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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!
The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their first meeting of the new year, Monday morning (today), both in-person and electronically. It was also the first meeting for Bernard Pettinger, of Anita, who was selected by voters during the November General Election, to succeed Frank Waters. Waters did not run for re-election. During their meeting, the Board voted to keep Steve Baier as Board Chair, and Mark O’Brien as Vice Chair.
During the session, the Board voted to: keep their meetings on Tuesday’s at 9-a.m.; Set the mileage reimbursement rate at 45 cents per mile, for the use of personal vehicle to conduct County business; They set the Medical Examiner’s fee at $200 per call; and after much discussion, and by a vote of 4-to1, adopted the holiday schedule. The 2021 (2022 New Year’s Day) Holiday Schedule for County employees not covered by bargaining agreements for the year 2021:
The Cass County Supervisors approved the appointments of deputies/assistants and /or Clerks to the Auditor and Sheriff, including:
Sheriff Darby McLaren, last month requested the Board approved the designation/promotion of Sergeant certain deputies. The Board today (Monday) approved the promotion and pay increases for Kyle Quist, and Tyler Shiels. Deputy Shiels is also the County K9 Officer, with supplemental pay. And, they approved the 2021 Annual Livestock Construction Evaluation Resolution (Master Matrix).
Authorities in Mills County report a woman from Montgomery County was arrested early Friday morning, following a traffic stop that escalated into a pursuit. Deputies had attempted to stop 22-year-old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, at around 3:42-a.m., in the Kwik Trip parking lot, in Glenwood. Instead of yielding, Girouex began to flee from authorities. The 2006 Chevy Trailblazer she was driving nearly struck two patrol vehicles in the process.
Dakota Lynn Girouex (Mills County S/O photo)
The woman continued driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. When she fled into Nebraska, authorities there pursued the vehicle on two separate occasions, and finally took Girouex into custody. The suspect vehicle had been stolen out of Fremont County on Dec. 26th.
Girouex faces multiple charges in Iowa and Nebraska, including outstanding warrants in Mills, Fremont and Pottawattamie Counties. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and multiple law enforcement agencies in Nebraska assisted in handling the incident. Girouex has a lengthy record of law enforcement contacts dating back to at least 2016.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (today), reported numerous arrests dating back to Dec. 30th:
Officials with the Glenwood Police Department, Monday (today), reported three arrests. At around 1:45-a.m. Saturday, 51-year old Kelly Earl Thibodeaux, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a property damage accident investigation on I-29 at mile marker 30. His bond was set at $1,000. Saturday night, 54-year-old Christina Elizabeth Jennings, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, for Possession of Contraband. Her bond was set at $5,000. And, at around 3:15-a.m. Friday, 36-year old Sally Jo Thomsen, of Roselie, NE., was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was also cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign, Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way, and Failure to Maintain Control. Thomsen’s bond was set at $1,000.
The Mills County Sheriff’s Office Monday (today), said there were two arrested early this (Monday) morning. 31-year-old Jordan Henze, and 47-year-old Edwin Rogers, both of Glenwood, were arrested on separate charges. Henze was charged with OWI/1st offense and Driving While Revoked. His cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. Rogers was arrested for Driving while Revoked. His cash/surety bond was set at $2,000.
Deputies in Adams County were called Dec. 29th, to an apartment complex in Corning, following a report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, 38-year-old Robert Surrell was arrested for Domestic Assault and Disorderly Conduct, with an additional charge of Obstruction of Emergency Communication associated with an incident on Dec. 28th.
(Radio Iowa) – Three environmental groups are calling on MidAmerican Energy to retire its coal power plants in order to save Iowa customers millions of dollars. A Sierra Club analysis of the utility’s numbers found it lost 27-million dollars over the past five years by operating two coal plants in Sioux City. Kerri Johannsen, energy program director for the Iowa Environmental Council, says MidAmerican’s latest emissions plan doesn’t meet state standards for operating in a cost-effective way. “The argument we’re making is that MidAmerican’s plan does not meet that standard of managing these emissions cost-effectively,” she says, “because shutting down the plants would be more cost effective.”
By retiring two coal plants in Sioux City by 2023, the report says MidAmerican could save 92-million dollars. Johannsen says the Sierra Club, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and the Iowa Environmental Council are urging the company to save money in addition to avoiding the public health and climate impacts of the plants. “There are a lot of utilities that, once they crunch the numbers, they found that the better option for customers is closing down these expensive old plants and replacing them with renewables,” she says.
The environmental groups are making the arguments to the Iowa Utilities Board, which is reviewing MidAmerican’s latest emissions plan. A hearing in the case is slated to go before the board in February.
(Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)
WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say two people suffered injuries during an explosion at a home in southeast Iowa. The incident was reported early Monday in a residential area of Washington. KCRG-TV reports all the residents of the home were evacuated. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion. The explosion blew out windows in neighboring homes. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Washington is about 30 miles south of Iowa City.
More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Monday, 10-a.m.), reports there have been 601 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in test results received since 10-a.m. Sunday, for a pandemic total to-date, of 284,866. IDPH reports 46 additional deaths since Saturday (none were reported Sunday), with the total to date 3,992. Of Iowa’s pandemic-related deaths, COVID-19 is reported as the underlying cause for 3,658 deaths, while 334 are listed as a contributing factor. In southwest Iowa, there was one death each reported in of Harrison, Montgomery and Shelby Counties, and four more deaths in Pottawattamie County.
The Iowa DPH today reports 105 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in the state (1 less than previously reported). Those outbreaks account for 4,363 of Iowa’s current positive cases. COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 1,139 of the state’s total deaths. Health officials say 2,959 LTC patients/staff have recovered from the virus.
Iowa DPH reports hospitalizations were down from 577 Sunday to 571 today. There are: 117 patients in an ICU; 60 were admitted to hospitals, and 55 patients are on ventilators. Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 38 hospitalized; 17 are in an ICU; 2 people were admitted to a hospital, and 8 people are on a ventilator.
According to the state’s website, 1,365,704 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19, to-date. Iowa’s average reported positivity rate for the last 14-days is 13.3%, compared to 13.1% a day earlier. The health department says 244,620 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date: