KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Ouray Colorado) – A man with a long singing career who was born in Audubon, Iowa and later included some towns from around the area into his songs, died Friday in Colorado, at the age of 93. William Dale Fries, Jr., created the stage name of “C.W. McCall,” and came up with beloved trucker songs like “Convoy” and “Wolf Creek Pass.” His death was confirmed by his son Bill Fries III.
According to various reports, he created the character of “C.W. McCall” for an advertising campaign for Old Home Bread while he was working at an advertising agency. His biggest hit was of course “Convoy,” the 1975 truckers’ anthem about a driver with the call sign “Rubber Duck” who organized a convoy over his CB radio as the truckers were crossing the country. The song reached the top of both the pop and country charts, and was such a hit that it was later made into a movie starring Kris Kristofferson.
William Dale Fries, Jr. (C.W. MCall) photo via Colomusic.org.
Fries ultimately released six albums between the years of 1975-79, as well as a compilation album featuring some of his biggest hits in 1990 and an album of patriotic songs that he recorded with longtime-friend and collaborator Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller.
Fries served for six-years as the mayor of Ouray, Colorado. In an interview he conducted on February 9, 2022, McCall stated that he had cancer and had entered hospice care in Colorado due to his refusal to admit himself to a hospital. He and his wife had recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Fries is survived by: His wife of 70-years, Rena Bonnema Fries; Three children, Bill Fries III, Mark Fries and Nancy Fries; a sister; four grandchildren; four great-grandchldren; a great-great-grandson.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says bird flu has been confirmed in two more sites in the state.
Bird flu has been confirmed at a commercial site in Cherokee County with 88-thousand turkeys and at an egg-laying facility in Osceola County with five-point-three MILLION hens. Naig says nearly 13 million poultry animals have been killed in Iowa so far to try to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Naig says in the bird flu outbreak of 2015, the virus spread from facility to facility, but it appears bio-security measures at large operations are working — and officials believe this year’s round of bird flu is being spread by the spring migration of wild birds.
The bird flu outbreak in 2015 started in mid-April, but the first case of bird flu this year was confirmed on March 2nd. Naig says there’s still a steady supply of eggs, chicken and turkey in grocery stores, but it appears to be shrinking a bit.
Naig made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a man from Omaha, Nebraska, 38-year-old Erasmus Luis Gonzales, was sentenced Wednesday March 30, 2022 in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to 46 months (approximately 3.8-years) in federal prison, for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.
His term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Gonzales pleaded guilty to the charge on October 22, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation engaged in an undercover investigation and Gonzales communicated with an agent who purported to be a thirteen-year-old girl in the seventh grade. Gonzales arranged to meet with the underage girl in June 2021 after he agreed to bring alcohol in exchange for a sex act.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement and this case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Council Bluffs Police Department.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate fell again in recent numbers announced for February. Iowa Workforce Development Director, Beth Townsend, says there were a lot of positive numbers in the monthly data.
She says there are several things that have helped drop the unemployment rate.
The number of people seeking work also increased in February. Townsend says some of the current economic factors play a role.
Democrats have criticized the job numbers, saying it includes people who have to hold two jobs because the jobs aren’t paying enough.
Townsend says the demand for workers is a major factor as well.
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to three-point-five percent in February from three-point-seven percent in January. The was down from the four-point-four percent jobless rate one year ago in February.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says nearly 13 million poultry animals have been killed in Iowa so far to try to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Naig says in the bird flu outbreak of 2015, the virus spread from facility to facility, but it appears bio-security measures at large operations are working and officials believe this year’s round of bird flu is being spread by wild birds.
Naig made his comments today (Friday) during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.
(Radio Iowa) – A Senate committee has scaled back a House plan to provide 200-thousand dollars in state tax money to launch the U-S-S Iowa, a nuclear-powered submarine that’s scheduled to join the Navy fleet later this year. Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee have voted to reduce the state contribution to 150-thousand — and half of that would be withdrawn from a state fund for veterans.
Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, says veterans groups strongly oppose the move and it taints the excitement of having a new sub named in honor of our state.
Iowans who get any of the two dozen specialty license plates for veterans pay a fee that goes into the Iowa Veterans License Plate Fund. Senator Mark Lofgren, a Republican from Muscatine, says it doesn’t seem outrageous to use some of that money for the U-S-S Iowa.
Money in the Iowa Veterans License Plate Fund is distributed by the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs. The state commander of the V-F-W says the money in that fund should be used for veterans who live in Iowa, not on a christening ceremony or Iowa-themed furnishings for a submarine.
(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court threw out one portion of the case, but has upheld an award to a transgender nurse who used to work for the Iowa Department of Corrections. Jesse Vroegh Jesse Vroegh sued after he transitioned from female to male in 2014 and was told to use a unisex bathroom in a different building instead of the men’s bathroom. He cited sex and gender discrimination and won in court.
The Supreme Court upheld the 120-thousand dollar jury verdict for gender discrimination but threw out the sex discrimination finding. The court also denied Vroegh’s cross-appeal against health insurer Wellmark for denial of coverage for gender transition surgery. The opinion says the state determined which procedures were or were not covered under the policy, not Wellmark. Vroegh was fired in 2017 for an issue unrelated to this case.
ATLANTIC, IOWA – Cass Health officials have announced board-certified hand and microvascular surgeon Dr. Caliste Hsu is the latest addition to the Atlantic Medical Center’s Surgery Clinic. Dr. Hsu specializes in hand and microvascular procedures and surgeries. Her discipline includes endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release, treatment for arthritis of the hand and wrist, as well as repairs for traumatic injury to the tendons, nerves, and arteries.
Tammy Bireline, Cass Health Chief Clinic Administrator, says “Cass Health is very fortunate to be able to add a needed orthopedic subspecialty to the many services we already have available. Adding someone with Dr. Hsu’s training and expertise will only raise the level of care we can provide our community.”
Dr. Caliste Hsu (Cass Health photo)
Dr. Hsu is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. She is fellowship-trained in Hand and Microvascular Surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association. Dr. Hsu will provide care to patients on the second and fourth Fridays every month at Atlantic Medical Center Surgery Clinic. To make an appointment, please call 712-243-7535.
Police in Glenwood report two Glenwood men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 48-year-old Edwin Rogers was arrested on a Mills County warrant, with a cash-only bond of $5,000. And, 22-year-old Domonic Monson was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. His bond was set at $300.
(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a woman was arrested on OWI and other charges, after she nearly hit a sheriff’s deputy head-on early Thursday morning. The Pott. County communication center put out a broadcast about vehicle traveling north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 29. Deputy Healey proceeded to the location. When he entered I-29 southbound, a 2011 Mazda 3 was traveling at him in a head-on fashion at around 1:50-a.m. The Deputy performed a traffic stop on the vehicle, and following an investigation, arrested 43-year-old Jessica Roseann Fettinger for OWI 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense, and Driving on the Wrong Side of Roadway.
In other activity, Pott. County Deputies were called at around 12:12-a.m. Friday (April 1st) to the Casey’s Store on Virginia Hills Road, following a report of an intoxicated man out of control, and with a taser. Following an investigation, 47-year-old Frank Hartford Kretzschmarm of Carter Lake was arrested for Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, Criminal Mischief 4th, and Public Intoxication 1st Offense. His bond was set at $3,300.
The Sheriff’s Office said also, 30-year-old Donald Bouchard, of Elk Horn, Nebraska, was arrested Thursday, following a traffic stop. He was charged with OWI 1st Offense ($1,000 bond). And, 32-year-old Ryan Thomas Shea, of Crescent, was arrested Thursday, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. Authorities report on March 10th, 30-year-old Macaulay Cy Brock turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Department. Brock was wanted on a warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, for damage ranging from $750-to $1,500. Brock was arrested and turned over to Pott. County Corrections.