Iowans can lend a hand at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ third annual statewide Volunteer Day on Sept. 28.

More than 40 parks will be hosting volunteer events to help spruce up trails, buildings and other park amenities. According to Todd Coffelt, State Parks Bureau chief, volunteer projects will focus on prepping for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Iowa state park system in 2020.

“Iowa state parks are beloved places for many Iowans, and we greatly appreciate the help volunteers provide,” said Coffelt. “We are excited for this year’s event to kick off our state’s celebration of the park system’s centennial next year.”

Clean-up efforts at this weekend’s Volunteer Day will be unique for each park depending on clean-up needs, but may include litter pick-up, staining or painting buildings, planting trees, clearing trails and more.

Citizens interested in volunteering can learn more at www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer. If weather looks inclement on Saturday, volunteers should contact the individual park office in case changes to date, time or meeting location for the event occur.

Cass County Conservation is looking for volunteers for their 25th biannual Halloween Hike! We are looking for Actors, Hike Leaders, and Treat Makers!! The 25th biannual Halloween Hike, will be held on Saturday, October 26th, as you follow a trail where “Squeaks, Squawks and Screeches” will greet you! Starting at 7:00 p.m. small groups will depart from the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park every ten minutes. Please call 712-769-2372 to sign up as a volunteer! It is not our intent to scare or frighten anyone, but to educate and entertain people of all ages! This hike is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Clarinda man on Thursday. Deputies arrested 41-year-old Jeremy Lynn Martin of Clarinda on a Page County Warrant for Driving While Barred. He was arrested in Clarinda and booked into the Page County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Creston Police report the arrest Tuesday of 57-year-old Stephen Clark of Redding on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Theft 2nd Degree. Clark was arrested at 3:30pm at the Law Enforcement Center and held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Injured Iowa workers seeking benefits from their employers are waiting longer to get their hearing dates as a state agency transitions to a new filing system.

Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Joseph Cortese told lawmakers in a letter Tuesday that a moratorium on scheduling new hearings will likely continue for another four to six weeks.

His agency imposed the moratorium in July when it launched a new online case management system to replace a legacy system that dated to the 1970s.

Shutting down the old system has temporarily prevented the agency from being able to schedule new hearings because that tool isn’t ready to be launched yet.

Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, says there is growing frustration among lawyers, claimants and employers about the impact. He says workers “need to know when their date to get justice is” and that hearing deadlines can lead to settlements.

Cortese says the situation shouldn’t result in delays in deciding claims. He says it means only that cases that will go to hearing after June 30, 2020 will be scheduled later than normal.

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — A southeast Nebraska man has been sentenced to jail and probation for stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of brass from his employer.

Nemaha County District Court records show 26-year-old Justin Heard, of Auburn, pleaded no contest to seven counts after prosecutors dropped seven others in return. He was credited at Monday’s sentencing hearing with three days already served and ordered to spend 87 more in jail. He was sentenced to 4½ years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of nearly $22,400.

A court document says a surveillance system showed Heard loading brass into a vehicle at Magnolia Metal in rural Auburn. Investigators say he sold the brass for nearly $14,000 to a recycler in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The records say the crimes began occurring in August last year.

Photo by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson showing the street flooding at 3rd Street Place in Atlantic

Two waves of showers and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the KJAN listening area on Tuesday night. Reports of large hail, strong winds, and heavy rain came in across the region. With daybreak on Wednesday, area residents were able to begin to further assess the damage.

The evening started with large hail reported in Harrison County around 6:00pm. Funnel clouds and a possible tornado were spotted in Harrison and Shelby counties in the 6:00pm hour. 1″ diameter hail was reported in the Panama area a little after 7:00pm, as was 1.25″ hail near Neola. 1.75″ diameter hail was reported by trained spotters near Avoca around 8:00pm. Flash flooding then followed during the 9:00pm hour. Many intersections and roads were flooded throughout Atlantic.

As a result of the heavy rain some flooding of homes and businesses was reported throughout Atlantic and the area. Numerous trees and tree limbs were down. Some substantial tree and water damage was reported at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. Some power issues were noted in a few locations due to lightning as well. Rising water also got to some road equipment near the KJAN studios as the Atlantic Little League complex filled with storm water last night.

Standing water is still an issue in many areas and some roadways may have been impacted by storm water, so area residents are urged to use caution while traveling.

w/ Chris Parks

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IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) — Hail and heavy rain have pounded parts of northwest Iowa. Hailstones up to 1.75 inches were reported Tuesday evening near Holstein and other communities. More than an inch of rain was reported in several areas. The hail battered homes, business, vehicles and crop fields in Ida County and others nearby.

The National Weather Service says a tornado was reported around 5:30 p.m. about 5 miles southeast of Cushing, and another tornado report was received around 5:40 p.m. from 5 miles north-northeast of Ida Grove. It’s uncertain whether the sightings were of the same twister.

No injuries have been reported.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City couple who run a day care out of their home have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment.

Cerro Gordo County District Court records say 55-year-old Kyle McLaughlin and 58-year-old Peggy McLaughlin each entered a written plea to the misdemeanor count. Station KIMT reports that her trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 3. His trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 10.

A criminal complaint says a 3-year-old boy left in the McLaughlins’ care went home in December 2016 with a welt and bruise on his lower back. He told his mother than Kyle McLaughlin had spanked him. The complaint says Peggy McLaughlin later told the mother that her husband had “swatted” the boy and another child and said it wouldn’t happen again.

Another criminal complaint says a 20-month-old girl suffered a fractured leg at the home in August 2017 and the McLaughlins didn’t seek medical assistance for her.