A traffic stop on vehicle traveling without its headlights on early this (Thursday) morning in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of a Council Bluffs man on a charge of OWI. Sheriff’s officials say Deputy Zach Norman saw the Chrysler 300 in the vicinity of Highway 92 and the South Expressway at around 2:45-a.m., and conducted a traffic stop. An investigation resulted in the arrest of 71-year old Dwayne Edward Sanders, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense.

Despite Wednesday’s heavy rain in parts of the state, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist Joel DeJong says Iowa’s farmers have been making good progress since the weekend U-S-D-A report that showed about half the state’s corn crop was in the ground.

“We’ve had magnificent days since Sunday,” DeJong says. “There’s been estimates that we’re planting well over a million acres a day in Iowa, probably closer to a million-and-a-half if you do the math, maybe even close to two-million acres a day. We’re making tremendous progress.”

The forecast calls for warmer temperatures for most of the state through the weekend, into the 70s and 80s, with no more chances for rain until Tuesday. With the warm-up, DeJong says corn that was planted a month ago is beginning to appear. “For those producers who planted in very early April, the 11th and 12th of April, we had a few people that planted then, that corn should be up by now,” DeJong says. “We saw some emergence for those hybrids last week, but we hadn’t accumulated a lot of growing days until we got into late last week.”

Corn planted around the 23rd and 24th of April should be emerging very soon. In recent weeks, Iowa has seen early spring snowstorms, wet conditions and very cold temperatures, which has been difficult for the emerging corn plants. “They struggled. You can see tissue damage from those 22-degree temperatures and the really cold nights we had in the mix,” DeJong says. “You can see tissue damage on the chute but it looks like most of them did get above ground and they’re leafing out okay. I’ve heard a couple of reports from a county that says the cold really did mess up the germination and we’ve had some real problems.”

DeJong says it’s likely a majority of the state’s corn farmers will not have to replant their seed.

(Radio Iowa)

Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday evening, arrested 19-year old Seth Dewayne Strong, of Elk Horn, following a traffic stop on Highway 173. Strong was charged with Driving with a suspended license, and failure to provide financial liability. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and released this (Thursday) morning, after being given a date to appear in court.

And, late Tuesday night, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39 year old Jeffrey Lee Simpson, of Carroll, on outstanding warrants for two counts of Violation of Probation. Simpson was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $50,000 bond.

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

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Officials with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund handed out three, $750 scholarships to graduating Atlantic High School Seniors during “Senior Night,” Wednesday evening. The committee ,which consists of friends of Trevor, chose Catherine Leonard, Taylor Kirchner and Zac Stork as recipients of the scholarships. Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty says “The Trevor Frederickson Fund congratulates all of the graduates, and wishes you a blessed future as you continue on in your college education.”

The fund which was originally started in hopes of handing out scholarships each year has grown into so much more for our community. In fact, the Fund has given out over $150,000 since 2009, looks forward to doing so for many years.

Petty says “We are only able to accomplish these things because of the great support of friends, family and local businesses. Thank you all for supporting us!”

Police in Creston Wednesday night arrested Kyle Hoadley, of Creston, on charges that include two counts each of Trespass and Theft in the 5th Degree. Hoadley was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

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

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Aetna Health says it will be leaving the individual health plan market in Nebraska. Aetna had sold policies in only four states this year after quitting 11 states last year, and last month it announced it was pulling out of Iowa and Virginia.

Aetna’s decision leaves only Medica Health in Nebraska’s Affordable Care Act market, and Medica officials said Wednesday that the company had not yet decided whether to remain in the Nebraska market.

Nebraska Insurance Department director Bruce Ramge has said that if no companies participate in the Nebraska exchange next year, it could mean that people who qualify for tax credits don’t get them, although they would still have to find insurance to fulfill the individual mandate should it still be in effect.

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

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of shooting two sheriff’s deputies, one fatally, in a western Iowa jail escape has been taken back to Iowa to face charges. Officials say 24-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty was picked up from an Omaha, Nebraska, jail Wednesday morning and taken to the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. He was denied bail as he awaits prosecution on murder, attempted murder and other counts.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A group that feeds the homeless and others in need will reopen its doors Monday after the city of Davenport agreed not to cite it for zoning violations. The Quad-City Times reported Wednesday that an attorney for the pastor and church that operate Timothy’s House of Hope confirmed the development. Last month, the city had issued a cease-and-desist order to the nonprofit, saying current zoning regulations prohibit the organization from using its new location to feed the homeless.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a tornado has touched down south of Mount Pleasant in the southeastern corner of Iowa, but no reports of injuries or damage has been made. Mount Pleasant City Administrator Brent Schleisman says the tornado was confirmed around 3 p.m. Wednesday. It hit as the National Weather Service placed parts of Henry and Des Moines counties under a tornado warning until later Wednesday afternoon.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A spokeswoman says University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld mistakenly reported receiving income for corporate consulting work on a legally-required disclosure form. Harreld reported last month that he received more than $1,000 in income in 2016 from General Motors and West Ed, a nonprofit education group. But a spokeswoman says Harreld filled out the form incorrectly and that he hasn’t done any paid consulting since becoming president in November 2015.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a tornado has touched down south of Mount Pleasant in the southeastern corner of Iowa, but no reports of injuries or damage has been made.

Mount Pleasant City Administrator Brent Schleisman says the tornado was confirmed around 3 p.m. Wednesday. It hit as the National Weather Service placed parts of Henry and Des Moines counties under a tornado warning until later Wednesday afternoon.

Schleisman said he believed the tornado skirted south of Mount Pleasant, but had not had much of a chance to check in with residents. Schleisman said he and other City Hall employees “just got out of the basement ourselves.”