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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Warren Varley, a Democrat Adair County farmer and attorney, announced today (Monday), that he is running for the Iowa Senate in District 10,  which covers all of Adair and Guthrie Counties; most of Dallas County; four townships in northeast Cass County; and Union Township in Polk County (including Polk City). The seat is currently held by Republican Jake Chapman, from Adel.

Warren Varley

In a statement announcing his bid for the District Senate seat, Varley said he’s running “Because we need new leadership at the Capitol.” He said also, “Instead of focusing on political games and partisan bickering, we need a new State Senator who will work to revitalize all parts of Dallas, Guthrie, Adair and Cass counties. I am committed to helping create good jobs, expanding access to affordable health care, and improving education and opportunities in our small towns and rural areas.”

Varley has more than 25 years of experience as a main-street business owner in Stuart. His bio says he’s a leader in rural economic development across the district, and was elected president of Midwest Partnership and Stuart Enterprise for Economic Development. He has also been active in numerous community organizations, including Project Restore Foundation, Stuart Library Foundation, Adair County Farm Bureau, and Adair County Memorial Hospital Board.

He says if elected, he’ll work to: Ensure that farmers and other rural Iowans are part of the discussions about improving water quality and natural resources; Expand access to broadband, high-speed internet service; Increasing the state’s investment in public K-12 schools so that more school districts are not forced to close and consolidate; and Expand access to affordable health care and mental health care.

SIOUX CITY – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 25-year old Keenan Ivory Aldrich, a Native American male, 5-feet 11-inches tall, weighing 188 pounds, failed to report to his workplace while under the supervision of the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility earlier this (Monday) morning. Aldrich, who was admitted to the work release facility on Jan. 6th (2020), had previously been convicted of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury and other crimes, in Woodbury County.

Keenan Aldrich

Persons with information on Aldrich’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report two men were arrested over the past few days on drug and weapons-related charges. Both arrests were the result of search warrants executed on residences in Creston. Authorities say Sunday night, 44-year old John Neely, a resident of 511 S. Pine Street, was arrested with the assistance of Union County Sheriff’s deputies. Neely was taken into custody on two felony charges: Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Felon (A Class-D felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) wih the intent to sell or manufacture/Methamphetamine – under 5 grams (a Class-C felony). Neely was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, at around 7:30-a.m. Friday, 47-year old Wesley Tolley, of Winterset, was arrested by Creston Police at 314 N. Division Street in Creston, again with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies, on felony charges of: Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Felon (A Class-D felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) with the intent to sell or manufacture/Methamphetamine – under 5 grams (a Class-C felony). He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $15,000 bond associated with the felony charges, and on two warrants: One from Adair County, for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense ($5,000 bond). The other warrant was out of Madison County, for Violation of Parole – for which there is No Bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former professional football player has been sentenced for being drunk and armed with a handgun at a county supervisors meeting in Iowa. Sixty-three-year-old Mike Stensrud was sentenced Friday to two years’ probation and 90 days of jail time, but 88 days were suspended. Stensrud is a Winnebago County supervisor. He drank alcohol from a cup during a May 21 meeting in Forest City. Court records say a breath test showed his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. An officer found a pistol in one of Stensrud’s pockets. Stensrud played at Iowa State before going pro. He retired from the NFL in 1989.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (Feb. 10, 2020) – Patients fighting cancer need more blood than patients fighting any other disease, using nearly one-quarter of the nation’s blood supply. That’s why this February, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to encourage people across the country to Give Blood to Give Time, ensuring loved ones have the strength and support to battle cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. An estimated 18,460 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Iowa this year. Many of these people will likely have a need for blood.

To schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment or make a financial gift, visit GiveBloodToGiveTime.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Adair County – Greenfield: 2/24/2020, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nodaway Valley High School, 410 NW 2nd Street

Adams County – Corning: 2/21/2020, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Southwest Valley High School – Corning Campus, 904 8th Street

Carroll County – Carroll: 2/19/2020, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Central Church, 24336 Hwy 30

Cass County – Anita: 2/11/2020, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 805 Main Street; Atlantic: 2/26/2020,  8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street

Harrison County – Missouri Valley: 2/27/2020, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Missouri Valley High School, 605 E. Lincoln Highway

Montgomery County – Red Oak: 2/24/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Montgomery County Hospital, 2301 Eastern Ave

Pottawattamie County –

Council Bluffs – 2/22/2020, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Charles E. Lakin YMCA – Council Bluffs, 235 Harmony St.; 2/23/2020, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Queen of Apostles Campus, 3304 3rd Avenue; 2/28/2020, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mercy Professional Center, 800 Mercy Dr

Crescent – 2/15/2020, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fire Station, 102 West Florence

Shelby County –

Harlan: 2/11/2020, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., CDS, 3107 Shelby Street; 2/12/2020, 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Harlan High School, 2102 Durant Street

Panama: 2/26/2020, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary’s Parish Center, 204 St. Mary Avenue.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ordered a competency evaluation for a 71-year-old man accused of stabbing to death his wife in the Story County community of Zearing. Gary Pillman already has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. Investigators say Pillman killed his wife after an argument in which she told him she was leaving him. Her body was found Nov. 13 outside the Pillmans’ home. Court records say Gary Pillman’s attorney requested the evaluation last week and the judge granted it on Friday.

(Radio Iowa) — A program created by the Iowa Legislature in 2004 requires one-half percent of the gambling tax revenue from the state goes to 84 counties which don’t have a casino. Iowa Gaming Association president, Wes Eherecke says the idea was the spread the wealth. “Making sure that all of the non-casino counties would also have a source of funding. And they established the qualified community county foundations,” Eherecke says.

Ehrecke gave a report on the 15 years of the County Endowment Fund last week to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.  “There’s been 28-thousand-581 grants with 107 million dollars provided — which has been extraordinary in each of these respective counties,” according to Ehrecke. He says the program allows the counties to create grants based on their needs. “They all have their own separate board of directors to decide the criteria,” Ehrecke says. “They each received approximately 125-thousand dollars last year. Which 25-percent goes into a permanent endowment. And over those 15 years — that has grown extensively.”

You can find out more about the endowment funds in your county at: www.iowacommunityfoundations.org.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Iowa caucuses haven’t wrapped up yet. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign plans to ask for a “partial recanvass” of the results of last week’s Iowa caucuses. A campaign aide confirmed the plans Sunday night, ahead of a Monday deadline for candidates to ask the Iowa Democratic Party to recanvass the results. A recanvass is not a recount, but a check of the vote count to ensure the results were added correctly. The state party released updated results on Sunday showing Pete Buttigieg leading Sanders by two state delegate equivalents.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man is facing an attempted murder charge after he fired shots into an occupied apartment and hit a dog in the crossfire. Des Moines Police said the 21-year-old gunman missed his intended target — a 19-year-old man — in the shooting. The dog was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital but wasn’t expected to survive the shooting. The gunfire was reported shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday at the Des Moines apartment complex. The suspect was arrested after a short foot pursuit. Witnesses told police that the suspect and the 19-year-old had an argument before the shooting.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Another inmate was charged with manslaughter after a 31-year-old man was found dead at a residential Iowa correctional facility. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Saturday that 36-year-old Adam Younis had been charged with involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with the death of Derek Jones. Jones died Tuesday in his room at the Marshalltown Residential Facility. An autopsy will be performed to determine what caused Jones’ death. Jones was living at the facility while on probation. Younis was living at the facility as part of a work-release program.