Month: October 2023

October 15^th-21^st is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Bureau wants to remind young drivers to be safe behind the wheel. While it is important that young drivers practice safe driving, parents need to ensure that their children know the rules of the road.

These rules address the greatest dangers for teen driving and should be reiterated consistently. Your child should never be on their cellphone while driving, as this is a form of distraction that weans their focus away from the road. Speeding is the cause of nearly 1/3^rd of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents, according to the NHTSA. Remind your teenagers that it is better to arrive a few minutes late, than to not arrive at all.

Many teenagers are involved in early morning band practices and late-night football games. Drowsy driving is a danger that teenagers need to be aware of and take proper precautions to ensure they come home safely. It shouldn’t have to be said, but driving while under the influence is a resounding no for drivers of any age. Everybody makes mistakes, so if your teenager decides to have a drink, make sure they know who they can call for a ride home.

Officers with any agency will administer a ticket for driving without a seatbelt, and that is safety tip number five. While speaking with your teens this week, remind them of the importance of buckling up. Perhaps the least known bit of advice, but just as important, the number of passengers in a vehicle can severely impact and increase the potential risk of an accident. Other teenagers can be a distraction for young people behind the wheel, so consider setting a passenger limit for when your teen drives.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States. In 2021, 2,608 people were killed in crashes involving a teen behind the when, of which 861 deaths were the driver.

Parents and guardians can be the biggest influence on our teens’ choices when they are behind the wheel. Make sure that you are practicing what you preach by following proper driving rules. Most teenagers will not do what you say, but what you do.

With the arrival of cooler weather, Alliant Energy encourages its customers to be mindful of natural gas safety principles.

Richard Sublett, director of operational compliance and work order management for Alliant Energy commented, “As the temperatures drop and customers begin to turn on their furnaces, there are some precautions they can take to keep their families and communities safe.”

Alliant Energy has advice for those of you who choose to listen. Make sure to know the signs of a gas leak and what to do. Understand the risk of carbon monoxide and how to detect it. Typically, a gas leak has an odor like rotten eggs, which is an odorant added from utilities due to natural gas having no scent. You might hear a hiss, roar, or whistle, near a gas appliance, meter, or pipeline. Blowing dirt, bubbling water, or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area can also be telltale signs.

While we are all hoping that snow doesn’t come soon, it is almost a guarantee that it will eventually fall in Iowa. Once it does, do not let snow or ice block gas vents, as that can cause a variety of problems in your home. As always, dig safely when outside.

Natural gas detectors help identify the threat and are especially important for those with a known loss of smell. Additionally, certain soil conditions can strip the rotten egg odorant out of natural gas; cooking aromas and other strong smells can mask the odorant; and prolonged exposure can make the odorant undetectable. If your natural gas detector goes off or you experience any of the signs listed above, move quickly to a safe location and call Alliant Energy at 1-800-255-4268.

Carbon monoxide can also be a danger when a furnace or gas appliance malfunctions. Carbon monoxide detectors help identify this threat. Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless gas that causes dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, confusion, nausea and fainting. If you come across signs of a gas leak or experience these symptoms, leave the premises immediately. From a safe location, call 911.

Once winter arrives, snow and ice can damage gas meters and pipes. Use a broom to keep gas service equipment clear. You must clear vents for gas appliances following a major snow or ice storm to enable proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.

For more information about gas safety, please visit alliantenergy.com/gas.

There is a meeting for the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant’s Restoration Advisory Board tomorrow. The board will discuss the environmental cleanup process of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. This is an open meeting so anyone can attend.

This meeting will be held at the West Burlington City Hall Counsel Chambers Room, located at 122 Broadway St, West Burlington, at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 17^th.

On Friday, October 13th, the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office took several reports of suspicious activity and motor vehicle burglaries in the residential area around Spirit Hollow Golf Course and the surrounding area.

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone in that area please review their home surveillance cameras and report any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area during the overnight hours.

There was a threat to the Iowa State Capitol building on Saturday, October 14^th. The Iowa State Patrol learned of this after the United States Capitol Police alerted agencies around 12:45pm that day.

This was a threat made through social media. The Department of Public Safety investigated and assessed the threat, they soon determined it to not be credible.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol swept the building and located nothing of concern, after agreeing to be cautious. The building was cleared at 1:30pm, and normal activities continued at the Capitol soon after.