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Iowa officials consider options once ambulance service stops

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September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials in northwest Iowa are scrambling to line up an emergency ambulance service after a nonprofit announced it’ll cease service at the end of the year.  The Sioux City Journal reports that Siouxland Paramedics Inc. announced last month it’ll cease 911 services in Sioux City and North Sioux City as it tries moving toward a more sustainable model.

Sioux City Fire Rescue Chief Tom Everett says officials are considering absorbing future 911 services into the department or contracting with another private company. North Sioux City Fire Chief Bill Pappas says officials hope to form a partnership with Sioux City, but are also considering how to raise money to staff the city’s own service.

Outlying cities in nearby rural areas are also waiting to see how their service will be affected.

Woman jailed in shooting death of trucker at Iowa rest stop

News

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) —

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman shot and killed a male truck driver inside his cab early Wednesday at an Interstate 80 rest stop in Iowa and was quickly arrested and charged with murder, authorities said. The shooting happened at the westbound rest stop near Victor, about 40 miles west of Iowa City.

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting was reported shortly before 3 a.m. and that when officers arrived, they found the trucker dead from apparent gunshot wounds in the cab of his tractor-trailer.

This Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 booking photo released by the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department shows Mariana Lesnic, in Marengo, Iowa, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of a truck driver found dead in his cab at a rest stop early Wednesday, along Interstate 80 near Victor, Iowa. (Iowa County Sheriff’s Department via AP)

Mariana T. Lesnic, 43, was found at the scene and taken into custody. She was charged with first-degree murder and was being held at the Iowa County jail in Marengo on a $1 million cash-only bond.

In a criminal complaint, investigators allege that Lesnic killed the victim “willfully, deliberately and with premeditation by shooting him with a firearm” but provided no additional details. Authorities were withholding the victim’s name pending notification of his relatives.

The sheriff’s office said Lesnic’s address was unknown. The criminal complaint indicates that she has a Colorado driver’s license. A first-degree murder conviction in Iowa carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole.

Shelby County BOS news: Beaver bounty renewed

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September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning, in Harlan. According to the meeting minutes, the Board approved a motion to renew and set the beaver bounty this trapping season at $25, with a total payout limit of $5,000. Officials say the program used all budgeted funds last year, when the quota was set at 200 and met. Two-years ago, there were about 170 beavers turned in for bounty.

The Board also approved a request to resurface Shelby County Road M-47 from Highway 44 south, to the County line. The final plans and bid letting for the Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing project were also approved.

And, Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart provided an update on County road projects. He noted that the Smith project in northern Shelby County was completed, and the Nielsen Bridge project is on schedule to be finished this calendar year. He said also, shoulders are being brought in on the pavements, in anticipation of the harvest season. Ahart said also, road rock sources for the County have been moved further away, as the Schildberg Rock Quarry in Atlantic has exhausted its supply of material for roads.

Mills County Sheriff’s report (9/6/17)

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September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Sunday afternoon, 50-year old Ricardo Moreno-Chavez, of Sioux City, was arrested for Driving While Barred, Operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock, and other Violations pertaining to Insurance. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 1-p.m. on Interstate 29. Bond was set at $3,000.

Saturday afternoon, Mills County Deputies arrested 53-year old Andrew Klusaw, of Council Bluffs, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

And, Friday afternoon, 45-year old Rafael Jean Petitphait, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, for Driving Under Suspension, the bond for which was set at $300.

Authorities said also, Kiara Billings, of Bellevue, NE., was cited last Thursday for failure to have a valid driver’s license and following too close. The citation followed a rear-end collision that occurred at around 1:45-p.m. Thursday, near the intersection of Highway 34 and 221st Street. No injuries were reported.

Authorities release name of man who body was found in marsh

News

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man whose body was recovered from a marsh along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office identified the man Wednesday as 63-year-old Gary Koch, of Dubuque. The Sheriff’s Office says his death appears to be related to a medical condition.

His body was recovered from the marsh north of Dubuque around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities had been searching for Koch since his family members sought help late Monday night.

Honey Creek man arrested following hit-and-run accident

News

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

An investigation into a hit-and-run property damage incident in Pottawattamie County, Tuesday night, resulted in a man being arrested for OWI/2nd offense. The Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Lieber was driving a marked patrol car at around 9:20-p.m., when a broadcast was put out about a hit-and-run that had just occurred. The deputy passed the suspect vehicle, a red Ford Ranger pickup, on Big Lake Road and observed it had front end damage.

After he turned around to initiate a traffic stop, the Deputy noticed multiple signs the driver was under the influence. After a series of sobriety tests, the driver of the pickup, 22-year old Jacob Robert Levene, of Honey Creek, was taken into custody and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 9/6/2017

News, Podcasts

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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Creston Police report (9/6/17)

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September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department says two residents of the community reported one incident of vandalism and one of theft. A man residing in the 700 block of N. Sycamore Street in Creston, told Police Tuesday morning, that someone had slashed a tire on his vehicle, resulting in a loss of about $250. The incident happened sometime between Sept. 1st and 5th.

And, a Creston man reported Tuesday that sometime between 3:30-and 4:30-p.m. Tuesday, someone took his wife’s purse from her vehicle while it was parked near 410 S. Sumner Street. The loss was estimated at $60.

And, sun glare was said to have been partially to blame for an accident that happened at around 8-a.m. Tuesday, at the intersection of S. Sycamore and W. Howard Streets, in Creston. Authorities say a 2013 Chevy Cruz driven by 53-year old Michelle McLaren-Hicks, of Creston, and a 2011 Chevy Malibu driven by 27-year old Chelsea Leigh Sorensen, of Creston collided, after McLaren-Hicks, who was traveling east on Howard Street and stopped at the intersection, pulled away from the stop sign.

She told officials the rising sun obstructed her view of the pickup. The woman was given a warning for Failure to Yield the right-of-way. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. There were no injuries reported.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 9/6/2017

News, Podcasts

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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Man charged in casino fake cash case pleads not guilty

News

September 6th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Another of the three people accused of trying to pass counterfeit cash at Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has pleaded not guilty. The Sioux City Journal reports that 26-year-old Kurt Jones entered the plea Friday to a forgery charge. His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 28. He lives in Le Mars.

Police say Jones, Jackelen Hartsock and Brittany Derby made several cash transactions at the casino on Aug. 5. Police say the bills were later found to be counterfeit. Hartsock already has pleaded not guilty. Derby hasn’t been arraigned yet.