(Radio Iowa) – Traffic was down on the state roadways in the last month of 2022. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson tracks the numbers. “Overall our traffic in December was down seven percent compared to our pre-pandemic December and it was down across all systems,” Anderson says. Recent lower traffic volumes have been attributed to higher gas prices — but he says this time it looks like winter is to blame.

“We do attribute that to the severe weather we had the end of December and the impact on travel on our public roadways.” he says. “And that is reflected that we do have preliminary January numbers which are showing traffic is now four above the pre-pandemic January — so we do think that is just a blip due to winter weather.” Anderson made his comments during the recent Iowa Transportation Commission meeting.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Two people from Polk County were arrested on drug charges, Saturday night, following a traffic stop, in Adair. An Adair Police Officer stopped the vehicle for having expired license tags. Upon further investigation, the driver, 21-year-old Marissa Jean Bonds, of Des Moines, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Marijuana. And, 22-year-old Trayvon Damontas Patrick Taylor, of Des Moines, was arrested for PCS/2nd offense – Marijuana. Inside the suitcase in the vehicle, the Officer found 226 grams of marijuana. Bonds and Taylor were transported to the Adair County Jail in Greenfield. Bonds was released with a citation. Taylor was released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Two men were arrested on separate assault charges last week, in Adair County: 67-year-old Dennis Gene Killion, of Orient, was arrested Thursday at a residence in Orient, and 55-year-old Charles Henry Elings, III, of Adair, was arrested Feb. 13th in Adair. Both were arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault with Bodily Injury. Elings was released the next day on his Own Recognizance. Killion was released the following day on a $1,000 c/s bond.

And, 39-year-old Brian Charles Shannon, of Greenfield, was arrested Feb. 14th on a Dallas County warrant. He was turned over to Dallas County Deputies.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a man from Greenfield was arrested following an incident that took place Friday morning. The Sheriff says at 8:42 a.m., Friday, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office received a cellular 911 call from an individual who stated that his white 2011 Chevrolet pickup had just been stolen from the Casey’s General Store in Fontanelle. The Fontanelle Police Department and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office responded, gathered the available information and relayed that information to assisting agencies. Of particular concern, was that a loaded handgun was inside of the pickup at the time of the theft.

At 9:35 a.m., an Adair County deputy observed the vehicle traveling west on 310 th Street from the Orient curve. The deputy activated his emergency lights and a short pursuit ensued, before the suspect pulled over. The suspect immediately put his hands outside of the window and fully complied throughout the duration of his arrest. The suspect was identified as 19 year old Xachariah Hinson, of Greenfield. Hinson was charged with: Theft in the first Degree, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, and Eluding. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $20,000 cash or surety bond.

The Adair County Sheriff would like to remind the public to be conscious of the fact that incidents like this can happen in a matter of just seconds and that they do happen in small towns and in the rural areas. Additionally, there have been many recent advancements in various methods to secure firearms in vehicles.

Multiple agencies assisted in searching for the stolen vehicle, including: the IowaState Patrol, Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Iowa DOT, the Adair Police Department and the Adams, Cass and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices.

Disclaimer: “It should be noted a criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

(Radio Iowa) – As state lawmakers consider making it easier for more Iowans to buy a nasal spray that reverses an opioid overdose, federal officials are considering rules that would reclassify naloxone as an over-the-counter medication, so anyone could buy it. Current STATE law limits who may buy naloxone to first responders and school officials. While a pharmacist can sell it without a prescription, the person who buys it must sign a ledger. Talia Sopp, of Anchorage, Alaska is a University of Iowa medical student. She previously worked at an addiction treatment center for teenagers

“Over the past four years, I’ve worked with doctors, pharmacists and community organizations to try to get naloxone directly into the hands who use drugs, which is important,” Sopp says. “…Who’s most likely to be at the scene of an overdose? It’s most likely someone who uses drugs.” Alison Lynch is the director of the opioid addiction clinic at the University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Lynch says being able to buy naloxone over the counter would make it more available in rural areas.”After hours they can go to Casey’s or Walmart or something,” she says. “Even if the pharmacy is not open at Walmart, you know, on a Sunday or something, they can still go and purchase it.”

Naloxone is sold under the brand name Narcan. Two federal advisory panels of addiction experts said last week the medication is safe to sell without a prescription. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to make its decision about the nationwide sale of naloxone by March 29th. A bill that would toughen STATE penalties for fentanyl-related crimes includes letting more public officials get naloxone from a pharmacist, but would not make it available to anyone.

(Denison, Iowa) – Three area juveniles will face charges in Crawford County, following incidents of street sign vandalism. That’s according to Crawford County Sheriff Jim Steinkuhler, who did not release the names of the suspects.

Crawford County Engineer Paul Assman told our sister station KDSN that they discovered almost a dozen road signs dumped in a ditch along 210th Street north of L Avenue.  “Some sort of a Sawzall or cutting wheel and just cut the steel posts off. Really pretty senseless. Not quite sure what the motive there was to do that. We would seek damages from them and press charges, of course,” Assman said.

Image via KDSN in Denison.

He says people do mess with signs in the spring and fall especially but he’s never seen anything quite like this in 23 years on the job. “I don’t ever recall anyone going through that much effort and just throwing them back in the ditch so it really doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense,” Assman said.

He says the incident is under investigation and they are asking anyone who might know something about the signs to notify law enforcement.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man complained of pain following an accident Friday evening, but he was not transported to the hospital. Authorities say a 2003 Mack semi tractor-trailer driven by 41-year-old Jeffrey Painter, of Leland, IL, was backing out of a private drive at 3511 White Pole Road, when the trailer was struck by a westbound 2008 Lexus SUV. The driver of the SUV, 48-year-old Timothy Wells, of Menlo, told authorities he didn’t see the semi until the last minute, because he was blinded by the sun. He swerved, but his vehicle struck the rear dual tires/axle of the trailer, causing a total of $13,500 damage.

The accident happened at around 5:40-p.m.  No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested Thursday. Deputies arrested 54-year-old Tony Mayo Sr.,  for OWI 1^st Offense.  Mayo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today (Monday) announced her second Small Business of the Week for 2023: Red Oak Fabrication located in Montgomery County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Red Oak Fabrication is a family business that is being honored for its continued growth and success. Ted Fort started at Red Oak Fabrication as one of three employees. Through hard work and persistence he purchased the entire company in 1948. Today, the business is still owned and operated by the Fort family.

“I think we can all agree that small businesses are the backbone of America, and families are the heart. It gives me great pleasure to see Ted Fort’s hard work transcend generations to provide vital manufacturing services in my home county and across Iowa,” said Ranking Member Ernst.

Since its establishment over 100 years ago, the company has grown to four locations in Montgomery County. The locations offer powder coating, plate rolling, manual and robotic welding, and a Carhartt store to meet the demand of customers across the state. The Fort family legacy lives on through Ted’s children, grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren who have continued on his path of entrepreneurship and innovation.

(Griswold, Iowa) – UPDATE – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two women were injured during a single-vehicle accident Sunday night, south of Griswold. First responders from Griswold and Elliott were requested at the scene, where at around 8:50-p.m., a 2020 Nissan Altima driven by Hannah Kelly, of Red Oak, had gone into the ditch off 540th Street, near Wichita Road. The accident happened when Kelly swerved to miss a deer and she lost control of the car.

Kelly and another woman were transported to a local hospital by Griswold EMS for what was considered to be minor injuries.  The vehicle sustained approximately $3,000 worth of damage.

(Radio Iowa) – From driving tractors to school to educating elementary students on the importance of feeding the world, F-F-A Week is underway nationwide. There are 18-thousand-606 Iowans involved in this program — including Hunter Hayes of Webster City who likes the interaction. “Big opportunity to get involved with the community, and high school, get your name out there be able to help out with a lot of different organizations. F-F-A does help out with food drives and different stuff like that and it does actually help make a difference within the community,” Haye says. Haye says F-F-A has helped him broaden his abilities.

“You become a really close group of friends you spend a lot of time together you do some traveling you learn practical skills for the real world going out talking to people for some donations lining up different events you really learn a lot of skills that help you out moving forward with your life,” he says. Hayes says the group used to be called Future Farmers of America, but became F-F-A to make everyone feel welcome to the group.

“And that is to really broaden that spectrum. F-F-A doesn’t look to just say this is only for farmers and farmers’ children, we really want this to be a community organization and bring everyone in to be a part of it,” Hayes says. F-F-A is 95 years old. Find out more information or find a chapter in your area at: www.ffa.org.