola Blanket. Tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce for $5 a ticket. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 28th at 2 PM at the Show, Swap & Sell meet at the Herring Building.

T-Shirts for the 2019 Coca-Cola Days Celebration are also available for purchase. The shirts are heather grey and feature the theme, “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable”. T-Shirts can be purchased for $16 at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or day-of at the Show, Swap & Sell Saturday, September 28th.

For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Iowa Dept. of Public Safety reports that at around 12:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), the Burlington Police Department (BPD) and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office (DMCSO) responded to a shots fired call in the 300 block of N. Gunnison Street, in Burglington. Witnesses described a white S-10 Chevrolet pickup truck, with a topper as possibly being involved in the aforementioned shooting.  At approximately 12:57-a.m. BPD officers located the vehicle near Central and Division Streets and initiated a vehicle stop near Angular and Summer Streets.  Initial reports indicate the driver exited the vehicle and displayed a firearm towards the officers and the subsequently fled on foot.  Law enforcement gave chase and multiple rounds were fired by the suspect and law enforcement.  The suspect, who’s name will be released once family has been notified, was mortally wounded and pronounced dead at the Great River Medical Center. The Officers and Deputy were not injured in the incident.

The Burlington Police Department and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office requested an independent criminal investigation be conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  Per departmental policy, the BPD officers have been put on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.  The names of the officers and deputy will not be released prior to their interview with DCI.

No further information will be released at this time.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Members of two snowmobile clubs say they’re planning a new event to replace the memorial snowmobile race on Clear Lake that’s been canceled after its 10-year run. The North Iowa Snow Seekers and the Hancock County Snowmobile Association say the event will operate under a new name and format. Snow Seekers treasurer Mindy Eastman told the Mason City Globe Gazette that the name for the new racing event hasn’t yet been decided but will be announced soon. She says the event tentatively has been set for Feb. 8.

Organizers of the Jack Helgren Memorial Race say the event has been discontinued because members of the original organizational group have decided to retire. It had been named after Jack Helgren, an area businessman, former snowmobile dealer and avid racer who died in 2009.

The Creston Police Department reports a man from Adair County was arrested late Tuesday morning. 51-year old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Felony Warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. Davis was released by the Courts to the custody of a State Detention Facility, where he is serving time for another jurisdiction until his next court date.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The Madison County Board of Supervisors has scaled back the duration of its proposed moratorium on new wind turbines. The board voted to end the moratorium on October 1st of next year, rather than on January 1st of 2022. Adam Jablonski of MidAmerican Energy was among those who testified at a public hearing in Winterset yesterday (Tuesday). He argued the 27-month-long moratorium was “excessive.”

“MidAmerican would not be able to develop wind projects if people did not want them,” he said. “Wind turbines have been operating in Iowa for over 20 years and we still have people signing up for them — all voluntary and we would not be able to build any projects if the landowners in those areas we were looking for did not voluntarily sign up for wind projects, so just please consider them as you consider this moratorium.” Others who testified at the hearing complained about the engine noise of the turbines. Bev Anderson of St. Charles raised concerns about the cropland that’s taken out of production by turbines in rural areas. “This land is adding up to more and more acres,” Anderson said. “Farmers need that land to plant.”

Mary Jobst, rhymes with “roast”) of Earlham circulated a petition in favor of the moratorium. “I was stunned by the number of people who believe these turbines are too close and don’t want them and most willingly signed the petition,” Jobst said. “The majority of people living in the footprint of the proposed 52 turbines do not want them.” That includes Jobst and her husband, who signed a lease to host a turbine and she asked the board of supervisors to put a halt to the wind farm project. Bonnie Haugen of Winterset defended wind development. She told the supervisors her husband, father, brother-in-law and a cousin all have jobs in the wind industry. “My nephew just took a job custom welding on turbines in Iowa,” Haugen said. “I just want to be the persona face of 10,000 rural Americans who are working in wind.”

More than 100 people attended yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) public hearing in Winterset. Some who testified said the controversy over wind turbines has ended friendships and created rifts in families.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports a large disturbance broke out at Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs, just before 1-a.m. today (Wednesday). Authorities say the offenders got into two cars and attempted to flee the area. One vehicle was described as a red Honda Accord and the other a black Volvo. Officers located the Honda Accord on the college property headed towards Valley View Drive. Three of the occupants in the Honda Accord were arrested and charged with Assault causing bodily injury. At this time, the other vehicle has not been located and those offenders have not yet been identified.

The offenders who were arrested are: 19-year old’s Jalen Black Harris and Malik L. Kidd, along with 34-year old Titus Quinell Smith. All three offenders were charged with Serious Assault.