Officials with the Montgomery County Fair have released the results of the Champion Horse Show:

Championship Division –

• Junior Showman – Exhibitor: Gilliam Heim; Class Sponsor: Engstrand Family
• Senior Showman – Exhibitor: Ali Jo Hogberg; Class Sponsor: Dr. Terry Gillispie
• Grand Champion Overall Showman – Exhibitor: Gilliam Heim; Class Sponsors: Circle C. Carraiges; C R Graphics & C R Stitches.
• Overall Trail Ride – Exhibitor: Audrina Johnson; Class Sponsor: Brooke Engstran Memorial
• Champion Rookie/Junior Horseman – Exhibited by: Alexia Fridolph; Class Sponsor: Hogberg Family.
• Champion Senior Horseman/Overall Grand Champion Horseman – Ali Jo Hogberg; Sponsors include: Clint & Julie Rubey, and Clarios.
• Reserve Overall Grand Champion Horseman – Alexia Fridolph; Sponsor: Circle K Carriages
• Most Improved Horseman Award – Audrina Johnson; In memory of Glen Christiansen.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 41-year old Robert Matthew Justice, of Glenwood, was sentenced last week to 156 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and his co-defendant, 44-year old Stacey Madonna Morrison, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 61 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

The sentencing was the result of an investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force into methamphetamine trafficking
in Western Iowa and the Omaha Metro Area. The investigation revealed that methamphetamine was being brought into Western Iowa by Justice, who then provided it to Morrison and others for distribution in Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont Counties. In March of 2020, Justice and Morrison entered guilty pleas to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced last week, two individuals were sentenced to prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. 43-year old Erik M. Barber, of Council Bluffs, and 36-year old Lacey Jo Smalley, of Clarinda, were sentenced to prison for 18 years and 16 years, respectively. Previously, the Court sentenced the leader of the conspiracy, Jason Paul Rodriguez, to 30 years in prison on March 12, 2020.

Authorities say Rodriguez organized and led the large-scale drug trafficking operation from 2016 until his arrest in April 2019. Rodriguez and his co-conspirators distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine in Omaha and Western Iowa. Barber was a major distributor of methamphetamine for Rodriguez.    Smalley was also one of Rodriguez’s primary distributors.

The sentencings were the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement originating in Page County regarding distribution of methamphetamine delivered
from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez, Barber, Smalley, and others were distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in numerous locations throughout Southwest Iowa and Omaha.

This matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Clarinda Police
Department, Page County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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

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A man from Adams County was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, Monday morning. Creston Police report 51-year old Darryn Dugan, of Nodaway, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was subsequently released from the jail on a $300 bond.

“X” marks the spot where high pressure is located. Graphics courtesy Aaron Saeugling.

The latest climatological/agricultural data show a high pressure system over the south central and parts of the southeastern U-S, is keeping southwest and southern Iowa abnormally dry, and adding stress to the crops during their peak growing season. Aaron Saeugling, ISU Extension/Outlook Field Agronomist based in Lewis, reports Atlantic, Greenfield, Glenwood, Creston and Clarinda are in the top five for rainfall deficit in southwest Iowa, with Atlantic short nearly 7.7-inches, for the period covering April 1st 2020 to July 14th, 2020.

See the data below:

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The National Weather Service reports severe thunderstorms are possible across much of the area this afternoon and tonight. There is a slight risk of severe storms primarily this afternoon and evening but storms may linger overnight. The main time-frame is from 3-until 11-p.m.  Large hail, damaging wind and heavy rainfall are the main threats. Unfortunately, for western and parts of southwest Iowa, there is only a marginal to slight risk of excessive rainfall, while some areas could see anywhere from one-to-three inches of rain.

Tornadoes are a secondary threat with today’s weather. Hot and humid conditions will exist this weekend. Heat index values may be in the 100 to 105 degree range. Additional thunderstorms are forecast Sunday evening. Some storms may be severe but the specific threats and timing of which will be better determined in the coming days.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Insurance Division is beginning a series of Fraud Fighting webinars Wednesday featuring at topics to help older Iowans. Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen says his office has held informational sessions for several years. “To talk to people, to educate them on how they can go about protecting themselves as well as their neighbors from fraud,” he says. “Due to social distancing requirements this year, we’ve kind of taken it upon ourselves to find new ways by which to do that, and that is the idea behind these webinars.”

The first webinar Wednesday from 1-2 p-m will include information on Medicare. He says the scammers have not let up in this area. “And its really important that seniors and older Iowans understand that so they can help be alert to what it is that can happen — and then to also assist us in law enforcement to identify those frauds,” Ommen says. This webinar will also include information on how to avoid financial abuse. “Many older Iowans as they get along in years, they look for people around them to try to help them with some of the decisions that need to be made,” according to Ommen. “And that sometimes includes executions of powers of attorney and appointment of guardians and others to assist them.”

Ommen encourages seniors to join online and share their stories. “Some of the best meetings that we’ve had — and we hope to replicate that again in these webinars — is to give older Iowans the opportunity to participate in a conversation and essentially educate each other as to what is going on,” Ommen says. He says it can be helpful to learn from others and know that you are not alone in your concerns.

You can sign up to participate at IowaFraudFighters.gov. The other seminars are July 22nd, 10–11 a-m, and it focuses on consumer scams online. On July 29th from noon to 1 p-m there is a webinar for family members or other caregivers of Iowa seniors and provides tips for caregivers to recognize the red flags of Medicare fraud and investment scams