(Hamburg, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says a 77-year-old Hamburg resident died Thursday evening, after he was struck by a passing pickup truck. The accident happened at around 6:06-p.m., near the intersection of Main Street and E Street. in Hamburg. The resident was carrying items to his vehicle from a local community center when he was struck. The man, whose identity was being withheld, pending notification of family, died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.

The driver of the vehicle, a 2001 Ford F-150, was identified as 77-year-old Nancy Bartles, of Rock Port, Missouri. Bartles was uninjured.

The incident remains under investigation by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Hamburg Fire and Rescue responded to the call.

(Underwood, Iowa) – An SUV was engulfed in flames Wednesday afternoon near the Underwood Co-Op. KJAN listener/social media follower Zach Ploen reports the incident took place at around 3-p.m.  The vehicle was about 50-feet from the gas pumps, when a gas leak under the SUV sparked the fire.

Crews from the Underwood Fire Department and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene. No injuries were reported.

Photos courtesy of Zach Ploen.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s public schools would have the option of having a paid or volunteer chaplain on staff if a bill being considered in the Iowa Senate becomes law. Pastor Mike Demastus, of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, says it could help schools address mental health issues among students and staff. “One of the biggest concerns that we have is school safety and being able to head off at the pass, seeing warning signs with students who are exhibiting behaviors that might be concerned,” Demastus says. Chaplains would have to pass a background check, but schools would not be allowed to require any kind of licensing or professional credentials for chaplains.

Eric Johnson directs the chaplain program at Unity Point Health in Des Moines and his hospital chaplains undergo a year of clinical training “To believe that the same wouldn’t be required ­- maybe different training, but the same oversight and certification – for vulnerable children experiencing distress feels a bit reckless to me,” Johnson said.

Last year, the state of Texas passed a law letting public schools use safety funds to hire people to be chaplains, who provide mental health counseling to students. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas says courts have repeatedly ruled that it is unconstitutional to invite religious leaders into public schools to engage in prayer and religious counseling with students.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Thursday, said it was notified of a fish kill on January 25 at McLoud Run Trout Stream in Cedar Rapids.  On Tuesday, January 23, the City of Cedar Rapids reported an estimated release of 450,000 gallons of chlorinated drinking water from an unoccupied building located at 4425 Center Point Road NE, which eventually entered McLoud Run. City officials believe the release was caused by a fire suppression line that may have burst during the recent cold snap, but were unaware of any pressure loss.

DNR staff from the Fisheries Bureau are investigating the fish kill, but have been hampered by very murky stream conditions. Staff have observed between 200-300 dead fish as of this morning, including trout and white suckers.  McLoud Run is Iowa’s most southerly trout stream and the only trout stream near a major urban area. Several popular fish species in this stream include Brown Trout, Creek Chub, Rainbow Trout, Green Sunfish and White Sucker.

The dead fish count was a expected to be finalized soon.

If you see dead or stressed fish at a lake or river, call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Hy-Vee, on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. The Ambassadors welcomed Katelyn Burnett as the new Store Manager and heard about her goals for Atlantic Hy-Vee.

Katelyn began working at Hy-Vee at the age of 15 years old as a cashier and bagging items for customers. While Katelyn attended college, she continued to work at Hy-Vee in many different departments such as catering, special events, marketing, and human resources. Fast forward to the end of 2022, Katelyn began the process of becoming a store manager. In November of 2023, Katelyn received word she would be moving to Atlantic to become store manager and has since spent the last few months learning about the community while taking part in all things Christmas in Atlantic.

Ambassadors and Hy-Vee Staff (Left to Right): Krysta Hanson, Magan Sramek, Sue Liston, Kathie Hockenberry, Kelsey Beschorner, Julie Waters, Jeremy Butler, Colt Doherty, Emily Kennedy, Katelyn Burnett, DeeDee Kalny, Elaine Otte, Dr. Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergmann, Anne Quist, Rick Mericle, Andrew Martin, Bill Saluk, Scott Bennett, Jim Kickland

Katelyn shared with the Ambassadors that her favorite part of working in a small-town like Atlantic, is being involved in community partnerships and events. One of Katelyn’s goals for the Atlantic Hy-Vee is to host monthly “character weekends” such as the brunch they are hosting this Saturday from 11AM-2PM featuring Elsa and Olaf from Frozen.

Hy-Vee employs anywhere from 120-150 people with most staff working in the summer months and in the Garden Center. Hy-Vee is open daily, 6AM to 10PM, with services ranging from floral to catering and pharmacy to dietitian services.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. Officers arrested 31-year-old Rogelio Olivera-Martinez, of Creston, at around 7:12-a.m. He was taken into custody at his residence on charges that include Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Burglary 1st Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault – Injury or Mental Illness 1st. The cash-or-surety bond for Rogelio Olivera-Martinez was set at $27,300.

And, at around 1:40-p.m., Thursday, Creston Police arrested 25-year-old Dylan James Lawrence, of Creston. He was taken into custody at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and charged with OWI/1st Offense. Lawrence posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, and was released.