CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Police in suburban Des Moines are investigating after a body was found in a wooded area along a trail in Clive. The Des Moines Register reports that the body was found Saturday afternoon after a hiker called police. The Clive Police Department says in a news release that the person found dead “had been in that location for a long period of time.” Police say preliminary investigation did not show any signs of foul play. Police are working to identify the body and establish a cause of death.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested on separate charges Oct. 12th through the 18th. Most recently, 25-year old Kray Mathew Lukehart, of LaVista, NE, was arrested Sunday (Oct. 18th), after he turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Lukehart was wanted on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Harassment 3rd Degree, and on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Lukehart was booked at the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,300 bond. Also arrested Sunday, was 54-year old Steven Carl McAfee, of Massena, who was taken into custody on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. McAfee was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 39-year old Justin Paul Parker, of Adair, was arrested in Cass County on charges of Burglary 3rd Degree (D Felony); Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (D Felony); and Theft 2nd Degree (D Felony). Parker was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond. And, on Oct. 12th, 36-year old Matthew James Bruns, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants, one for Probation Violation, and one for Failure to Appear. Bruns was taken to the Cass County Jail and released several days later on his own recognizance.

(Updated) The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four accidents took place in the County between Oct. 7th and 12th. On October 7th, at 6:35 p.m., Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80 at the 63 mile marker. Authorities say a 2015 Volvo Semi driven by 28-year-old Gajanand Johnson, of Tampa, FL, was westbound on I-80 when the driver lost control of the vehicle in a construction zone and the vehicle entered the south ditch, striking a cable barrier. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,500.

On October 10th, at around 9:20 a.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single-vehicle accident at Olive Street and Boston Road. Officials say a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country driven by 36-year-old Tara Anne Squibbs, of Dexter, was northbound on Olive Street and had attempted to turn onto Boston Road, when she lost control of her vehicle. The van rolled into the southwest ditch and landed on its top. Squibbs and her passenger were not injured. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,800. Squibbs was given a warning for Failure to Maintain Control.

At around 1:30-a.m. on October 12th, a single-vehicle accident occurred on I-80. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2013 Chevy Sonic owned and driven by 23-year-old Leah Rebecca Croghan, of Durand, MI, was westbound on I-80 when the vehicle was pushed by high wind into concrete barriers and ended up in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,000.

And, at around 2:50-a.m. Thursday, Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on I-80. A 2017 Volvo Semi driven by 44-year old Driss Senan, of Longueuil, Quebec, CN., was westbound on I-80 when the vehicle lost control on the edge of the road and rolled onto the driver’s side. The driver was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital via Anita Ambulance. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $30,000.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Creston Police report a man and a woman were arrested early Tuesday (Today), on drug charges. 29-year-old Anthony R. Cross, of Creston, was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. in the area of Vine/Mills, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $7,000 bond. 44-year-old April Gross, of Creston, was arrested at the same time and place, for Driving while suspended, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released from the Union County Jail on a $600 bond.

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 (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The latest COVID-19 numbers from the Iowa Coronavirus dashboard, today (as of 10-a.m. Tuesday), indicate there are 727 more Positive cases since 10-a.m. Monday, and 14 more Iowans have died from the virus, for a total of 1,548. The data show 905,751 tests have been completed to-date, with 4,220 results coming back since Monday’s report. Negative test results received since yesterday amount to 3,733 (for a total of 795,827), with 478 positive test results (a total of 108,297).  The IDPH says 83,463 Iowans have recovered from the effects of COVID-19. The state says 12% of individuals have tested positive, and the 14 day rolling average positivity rate is 9.5%.

There are: 15 more Positive cases in Cass County; 22 more in Pottawattamie County; 11 additional cases in Adair County; nine more in Harrison County, and four or less additional cases in each of Audubon, Guthrie, Madison, Mills and Shelby Counties.

Hospitalizations continue to rise, from 480 yesterday to 501 today. Intensive Care Unit numbers are up from 113 to 122. Officials say 71 people with COVID symptoms were admitted to an Iowa hospital, since Monday, compared to 63 yesterday. And, there are 45 patients on a ventilator. Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa report 41 people with the virus are in a hospital facility, compared to 38 yesterday. There are 14 people in an ICU, compared to 10 Monday, eight persons were admitted, compared to six the previous day, and one person remains on a ventilator.

There are 65 Long Term Care facility outbreaks in Iowa, two more than on Monday. The IDPH reports: 1, 647 patients/staff at those facilities have tested positive for COVID; 673 patients/staff have recovered, and LTC deaths are up two, to 776.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, along with the 24-hour change in case numbers {+#}; the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began,

• Cass, 317 cases {+15}; 224 recovered; 2 deaths
• Adair, 136 {+11}; 65; 1
• Adams, 67; 36; 0
• Audubon, 129 {+1}; 69; 1
• Guthrie, 369 {+2); 232; 14
• Harrison County, 580 {+9}; 217; 8
• Madison County, 343 {+4}; 212; 2
• Mills County, 338 {+2}; 175; 1
• Montgomery, 155 {+1}; 137; 5
• Pottawattamie County, 2,964 {+22]; 2,181; 44
• Shelby County, 344 {+3}; 304; 1
• Union County,  209; 185; 3

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. On their agenda, is the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to the expansion of a two-way stop at 22nd and Olive to a four-way, and from a two-way stop at 32nd and Chestnut, to a three-way stop. The proposed changes is to encourage traffic to slow down before entering the city. During the Council’s meeting on Oct. 7th, an Atlantic resident voiced his opposition to the four-way stop at 22nd and Olive, and suggested Atlantic Police make more of an effort to hand out tickets to those who exceed the 35 mph speed limit. At that same meeting, the first reading of the ordinance passed by a vote of 5-to 1.

The Council, Wednesday, will act on a transmittal from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, with regard to two proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance. The changes, according to Zoning Commission John Lund, would include: Bringing Deter Motor Company into conformance with the Zoning Ordinance. Currently, he says, the downtown district does not imply sales of outdoor good would be allowed. That will be corrected by amending a section of the Central Business District regulations to list “Automotive Sales” as a permitted use. The second change would simply clean up the language in the “Accessory Buildings” section of the Ordinance, by merging two nearly identical subsections into one. The P&Z has unanimously endorsed the changes. A notice and public hearing are required before any changes are made to the Zoning Ordinance.

In other business, the Council will:

• Hold the third and final reading of an Ordinance vacating and conveying an alley between Hemlock and Sycamore Streets, south of E. 18th Street.
• Act on a Resolution setting the date for a Public Hearing on vacating a Right of Way for a stub (non-connecting) section of road, just east of 9th and Plum Streets.

A Red Oak woman was arrested today (Tuesday), on an assault charge. Red Oak Police report 50-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was taken into custody at around 12:20-a.m. on a charge of Simple Assault. Olivares was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

A man from Cass County died in a crash head-on crash Monday afternoon in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 59-year-old David Passehl, of Anita, died at the scene of the crash that happened south of Fontanelle at around 4:50-p.m. The Patrol says Passehl was traveling north on the Fontanelle Road south of 270th Street in a 1997 Ford F-250 pickup, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed into the southbound lane and collided with a 1998 Volvo semi, driven by 66-year old Phillip Lundy, of Orient. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest on the road.

Lundy, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by Fontanelle Rescue to the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. The accident remains under investigation.