DNR Conservation Officers say charges have been filed a charge and warnings issued, as a result of a boat incident that happened at Browns Lake in northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County on May 25th, that left two people seriously injured.

A citation was issued to Nicole Baker for violating speed and distance rules. Baker was the operator of the boat pulling behind two tubers when the tubers crashed into a stationary boat. Baker was also issued a warning for boat registration violation. Chad Riker, the operator of the stationary boat, was also issued a warning for boat registration violation.

Both tubers are still hospitalized but the DNR does not have specific conditions on either of them.

The Iowa Transportation Commission will hold a public input meeting in Council Bluffs at the Mid-America Center, One Arena Way on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, to hear about transportation matters from representatives of local government, interest groups, and individuals. Items that may be discussed at the meeting include the Iowa Transportation Improvement Program; transportation policies; and highway, aviation, rail, river, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transit issues.

A brief business meeting will begin at 8 a.m. immediately followed by the public input meeting. A detailed agenda will be posted on https://www.news.iowadot.gov/ prior to the meeting.

For more information concerning the meeting or to obtain a scheduled time on the agenda, contact the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of Program Management, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010, telephone 515-239-1288 or email shawn.majors@iowadot.us. Please include the general topic you wish to discuss. The statements, presentations, or suggestions should be 10 minutes or less.

On Monday, July 8, the commissioners will meet informally and tour transportation projects in western Iowa. No action will be taken on transportation-related matters during the tour.

The Iowa Transportation Commission today approved more than $8.2 million in funding for 69 new rural and urban public transit vehicles for 18 different public transit systems. The new vehicles will replace vehicles past their useful life.

Funds are granted through the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus and Bus Facilities Formula Program as well as the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program.

In Creston, Region 14, the program provides for a minivan with a video surveillance system.

The Iowa Department of Transportation will be closing southbound Interstate 29 from I-80 to Bunge Ave. for approximately two hours this (Tuesday) afternoon for an event that requires traffic control. Through traffic should follow eastbound I-80 to southbound I-35, and local traffic should use eastbound I-80 to southbound U.S. 71.

A portion of the inside lane of northbound I-29 will be closed, but the outside lane will remain open to traffic. Digital message boards will alert travelers to the closures.

Detour information and the latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide).

Police in Red Oak this (Tuesday) afternoon, arrested a man on a Shoplifting charge. 36-year old Samuel Jacob Whiteaker, of Red Oak, was charged with Theft in the 5th degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

The Audubon City Council, Monday, voted in favor of placing a 7% Hotel/Motel Tax on the November Ballot. City Clerk Joe Foran explained who the tax would affect. He said the tax – if approved by the voters – would affect anyone who stays at a hotel or motel within the Audubon City limits. It’s not a tax on all citizens, and would instead help the community by gaining revenue from tourism. The income, by State statute, would be divided 50-50 for separate purposes.

50% must be used for cultural and recreation, such as pool maintenance and repairs. The remaining 50% will be used for projects allowed under Iowa law, such as street repairs, public safety or tax relief. It must be used within a fiscal year budget. There were no comments from the public on the proposal during the meeting. Foran said Audubon residents should understand that they will benefit from the tax, and not pay it.”

That is of course, unless they stay at a hotel or motel. The measure will now be placed on the November ballot for the public to decide.