Sheriff?s office collects 47 pounds of drugs; more

Sheriff?s office collects 47 pounds of drugs

Forty-seven pounds of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs were collected Saturday by the Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office.

?I was a little shocked to get that,? said Sheriff Jerry Droz this morning.

He said several people who took advantage of the free, anonymous, no-questions-asked service offered thanks because they hadn?t known how to properly dispose of the prescription drugs.

Droz said three boxes of drugs were collected and then shipped out this morning to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

?We wanted to thank everyone who participated and supported this,? said Droz. ?We?ll be doing it again.?

­? Vicki Tillis, Ledger news editor

Iowa 92 re-opens west of Sigourney

AMES ? Iowa 92 is now open to traffic just west of Sigourney in Keokuk County, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation?s District 5 Office in Fairfield.

Iowa 92 was closed Tuesday as a precautionary measure pending bridge deck inspection and repair.

For traveler information, visit www.511ia.org, call 511 in Iowa or 800-288-1047 outside of Iowa or follow the D.O.T. on Twitter: @statewidelA511 for all alerts.

Spring brings increased farm equipment on roadways

AMES ? Iowa?s warm winter and early spring have farmers ready to get into the fields for spring planting, meaning Iowa motorists are sharing the road with farm vehicles.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is urging motorists and farm vehicle operators to exercise caution during the movement of slow-moving equipment on Iowa?s roadways.

Data for 2011 shows a total of 198 crashes involved farm equipment. Those crashes resulted in seven fatalities, 15 major injuries, 46 minor injuries and 55 other possible injuries. Of the 198 crashes, 119 resulted only in property damage.

The D.O.T.?s tips for motorists include:

? Be alert and always watch for slow-moving vehicles, especially during planting and harvest seasons.

? Be patient and do not assume the equipment operator can move aside to let vehicles pass. The shoulder may not be able to support a heavy farm vehicle.

? Slow down as soon the triangular-shaped, red and fluorescent orange slow-moving vehicle emblem is spotted.

Tips for farm vehicle operators

? Make intentions known when turning by using signal lights or the appropriate hand signal in advance of the turn.

? Drive slow-moving vehicles in the right-hand lane as close to the edge of the roadway as safely possible. Traveling partially on the shoulder may cause motorists to risk passing in a dangerous situation.

? Avoid encouraging or signaling motorists to pass. Pull over where it is safe, and let the traffic go by.

? Do not get trapped on the tracks; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if it is possible to completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train extends 3 feet beyond the tracks on both sides.