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

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Firefighters from Cumberland were dispatched just before 7-a.m. today to the 21st Century Co-Op, with regard to an anhydrous leak from a tank. No other details are currently available.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that around 4-a.m. today (Saturday), deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in Sidney with 22-year old Kristen Gleason, of Sidney. During the stop Gleason was found to be operating a motor vehicle while suspended. She was transported to the Fremont County Jail and held, pending an initial appearance before a magistrate. 

Red Oak Police report two men were arrested on separate charges Friday evening. 24-year old Jesse Dean Uhlmann, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7:40-p.m., on a warrant for Failure to Appear on Possession of Controlled Substance charges. Uhlmann was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash-only bond. And, at around 7:05-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 31-year old Cody Allen Keith Tunnell, of Red Oak, for OWI/2nd offense, Eluding and Driving While Suspended. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.

A single-vehicle accident Friday night in Montgomery County resulted in an arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 61-year old Sherry Ann Franzen, of Elliott, was driving a 2006 GMC Envoy westbound in the 500 block of Main Street in Elliott at around 9:20-p.m., when the vehicle left the road to the south, jumped a curb and struck a road sign. The SUV then crossed back over Main Street to the north, jumped another curb and continued west through two residential yards before striking a campaign election sign. The vehicle re-entered the street and continued west to the 300 block of Main Street, where it was parked. Deputies arrested Franzen for OWI/1st offense and transported her to the Montgomery County Jail, where he bond was set at $1,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined in March to order an investigation of sexual harassment allegations against one of her top allies, opting instead to fire him immediately. Two months later, the governor’s abrupt dismissal of Iowa Finance Authority director Dave Jamison could become a problem for the state from a legal perspective. The Iowa executive branch is opposing a request by Jamison to collect unemployment benefits after his March 24 firing. A hearing is set for next month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say the flu killed more than twice as many residents this past winter as the year before. The Des Moines Register says the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Friday that 270 people in Iowa died from the flu in the season starting last fall. That compares with 133 flu deaths over the same period a year earlier. Just 44 flu deaths were confirmed in Iowa two seasons ago.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are trying to identify the person whose remains were found in the Mississippi River at Keokuk in southeast Iowa. Boaters reported Thursday afternoon that they’d spotted the body near the Keokuk Yacht Club. Authorities say the body was so badly decomposed it wasn’t clear whether the person had been injured in a crime or accident.

ELKADER, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a northeast Iowa man found competent to help his lawyers defend him against two counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence. Court records say 21-year-old Kory Doeppke was ruled competent Tuesday after being assessed at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. His trial starting date: July 18.

Two of central Iowa’s most popular bicycle trails are another step closer to being joined into what one backer calls a “mega-trail.” A 15-thousand dollar grant was landed this week that will help extend the High Trestle Trail from Woodward to connect with the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Perry. Mike Wallace, executive director at the , says they’re working with some two-dozen landowners.

“That gap that we’re trying to make the connection on is a nine-mile segment,” Wallace says. “We’re utilizing former railroad right-of-way and road right-of-way and some land parcels that we’ve been able to acquire, all to make that nine-mile connection.”

The Raccoon River Valley Trail runs a total of 89 miles while the High Trestle Trail is 25 miles long — and it links to other trails extending into Des Moines and well beyond. Closing that nine-mile gap is part of a five-million dollar project, Wallace says, and the timeline is still fluid. “We need to raise another $2-million, so when that happens, I can’t really tell you,” Wallace says. “We apply for state grants, federal grants, private grants, foundations, all those types of things. It’s a slow process.”

The High Trestle Trail has won international acclaim, in large part thanks to the 130-foot-tall bridge and its 43 diamond-shapped ribs, which are illuminated by cool blue lights at night. The trail goes through towns like Woodward, Madrid, Slater, Sheldahl and Ankeny. A recent Iowa State University study found each rider spends between six and 20-dollars per visit.

“It’s a real shot in the arm especially to smaller communities,” Wallace says. “All of the sudden, thousands of people are coming to their community, whereas before they’d be driving right through and not stopping at all. It really does make a significant difference for all communities, whether it’s small or large.”

The north loop of the Raccoon River Valley Trail connects 15 communities and four counties in what’s believed to be the longest paved loop trail in the country at 72 miles.

(Radio Iowa)

One benefit of a cooler spring was a lack of mosquitoes in Iowa, but Deputy State Epidemiologist, Ann Garvey says the rains and warm weather have change that situation. Garvey says that makes it important to wear insect repellent if you are going to be outside. “We are hearing a lot anecdotally about nuisance mosquito activity and if you wear that insect repellent like a DEET product — that would be effective against mosquitoes and against the ticks — which we know are out and about this time of year as well,” Garvey says.

If you are out during the day then you’ll need sunscreen along with the bug repellent. Doctor Garvey says the used of both often leads to a question. “Sometimes people will ask ‘do we put the sunscreen on first or the insect repellent?’ The recommendation is to put the sunscreen on first and the insect repellent over the top,” according to Garvey. “You’ll often have to reapply the sunscreen more often than you will the insect repellent, so it’s important to read the directions and reapply as directed.”

Garvey says mosquitoes can carry disease and if you are in areas with trees or lots of grass, you could also be bitten by ticks and exposed to a disease. “The most common tick associated illness in Iowa is Lyme disease. We have several hundred cases every year. Last year we had about 250 cases so we expect we’ll see a large number of cases again this year,” Garvey says.

Lyme disease is the only worry when it comes to ticks. “The other two most common ticks are the American dog tick, and that can transmit illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Tularemia,” Garvey explains, “and the Lone Star tick can transmit Tularemia and Erlichiosis and so while we talk a lot about the deer tick or the black legged tick, there are other types of ticks that can cause other types of illnesses.”

People pay a lot of attention to avoiding getting bitten by a tick or a mosquito, but sometimes forget some common things at the holiday picnic that can also lead to illnesses. Garvey says they see a lot of illnesses created by improper food handling. “So it’s important as we’re grilling and having those picnics and barbecues this weekend that we’re handling our food properly and encourage everybody to cook their meats to the proper temperature — and keep their hot foods hot and their cold foods cold,” Garvey says.

You can find a variety of information on avoiding ticks and mosquitoes and proper food handling on the Iowa Department of Public Health website.

(Radio Iowa)

A special traffic enforcement effort is underway this Memorial Day weekend called the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort, or CARE. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz says extra officers will be out on the roadways with the main focus on speed and distracted driving. The D-O-T reports that 106 people have died in accidents on Iowa roads so far this year.

Kurtz says the numbers are nearly the same from last year. He says the total is a relative number because one death on the roadways is too many. Kurtz says you have to look beyond the numbers to see the real impact. “You go and talk to a family member who has lost a loved one in a crash and ask them how many fatalities are too many in Iowa each year,” Kurtz says, “and their answer is going to be ‘one.’ It’s their family member who no longer is around — that one is too many.”

He says the goal for the Iowa State Patrol is to always strive for zero fatalities and he says the extra officers on the roadways should serve as a reminder. He says they want people to thing about slowing down, buckling up and having a sober ride.

Two people died in Memorial Day weekend accidents on Iowa roadways last year.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting as a courtesy to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, that westbound Interstate 80 will be reduced to one lane at 24th Street beginning at 10-p.m. Tuesday, May 29th, through Wednesday, June 13. The lane reduction is necessary to facilitate construction on westbound I-80.

Hawkins Construction Company is the Contractor on this Project. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously through construction zones.