AMES, Iowa – April 11, 2024 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is providing the public with a notice of renewal, for a corridor preservation zone for I-80 from west of U.S. 6/U.S. 169 (DeSoto) interchange to west of Grand Prairie Parkway in Dallas County. The notice includes a map of the corridor preservation zone and is available at www.iowadot.gov/pim. The width of the corridor preservation zone varies depending on the location within the corridor. The corridor preservation zone was first established in 2018. The Iowa DOT is renewing the corridor preservation zone on April 11, 2024. It is valid for three years.

Corridor preservation is a tool the Iowa DOT uses to preserve land for future needs as well as protect property owners. It does not restrict development in any way, but merely offers the DOT a chance to review the proposed development when notified by the city or county. For questions regarding corridor preservation zones, please visit: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/306.19.pdf

For information regarding this corridor preservation zone, contact Scott Suhr, District 4 transportation planner, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2210 E 7^th Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, by phone at 712-243-7627, or email: scott.suhr@iowadot.us. To submit a comment online, go to: https://bit.ly/idotcpz5866.

ANKENY, Iowa — A teacher from central accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student is pleading not guilty. KCCI reports 34-year-old Rachel Whiteside, who was also a coach for the Ankeny Community School District, was arrested in February for sex abuse, lascivious conduct, and sexual exploitation by a school employee. Court documents show she pleaded not guilty to those charges Wednesday (April 10^th). Whiteside is no longer listed on the school district’s website.

According to police, the investigation started when the victim reported their relationship to the district. That victim told investigators Whiteside had kissed them when they were 14 years old and initiated sexual intercourse with them. Court filings allege this happened at Northview Middle School after school hours starting in 2015.

Whiteside is expected back in court for a hearing early next month. Her trial is set for the start of June.

(Audubon County, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol today (Thursday), released information about a fatal crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon, in Audubon County. The Patrol reports the crash happened at around 2:15-p.m. at 220th Street and Highway 71, near Hamlin. Authorities say a 1998 Buick Century driven by 73-year-old Sheryl Zinke, of Audubon, was traveling west on 220th. A semi driven by 42-year-old Ross Miller, of Carroll, was traveling north on Highway 71.

When Zinke failed to stop at the intersection, her car was struck by the semi. Sheryl Zinke died at the scene. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office handled the accident scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The fire that destroyed a decades-old wooden grain elevator in north-central Iowa last weekend is still smoldering, and a huge pile of soybeans remains to be cleaned up. Nick Willwerth is a spokesman for the United Co-op in Stonega, in northern Hamilton County. “We have cleanup crews on site working on spreading out that pile and suppressing the fires,” Willwerth says, “and then once the fire is suppressed, we’ll be in the process of screening those soybeans to haul to a location to sort out at that point what’s salvageable, what’s not salvageable and go from there.”

Fire destroyed a grain facility near Stonega Sunday. (KQWC photo)

The elevator facility was built in 1954. Willwerth says the Blairsburg Fire Department is working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the fire’s cause. A dozen fire departments from four counties responded to the Sunday blaze. No one was hurt.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two recent arrests. Wednesday evening, 58-year-old Scott Bradley Spurrier, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While License Suspended. Spurrier was cited and released on a Promise to Appear. And, Tuesday evening, Creston Police arrested 45-year-old Brady Gale Richert, of Creston, for Public Intoxication. Richert was seen by Judge and then released on his own recognizance.

RALSTON, Neb. [KETV] — A man from Iowa was arrested by Ralston, Nebraska Police, last week, for allegedly impersonating a Washington County, NE, sheriff’s deputy. KETV reports on April 3rd, Ralston police officers arrested 60-year-old Anthony Robison, of Council Bluffs, at the Wildewood Commons apartments. Police say Robison was wearing a law enforcement uniform suggesting that he was a deputy sheriff with Washington County, including uniform shoulder patches, name plate and a badge, at the time of his arrest. Investigators confirmed through the Washington County Sheriff’s Office that Robison is not a sworn deputy with the department.

According to court documents, Robison was terminated from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the 1990s due to a felony conviction. Robison also had other law enforcement gear and attire, as well as “numerous fake ID’s and name plates from local and federal agencies,”according to Ralston Police.

Robison was taken into custody for possession of a gun by a prohibited person, identity theft, impersonation of a police officer and false reporting. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 13. His bond was set at $21,000.

DES MOINES – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report, the City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2023 Tree City USA Award at the 33rd Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources April 4th at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. 

State Forester Jeff Goerndt says “The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees. Your community has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

In the photo (from left to right): State Forester Jeff Goerndt, Atlantic Trees Forever representative Dolly Bergmann; and Kayla Lyon, Director of the Department of Natural Resources.

Atlantic was one of 74 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan. 

CARTER LAKE, Iowa [KETV, Omaha] – The City of Carter Lake is hiring an investigator to look into complaints surrounding city council member Jackie Wahl, who faces a fine, suspension, or removal. According to KETV, four city employees accuse Wahl of creating a hostile work environment. Grievances allege Wahl offered a city employee’s hours to another worker, shared details about pay and workplace concerns, offered an occupied job, and contacted police in retaliation against an outspoken worker.

The council member faced accusers at the packed public meeting. The city employees who filed the complaints read prepared statements to council members and the mayor. Carter Lake city policy says council members should never express concern about the performance of a city employee in public, to the employee director, or to the employee’s supervisor. Mayor Ron Cumberledge said two other city employees quit their jobs due to the council member. Wahl was the subject of a 2022 complaint, according to the mayor, who says it resulted in an improvement plan and verbal reprimand.

Wahl, a six-year member of the council, said she is fixed on challenging the allegations. The city says it’s training employees to prevent a similar situation in the future.

PERRY, Iowa [KCCI] — The Perry High School has a new principal. The Perry News reports that interim Principal Brad Snowgren will succeed Dan Marburger. Marburger died days after the Jan. 4 school shooting. The online newspaper reports that the Perry School Board unanimously approved Snowgren’s hiring.