(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has passed a bill to let older teenagers get a state license so they can cut and style hair in a salon or barber shop. Current Iowa law requires someone to get a high school degree or G-E-D before they may get a cosmetology or barbering license. The bill says anyone who’s completed 10th grade and finished training at a school for barbers and cosmetologists could get a state license if they’re at least 16 years old. Representative Derek Wulf, a Republican from Hudson, says schools that train cosmetologists and barbers in Iowa do require that students have completed high school, so it’s redundant to keep that requirement in state law. “We’ve heard from several 17 year old high school students who have wrapped up their senior year of high school and they really want to start their classes, but unfortunately the way the law stands today, they cannot do that.”

And Wulf says Iowa would not be unique in letting older teens get cosmetology licenses. “Other Midwestern states that have the same 16 year old requirement include South Dakota and Ohio. Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska have a 17 year old age requirement,” Wulf says. “Minnesota doesn’t have an age requirement, but requires a high school diploma or equivalent.” Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, supports OTHER parts of the bill, but she says lowering the age may encourage teens to drop out of high school.  “I think as the education state, we are doing ourselves and our children a disservice,” Nielsen says.

The bill passed the House on an 84-to-11 vote. A similar bill has passed a committee in the Iowa Senate, but it would not allow 16 and 17 year olds to become licensed cosmetologists or barbers. Other parts of BOTH bills would dramatically reduce the schooling required to get a state cosmetology or barbering license. Under current law, students must complete 21-hundred hours of classroom instruction and supervised cutting and styling of hair to get a license. The bill would reduce that by about 26 percent. The House and Senate bills also would combine the Iowa Board of Barbering and the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on arrests taking place from March 1st through the 19th. On the 19th, 34-year-old Lacy Jean Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. On March 18th, 30-year-old Lucas Badillo-Rubio, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59. Badillo-Rubio was charged with OWI 1st, Open Container, and Failure to Maintain Control.

On the 12th, 31-year-old Michael John Tremayne, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop on Spring Street, in Harlan. Tremayne was charged with Driving while License Denied or Revoked, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Tremayne was also arrested the previous day, March 11th, following a traffic stop at 7th St and Elm St., in Harlan. He was charged with Driving while License Denied or Revoked, Operating without Interlock Device, Failure to use a seat belt, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, Driving while License is Suspended, and Failure to Transfer Title on Motor Vehicle.

On the 10th of March, 33-year-old Benjamin Tomoya Sorensen, of, Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop at Umbrella Road and Highway 44. Sorensen was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (3 counts), Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Improper Rear Lamp.

Back on March 7th, 33-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Koester, of Harlan,  was arrested following a traffic stop at 1600th St. and Hwy 59.  Koester was charged with Driving Under Suspension. And, on March 1st, Faith Merritt Peterson, age 42, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Peterson was charged with Violation of Probation.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent, property damage accidents. At around 2:20-a.m. today (Monday), a 1997 Chevy Lumina driven by 21-year-old Haylee Jo Petersen, of Adair, was traveling east on 330th Street, when Petersen attempted to turn south onto Indigo Avenue. Her vehicle went into the ditch, and out into a field. She tried to get out of the field, but her car became stuck in a small creek in the field. The car sustained $1,501 damage,

At around 8-a.m., Sunday, a 2014 Ford F350 Super Duty pickup driven by 19-year-old Michael Truman Maas, of Adair, was traveling west on 310th Street, when, due to the weather conditions, the vehicle went out of control and into the south ditch before colliding with an embankment. The pickup sustained $15,000 damage. At around 8:05-a.m. Sunday, a 2006 Ford Expedition was traveling north on Wagon Road, when the driver, 18-year-old Avery Sue Hazen, of Stuart, lost control on the snow covered roadway. The SUV went into the north ditch and rolled over before coming to rest on its wheels, in a field. The vehicle sustained $7,500 damage.

And, at around 10:20-a.m., Sunday, a 2019 KIA Soul driven by 40-year-old Jeremy R. Nunes, of Riverton, IL, was traveling south on Highway 25 when it went out of control and into the west ditch. The SUV sustained minor damage to the passenger side front bumper area upon impact with the ditch ($2,500 damage estimate).

There were no injuries and no citations issued following those accidents.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday at 9-a.m. in their Courthouse Boardroom. On their agenda is a presentation from Kate Olson, with Cass County Extension. She is expected to make a request for ARPA funds, to temporarily expand the role of the Cass County Wellness Coordinator, to address local public health priorities, and assist in long-term pandemic recovery efforts.

The Board will also consider and possible act on approving updated Cass County Public Safety Commission Articles of Agreement, and, Resolution 2023-05 Opioid Settlement Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Supervisors and Zion Recovery Services.

A regular, weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken will be presented, as well.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet 8:30-a.m. Tuesday, in the Courthouse Supervisor’s Meeting Room. New Business on their agenda includes approval of: the Secondary Roads IDOT budget for FY 2024, & a 5-year Construction Plan for FY ’24. They’re also expected to schedule a public hearing on the FY 2023-24 Montgomery County Budget, and hold Personnel Evaluation. That portion of the meeting is expected to be conducted in a Closed Session, per Iowa Code.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police and Cass EMS responded to a two-vehicle collision at 7th and Olive Streets this morning. The crash occurred at around 8-a.m.  Details on any injuries were not immediately available.

Photo by KJAN’s Chris Parks

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report a man from Lorimor was arrested Friday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 32-year old Dalton Thadius Barber was charged with a Union County Warrant for Failure to Comply with Pretrial Release original charges: 2 counts Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, Administering Harmful Substance, Incest, 3 counts Lascivious Acts with a Child, 2 counts Child Endangerment, 3 counts Indecent Contact with a Child. Barber was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on no bond.

Friday night, 44-year-old Cori Lynne Angell, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC. She was charged with an Adams County Warrant for Harassment 1st Degree. Angell was transferred to the Adams County Jail.

Saturday morning, 21-year-old Myles James Koontz, of Creston, was arrested at 900 Block N Oak. Koontz was charged with Driving while Barred. Koontz was cited and released from the scene.

Sunday afternoon, 26-year-old Megan Elizabeth Banda, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC. Banda was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault-Strangulation. She was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later transported to the Adams County Jail. Banda was being held without bond until seen by the Magistrate.