(Radio Iowa) – A Missouri murder suspect was tracked to southern Iowa overnight, according to the Appanoose Sheriff’s Office. Appanoose County Sheriff Gary Anderson says his office was notified by the Kansas City Career Criminal Task Force that a Missouri man wanted in a recent homicide in Kansas City was tracked to Centerville. Authorities from Iowa and Missouri converged in a Walmart parking lot at 2:30 a.m.

Officials were unsuccessful in getting the suspect to surrender and while giving orders to him, a single gunshot was heard from the vehicle. The suspect was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The identity of the suspect has been withheld, pending family notification.

sioux City– Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 33-year-old Dacota Stabler, who was convicted of 2nd Degree Robbery in Woodbury County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required, Sunday.

Stabler is a 5’8″-tall, and weighs 206 pounds. He’s an American Indian or Alaska Native. Stabler was admitted to the work release facility on 02/22/2024.

Dacota Stabler

Persons with information on Stabler’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – Some of the fastest growing communities in Iowa are conducting a special census to capture population growth that wasn’t included in 2020 Census figures. Waukee city manager Brad Deets says the census four years ago found 24-thousand residents in the Des Moines suburb, but Waukee officials think the current population is closer to 30-thousand. “We say we grow by six new people a day and that’s been tracking fairly consistently over the last probably two to three years,” Deets says, “so roughly it’s about 2,000 people per year.”

Waukee is spending around 600-thousand dollars to hold the special census, but Deets expects it to more than pay for itself just in state funding for road maintenance. “When you’re talking perhaps looking at anywhere from 6000 to 7000 additional people that turns out to be about $1 million a year,” Deets says.

Waukee residents started getting cards in the mail last month about the count and the deadline for completing a Census form online is this Thursday, May 23rd. Census workers are also going door to door to to reach — and count — Waukee residents. Ankeny, Norwalk and Pleasant Hill are also conducting population counts. Bondurant intends to conduct a special census this fall. Johnston, Altoona and Grimes plan to do one next year.
(Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) -Farmers saw a lot more dry days to be in the fields last week. The U-S-D-A report says there were four days suitable for planting, more than double the previous week. Corn planting moved to 78 percent complete, an increase of 21 percent. Corn planting remains eight days behind last year and four days behind average.

Sixty-one percent of the bean crop is now in the ground, compared to 39 percent the week before. Soybean planting is one week behind last year and two days behind normal.

Topsoil moisture is now 93 percent adequate or surplus compared to 79 percent the prior week.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa judges soon will be able to appoint attorneys to represent victims of human trafficking diagnosed with a mental disability if they’re called to testify against their alleged abuser. The move is part of a law that will go into effect July 1st. It also sets a mandatory minimum sentence for human traffickers convicted of a class B felony, so they’d have to serve as least half of their prison sentence before being eligible for parole or a work release program. During House debate of the bill, Representative Mark Thompson of Belmond said if the human trafficking victim is a child, the sentence is far higher.

“If the victim is a minor, then it’s upwards to life,” Thompson said, “which conceivably should be the penalty any time a person is treated like a piece of livestock.”

Last year, lawmakers increased state penalties for human trafficking. Most cases of human trafficking are handed in federal courts, but an Iowa Department of Public Safety report shows there were six cases in Iowa courts last year involving human trafficking of minors and one case involving an adult who was subjected to forced labor.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Several community leaders and health personnel attending a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, for a public hearing on declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Essential Service, as described in the Code of Iowa. Brett Altmann, CEO of Cass Health, in Atlantic, said he was in favor of declaring EMS as essential.

Altman said Cass Health has been very blessed, and has had the best year in its history. Because of that, they intend to drop their levy commensurate for more than what is being subsidized for EMS.

Cass Health CEO Brett Altman addresses the Cass County Supervisors.

Cass Health Chief Medical Officer/Medical Director of all volunteer ambulances in the County, Dr. Elaine Berry, also voiced her support of EMS.

Supervisor Steve Green was emotional in describing how his family has had to use the local ambulance services over the years.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett also shared her personal experiences in needing a local ambulance service, and because of that, the need for EMS to be an essential service.

Brad Madsen, who ran an ambulance service in Cass County in the 1990’s, was also in support of making EMS and essential service.

Ethan, who works for Cass EMS explained the difference between BLS (Basic Life Support) and ALS (Advanced Life Support) paramedic level services. Following the public hearing, the Cass County Supervisors held the first reading of Resolution Declaring EMS to be an essential service. Board Chair Steve Baier read the resolution as presented. Here’s a portion of the Resolution calling for the matter to be placed on the November ballot for action by the voters.

The Board voted unanimously to pass the first reading. Supervisor Mark O’Brien was absent from the proceedings. Afterward Supervisor Steve Green reminded those in attendance at the meeting and online, that this is EMS appreciation week.

May 20, 2024 (Des Moines, Iowa) – Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced today (Tuesday) it has acquired Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company, based in Trenton, Missouri. Beginning today, all Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company employees will become employees of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company during the transition. Rob Feeney, CEO of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, said in a press release, “We are thrilled to welcome the employees, customers, and communities of Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company into the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company family. We have a long history of commitment to serving customers, community and associates, and we are looking forward to our future growth together.”

Both bottlers are in their fourth generation of family leadership and founded more than 100 years ago. Each grew from humble beginnings to the thriving, successful Coca-Cola bottlers they are today. Peter Trombley, owner and manager of Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company, said “With a shared philosophy of commitment to customers, employees and communities, as well as our similar histories, we are pleased to have found a partner in Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company to build upon our legacy in Northwest Missouri.”

Plans are underway to re-brand Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company to Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company over the weeks ahead.

Rob Feeney said “We are a growth company.  As we look to the future, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company will continue to focus on growth opportunities by reinvesting back in the business, employees and communities we serve, while maintaining our position as a private, family-owned, independent bottler and distributor for all Coca-Cola products. With the acquisition of Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Company, we are advancing our mission to create meaningful selling opportunities each day by being dedicated to exceeding our customers’ expectations.”

After the organizations integrate fully, the company will have a combined 875 employees and volume of nearly 18 million cases. Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company will now have ten territories serving customers in 5 states.

Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office this (Tuesday) morning, said there are several reports of trees and power lines down throughout the County and in many cities. There is also centralized flooding in many areas. This is sure to cause potentially hazardous situations. Give yourself extra travel time if you must travel and be safe!!

KJAN listener Joe Lybarger sent us this picture of tree and power lines down on W 10th between Palm and Hazel, in Atlantic.

Other storm reports include:

• Power lines down on the northeast side of Audubon at 1:39 a.m. today, along with several tree branches down in the city limits. A personal weather station recorded a 64 mph wind gust in Audubon around 1:38 a.m.; Rainfall was in excess of 3.5″, with some homes sustaining basement flooding.
• A funnel cloud was reported by the public southwest of Harlan near 900^th and Juniper Road at 12:52 a.m. There were reports of two inch hail north of Harlan and one inch hail northeast of Harlan Monday evening.
• One inch hail was reported by a trained spotter north of Minden at 12:50 a.m.
• 1.75 inch hail was reported north of Council Bluffs at 6:06 a.m.
• At 6:38 a.m., 160^th Street in the Springbrook State Park area in Guthrie County was closed due to water over the road. There were also washed out gravel roads and road closures due to water over the road.
• At 7:30 a.m. Responders were called to Lewis and the Lewis curve for trees and power lines down.
• At 7:45 a.m. 7th and Walnut in Atlantic Impassable due to heavy rain and water in the road
• At 7:59 a.m., 79 mph wind gust measured by personal weather station northwest of Fontanelle.
• At 8:30 a.m., 70 mph wind gust reported by Emergency Manager south of Stuart.
• At 8:35 a.m. it was reported that there was no power north of Exira, rural areas by Highway 44, on Guthrie REC

Other photos of water over the road in downtown Atlantic just before 8-a.m. today

5-20-2024 4:37pm

Patrick Riley Iiams, 30, 404 S Vine was arrested at 102 W Taylor. Iiams was charged on 2 Warrants. 1st is a Union County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault-Injury or Mental Illness 1st Offense Bond $2000 cash only. 2nd is Department of Corrections Warrant for Violation of Probation OWI 1st. Iiams is being held in the Union County Jail on no Bond.

5-20-2024 5:29pm

Brandon Hurshel Whitfield, 37, 813 N Sycamore was arrested at the Intersection of Spruce and Prairie. Whitfield was charged with Driving while Suspended. Whitfield cited and released.

5-20-2024 6:52pm

Megan Marie Brown, 43, Lorimor was arrested in the 300 Block North Street. Brown was charged on 2 Union County Warrants. 1st Warrant is for Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense and Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 1st Offense Bond $2000. 2nd Warrant Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Bond $300. Brown was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later released on $2300 cash or surety bond.

5-20-2024 8:15pm

Jeffrey Lynn Bandow, 67, 806 Quiet Harbor was arrested at his residence. Bandow was charged on 2 Union County FTA Warrants. 1st Warrant is FTA Operate without Interlock Bond $300 Cash only. 2nd Warrant is FTA Operating while Under the Influence 3rd Offense and Driving while License Denied or Revoked Bond $5000 cash only. Bandow was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on $5300 cash only bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Sioux Center-based Midwest Honor Flight is taking some 255 veterans to Washington D-C today (Tuesday) to visit armed forces memorials. They’re from northwest Iowa as well as South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Since its launch in 2017, Midwest Honor Flight has flown more than 16-hundred veterans to D-C, though board president and C-E-O Aaron Van Beek says a lot has changed since that first flight seven years ago.

“I could get a plane chartered for about $65,000, and now looking at our pricing going into the fall, it’s about double that, and so the price continues to change,” Van Beek says. “But this is a free opportunity, no expense to the veteran for the flight itself, all the meals, all the busing, all the transportation, all that kind of stuff is covered for them.” Van Beek says with six flights scheduled for this year alone, it’s a big bill, but they’ve got it covered.

“Thankfully, we’ve had great sponsors, great donors, great fundraisers,” he says, “and then of course our guardians and crew that go along and volunteer their time, in addition to making a donation to go on those flights.” The tour includes stops at Arlington National Cemetery to see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Iwo Jima and Air Force Memorials, the Navy Memorial, while the World War Two, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials complete the tour. Five of the six flights this year are sponsored, he says, and sponsors provide most of the cost for a flight and receive naming rights.

“We want our veterans to all have the same experience,” Van Beek says, “to be able to see the memorials, to be able to reflect and visit, and to be honored as the heroes that they are.” Van Beek says all veterans from World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam are welcome to apply, but World War Two veterans and veterans with terminal medical diagnoses receive top priority for any flight. He says the waiting list never seems to go below 750, but he doesn’t want that to discourage veterans from applying. Not only does it get a veteran on the list, but Van Beek says it helps with fundraising and obtaining flight sponsors.