The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 33-year old Keith Matthew Wyatt, of Minden, was arrested at around 3:30-a.m. Saturday, following an investigation into the Theft of two high-def surveillance cameras from the Iowa Gun Store, in Walnut. The cameras and computer hardware were valued at almost $625 altogether. The owner of the store was able to review the video evidence with a Deputy at the scene that resulted in Wyatt being charged with Theft in the 4th Degree, and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief.

A man already being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail was charged early Saturday morning, with Possession of Contraband in a jail facility (Hydrocodone pills). Authorities say the charge was filed against 37-year old Johnathan Dale Campbell, of Council Bluffs.

20-year old Darrin Lamont Jackson, Jr. of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday afternoon in Pott. County, following a traffic stop for speeding. His vehicle also did not have registration plates or tags. Jackson was initially issued verbal warnings for the offenses and released, but a subsequent records check revealed he was wanted on a warrant charging him with three counts of Violating a Protective Order. The deputy caught up with Jackson, Jr., and pulled him over for a second time before placing him under arrest.

Also arrested in Pottawattamie County, Saturday, was 41-year old Charles Douglas Nichols, of Council Bluffs, who was parked at the end of a dead-end road. An investigation resulted in his arrest at around 4:15-p.m. , for OWI/1st Offense, Carrying Weapons, Possession of Controlled Substances (Amphetamines and/or Meth), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (meth in a syringe). He was also said to be in possession of a home-made cutting instrument at the time of his arrest.

35-year old Lindsey Anne Guest, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday night for OWI/1st offense, after she was pulled over for swerving into and out of the traffic lanes.  Sunday evening Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31-year old Nina Brandy Nicole Bruns, of Manning, at the Underwood I-80 Truck Stop. Bruns was arrested on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana. She was found to have in her possession 49.6-grams of a green leafy substance (a marijuana blunt) and three drug pipes.

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

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Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports the arrest on Sunday, of 38-year old Brandi Warrior, of Fontanelle. Warrior was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into an accident that happened at around 11-p.m. Saturday  at 7th and Poplar, in Atlantic.  Authorities say a vehicle driven by Brian Nielsen, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 7th Street and stopped at the red light, when it was hit from behind by Warrior’s vehicle. No Injuries were reported. Warrior was cited for Failure to Stop in an assured clear distance. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000.

On Friday, 35-year old David Roberts, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, and Administering Harmful Substances. Authorities says Roberts is alleged to have struck a female victim in her left eye, and for sticking a needle containing an unknown substance, into the victim’s ankle.

Roberts and Warrior were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon near 7th and Poplar. The A-PD says a vehicle driven by Star Fiedler, of Atlantic, was stopped on Poplar Street waiting for a vehicle driven by Lee Parish, of Atlantic, to back out of the Casey’s parking lot, when Parish’s vehicle collided with the Fiedler vehicle. Parish was cited for Unsafe backing onto a highway.

(8-a.m. News)

Police in Creston report 47-year old Salvador Banda, of Creston, was arrested Friday morning on drug charges. Banda was taken into custody at his home in the 700 block of E. Summit Street, for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver – over 5 grams, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. His bond at the Union County Jail was set at $30,000.

And, last Thursday evening, 29-year old Lansey Cheramie, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on a $300 bond.

Creston Police said also, a Clearfield man reported Saturday morning, that someone stole his wallet containing cash, credit and debit cards, along with a checkbook. Those items were taken from the man’s locker at 500 Industrial Parkway. The incident, which happened between 1:30-and 4-a.m. Oct. 14th, resulted in a loss of about $50.

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

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At least four area school district Boards of Education are set to hold their regular monthly meetings this evening. The Griswold School Board meeting gets underway at 5:30-p.m. in the Central Office. The Board will receive an update on the facilities project from KPE architects/Estes Construction. They’re also expected to discuss and act on Girls basketball practice procedures, backpack restrictions and a Resolution Authorizing the voter approved issuance of slightly more than $9.7-milion in General Obligation Bonds and the levying of taxes to paid for those bonds.

The CAM School Board will gather at 6:30-p.m. in the High School Media Center. The Board is set to act on any resignations and contract, approve a contract with UNI (The Univ. of Northern IA), to host student teachers, and they will consider a request to purchase weight room equipment.

In Audubon, the School Board meeting begins at 7-p.m. in the High School Board room. Action items on their agenda include: Discussion of a Policy pertaining to Foreign Students; Approval of Mid-Year graduates; and the 1st reading of Employee as well as Wellness Policies.

In the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton District, the Board will gather at 7-p.m. in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. New Business includes Discussion with regard to Superintendent Sharing, Facility Planning (Update), approval of a contract with KPE architects and a proposal from R.L. Craft with regard to roof repairs, along with a lighting upgrade for the Exira Building and early graduation requirements. The Exira-EHK Board will also act on approving personnel, transfers and resignations.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet this (Monday) evening at City Hall, during a regular monthly session. Action items and/or new business on their agenda include that which pertains to: The Schildberg Rec Area Development Project (Update); Schildberg Eastside Playground approval; Schildberg Committee (Update); Lake 3 stabilization update & approval for trail replacement; Sports Complex planning (Update); Cedar Park Shelter (Approval for electrical outlets); and a review of Public Gardens rough concept plans.

In his report to the Board, Director Seth Staashelm is expected to announce the Park Restroom will be closing this Wednesday (Oct. 18th), and that the winterizing of fountains will begin the week. He’ll also discuss 10-year planning that begins this winter; Internship for Summer, 2018, and Campground hydrant preparations.

The meeting takes 5:15-p.m., at City Hall.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people have died in a West Des Moines collision caused by a wrong-way driver. The collision occurred just before 2 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 35. Authorities say a car headed south in one of the northbound lanes collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Both drivers were killed. Police identified the driver of the southbound car as 49-year-old Monte Johnson, of Hartford. The driver of the northbound car was identified as 32-year-old Nripin Chinni, of West Des Moines. His passenger, 27-year-old Durga Papina, was taken to a hospital.

A Nebraska man was arrested on a drug charge following a traffic stop at around 2:30-a.m. today (Monday), in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Rasheed Faheem Barze, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested at the intersection of Highways 34 and 71, on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver. Barze was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond. Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County K9 Unit, in conducting the arrest..

New legislation moving through Congress is designed to expand markets for farmers in Iowa and nationwide. It’s called the Local Food and Regional Market Supply – or FARMS – Act. Anna Johnson, a policy program associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, says the bill aims to help producers sell locally. “This bill does three things to help local foods,” Johnson says. “The first thing is, it helps farmers reach new markets, and then it increases access to healthy foods for low-income populations, and the third thing is that it strengthens the infrastructure for local foods to reach market.”

The bill also proposes giving school districts more leeway in buying from local sources. She explains more about how it would boost access to healthy foods for people in low-income brackets. “USDA has a program called the Seniors Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, which helps seniors access fresh, healthy food at farmer’s markets,” Johnson says. “One of the proposals here is to expand that to also be available to low-income veterans. That will not only help out veterans, it would also expand the markets for producers.”

Johnson says parts of the bill could be included in the 2018 Farm Bill that’s being crafted now. She says recent years have been tight for agriculture and this would help. “Farmers who are selling into local markets have been expanding,” Johnson says. “This would help address a couple of those bottlenecks or limitations to existing supply chains that they’re running into that are keeping them from expanding their businesses and keeping additional farmers from entering into these channels.”

Johnson says the bill also would expand loan and grant opportunities through the Farm Service Agency, which could help to increase meat and dairy processing capabilities for small producers. The Center for Rural Affairs is based in Lyons, Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Learfield’s Mike Loizzo)