STORM LAKE, Iowa (KCAU) — Every year, just before winter, Iowa DOT snowplow drivers are put to the test in a simulation to freshen up their skills.

The Iowa DOT contracts with L3Harris Technologies, a company that operates a variety of simulations, to get drivers behind the wheel of a snowplow without being on the road.

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“The seat that the operator sits in is very realistic in the fact that if you are drifting over to the edge of the road and hitting rumble strips, your seat is going to shake,” Craig Bargfrede with the Iowa DOT said. “The controls in the simulator are very, very similar to what you will actually see in the cab of one of our trucks.”

Over the course of two hours, drivers are put through a variety of simulations pf scenarios they could encounter this winter.

“Large areas where high volume traffic, where you have cars all around the truck to rural roads that, you know, you only have two lane type roads… they’ll throw in fatigue scenarios,” Bargfrede said.

Once the person finishes their simulation, the instructor informs them how they did and what they need to improve on.

“Every operator that comes through there is given a score, obviously, but those that may end up on the lower end of the spectrum are just operators that when we provide this feedback to the garage supervisors that maybe trigger some remedial training and the actual truck itself and go through some additional training,” Bargfrede said.

DOT officials say this training has worked wonders over the years, ensuring their drivers are prepared for what’s to come.

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“The gist of this is to get our folks back into the winter mindset,” Bargfrede said. “We do some refreshers on winter driving skills all in a very confined, controlled environment, where, you know, mistakes can be made and learned from and it’s better to do it in that simulator than out on the actual roadway.”

Bargfrede also wanted to remind people to give plows space once snow arrives to help prevent any accidents.

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During the second half of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Week 4 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, star running back Kaleb Johnson ran for one of his three touchdowns.

It was just another day at the office for Johnson, who has already racked up nine scores on the season, but on that particularly play, something very interesting happened.

Cade McNamara served as a lead blocker.

It was a rather shocking display for a quarterback, and after the game, McNamara was basking in the glory of actually delivering a block…kind of.

“I touched someone,” a smiling McNamara said, via Iowa sports anchor Owen Siebring. “I did lay a block. … He was already in the end zone, but I did contribute on that play.”

It was certainly a gutsy effort from McNamara, a you rarely see a quarterback willing to risk injury by taking on defenders.

It was made even more gutsy (and humorous) thanks to the fact that Johnson clearly didn’t need him.

In terms of throwing the football, McNamara struggled against Minnesota, going 11-for-19 with 62 yards. It was just the latest rough effort for the Michigan Wolverines transfer, who has thrown for 588 yards, three touchdowns and a couple of interceptions while completing 62.7 perent of his passes thus far in 2024.

McNamara transferred to Iowa in December 2022 and was expected to be the answer under center for the Hawkeyes, but that has not been the case.

He labored during his Iowa debut last season and ended up tearing his ACL after five games. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone much better for McNamara this year.

On the bright side, the Hawkeyes are 3-1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – A new special investigation from State Auditor Rob Sand’s office raises questions about how the southwest Iowa city of Hamburg spent disaster relief funds. Sand says he’s found conflicts of interest with a grant program designed to help a the town recover after flooding five years ago.

Sand says family members of a city council member and a city employee unfairly benefitted.

The city provided funding to build two new homes. One of them was owned by City Council member Kent Benefiel, who transferred ownership to a relative. The second home was privately owned and the owner was not related to anyone involved in city government, but Sand’s audit says city officials were unable to provide any reason as to why the funds were used on lots that weren’t owned by the city. Sand’s report says they couldn’t find any records that show either of the two owners had repaid anything on the loans.

“This is pretty egregious. We’re talking about a town here where we had tens of thousands of dollars given out for flood recovery work for these houses and there’s really no excuse for it to have been going to people connected to city government,” Sand said during a press conference Wednesday. “It’s common in our small towns for many people to wear different hats, but these examples of conflicts of interest are pretty egregious.”

Benefiel no longer sits on the City Council.

One of the programs to help rebuild was called the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation Loan Program. It provided financial assistance for the demolition or remediation to buildings which are hazardous to public health and health. Four of the six property owners who received NPAB funds were related to Hamburg’s Public Works Director, Alan Dovel. Of the $128,000 paid out, $95,000, or 75%, of funds were paid to siblings and a parent of Dovel.

Dovel no longer works for the city.

Additionally, a different property was acquired under the NPAB program who died during their term. Sand found no relationship in any capacity with the sixth property owner.

Furthermore, the city made a duplicate payment of $50,000 that wasn’t permitted or explained.

Now that Sand’s special investigation is finished, it’s at the hands of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to decide what to do next.

IEDA says their legal team will consult with the Fremont County Attorney’s Office on next steps.

HSEMD says they reviewed Sand’s report and notes the auditor had no findings specific to their agency.

Sand wouldn’t comment on any potential criminal cases but says his report has been given to the Attorney General’s Office, Freemont County Sheriff and County Attorney, as well as the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

READ THE REPORT:

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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