With the spike in traffic fatalities in Iowa during 2016, the state senate’s Democratic leader says traffic safety should be a priority issue for the 2017 Iowa legislature. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids was elected leader of Senate Democrats after the November election.  “In 1970, Iowa had over 900 motor vehicle fatalities. Last year, we were down to 317, now we’ve jumped way back up to 400. That’s the wrong direction. We need to work together to continue to drive those numbers down, but that requires people who are committed to making state government work.”

Officials say the latest data indicates at least 401 people died in traffic accidents in Iowa during 2016. In southwest Iowa, Cass County had the most fatalities, at 14, followed by Pottawattamie County, with 13. Adams, Guthrie and Montgomery Counties had zero traffic fatalities last year.

Hogg says legislators need to make sure there are enough state troopers patrolling the state’s highways. “And, by the way, unfortunately Republicans are leading with this effort to take away health benefits from our law enforcement officers and other public workers. I don’t think that’s a solution to the problem. I think we need to support our state troopers,” Hogg says. “We need to add to their numbers.”

Hogg says the state needs “better” laws about distracted driving, too. “You’re going to see an effort to take away automated traffic enforcement in some places. Well, there are some places in the state where that’s important and then, finally, we need a stronger driver’s education system.”

Hogg made his comments during a town hall meeting stop in Mason City on Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest of a man from Tennessee on numerous drug and weapons charges, as well as multiple warrants from out of state. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 27-year old Jeffrey Sizemore, of Millington, TN, was found to be in possession of Meth, Marijuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and dangerous weapons. A records check revealed he was wanted on numerous warrants.

Sizemore was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held pending an initial court appearance.

Jeffrey Sizemore

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police video shows an Iowa trooper jammed the barrel of his loaded rifle into the shoulder of a suspect at the end of a police chase, leaving the man injured. The Associated Press obtained the video through an Iowa open records law request. It shows suspect Shanne Arre reacting in pain after Iowa State Patrol officer Jeremy Probasco strikes him with the weapon.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A man who died after a fall at a state park near Boone has been identified as an Ames resident. The state Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday identified the fall victim as 63-year-old Danny Dean Carlile. He was among about 100 people who joined for a New Year’s Day hike Sunday morning at Ledges State Park. Carlile lost his footing while taking photos at an overlook and fell about 60 feet. He was flown to a Des Moines hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Massachusetts-based company says it hopes to build a manufacturing and distribution center in eastern Iowa that eventually will employ 500 people. Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch announced Tuesday that plastic-container company Sterilite wants to build a $73 million facility on 160 acres of land. KWQC-TV reports it would be the largest building in Davenport. City officials will begin considering an incentive package that would include 15 years of property tax rebates and road improvements.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says it “makes sense” for Iowa to consider legislation that would require voters to show identification when casting an election ballot in the state. The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday that such a requirement would ensure voters are valid and aren’t voting in more than one state. State officials do not track voter fraud statewide, but cases of fraudulent voting are exceedingly rare in Iowa.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A man who died after a fall at a central Iowa state park has been identified as an Ames resident. The state Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday identified the fall victim as 63-year-old Danny Dean Carlile. Carlile was among about 100 people who joined for a New Year’s Day hike Sunday morning at Ledges State Park, south of Boone.

Carlile had left a trail to take photos at an overlook known as Solstice Rock when he lost his footing and fell about 60 feet. He was flown to a Des Moines hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones will swear-in two law enforcement officers during the City Council meeting at City Hall beginning at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.  Lt. Dave Erickson, who officially took over as Chief of Police on January 1st, will take the Oath of Office. With Erickson’s promotion to Chief, and the resignation of Officer Cody Eckles, the City was down two full-time officers. The first Officer to join the City is Cameron Ward, who comes to Atlantic from the Griswold area. Ward will also take the Oath of Office Wednesday evening from Mayor Dave Jones.

In other business, the Council will hold a Public Hearing on the Development Agreement with the Whitney Group, LLC, authorizing an annual appropriation of Tax Increment Payments and pledging certain tax increment revenues to the payment of the agreement.

The hearing will be followed by a Resolution approving the Urban Renewal Joint Agreement with Cass County, with regard to a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the Elite Octane, LLC ethanol plant project. Afterward, Susan Fisher, with the EPA, will update the Council on efforts to remove PCE (a chemical found in Dry Cleaning Solvent) contamination found in certain areas of the community.

And, the Council will act on a Resolution endorsing the Use of City Funds for matching funds for [an] Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant. The grant requires matching funds from the City in the amount of $100,000 for an ADA accessible pier, gravel parking lot and engineering fees, associated with the Schildberg Recreation Area campground and bathhouse projects, which will cost an estimated $500,000 altogether. Cass County has already committed $25,000 as its share of the match. If approved, and Enhance Iowa CAT grant would cover the $175,000 in cost for the bathhouse to be located adjacent to the campgrounds.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm reports the Ice rink at Sunnyside Park is officially open. The Ice Rink opened at 5-p.m. Tuesday and will be open to the general public, skaters and non skaters alike, from 6-a.m. until 10-p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6-a.m. until 11-p.m. Friday through Sunday.

There are available benches and picnic tables available to relax and an outdoor patio heater available to warm up a bit. The Ice rink will have rules, hours, and information posted at the site.

If there are any questions reach the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. through facebook or call Atlantic Parks and Recreation at 712-243-3542. Follow Sunnyside Ice Rink on Facebook with the following link https://www.facebook.com/Atlanticicerink/# with any updated information on hours, closures, and events.

The fee for investments in the state-managed “College Savings Iowa” program have been reduced. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says the fee has now dipped to one-fifth of one percent. “This is the seventh decrease in price we’ve been able to initiate over the last 10 years,” Fitzgerald says. The fees have fallen 65 percent over the past decade, primarily because administrative costs have remained steady, while participation has increased dramatically.

“We take great pride in having a low-cost, professionally-managed college fund,” Fitzgerald says. “…We’re up to over $4.2 billion in the fund. We have over 240,000 accounts and that speaks for itself that people love it.” The reduced investment fee took effect January 1st. It means investors each year pay only two-dollars for every thousand ($1000) invested.

“We want the message to get out to all corners of the state of Iowa, to every parent and grandparent because a third of the people that own these accounts are grandparents. They’re the ones that have the money,” Fitzgerald says. “The bigger we can get the fund, with more people in it, we can pass the savings on to Iowans. And that’s what we’re doing.”

The governor and legislators created the College Savings Iowa program in 1998. In the past decade, investments in the fund have nearly quadrupled. The fund is only open to Iowa taxpayers.

(Radio Iowa)

While influenza spread in Iowa remains low, surveillance indicates activity is increasing and the number of flu-related deaths in Iowa now stands at two. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Tuesday) confirmed the influenza-related death of an elderly (81 years of age and older) Central Iowa male who had underlying health conditions. In addition, surveillance indicates all four of the flu viruses covered by the 2016/2017 vaccine are circulating in Iowa.

IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “This year’s influenza vaccine appears to be a good match to the virus strains being seen in Iowa. With flu season potentially lasting at least another two months, it’s certainly not too late to get a flu vaccination.”

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. The flu comes on suddenly and may cause severe illness or even death in people such as the very young or very old, or those who have underlying health conditions. Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days.

Contact your health care provider or local health department to find out where the flu vaccine is available in your community or use the Flu Vaccine Finder at https://vaccinefinder.org.

Police in Council Bluffs report a man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning, on Eluding and other charges, following a foot chase that began with a traffic stop for a seat belt violation, at around 8:10-a.m. Officials say a front seat passenger in the vehicle, 25-year old Gary A. Schultz, of Council Bluffs, took off on foot, after it was learned the driver, had a valid No Contact Order against Schultz.

Gary A. Schultz

Schultz ran north through a field and into the Indian Creek ravine. Due to the frigid temperature of the water, Schultz surrendered and was assisted out of the water. He was transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, where Schultz was treated for hypothermia.

He was later released from the hospital and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he was charged with Violating a No Contact Order, Eluding and failure to wear a seat belt.

Atlantic Police report seven arrests over the past couple of weeks. Yesterday (Monday), 28-year old Kayla Millam, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). On Sunday, 32-year old Adam Morris, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense.

Last Friday, 29-year old Ryan Juhl, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for two counts of Possession of Drugs with Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana w/the intent to deliver, and a Drug Tax stamp violation.

On Dec. 27th, 35-year old Aaron Latus, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. On Dec. 24th, 23-year old Austin Alff, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And on Dec. 23rd, 18-year old Skyler Peters, of Atlantic, was arrested after he turned himself-in on charge of OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance. That same day, 26-year old Devin Register, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation.

All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.