Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports today (Wednesday), 21-year old Hunter Bechtold, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant out of Nodaway County Missouri, for Rape in the 2nd Degree. Bechtold was being held in the Cass County Jail.

And, two Atlantic residents have been arrested on drug charges. 26-year old Nicholas Anderson was arrested today for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Tuesday, 49-year old Michael Redler was arrested by Atlantic Police on Cass County warrants for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Police in Creston report 38-year old Seth Preston, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Laurel Street, the charges of Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Mushrooms, Possession with Intent to Sell or Manufacture Methamphetamine over 5 grams, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. Preston was being held in the Union County Jail a $100,000 bond.

And three incidents of theft were reported to Creston Police, Tuesday. A fireproof safe containing a silver Bar, two diamond necklaces, three wedding rings, some personal documents and other items were taken from an apartment on S. Sumner Street. The estimated loss is unknown at this time.

The Creston Pizza Hut reported Tuesday, that on April 8th and 24th, two bank deposits went missing. They estimated the loss at nearly $1,100. A Creston resident reported Tuesday night that sometime between May 5th and 9th, someone had broken into his garage in the 200 block of N. Division Street, and stolen a three gallon gas can full of gas. The loss was estimated at $20.

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

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A former Winnebago Tribal Council member has pleaded guilty to his role in stealing from the tribe’s casino in Iowa. The Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star reports  that Lawrence Payer is one of nine former council members accused of a conspiracy to siphon more than $327,000 from the WinneVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors in U.S. District Court in Omaha, Payer admits only to misapplying funds belonging to an Indian gaming establishment. Conspiracy and other charges against him will be dropped if the court accepts the plea agreement. Prosecutors have recommended that Payer be sentenced to five years of probation and be ordered to repay any money he illegally obtained from the casino.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will recommend to the full City Council fireworks will be allowed within City limits from 6-pm until Midnight on the 4^th of July, and on New Year’s Eve from dusk until 12:15-a.m. New Year’s Day. Governor Branstad, Tuesday, signed a bill into law allowing the sale of fireworks in Iowa, beyond the traditional sparklers, snakes and caps. The bill prohibits cities and counties from banning the sale, but it does not set forth rules as to if or when they can be used on those two holidays.

The CPC agreed to allow only tent sales of fireworks in the City by licensed and insured vendors, but also agreed to charge a $200 fee on top of the $1,000 fee vendors pay to the state for certification and licensing. The sites must also be inspected as required by the bill, but because the State Fire Marshals Office is so busy, the question of who will inspect the vendor operations, is not clear.

City Administrator John Lund talk with Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees about the requirements and ask him to conduct the inspections.

When the Atlantic City Council next convenes, they’ll act on a recommendation from the City’s Community Protection Committee, with regard to the allowing of chickens within the City limits. The CPC met Tuesday evening to discuss the amending of the City Code to allow chickens. The Committee voted 2-to 1 to recommend approval, with Gerald Brink voting No, Chris Jimerson and Ashley Hayes voting in favor of the recommendation.

If the Council approves, the matter will be return to the CPC to write the rules that will be incorporated into an amended ordinance. The re-write will then go back to the Council. Councilman Gerald Brink said no one he’s spoken with or heard from is in favor of allowing chickens inside the City limits, but Councilperson Hayes said she’s hearing just the opposite.

Brink said he doesn’t buy into the “eggs are cheaper if you raise chickens at home” point of view, saying “You can buy eggs for 49-cents a dozen…you’ve [still] got to feed the chickens.” Councilman Chris Jimerson said people who want chickens aren’t concerned about the price of eggs, as most were back when the Bird Flu hit Iowa. Hayes agreed. Jimerson said “This newer generation isn’t so much concerned about price. They’re concerned about the quality they’re getting,” and if they feed the chickens themselves, they know what goes into the final product. Hayes said also, that they can profit from the sale of eggs produced in excess of what they can use in their household.

Atlantic City Administrator John Lund said he’s checked with Red Oak, Shenandoah and Harlan about their poultry ordinances. Harlan doesn’t allow them, Red Oak allows a Farmland Animal permit, with the City Administrator conducting inspections. And Shenandoah only allows them in Agricultural areas outside of town.

Separately, the Committee was not in favor of allowing Ducks within the City limits, but if the “yes/no” measure is approved by the Council, that too will come back before the Committee for rule writing.

Two people riding a motorcycle were injured during a collision between the cycle and a deer Tuesday night, west of Griswold. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened just before 10-p.m. on Highway 92. Griswold Fire and Rescue along with Medivac ambulance were called to the scene near the Apple Orchard, west of Griswold. Additional information was not immediately available.

And, one person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following a single-vehicle accident at around 7:40-p.m.Tuesday on 22^nd Street, near the Sundance Apartments. Dispatch reports indicated a vehicle struck a light pole at that location, and that a male subject was outside the vehicle, laying on the ground.

Officials on the scene said a westbound Jeep went out of control and entered the south ditch before hitting the utility pole. The SUV then came to rest on its wheels. The victim was transported by Medivac ambulance to the hospital. The accident remained under investigation, and additional information was not available.

Officers were assisted at the scene by deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and personnel from the Atlantic Fire and Rescue Department, along with Medivac.

Up until today (Wednesday), at least, Iowa farmers were putting in some long hours, taking advantage of good weather while they can, to get all their crops planted. Robert Lynch, who farms north of Fort Dodge, says he worked nearly around the clock on Sunday and finished planting one of his corn fields early Monday morning.

The USDA’s weekly crop update shows 52-percent of the state’s corn acreage was planted as of Sunday. That’s about a week behind last year’s pace, but just a little later than average. “The corn is probably right on line. If we try to get in by the sixth to eighth of May to get our corn finished up, and turn right around and do the beans, it’s probably right on line,” Lynch said. “The beans will be good to get in this early too.”

Statewide, nine-percent of the soybean acreage is planted. That’s about two days behind average.

(Radio Iowa, w/thanks to Dean Borg, Iowa Public Radio)

Authorities in Montgomery County report three people were arrested, Tuesday. Red Oak Police say 69-year old Linda Kay King, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 3-p.m. for Theft in the 5th Degree, in connection with the alleged theft on Monday from a grocery store, of items valued at less than $200. King was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Red Oak Police also arrested 27-year old Carley Marie Whiteaker, of Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Whiteaker was taken into custody at around 3:50-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $150.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies Tuesday night, arrested 39-year old Samuel Joseph Norris, of rural Red Oak, for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment. Norris was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending a court appearance.

A motorcyclist died Tuesday, after their cycle collided with a van in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports the collision that happened just after 6-p.m. Authorities say a 2008 Chrysler van driven by 27-year old Katie Brown, of Arlington, IA, was traveling west on Delaware County road C-64 just past 120th Avenue, when an eastbound 2006 Victory motorcycle crossed the center line of the road and collided with the van.

The name of the motorcyclist was being withheld pending notification of family. Officials say Brown was transported by ambulance to the hospital.