Sheriff Jeff Danker has announced that on December 10, 2016 at 6:30 AM the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Target at Metro Crossing will hold the 18th annual “Shop with the Sheriff.” 18 years ago, Lt. Larry Brown had the idea to start helping residents of Pottawattamie County that are in need during the Christmas season. With Lt. Brown’s idea in mind, Sheriff Jeff Danker began the ‘Shop with the Sheriff’ campaign.

Over the last 18 years, the Sheriff’s Office says it has had the privilege of bringing joy to over 450 children living in Pottawattamie County. Last year employees both sworn and civilian from the various Sheriff’s Office Divisions shopped with 45 children.

This year, 58 children will be shopping for outerwear, clothing and toys with employees and family members from the Sheriff’s Office. Each family of the participating children will also receive a food basket for the holiday season.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with the Sheriff” event is made possible by the generous donations from citizens, organizations and businesses throughout the area.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The 7:06-a.m. Newscast – Top local News – w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday. 43-year old Jamie Foote, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation related to an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Foote was being held in the Union County Jail to serve the balance of his original sentence.

33-year old Erin Wallace, of Creston, was also arrested at the Union County LEC on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Eluding. Wallace was being held in the Ringgold County Jail to serve the balance of her original sentence.

Creston Police said also, the Caseys General Store on W. Taylor Street reported Tuesday, that someone passed a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for merchandise, Monday. A Creston resident told Police Tuesday that sometime between 9-p.m. Monday and 7-a.m. Tuesday, someone stole a propane tank from outside his home in the 200 block of N. Oak Street. The loss was estimated at $25. And, Tuesday evening, a Creston resident reported to authorities that sometime between 2-p.m. Monday and Tuesday, someone took a blue and grey tackle box with assorted fishing tackle, a fishing net, Muck fishing boots, and two Baitcast rods and reels. Those items were stolen from a boat parked behind a residence in the 500 block of Wyoming Street. The loss was estimated at $800.

Tests of Iowa students in kindergarten through third grade show nearly 50-thousand of them are below average readers, but requiring summer school for those lagging readers may remain on hold. Iowa Department of Education director Ryan Wise says his agency and schools around the state are committed to addressing the problem. “We know that there is a lot of work ahead and we are focused on ensuring that every single student in Iowa does read well, particularly by the end of third grade so that they’re able to access the more rigorous schoolwork ahead of them and opportunities beyond high school,” Wise says.

Wise outlined his agency’s strategic spending plan for the governor yesterday (Tuesday). It did NOT include money for summer school classes for third graders who cannot read well. By state law, those classes originally were scheduled to begin this next summer, but lawmakers recently rolled the start date back to the summer of 2018. “I think that will certainly be a point of conversation in the legislature of when is the right time to have that requirement in there and then how are schools supported in that effort,” Wise says.

Wise is asking legislators and the governor to set aside five-and-a-half million more state tax dollars to spend on “coaching” and professional development for teachers in the early grades who teach reading. “There is a tremendous sense of urgency both in terms of the percentage of students that aren’t reading proficiently and the gaps that exist between groups of students — students who are English Language Learners, students with different racial and ethnic backgrounds, students with disabilities,” Wise says. “We know that there’s a lot of work ahead.”

Thirty-six percent of the kindergarten through third-grade students who were tested LAST fall failed to reach reading benchmarks. By the spring, four percent of those students had improved literacy skills enough to reach their reading goals.

(Radio Iowa)

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says from November 25^th through December 21^st 2016, the Page County Sheriff’s Office is taking requests for Operation Blessing.  With Shenandoah, Essex, and Clarinda having similar programs for children in those towns, the Page County Sheriff’s Office will be geared toward children in the other communities, as well as rural areas, of the county.

The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15^th Street in Clarinda. Again requests will be taken from Friday November 25, 2016, through Wednesday December 21, 2015, and each child will be given a first and second choice.

Operation Blessing was started in the mid 1980s by the Page County Reserve Deputies to ensure that every child in Page County has the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for almost 30 years. This year the Sheriff’s Office and Reserve program will continue this tradition of ensuring that children in Page County receive a gift for Christmas.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. The Sheriff’s Office will again this year be delivering the gifts to the children.  That will take place on December 21st, 22nd, & or 23^rd.   The date depends on staffing, call load, and of course, the weather.

Sheriff Palmer say he wants to “Thank everyone for their donations and support of the program, for without this the program would not be able to continue.” He also  thanked his staff at the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in everything they do with the program, and he wished everyone “A joy filled Holiday season.”

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will hold their regular weekly meeting today in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m.  During their session at the Courthouse, the Board will hear from County Treasurer Brenda Wallace with regard to an employee resignation. She’ll also discuss a new hire.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Tim Teig will talk with the Board about a preliminary elevator plan study. County Engineer Nick Kauffman will discuss Step Raises for two employees, the hiring of a Maintenance Superintendent, and the purchase of a motor grader.

And, County Auditor Mindy Schaefer will update the Board on quotes for the phone system, TIF certification, and a Resolution authorizing an internal advance to the Capital Projects Fund. Other, regular reports are expected from the Adair County Weed Commissioner and County Engineer. The Board will also discuss an appointment to the Conservation Board.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake University’s top athletic trainer says he was abruptly fired after 31 years when a medical condition forced him to urinate in a training room. Scott Kerr filed a complaint against Drake with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, alleging disability and age discrimination. He said Tuesday that Drake refused to accommodate his medical condition after the Aug. 29 incident. His lawyers say he deserves and apology and to get his job back.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — The family of a woman who was shot and killed by a Burlington police officer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Davenport. It contends that officer Jesse Hill’s actions on Jan. 6, 2015, were reckless in causing the death of 34-year-old Autumn Steele. Authorities say Hill was responding to a fight between Steele and her husband when he tried to shoot their dog as it attacked him. He shot Steele instead.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man has died and an infant has been seriously injured in a crash that involved three vehicles in downtown Des Moines. Police say the crash happened late Tuesday morning, when a speeding car rear-ended a pickup, then hit a delivery truck before crashing into a nearby parking lot. Police say the car’s driver, 46-year-old Soe Reh, of Des Moines, died of his injuries.

STACYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a northern Iowa man to pay $100,000 for illegally operating a waste tire collection site and repeatedly dumping tires onto his property and a nearby creek. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that 60-year-old Gary Eggers, of Stacyville, was ordered to pay the penalty after he failed to respond to a state environmental lawsuit filed in September. The newspaper says the $100,000 penalty is on top of a previously unpaid $10,000 penalty.

Lace up your skates and join the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce this Saturday, 11-a.m. until 7-p.m., and Sunday from 11-a.m. until 3-p.m., for the first ever Holiday Skating Rink in front of the Historic Rock Island Depot. The synthetic Ice Skating Rink will be in Atlantic for one weekend only. Admission fees are $7 for adults, $5 for kids 14 & under and free for kids under the age of two. Ice skates or hockey skates are provided with admission.

Also on Saturday, enjoy Carriage Rides, sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust, up Chestnut Street from noon – 3 PM. Santa’s Reindeer will be in front of Historic Rock Island Depot from 3 – 5 PM. Santa’s Reindeer are sponsored by: Affordable Heating & Air; Atlantic Animal Health Center; Atlantic Business & Professional Women; Cambridge Feilmeyer Law Firm; Hy-Vee; Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company; Noodle Companies and Villa Dance Company.

Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, music and the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season. The Holiday Skating Rink is presented by TS Bank and brought to you by Grain & Livestock Hedging and Megan Roberts State Farm. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions. Visit www.christmasinatlantic for a full schedule of events.

Numerous members of the community, former City leaders, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, fire department personnel and others, were on hand Tuesday night to implore the Griswold City Council to seek a resolution to issues they have with the Griswold Rescue Department and its former Captain, Julie Kline. The Council held a special meeting to address the matter of Kline’s resignation, along with the resignations of nine members of the Griswold Rescue Department.

Griswold City Council

Mayor Jeb Peck reiterated an earlier, written statement, that said no decisions were made concerning Kline or the  Rescue Department, when a special closed session was held November 14^th. Peck said “In previous meetings with our former City Manager and Mayor, they had discussed with the Rescue Department’s Captain and officers, about the By-Laws, and how they needed to be followed.” Peck said “Months later, that still had not changed. The Department’s lack of following by the By-Laws set by the Department has been an on-going concern.”

He said another issue was the low number of volunteers on the Rescue Department, and the response of the Department trying to improve them. “The Council had also previously discussed the number of calls in which we did not have enough personnel to show up, and had to be taken by another Cass County Agency.” Peck said they had also asked for some reports from members, of members, and calls that they were going on, and we found those reports to be inaccurate.”

During the public comment portion of the meeting, all of the speakers commended the Rescue Department and its former Captain. Former Mayor Lee Wyman said that while he and Julie didn’t always get along, they could work together. He said “When nine people follow her out the door, there’s an issue.” Those nine people he said, “Trust her…I trust her…what you guys have to remember is you didn’t only affect Griswold, you affected Lyman, Lewis, Grant, Elliott, all of the rural people…all any of us are asking it, try to work it out.” He said a Department of four or five people cannot handle the 150-200 calls each year they receive.

Jeff Pope, with the Lewis Fire Department/Lewis 1^st Responders, said the current number of personnel on the Griswold Rescue Department (Four active) is not enough to help in a critical time of need. Pope said the six members of Lewis 1^st Responders have always worked well with Griswold Rescue. He said a multi-vehicle accident with multiple patients would become a matter of “Who lives and who dies,” with regard to response time from Red Oak or elsewhere. Pope said it’s not just EMT’s who have been lost by the resignations, it’s their experience.

Cass County Medical Examiner/Director Dr. Elaine Berry told the Council it was her opinion that whatever happened in the closed session “Was wrong, it should not have happened that Julie would get that angry and resign, and the fact that [so] many people left with her means that there’s something really wrong.”

Dr. Elaine Berry

She suggested the Council get a Mediator to resolve the issues. Dr. Berry went on to say “I am NOT comfortable as a Medical Director continuing to be the Medical Director of an ambulance service that has inexperienced EMT’s, brand new ones without the leadership that’s been there before.” She also said unless the new people can prove to her they know what they’re doing, she doesn’t want her medical license “Extended out there to people who don’t know what they’re doing.” The EMT’s she said, by law have to practice under her license, thereby making her liable.

Former Mayor Jerry Putnam said the Council partly “Misused” their closed session. He said also “What you did wasn’t really legal.”  Following the Public Comment period, the Council appointed Brad Amos as the new Rescue Department Captain. Amos said earlier, they had received five new applications from people who want to join the Rescue Department. Each of the Council members said toward the end of the meeting, they want to talk with members of the Rescue Squad both past and present, and have tentatively planned to do so next week during a work session, but no action would be taken at that meeting.