DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than a dozen military veterans have been given a 30-day notice to leave a transitional housing facility in Des Moines. Station KCCI reports that a Department of Veterans Affairs official dropped off the notice at the 180 Degrees facility last week, but VA officials have declined to discuss the issue. The VA subsidizes 180 Degrees for each client and says there’s a dispute between 180 Degrees and the owner of the home, Makar Limited Partnership. Makar said in an email to 180 Degrees that expenses outlined by the rental agreement were not paid by 180, thus breaching the agreement.

Gerald Murphy is managing partner of Makar Limited Partnership, and he declined to answer specific questions regarding the dispute between Makar and 180 Degrees. Navy veteran Kurt Gabrielson lives at the home and says he has a post-traumatic stress disorder and problems with alcohol. He says that being forced out is “overwhelming.”

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

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Creston Police say two people were arrested Sunday, and one incident of vandalism was reported, Saturday. Authorities say 41-year old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, was arrested just before Noon, SUnday, on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court on a Driving While Barred, charge. And, at around 1:25-p.m., 43-year old Amy Louise Kay Smith, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an outside agency warrant for Probation Violation, on an original Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, charge.

Whitney and Smith were being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail, where Whitney’s cash-only bond was set at $4,000, and Smith was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, a woman residing in the 500 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Creston, reported Saturday evening, that sometime between 10:30-p.m. Friday and 4:40-p.m. Saturday, someone broke out the back window of her 1986 Olds Delta 88, that was parked across the street from her home.

(used in the 7-a.m. News report)

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say officers have captured an inmate who assaulted a jailer before fleeing custody in northwest Iowa. The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office says the 19-year-old attacked the jailer around 7:20 p.m. Friday and then fled out a door the jailer had just opened at the jail in Estherville. The inmate was apprehended 45 minutes later by an Estherville officer and a K-9.

The inmate has been identified as Divine Watkins. He’s been charged with escape and assaulting the jailer. He’d been jailed while awaiting prosecution on burglary and other charges.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — A state senator from southeast Iowa wants to adjust the financing for students who attend school outside the district in which they live. It’s called “open enrollment.” For 30 years, Iowa parents have been able to enroll their kids in public school districts outside the one in which they live. Senator Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington, says it’s “a real financial issue” for districts that are losing students.”I think open enrollment is here to stay,” Greene says. “It’s not going to change and I understand that, but what I want to do is change the funding mechanism.” Greene is proposing that the home district — where the student lives — keep of 12 percent of the “per pupil” spending for each student who “open enrolls” into another district.

Green says that means all the state and federal tax dollars would follow a student to the other school, but the taxes paid by local property owners would stay put. Green says sending property tax dollars to another district is “taxation without representation.” “The Burlington School District totally surrounds the West Burlington School District. The West Burlington School District has 800 and 900 students; 53 percent of those students reside outside the boundaries of the West Burlington School District,” Greene says. “A huge amount of money comes into the West Burlington School District from outside, but those taxpayers have no say in how that money is spent. That’s my biggest concern.”

Before his election to the state senate, Greene was a member of the Burlington School Board and served as its president.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are used to wild weather extremes in the wintertime but going from balmy highs in the 60s to wind chills of minus-60 in the course of several days is radical, even for the Hawkeye State. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the month of January started out quite warm and stayed that way -almost- through the end.  “Up until the 27th of January, the state was above average temperature-wise,” Glisan says, “and then we got that polar plunge the last few days that really tipped the averages.”

It was almost like somebody roused a dozing Mother Nature from her slumber last Sunday and reminded her it’s supposed to be winter in Iowa — and she overreacted a bit.  “You look at the first week of January, we were actually way above average, between 15 to 25-degrees above average. Some parts of the state had temperatures in the 50s and 60s,” Glisan says. “You flip that, the last week of the month, we’re getting temperatures down into negative-30 and negative-40.”

Overall, the statewide average temperature for January was 18-point-five degrees, about one-degree below normal. Glisan says it appears February will remain colder than normal. “We’re looking to trend below-average for the month,” Glisan says. “We’re getting into the later part of wintertime so we’re warming up, but as of now, the outlooks have below-average temperatures. As for precipitation, it looks like we’re a tad bit above average for rainfall/snowfall across the state.”

Precipitation for January statewide averaged one-point-32 inches, which is four-tenths of an inch above normal. He notes, January is typically the driest month of the year.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was injured in a fire that heavily damaged a house in Ottumwa. Firefighters report finding the man just outside the house’s front door when they arrived Sunday afternoon. He was taken to an Ottumwa hospital before being transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. His name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated. The house is considered a total loss.

Sunday, February 10th is the date of the Annual Chili Contest sponsored by the Marne Community Club. At the same time, the Annual Men’s Pie Baking Contest will be held. Judging for both contests will be “people’s choice.”

Anyone interested in entering the Chili Contest should bring a gallon crock pot of chili to the Marne Community Center by 6:00 p.m. on the day of the contest. The same goes for entering the Men’s Pie Contest. There are no fees for entering. Trophies for both chili and pie winners are on display at the Marne Community Center, and the  1st place winners’ names will be added to their respective trophy.

Everyone is welcome to join the fun, either as a participant or a judge! Come to Marne and share a meal. The main course will be, of course, chili. Please bring a potluck salad to share. Pie for dessert! Beverages will be provided.

An investigation stemming from an incident that took place January 9th, has resulted in the arrest of a woman in southwest Iowa. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says on Jan. 9th, his  deputies were called to an address in Sidney for a report of an intoxicated female, who was arguing with bystanders and had fallen while holding an infant. Upon arrival, deputies removed a 2-month-old child from the care of 32-year old Jana Gray, of Sidney.

Jana Gray

The mother and child were transported to the hospital, where the child was found to be uninjured from the fall.

Deputies allege that Gray became intoxicated on an unknown substance while caring for the 2-month-old and another minor child.  The woman allegedly created a disturbance in the home and the minor requested assistance from neighbors.  When the neighbors attempted to aid the infant, Gray fell while holding the infant.

An investigation was conducted resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant for Gray, who was taken into custody by a Shenandoah Police Officer today (Monday, Feb. 4th). She was arrested on an active Fremont County warrant for Child Endangerment. Gray was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The Shenandoah Police Department, Sidney Fire and Rescue and Iowa Department of Human Services assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.