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Sanders and Klobuchar to criss-cross Iowa

News

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Two Democrat Presidential candidates, Senator Bernie Sanders, from Vermont, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, from Minnesota, will be in western Iowa over the coming days, making campaign stops and holding meet & greet or town hall-type events.

Klobuchar will be making her third bus tour across Iowa, with stops in Creston, Diagonal, Corning, Bedford, Clarinda, Sidney and Council Bluffs tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 21). On Sunday, she travels to Logan, Harlan, Audubon and Denison for public events, before moving on to communities in northwest Iowa. (Her local, Dec. 21st schedule is as follows):

  • 12:30-p.m. – Adams St. Espresso in Creston (213 W. Adams St.).
  • 1:50-p.m. – Ringgold County Freedom Rock (W. 3rd St.), in Diagonal.
  • 2:45-p.m. – At the Primrose in Corning (619 Davis Ave.)
  • 4:00-p.m. – Taylor County Museum (1001 Pollock Blvd.), in Bedford.
  • 5:00-p.m. – Garrison House (106 N. 16th St.), in Corning.
  • 6:45-p.m. – Silver Spur Bar & Grill (708 Illinois St.), in Sidney.
  • 8:15-p.m. – The Gorman’s Residence (203 5th Ave.) in Council Bluffs, for a House Party.

On Sunday, Dec. 22nd, the Senator from Minnesota will be:

  • At the Bunkhouse Cafe Too, in Logan (123 N. 4th Ave.), at around 9-a.m.
  • At 10:15-a.m., she’s scheduled to be in Harlan, at Mike & Honey (1101 7th St.).
  • 11:30-a.m. – Albert the Bull in Audubon.
  • and at 12:30-p.m., at the El Jimador Mexican Grill, in Denison (2506 4th Ave.)

Sanders returns to Iowa Dec. 29th through the 31st, for campaign stops in Polk, Dallas and Madison Counties. On Monday, Dec. 30th, Sanders will hold a Winterset Town Hall in the Winterset Middle School Commons area, beginning at 6:30-p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are encourage to RSVP via the Sanders’ campaign website.

Update on “Active Shooter” response at Camp Dodge

News

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

In an update to an earlier report, a spokesman for the Iowa National Guard, Friday (Today), said “A combination of factors led to a 911 call from Camp Dodge Wednesday initiating an active shooter response from local, county and state law enforcement agencies.” Col. Michael Wunn said “A preliminary review by Camp Dodge security personnel has revealed that there was no actual threat to the base or to base personnel at the time of the call.”

Col. Wunn said “In response to recent attacks at military bases in Hawaii and Florida, U.S. Northern Command recently directed military installations to assess force protection procedures and increase security measures as appropriate for their installations and facilities. Additionally, as part of this heightened security posture, personnel were reminded to remain alert and act if they observe suspicious activity.

Early Wednesday afternoon, the Camp Dodge supply warehouse (Bldg. W12), a large facility designed to receive shipments as well as issue clothing and individual equipment, took steps to increase its security posture by locking doors that normally remain open during business hours to prevent free access to the building.

Non-warehouse personnel present in the facility at the time the increased security measures went into effect mistook these actions as an active event rather than proactive steps to secure the warehouse. Told they were under lockdown, they reported it to their supervisor at the Camp Dodge Range Control office as a potential active shooter situation. Repeated return calls from the Range Control office to verify the situation at the warehouse went unanswered and prompted a decision to call 911.”

Wunn said “Compounding the confusion at the time of the 911 call were ongoing security concerns related to an incident with a former Iowa National Guard Soldier, who recently made threatening statements to Camp Dodge personnel.”

He added, “As reported Wednesday, Camp Dodge security and multiple law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to the call, arriving on scene within minutes. Base personnel were instructed to lockdown and shelter in place in accordance with active shooter protocols. Law enforcement officers took steps to search and clear the building and surrounding area. Once these steps were complete, the all-clear was issued and the lockdown lifted.

Despite any inconvenience and disruption caused by yesterday’s response, all parties agree that in today’s environment, it is better to error on the side of caution and act when confronted with a real or perceived threat.”

Atlantic hosts Lewis Central tonight on KJAN, Exira-EHK welcomes West Harrison on Spartan Media

Sports

December 20th, 2019 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans play host to the Lewis Central Titans for a varsity basketball doubleheader tonight and we’ll have coverage on KJAN. We’ll start our pregame coverage at 5:50pm with the girls game set to tip-off at 6:00pm, the boys will follow at about 7:30pm. Chris Parks has the call from the Atlantic High School gymnasium. Tune in on air at AM 1220, FM 101.1, and online at kjan.com. You can also catch live video of both games on KJANTV.

Also tonight through the KJAN Video Network the Spartan Media channel will have the live broadcast of Exira-EHK vs. West Harrison varsity hoops doubleheader. Pregame coverage will also begin at 5:50pm before the 6:00pm girls game. Also in between games tonight the 2010 Exira Vikettes State Championship team will be honored for their historic season.

Join us tonight for some great high school basketball coverage.

Police: Iowa woman said she ran over girl in racist attack

News

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Police say they’ve charged a Des Moines woman with attempted murder after she told officers she intentionally ran over a 14-year-old girl because she believed the teen was Mexican. Natalia Miranda suffered a concussion and severe bruising in the attack but is expected to make a full recovery.

This undated photo provided by the Polk County (Iowa) Jail shows Nicole Marie Poole Franklin. Clive, Iowa police on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, charged Franklin, of Des Moines with attempted murder. She’s accused of purposely running down a 14-year-old girl who was walking along a sidewalk in a suburban neighborhood. Police say Franklin told investigators she hit the girl because she is “a Mexican.” The girl was seriously hurt but is recovering from her injuries. Franklin is being held in the Polk County Jail.(Polk County Jail via AP)

Clive Police Chief Mike Venema said Friday during a news conference that 42-year-old Nicole Marie Poole Franklin admitted to steering her SUV onto a sidewalk on Dec. 9 in the suburban Des Moines community and intentionally running over the teenager. Natalia was walking to school to watch a basketball game. Police say Franklin made derogatory statements about Latinos during a police interview.

Friday night for Floyd: Big Ten moves Iowa-Minnesota game up

Sports

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The next edition of the Iowa-Minnesota college football rivalry will be staged on a Friday night. The Big Ten has moved the Hawkeyes-Gophers game in 2020 from Sept. 20 to Sept. 19. This will be the earliest-ever meeting between the two schools that play annually for the Floyd of Rosedale bronze pig trophy. In 113 all-time matchups, the Hawkeyes and Gophers have only met in September twice. That was in 2012 and 2013. Iowa leads the series 63-48-2.

The Big Ten began scheduling Friday night games in 2017. Minnesota hosted one in 2018, a victory over Indiana.

Mahomes flourishes in snow as Chiefs keep winning

Sports

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Patrick Mahomes added another memorable performance to an impressive start to his career last weekend against Denver. He completed 27 of 34 passes through a driving snowstorm to lead Kansas City to a 23-3 victory. It was the kind of weather that should have made it difficult for a kid from Texas to throw the ball. Instead it allowed Mahomes to show off his arm strength and accuracy in new ways. Now, the reigning league MVP hopes to carry that hot hand into Sunday night’s game in Chicago.

CINDY PIERCE, 65, of Panora (No services at this time)

Obituaries

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CINDY PIERCE, 65, of Panora, died Thursday, Dec. 19th, at Panora Specialty Care. Cremation has taken place, and No Services will be held for CINDY PIERCE at this time. Twigg Funeral Home in Panora is assisting the family.

CINDY PIERCE is survived by:

Her husband – George Pierce, of Panora.

Her son – David Minicucci, of Santa Barbara, CA.

Her daughter – Jenny Forner, of Adel.

and 3 grandchildren.

JIMMY “JIM” CHRISTENSEN, 68, of Greenfield (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

JIMMY “JIM” CHRISTENSEN, 68, of Greenfield, died Friday, December 20, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.  Funeral services for JIM CHRISTENSEN pending at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com.

Iowa unemployment rate remains at 2.6%, among lowest in US

News

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at 2.6% in November as the number of people with and without jobs both increased. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the number of Iowa residents with jobs climbed by 8,200 from October to November. The number of unemployed people also increased, from 45,100 in October to 46,200 in November. Iowa’s 2.6% unemployment rate was the nation’s fifth lowest, tied with Colorado, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Virginia.

Vermont had the lowest rate, at 2.3%. The national unemployment rate in November was 3.5%.

Traffic stop results in the arrest of a woman from New Market

News

December 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Thursday, arrested a woman on warrants out of two area counties. A vehicle driven by 37-year old Amber Wilmot, of New Market, was pulled-over for a minor traffic infraction near the intersection of Highway 2 and C Avenue, about two-miles east of Shenandoah.

Amber Wilmot (Page County S/O photo)

During the stop, Wilmot was found to be driving without a valid license. She was also found to have had warrants out of Page and Mills Counties.

Charges on the warrants are for Theft 5th Degree and Failure to appear. Wilmot was transported to the Page County Jail where she was being held on a $2,000 cash-only bond.