(Jackson County, Iowa) – One person is dead following a collision late Thursday evening south of Zwingle, in eastern Iowa. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2023 International semi driven by a 35-year-old, was traveling south in the outside lane on Highway 61 at around 7:30-p.m.  When the semi attempted to pass a southbound John Deere tractor that was partially in the outside lane and west shoulder, the vehicle collided with the tractor and entered the west ditch where it rolled over and came to rest upright. The accident happened near the intersection of Highway 61 and 196th Street.

The driver of the semi died from their injuries. Two others were injured in the crash. One was flown to IUHC by helicopter. The other was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Dubuque. No names have been released as of the latest State Patrol report.

The driver of the semi and one of the other victims were wearing seat belts. The third victim was not.

(Radio Iowa)- Developers of a casino proposed for Cedar Rapids are making their presentation to state regulators today Thursday). The presentation was streamed by K-C-R-G T-V, and Suzanne Leckert, a consultant with Convergence Strategy Group says cellphone tracking data shows a need for a new casino.

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment is proposing spend 275 million dollars to develop a casino called Cedar Crossings on the river in Cedar Rapids. Leckert talked about the economic impact of the casino.

She told the Racing and Gaming Commission the new casino would generate 80 million new gaming dollars, and more taxes for the state.

Cedar Rapids has been denied a gambling license in the past after studies showed a casino there would take money from existing casinos. Leckert says their study shows that impact has been overstated at other casinos in the state and they believe that is the case here as well.

The I-R-G-C has hired firms to conduct its own market study of the gambling industry it will use in deciding on a license for Cedar Rapids. Regulators will visit the proposed Cedar Rapids site on November 20th review the proposal and make public comments. The I-R-G-C expects to make a decision on a gaming license at its meeting in February.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 41-year-old Lucas John Walk, who was convicted of Burglary 2nd Degree, Robbery 2nd Degree, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and Habitual Offender (Property) in Pottawattamie County, failed to report back to the Council Bluffs Residential Correctional Facility as required on Tuesday, Oct. 1st.

Lucas John Walk (IDOC photo)

Walk is a 203-pound White male. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 10, 2024.

Persons with information on Walk’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – A retired English teacher and author from southwest Iowa is releasing her third book, this time focused on Iowa’s underground moon-shining industry during the days of prohibition a century ago. Ann Hanigan Kotz (COATS), a Denison native who now lives in Adel, says “Moonshine By Moonlight” is the product of many months of study about that era.

Hanigan Kotz will be delivering one of her library lectures in mid-October that will cover the federal government’s crackdown on alcohol and the rise and fall of bootlegging in the state.

There are many tales of Chicago mobsters who would send their henchmen to Iowa in order to secure shipments of illegal booze to bring back to Windy City speakeasies.

Ann Hanigan Kotz

In addition to research, Hanigan Kotz says she’s done extensive interviews on the topic.

Hannigan Kots will appear at the Kendall Young Library in Webster City on October 15th. The book goes on sale November 12th. Advance copies of “Moonshine By Moonlight” can be ordered through Amazon and by Bookpress Publishing.

(Radio Iowa) -Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) in Charles City is closing less than two years after they began operations. In a statement, George Piechel, one of the owners of the plant, said, “While we continue to explore options, including possible buyers for our operations, our efforts to restart the plant on a limited basis have proven unsuccessful. Without a viable operating plan, we are discontinuing operations at our Charles City production plant effective immediately.”

Plant employees were notified Wednesday afternoon their positions had been eliminated. Some 138 workers are out of jobs. P-P-P had sought to reorganize under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with liabilities between 100 million dollars and 500 million owed to between 200 and 999 creditors, including over 500-thousand dollars to the City of Charles City.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been granted an emergency court order to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately one-point-three million broiler chickens owned by Pure Prairie Poultry. The company notified state officials they were unable to purchase feed for the chickens on 14 Iowa farms the plant contracts with to grow broilers.

• On Monday, September 30th, 37 year old Rosann Dawn Randall, of Harlan was arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. On that same date, 42-year-old Keith Andre Smith, of Harlan, was cited for the same alleged offense.
• This past Sunday (September 29th), 35 year old Billie Jean Hazzard, of Harlan was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• Last Saturday, Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 39 year old Jason David Bangford, of Harlan, for Driving while license Denied or Suspended.
• On September 27th: 31 year old Brian Daniel Green, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Driving while License Denied or Revoked; 30 year old Cherish Farata, of Harlan, was September 27th for Dommestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense, and Interference with Official Acts.
• Two arrests were made on September 26th. 39 year old Christopher Neal McQuire of Omaha was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an Active Shelby County Warrant. And 54 year old Brent Allan Sorensen, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for service. Sorensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

You can read about the other arrests, below:

(Radio Iowa) – The union that represents employees in Iowa prisons says it’s time for the governor to respond to a disturbing trend. AFSCME Council 61 president Todd Copley says union members report there have been at least 150 assaults on prison staff since January.

Copley held a news conference in the statehouse this (Thursday) morning and told reporters the staff in the state prisons fear retaliation if they raise safety concerns.

A spokesman for the governor says Reynolds knows correctional officers work in a hostile environment and that’s why she’s worked diligently with prison managers to increase staff and improve safety and security at the facilities.

AFSCME Council 61 president Todd Copley speaks at a news conference on Oct. 3, 2024. (RI photo)

Last week, the union said two prison employees were attacked by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Copley says the inmate ripped the metal leg off a desk in his cell and used it as a weapon.

According to Copley, one of the guards was hit in the face and has a number of fractured bones, while the other was stabbed 11 times, tearing his uniform and scratching his skin. The Iowa Department of Corrections has said it doesn’t comment on open investigations.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports there will be a countywide burn ban in Cass County effective at noon today (Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024) and until further notice. There are currently 27 active countywide burn bans in Iowa.

Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie, Adair, Mills, Monona, Crawford, Carroll and Greene are other area counties with active burn bans in place.

Kennon says a burn ban does NOT prohibit the following:  supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

Please contact Mike Kennon (712-254-1500) or your local fire chief if you have further questions on the subject of open burning.

Iowa Code Section 100.40 Marshal may prohibit open burning on request.
1. The State Fire Marshal, during periods of extremely dry conditions or under other conditions when the state fire marshal finds open burning constitutes a danger to life or property, may prohibit open burning in an area of the state at the request of the chief of a local fire department, a city council or a board of supervisors and when an investigation supports the need for the prohibition. The State Fire Marshal shall implement the prohibition by issuing a proclamation to persons in the affected area. The chief of a local fire department, the city council or the board of supervisors that requested the prohibition may rescind the proclamation after notifying the state fire marshal of the intent to do so, when the chief, city council or board of supervisors finds that the conditions responsible for the issuance of the proclamation no longer exist.
2. Violation of a prohibition issued under this section is a simple misdemeanor.
3. A proclamation issued by the state fire marshal pursuant to this section shall not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.