Perry Man Injured After High Speed Chase with Officers in Shelby County
A Perry man led officers on a chase in Shelby County Monday.
Harlan police attempted to stop a 2008 Honda CR-V that was going 51 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone around 10:15pm Monday.
The 43 year-old driver, identified as Kenneth Duane Kokemiller refused to pull over and instead proceeded southbound on Highway 59, leading police on a chase with speeds as high as 110 miles per hour.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Kokemiller exited the road from Highway 59 and was traveling southeast across a cornfield. As he crossed 450th Street he lost control and rolled the vehicle several times.
He was taken to the hospital via Harlan Medivac to be treated for injuries before being released and booked into the Shelby County Jail. Police determined the vehicle had been stolen from Story County.
Kokemiller faces charges of eluding, possession of stolen property and driving while suspended along with citations for speeding, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to maintain control of a vehicle, criminal trespass and reckless driving.
Heavy Snowfall Covers the Raccoon River Valley
We’re just one week into the month of January and Perry has already surpassed the normal monthly snowfall total.
According to the National Weather Service, Perry received five inches of snow this week, compared to the normal monthly total of 4.6 inches. Jefferson received 4.3 inches, where they usually get just over six and a half inches. Guthrie Center registered just three and a half inches this week, compared to their normal monthly total of just over five and a half inches.
In terms of total precipitation, Perry has received 0.36 inches so far this month. Jefferson has had 0.28 inches and Guthrie Center is at 0.22. January’s normal precipitation totals for the month range between 0.82 and 0.92 inch.
Perry Mayor Says 2014 was a Good Year for the City
Now that 2014 is behind us, many are reflecting on the past year and looking forward to making 2015 even better.
Perry Mayor Jay Pattee says the City has a lot to be proud of.
“2014 was a great year for the City. We left the recession behind, we got rid of all of the worry over the cutbacks that were happening at the state level – not that those aren’t still upon us, it’s just that I think we did a good job of planning ahead, anticipating them and it made 2014 an easier year as the result of our previous efforts” says Pattee.
Moving forward, Mayor Pattee says he expects some “really great things” to happen this year including the potential for the largest solar array in the state to be built in Perry, improvements to Pattee Park with the new soccer complex and continued progress in promoting the city.
Adel Unveils New Branding
The City of Adel is looking to re-brand themselves in 2015, as they recently debuted a new logo, tagline and narrative.
A Branding Committee working with Webspec Design to develop the new brand and tell the story of who they are, what they stand for and where the intend to go in the future.
The new tagline is “Adel Thrive With Us”. It was chosen “because it represents a feeling of inclusiveness, growth and excitement”, which is what the committee says encompasses how they feel as a community about Adel. The logo includes some of the city’s historic brick streets, while pointing upward and forward toward future goals and growth.
The purpose of the new brand is to celebrate and highlight residents, promote business and welcome visitors. The committee says they want all audiences to know that Adel is not just a place to live, work or visit, it’s a place you can thrive.
The Flu is Already Widespread in Iowa, Tips to Prevent the Illness
Flu season is here and widespread according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
As of late December, almost four percent of students in the state have already missed school due to influenza. The Perry School District is one of many sharing some tips with parents on how to prevent illness before it starts.
The seasonal influenza vaccine is said to be the single best way to protect against the flu for anyone over the age of six months.
Other tips include staying home when you’re sick so you don’t pass it on to others, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and disinfect surfaces or objects.
Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized because of the flu and several Iowa youngsters have died already this season due to complications from the illness.