The Iowa Department of Transportation is studying Interstate 80 from the Illinois to Nebraska border as it plans for the future. The D-O-T’s Brad Hofer says they are looking at the busy highway in segments as they put together what he calls a “vision document.” “It’s a pretty big animal to think about reconstructing — especially in terms of funding. So, we knew we couldn’t do it all at once. We knew we had to kind of take it as the infrastructure sort of aged,” Hofer says.  They have been gathering input in online public forums and from transportation groups as part of an overall study. “This study was to sort of develop a plan with which all those little pieces, all those sections could be built with that end vision, end goal in mind,” he says. Hofer says one thing stood out as they talked to people. He says some five-thousand people have given input, and a lot of the feedback has dealt with all the trucks on the highway and the need for more lanes.

Hofer says they are looking down the road into the future with this study. “Something new that we did with this study that we haven’t really done before is look at technology and how technology will play a part in future improvements,” Hofer says. ” I know everybody has been talking about automated vehicles and connected vehicles — and this will be the first time that we have really looked at what those kind of technological improvements would do for capacity gains on the roadways.” People from all across the country travel the east-west route. “Some parts of western Iowa are pretty low and you get towards the eastern side of the state and it’s significantly higher. Some of the projections were up to 55-thousand vehicles a day,” Hofer explains. “So, it’s pretty significant.”

Hofer says the process is getting underway as they prepare the overall plan. He says they’ve already started a more traditional study from Iowa City out to West Branch, kicking off a traditional study with the overall picture in mind. The D-O-T plans to hold another public meeting to gather more input. “We’ll also kind of put together that vision document and get it out ahead of that meeting. And then we’ll also kind of augment that in-person meeting with another online meeting to give people the chance to comment on that vision document,” according to Hofer.

The details on the public meeting have not yet been set. To read more on the I-80 study, go to the Department of Transportation’s webpage.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon, issued a report on recent arrests. Officials said there were four arrests Monday: 61-year old Donald Ray Golden, of Hamburg, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000; 42-year old Jessica Lynn Brooks was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000; 35-year old Sherice Nicole Dismang, of Omaha, was also arrested Monday in Mills County, on a warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $15,000; and, 23-year old Dylan Lee Conn, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested on a warrant charging him with two counts of Failure to Appear in court. His bond was set at $10,000.

On Sunday, 38-year old Patrick Lynn Darren, of Glenwood, was arrested on I-29, for Driving Under Suspension and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $1,300. And, last Saturday, 38-year old Rusty Ervin Meinke, of Emerson, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond, in the Mills County Jail.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with Fire Chiefs in Shelby County, has begun to issue their bi-weekly, local outdoor fire danger updates. The updates will continue until ground conditions improve. As of Monday, the Fire Danger in Shelby County was “Low.”  The next update will be on Thursday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man was seriously injured when he accidently shot himself in the parking lot outside a Davenport gun show. Davenport police on Monday told the Quad-City Times the man “had a negligent discharge of his personal firearm while seated in his vehicle” on Sunday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, which was hosting the gun show. Police would only identify the victim as a 42-year-old man. His injuries were described as “potentially life-threatening” but he had improved by Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawyer for a Des Moines woman charged in the death of her stepfather says she considered him a threat when she shot him in her basement. The Des Moines Register reports a lawyer for 29-year-old Sera Alexander argued Monday in the opening day of her trial that year of domestic abuse prompted her to consider 49-year-old Anthony Hartmann a threat. Alexander has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A teenager has been given a 60-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of a Des Moines man during a drug deal. The Des Moines Register reports that 17-year-old Dequavius Robinson was sentenced Monday for the Feb. 7, 2017, slaying of 20-year-old Augustin Kouh.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed a weapons charge against a Chicago man, so Iowa has dropped charges filed over the same shooting incident in Dubuque. The Telegraph Herald reports that Ricardo Sanchez already has pleaded not guilty to the federal charge: possession of a firearm by a drug user. Police say Sanchez fired repeatedly into Club Rise in Dubuque about 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 27. The club was closed, but four employees were inside. None was hit.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports, that as of the close of business on Monday, March 5th, four candidates had filed their completed nomination papers for County Offices that are open in advance of the June 5th Primary.

The candidates, all of whom are Republicans, include:

• Dana Halder – Cass County Board of Supervisors/District 3
• Michael Donn Hooper-Cass County Attorney
• Mary Ward-Cass County Recorder
• Pat McCurdy- Cass County Supervisor District 2

Persons wishing to file nomination papers have until March 28th to do so. Nomination papers are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state.

County positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the June 5th, 2018 PRIMARY ELECTION are: District 2 County Supervisor; District 3 County Supervisor; County Attorney; County Recorder and County Treasurer.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on a theft charge Monday afternoon. At 1:15pm Officers arrested 55-year-old Shelly Renee Shuffler of Red Oak in the 800 block of North Broadway Street in Red Oak. Shuffler allegedly took clothing from a locked bin valued at less than $200 and also allegedly stole a box containing several smaller boxes of strawberries from the Red Oak Fareway store. Fareway requested charges for the strawberries and Shuffler was charged with Theft 5th Degree less than $200, a Simple Misdemeanor. Shuffler was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass Counties…
204 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM CST TUESDAY.

* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are expected. Strong northwest winds will develop overnight into Tuesday with areas of blowing snow, especially in the heavier snow squalls.

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie Counties...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY.

* WHAT…Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected. Gusty northwest winds up to 45 to 55 mph overnight through Tuesday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the morning commute on Tuesday. Be prepared for reduced visibilities at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five arrests took place from Feb. 24th through March 3rd. On Saturday, 34-year old Christopher Jespersen, of Atlantic, and 21-year old Shianne Cavin, of Anita, were arrested on separate OWI/1st offense charges. Last Thursday, 18-year old Travis Osborn, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. 54-year old David Charles, of Atlantic, was arrested Feb. 27th, also for Theft in the 5th (Shoplifting). And, 25-year old Adnan Abdic, of Waterloo, was arrested Feb. 24th, for Three counts of Forgery. All five subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an Adair County woman was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a Highway, following a collision Saturday, on Highway 71 south (1005 Whitney Street). A vehicle driven by Danelle Cooney, of Greenfield, was pulling out of the parking lot at 1005 Whitney Street at around 1:55-p.m., on to Highway 71. A non-contact vehicle (a pickup pulling a trailer), was attempting to enter the parking lot at 1005 Whitney. Cooney proceeded onto the highway, not seeing a vehicle driven by Eric Fletchall, of Villisca. Their vehicles collided, resulting in a total of $1,750 damage. No injuries were reported.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports three people (all Republicans) have filed their nomination papers for County Offices, in Cass County:

• Michael Donn Hooper-Cass County Attorney
• Mary Ward-Cass County Recorder
• Pat McCurdy- Cass County Supervisor District 2

Persons wishing to file nomination papers have until March 28th to do so. Nomination papers are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state.

County positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the June 5th, 2018 PRIMARY ELECTION are:

District 2 County Supervisor
District 3 County Supervisor
County Attorney
County Recorder
County Treasurer

List of persons currently serving in those positions:

Treasurer                 (incumbent: Tracey Marshall, Republican)
Recorder                  (incumbent: Mary Ward, Republican)
Attorney                  (incumbent: Michael Hooper, appointed)
District 2 Supervisor     (incumbent: Gaylord Schelling, Republican) – is not seeking reelection; Mark O’Brien has taken out nomination papers to file
District 3 Supervisor     (incumbent: Mark Wedemeyer, Republican) – is not seeking relection; Dana Halder and John P. Hartkopf have taken out nomination papers to file.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A teenager has been given a 60-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of a Des Moines man during a drug deal. The Des Moines Register reports that 17-year-old Dequavius Robinson was sentenced today (Monday). He’d entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of first-degree robbery in the Feb. 7 shooting of 20-year-old Augustin Kouh. Police say Kouh was found dead on a sidewalk. Another person suffered a gunshot wound.

In an Alford plea, a suspect acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict. Robinson, of Des Moines, was 16 at the time of the shooting, which police say involved a drug transaction and robbery.