Author: Yorke Prough

There was a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 34 and 260^th Street that resulted in both vehicles being totaled. At approximately 7:49am on Wednesday, November 1^st, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash.

An investigation revealed that Robert Smith, 46, of Mt. Pleasant, was attempting to turn onto 260^th Street by crossing the westbound lanes, when he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by Collin Wilson, 24, of Danville.

No injuries were reported. Robert Smith was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Entering Through Highway, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

We are at the time of year when deer seem to randomly appear in the middle of the road. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a car vs. deer accident on Highway 218 on November 1^st at 7:08am.

The collision, which occurred near Kentucky Avenue, resulted in damage estimated at $10,000. An investigation showed that Barbara Tallman of Fort Madison, was traveling northbound on Highway 218 when she struck a deer in her 2023 Equinox.

No injuries were reported as a result of this accident.

The City of Fort Madison Fire Department will allow the controlled burning of leaves only from November 4, 2023 to December 3, 2023 without application for a temporary burning permit, subject to the following restrictions per International Fire Code.

Starting November 4^th, the City of Fort Madison Fire Department will allow the controlled burning of leaves until December 3^rd, 2023, without application for a temporary burning permit, subject to the following restrictions per International Fire Code.

There are rules that all must adhere to. The open burning of leaves shall only be allowed one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset. Open burning is not permitted on any public street, alley, or sidewalk. The location must be more than 50 feet away from any structure, or more that 15 feet from any structure if an approved waste burner is used.

A competent person must constantly attend to all fires until it is completely extinguished, and there must be a working hose or fire extinguisher readily available. Any fire causing a nuisance or discomfort shall be extinguished immediately, and the fire chief may prohibit any or all open burnings in the event they deem it dangerous.

The Keokuk Community School District is attempting to increase communication with the public by hosting a monthly town hall meeting. These are virtual and will allow the community to listen to from the comfort of their own home. The first of these will be Monday, November 6^th, at 5:30pm.

This first meeting has a variety of topics planned for discussion, as updates for planned improvements to the track and field at KHS will be the focus of the November Town Hall Meeting.

Aaron Hinton, director of maintenance, Heidi Harness, KCSD Business Manager, Zach Summers, Activities Director, and Dr. Kathy Dinger, Superintendent of Schools will be on hand to share information and respond to questions.

To join the November Town Hall Meeting, go to keokukschools.org under District News.

It is no surprise that highways can be very dangerous. Traffic fatalities in Iowa are more than 13 percent higher this year than the average number of fatalities over the last five years.

One of the keys to reducing fatalities and major crashes is to bring awareness to the problem. While many are aware of the dangerous stretches of roads, the number of crashes is increasing at an alarming rate. The Iowa departments of transportation and public safety are teaming up with local law enforcement partners to create safety corridors across the state.

Six sections of roadways in Iowa have been identified to be in the top 1% for all crashes and severe crashes in Iowa between 2016-2020. Two out of six are roads right here in Southeast Iowa.

U.S. 218 from Mt. Pleasant to County road J-20 (near Salem) in Henry County as well as Iowa 2 from Donnellson to U.S. 61 in Lee County.

These roads also had a higher number of single-vehicle, run-off-the-road crashes and rear-end crashes at intersections with speeding and distraction as major causes.

Iowans may notice the safety corridor marked with signs. Pavement markings in those areas have been widened to help drivers more easily see them in low-light and inclement weather. In addition, the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement will have an increased focus on enforcing the area. Education and communication efforts throughout the year will help remind drivers that practicing good driving behaviors can make the area safer.

“We have seen speeds and distraction behind the wheel rise and only 40 percent of those who die on Iowa’s roads are wearing a seatbelt. Unfortunately, our state’s climbing fatality rates are showing the consequences of our individual decisions behind the wheel. We all have someone who is expecting us to return from each trip safely. Creating safety corridors is just another way the DOT can help remind drivers of the role they play in making sure everyone returns home safely,” explained Scott Marler, Iowa Department of Transportation director.

“The Iowa State Patrol is committed to reducing traffic collisions, injuries, and preventable deaths on Iowa roadways. We are confident that we can accomplish these goals with collaboration, strong partnerships, and a concerted effort on traffic safety.  By working together, we can collectively and proactively address safety concerns across the state of Iowa,” remarked Colonel Nathan Fulk, Iowa State Patrol.