(Radio Iowa) — Even with snow flying and very chilly temperatures in the 20s, many Iowa kids won’t let wintry weather get in the way of trick-or-treating tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow night, depending on the community. Besides bundling up and staying visible, Poison Control Center educator Lauren Prnjat offers a few suggestions to parents for keeping kids safe.  “A big thing for this year would be medicines that look like candy,” Prnjat says. “A lot of pills can be really colorful or just attractive to young children, so making sure you keep all medications up high and away is the biggest prevention tip that we would share.”

Halloween can be a scary time for kids if they wind up with something dangerous in their trick-or-treat bags.  “We do encourage parents still to check candy to make sure everything’s in their original unopened wrapper,” she says, “and also just to check for choking hazards as well.” In addition, she suggests checking the Halloween bags for things like laundry detergent pods and liquid nicotine. The Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center is open round-the-clock at 800-222-1222.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa high school students who took the A-C-T have tied for the best average score in the country with students from South Dakota. The ranking is among states with more than half of students in the Class of 2019 who took the A-C-T. Two-thirds of the Iowa students who graduated from high school last spring took the A-C-T. Their average composite score was 21-point-six out of a possible 36. That’s slightly about the national average — and slightly below the average score among Iowa students in the Class of 2018 who took the A-C-T.

A-C-T is based in Iowa City. The organization reports a growing number of high school graduates in the United States are inadequately prepared for success in college. The national average scores in the math and English sections of the A-C-T were the lowest they’ve been in 15 years.

Atlantic Fire, Law Enforcement & Medivac Ambulance all responded just before 10-a.m. today (Wednesday), to a reported garage fire in the alley at 706 Oak Street. Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood said as it turns out, the garage itself was not on fire. Instead, it was a vehicle in the garage.  Lt. Wood said when they arrived on the scene, the resident had already put the flames out, but fire fighters used foam to make sure there were no hot spots remaining.

Ric Hanson/photo

Wood said the resident was working on the vehicle and thinks there was a fuel leak. When the man started the vehicle, the fuel ignited. No injuries were reported. Atlantic Police and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) — It is illegal for a motorist to pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and lights flashing, but the act continues to be a problem for many Iowa schools. Le Mars Community School District Superintendent Steve Webner says it’s one of his worst worries.  “Out of all the safety concerns we have in this district, this is the most urgent and scary concern that we have,” Webner says. “It happens every single day on a number of buses in the morning and afternoon. The risk of children getting hurt or killed is very high every day with this.”

During a school board meeting this week, Webner detailed the numbers of such violations — and board members are heard gasping. “Last year, the total for the year ’18-’19, we had 120 violators who drove past a school bus when the stop arm was out and the lights were flashing,” he says. “So far this year, as of last week, we’ve had 31.” In recent years, Webner says Iowa legislators increased the penalties for the crime with Kayden’s Law, named for a youngster who was killed by a motorist passing a stopped school bus in Northwood.

“The law states that violators will receive a fine of $250 to $675 and/or 30 days in jail,” he says. “Also, you lose your license for 30 days and it does go on your insurance.”  Webner says some buses are equipped with cameras to capture images of violators. He says it’s more of a problem in town than in the rural areas. The school intends to start a campaign drawing attention to the problem beginning with a letter to parents.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two students were injured when their school bus collided with another vehicle in northwest Iowa. The collision occurred just before 4 p.m. Monday, about 3 miles west of Orange City. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says the southbound bus carrying 11 students from Orange City Unity Christian High School halted at a stop sign and drove into the intersection with Iowa Highway 10. It then collided with another vehicle driven by 67-year-old Derek Thompson, of Boone.

The sheriff’s office says the two students and Thompson were taken to an Orange City hospital for treatment. The bus driver, 64-year-old Nyla Harskamp, of Orange City, was cited for failing to yield.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a man wanted on warrants for Burglary in the 3rd Degree-vehicle related/1st, 2nd and Subsequent offenses, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday afternoon. 53-year old Christopher Allen Vanderloo was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections Staff.

A Nebraska man was transported from a jail in Nebraska, Tuesday afternoon. 23-year old Benjamin Daniel Reynolds, of Omaha, was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Escape from Custody, and Violation of Probation. And, 23-year old Breanna Nicole Evans, of Omaha, was transported from a jail in Nebraska to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where she was wanted on a warrant for Child Endangerment/Abandonment resulting in bodily injury.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Creston Police Department reports 20-year old Kaleb Reiter, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a Crawford County Warrant for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. Reiter was subsequently transferred to the custody of Crawford County. And, Tuesday night, 39-year old Jennifer Beard, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Beard was also cited for 2nd offense Trespass. She was being held in the Clarke County Jail on a $300 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A woman is accused of stealing more than $20,000 while working at a Nordstrom center in Cedar Rapids at which online orders were fulfilled. Linn County court records say 48-year-old Rhonda Kies is charged with theft. Kies’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

Authorities say Kies was seen in security video stealing a bracelet. A criminal complaint says Kies later told investigators she’d stolen items on more than one occasion over the past couple of years. The Gazette reports that Kies is the third Nordstrom employee in the past 11 months to be arrested on accusations of stealing.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS