There are now seven ways to register to vote in Iowa. “It’s the new year. You want to start fresh and you want to extend to people one more opportunity.” That’s Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. “Electronic registration” went live on January 1st and, so far, about 200 people have used this new online method. It’s located on the Iowa D-O-T’s website and the Iowa Secretary of State’s website has a link to it as well.

“There’ll be an area right on there for voter registration. You click on it and it’ll basically walk you through three or four basic steps to verify you are who you say you are and to let you indicate which political party you want to choose and we’ll get you registered and then you’ll get an email receipt showing that you’re registered,” Pate says. “…Within seven days your local county auditor will mail you your official voter registration card.”

Some of the people who’re planning to participate in the February 1st Iowa Caucuses may choose this quick, online tool to either register to vote for the first time — or to update other information. “It’s designed so that you can keep your drivers license information current as well as voter registration information current,” Pate says. “If you got married and want to change your name or if you moved…and if you want to change your political party, these are all reasons why you might want to go online and do it.”

For years, Iowans have been able to register to vote when they renew their drivers license and the D-O-T has been cross-checking government lists to ensure the person is a legal voter. Mark Lowe of the Iowa D-O-T says after his agency launched its online drivers license renewal process, it developed this new online voter registration system. “I suspect it’s something that other states will be interested in,” Lowe says. It appears no other state has this kind of 24/7 website that immediately confirms a voter has successfully completed the registration process.

Iowans can now register to vote online, if they have a driver’s license or a state-issued I-D. Iowans can still register to vote at a government office or through the mail. Iowa law also allows people to register on Election Day or at their precinct on Caucus Night.

(Radio Iowa)

State officials have updated the rules so Iowa wineries, breweries and distilleries know just how much they can legally give customers as samples in their tasting rooms. Robert Bailey is a spokesman for the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. “It’s all based on alcohol content or potency,” Bailey says. Licensed wineries, distilleries and breweries in Iowa have been allowed to offer samples of their wares to customers, but

Bailey says the old rules that were written in the 1990s were too vague and didn’t list the size of the sample that was allowed. “What we wanted to do was the real amounts that you can have for a tasting of various forms of alcohol such as liquor or beer or wine,” Bailey says. The old rules were two sentences long. The new rules not only spell out how much alcohol a customer can be served as a sample, the rules specify where tastings may be conducted.

The practice of “trade spending” is covered in these new rules. “It’s allowed for an industry representative — a broker or a distributor — to go into a retail establishment — a restaurant or a bar — and buy a round for everyone in the place,” Bailey says. The rules call for those industry reps to buy the product from the bar or restaurant they’re in, plus there’s a one-round limit. These new rules for marketing alcoholic products in Iowa went into effect December 30th.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Police say four people were arrested over the past few days. On Dec. 28th, 27-year old Justin Butcher, of Belton, MO., was arrested on a Shelby County warrant for Driving While Revoked. On Dec. 31st, 35-year old Jason Trotter, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. And, on Jan. 1st, 30-year old Kevin Smith, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault.That same day, 20-year old Brandon Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Comply with Treatment.

Each of those subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

(Noon News)

One person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic following a collision Sunday evening at 7th and Walnut Streets. The Atlantic Police Department reports vehicles driven by April Jacobsen, of Atlantic, and Elizabeth Williams, of Marion, were traveling west on 7th St. at around 5-p.m., and had stopped at the stop lights.

When the light turned green, Williams proceeded forward, but Jacobsen’s vehicle had not yet begun to move. Williams’ vehicle hit the rear of the Jacobsen vehicle, causing a total of $4,500 damage. Jacobsen was transported to CCMH by Medivac Ambulance, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Williams was cited by police for Following too Close.

(Noon News)

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in an organizational meeting this (Monday) morning, at the Shelby County Court House. During their session, the Board passed on the second reading, an amended Snow Removal ordinance. The ordinance says it is unlawful for any individual to deposit snow or ice onto a public roadway in quantities adequate to hinder utilization of the roadway by the traveling public.

The penalty for violating the provisions of pushing snow into the roadway will be:

• 1st offense – An individual pushing snow into the roadway will be contacted and given a copy of the winter road maintenance policy and a verbal warning. The warning will be documented.
• 2nd offense –$50 fine
• 3rd offense – $100 fine.

After the Christmas Eve snow storm, officials observed that over 80 instances where snow had been pushed across the roadways in amounts that were considered hazardous to motorists. With the passage of the ordinance, that type of activity will no longer be tolerated.

County leaders say with another rain/snow event forecast for the latter half of this week, residents clearing their driveway or sidewalks should follow the ordinance, and clear any snow that you may have thrown onto the roadway. An amendment to the ordinance, including cost of additional snow removal by the county, may also be in the works.

(KNOD/Harlan)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following an accident at around 11:10-a.m. on Dec. 31st. Authorities say the collision happened at the intersection of 710th Street and Boston Road, when a 2009 vehicle owned and driven by 47-year old Nyle Lewayen Lund, of Anita, was hit by a 2016 Honda, owned and driven by 73-year old Martin Liepa, of Des Moines.

The crash occurred as Lund was westbound on Boston Road, and Liepa was traveling south on 710th Street.  Following the collision, Lund’s vehicle entered the southwest ditch, rolling onto its roof. Damage from the crash amounted to $20,000. Deputies cited Liepa for Failure to Yield Right of Way.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two alcohol-related arrests on New Year’s Day. 19-year old Brody Lee Peterson, of Atlantic,  was arrested Jan. 1st on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Peterson was also cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

And, 24-year old Corey Merritt Spry, of Anita, was arrested Jan. 1st on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Spry was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

An employee-owned company in Cedar Rapids is expanding to the Chicago and Omaha markets. Van Meter, Incorporated distributes 800 different brands of electrical and mechanical products to contractors as well as industrial and commercial clients. It operates out of 14 locations in Iowa and has just completed its purchase of Bright Electrical Supply in Chicago.

Bright is a leading lighting distributor in the Chicago area. Its offices in Chicago will keep the Bright Electric name. Van Meter executives say they plan to open a branch location in Omaha by the end of March to serve customers in Nebraska.

Van Meter has operations in Burlington, Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keokuk, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Urbandale and Waterloo. Van Meter’s product line includes lighting as well as data communications and power transmission equipment. Once the Omaha branch is opened, Van Meter will be operating out of 16 locations in three states.

(Radio Iowa)

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports a Greenfield man was arrested last week on an assault charge. 25-year old Cody Neil Daugherty was taken into custody Dec. 29th after allegedly punching Raymond Young, Jr., in the face, causing multiple fractures of Young’s upper jaw and eye socket. Daugherty was later released on bond.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 24-year old Robert Dean Garrett, of Greenfield, was arrested Saturday morning, in order to serve a court ordered sentence. Garrett was released this (Monday) morning, after serving the required time.

25-year old Kyle Christian Jorgensen, of Fontanelle, was arrested Jan. 1st on Highway 25 for OWI/1st offense following a motor vehicle accident. Jorgensen was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. He was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

And, 20-year old Dakota Dean Rosch, of Creston, was arrested Friday morning by an Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy, following a traffic stop on Highway 25. Rosch was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While license revoked for a previous OWI test failure. He was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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