Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are voicing concerns about the number of recent accidents involving hunters who have fallen from tree stands. One of the incidents happened Sunday, in Adair County. The DNR says at around 6:30-a.m., first responders found 58-year old Jeffrey S. Newman, of Winterset lying at the base of his tree stand at the end of York Road in Adair County, near the Middle River. Newman was conscious, but in pain from the 20-foot fall. He was transported to a local hospital and then by medical helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Through the investigation, it was determined the stand was loosely hanging by the bottom strap.

On Saturday, November 4th, at around 7:05-a.m., 45-year old Philip Patrick Rolfe, of Dubuque, was injured when he fell approximately 20 feet from a tree stand while bow hunting in rural Clayton County near Garber.   Rolfe was taken to a nearby hospital and eventually transported to the U of I Hospital. Rolfe received injuries to his jaw and lower body. Through investigation, it appears that Rolfe had climbed to the top of his hang on platform stand when the anchor strap failed causing him to fall.  In addition Rolfe was not wearing a safety strap.

Another incident happened Oct. 29th in Linn County. 51-year old Jeff Pavek, of Palo, was injured while bow hunting near Ross Road in Linn County, when he climbed out of his tree stand and fell backwards approximately 20 feet below, landing on his back. A friend found Pavek nearly two hours later lying face down on the ground and called 911. He was transported to the U of I Hospital. Pavek received serious neck and back injuries from the fall, but is expected to survive. According to Pavek, the fastener came undone causing him to fall to the ground.

The Iowa DNR reminds hunters of the following safety tips related to tree stands:

• Always use a full body harnesses and remember to maintain three points of contact at all times when climbing in and out of tree stands.
• Tree stands should not be left up year round and should always be inspected for safety prior to the hunting seasons.
• Hunters should always use a haul line when getting equipment in and out of the stand.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report an Adair County man was arrested Friday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant. 32-year old John Lyle Vanscoy, of Bridgewater, was arrested on the warrant for failure to appear on charges of possession of controlled substance, eluding, driving while barred, and OWI 1st offense. Vanscoy was being held on $13,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Des Moines are considering turning most one-way downtown streets into two-way and adding more bicycle lanes in an effort to increase safety and promote retail development. The Des Moines Register reports that the city, the Urban Land Institute of Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Partnership worked together to create the Connect Downtown plan. Connect Downtown would cost about $33 million, with an additional $500,000 in annual maintenance.

A report on the plan says reintroducing two-way traffic will make the area safer by reducing vehicle speeds and benefit local businesses by making them more accessible. The report says changes could increase commutes for drivers during peak hours by one to three minutes. City Council will consider adopting the plan on Nov. 20.

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

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(DES MOINES) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 30-year old Samuel Marcel Washington Jr., failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility, Monday, as required, following his work release. Washington, Jr., was convicted of domestic abuse assault- 3rd or subsequent offense in Polk County.  He was admitted to the work release facility on July 28, 2017.

Washington is a black male, height 6-feet tall, and weighing 295 pounds. Persons with information on Washington’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports two arrests. On October 25th, 39-year old Joshua Robert Saunders, of Audubon, was arrested for Trespassing.  Saunders was brought to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate. And, on Nov. 2nd. 27-year old Scott Nathaniel Belew, of Audubon, was arrested for for Driving Under Suspension.  Belew later pled guilty to the charge.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports 46-year old Anita Michael, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon. Michael was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Probation, on the original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

A helicopter crashed Monday afternoon in northwest Iowa’s Lyon County, leaving the two people aboard seriously hurt. Lyon County Sheriff Stewart VanderStoep says the privately-owned chopper was being employed as part of a search team — for missing cattle. Sheriff VanderStoep says, “They apparently called in a helicopter to help search for some of these missing 300 cattle and about 1:19 PM, the helicopter hit a power line and went down — and crashed.”

The crash caused temporary power outages, including the entire city of Rock Rapids. The helicopter came down in farmland between West Lyon High School and Lake Pahoja. “Both people in the helicopter had serious injuries and they were transported by ambulances to Sioux Falls hospitals,” VanderStoep says.  The Federal Aviation Administration will help in the investigation. The hundreds of cattle had gotten loose earlier in the day. No names were released.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Congressman David Young continues his schedule of hosting open meeting events with his constituents with an additional Open Office Hours events in November. Open Office Hours are a resource for Iowans who reside in the Third Congressional District to meet one-on-one with the Congressman to discuss opinions, concerns, and ideas about the issues being discussed in Congress or to get casework assistance with problems they may be having with a federal agency or program.

Scheduled Open Office Hours in Adair County:

Saturday, November 11, 2017: 12:30pm to 2:30pm – Fontanelle Community Center – 318 Washington Street, Fontanelle, IA

Residents of Iowa’s Third District who are interested in meeting with Congressman Young are encouraged to attend any of the Open Office Hours events. Individual, ten-minute meetings to discuss personal concerns, opinions and possible casework needs will take place with constituents in attendance on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants must be residents of one of the 16 counties of Iowa’s Third Congressional District. To confirm residency within the District, individuals should visit the U.S. House of Representatives “Find my Representative” page located at: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ or contact one of Congressman Young’s Constituent Services Offices to inquire.

Constituents with further questions regarding Congressman Young’s Open Office Hours events should contact Congressman Young’s Des Moines Constituent Services Office by telephone at (515) 282-1909. Residents may also sign up to receive notification about future events online at the “Public Meeting Events” tab at Young.House.Gov.