Six people will look to get one more payout today (Thursday) as they leave the greyhound racing industry in Iowa. The legislature passed and the governor signed a bill that shuts down the Council Bluffs greyhound track and shifts the management of dog racing in Dubuque to the Iowa Greyhound Association.

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator, Brian Ohorillko says part of the agreement set aside money to pay those who are getting out of the industry. The commission will hear the first six “hardship” claims filed for that money at their meeting in Council Bluffs. “The current rule allows for up to 100-thousand dollars per claim….what we have done is there is an application form for the applicants and they complete that and submit all the documentation or supporting documentation for their claim,” Ohorilko explains.

He says the commission will review a report on each claim and hear from those involved. “We have assigned an I-R-G-C staff member to review those claims, meet with the applicant, verify the information that is being submitted and just try to get a better understanding of each circumstance,” Ohorilko says. The I-R-G-C staff member will make a recommendation to the commission, and then the commissioners can decided what action they should take.

“It’s up to the commission and the commission will hear from each of the applicants,” Ohorilko says. The dog tracks in Dubuque and Council Bluffs agreed to make annual payments to a fund for seven years and amounting to around 72 million dollars to get out of greyhound racing. Ohorilko says the hardship payments are one part of the whole process.

“There is money that’s already been distributed to no-kill animal shelters that have received greyhounds from the cessation of racing,” Ohorilko explains. “There was money that was allocated to trainers and assistant trainers who are no longer in the business. There was some money allocated to trainers with the removal of equipment and other items.” Ohorilko expects the commission to receive more requests for hardship payments, and says they’ll know more about how the process works after today’s meeting.

“This is the first time that we’r dealing with these harship claims and if turns out that there are some other questions that need to be vetted ahead of time — or maybe a different process that works better — we have that flexibility and can make those adjustments as we move forward,” Ohorilko says. Those seeking a hardship payment for the end of greyhound racing have until June 30th to file a claim.

(Radio Iowa)

An ongoing investigation in Page County into an alleged assault, has resulted in an arrest. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports 59-year old William Eddie Fidler, of rural Clarinda, was arrested for Assault at around 5-p.m. Wednesday. Fidler posted $300 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

His arrest stemmed from and investigation about persons not stopping at a stop sign in the un-incorporated village of Hawleyville.  Hawleyville is north and east of Clarinda in Page County. During the investigation, it was determined that Fidler confronted and allegedly assaulted a person whom Fidler claimed had committed a traffic violation.  The investigation continues into persons allegedly committing traffic violations at a stop sign in Hawleyville.

Palmer said also, that at around 4-p.m., Wednesday, 27-year old Joseph Cody Foster,  of New Market, turned himself into the Page County Sheriff’s Office on a Page County warrant for Assault.  Foster posted a $300 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a southwest Iowa man was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant issued out of North Carolina. 45-year old David Laneir Morgan, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Morgan was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Officials said also, an Omaha man, 50-year old Michael Anthony Weltch, was arrested at around 4-a.m. today (Thursday), for Theft in the 5th Degree, Providing False Identification information, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $900.

Two people were arrested Wednesday, in Mills County: 41-year old John Allen Ahrens, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 49-year old Carl David Galvan, Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to spend $3.6 billion on a wind turbine operation that will generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Bill Fehrman, the utility’s CEO and president, announced the project Thursday at an event in Des Moines attended by Gov. Terry Branstad and other state officials. Officials say the wind farm will be the largest economic development project in the state’s history.

Fehrman says when the project is completed, the utility will generate wind energy that equals 85 percent of its annual customer sales in Iowa. MidAmerican is the state’s largest utility. MidAmerican didn’t release where the new turbines would be erected but says the utility will finalize locations while the Iowa Utilities Board considers the project.

A grant from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is providing the eight fire and rescue departments in Cass County with supplemental grain bin rescue tools. Stacie Euken, President of the Cass County Farm Bureau, says the County Farm Bureau Board applied for the grant from the IFBF to purchase grain bin augers and drills to run the augers, to aid in the rescue of persons trapped in grain bins.

All of the fire departments in Cass County are already equipped with lightweight grain bin rescue tubes, constructed to fit around the victim trapped in grain. The tubes are designed to stop the flow of the grain toward the victim, while at the same time relieving the pressure grain may place on the victim by rescuers attempting to save them.  The rescue auger is designed to quickly remove grain from around the victim while they are in the rescue tube. It’s powered by a one-half inch cordless drill.

Grain bin rescue auger (red device in the center) & a type of rescue tube (on the right). (Photo from the IA Farm Bureau.com website)

A normal grain bin rescue takes about three and one-half hours. In December, 2015, a 39-year old Creston man died in a grain bin, west of Murray. Iowa is one of two states with the highest number of documented grain entrapment incidents, according to a 2013 report by Purdue University in Indiana, which is the other state with the highest number of incidents.

There were four grain entrapment incidents in Iowa last year. Nationwide, there were 38 documented grain entrapments resulting in 17 deaths in 2014, up from 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013. From 2000 to 2010, 17 Iowans died after being trapped in grain, according to the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

The nearly $9,000 IFBF grant will pay for the augers and drills, which are being provided by Cappel’s Ace Hardware in Atlantic, and the Anita Supply Company. Fire department representatives will receive their Rescue Auger and drills during a ceremony Monday evening at the Iowa Farm Bureau Office, in Atlantic.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $2,500 to the organization Friends of the Outdoor Classroom.  Trevor’s mom/fund spokesperson Melanie Petty, says the funds are expected to finish up the kitchen in the 12×20 addition that has recently been added on.

For the last 20 years the Outdoor Classroom has been an educational experience for students at CAM and other Cass county students.  Along with the expanded shelter the 87 acre area also has a quail habitat and a butterfly garden.

Fritz Baier, Board Member of the Friends of the Outdoor Classroom and Melanie Petty

Petty reminds you, that the Frederickson Fund’s annual golf tournament will be held August 13th, 2016 at Nishna Hills Golf Club.  All monies raised are given out through the year to various non profit organizations that meet the fund’s mission statement of giving back to things that Trevor cared about and was a part of.  Scholarships for graduating AHS Seniors will be handed out May 11th at their Senior Night.

Trevor lost his life tragically in a house fire on June 18, 2009.  The family and community has since given back more than $120,000 to the community that Trevor loved.  Petty says they look forward to continuing giving back for many years to come.

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

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Creston Police say three people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. At around 8:30-a.m. Kirby Konkler, of Creston, was arrested on charges that include Domestic Abuse/3^rd or subsequent offense, three counts of Harassment in the 1^st Degree, and Interference with Official Acts. Konkler was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Just before 6-p.m. Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 28-year old Jeffrey Hoffman, of Creston, for Extortion and Violation of a Protective Order. Hoffman was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, a little after 9-p.m. Wednesday, 53-year old Johnny Feick, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1^st Offense. His bond, at the Union County Jail, was set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines principal has decided not to punish the girls who arranged for a male stripper to perform at their school’s synchronized swimming club banquet. Officials say the girls employed the stripper as a joke and say the stripper didn’t totally disrobe at Friday evening’s event at the Des Moines Social Club. A Social Club employee interrupted the performance and asked the stripper to leave.

Roosevelt High School Principal Kevin Biggs said Wednesday the girls apparently didn’t do anything illegal and didn’t violate the district’s conduct code.  The club has been operating outside of direct school supervision, with members raising all the money for its support. But Biggs says the district plans to place the club and its finances under the control of Roosevelt High’s activities department.

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the resignation of Assistant Varsity Football Coach Paul McKay, and contracts for Alan Jenkins as Head Freshman Football Coach, along with Justin Williams, as Head Junior Varsity Football Coach.

They also approved an Operational Sharing Agreement with the Griswold Community School District, to jointly share the services of a Transportation Director for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year. The total cost to Griswold of which amounts to $13,776 per year. And, an agreement with Griswold for the sharing of services provided by Atlantic’s Human Resources Specialist, which will cost Griswold $6,576 per year. In both cases, the individuals will work four days per week on matters related to the Atlantic District, and one day per week for the Griswold District.

The Board also approved: the purchase from School Bus Sales, of three, 65-passenger propane-powered Blue Bird school buses for $90,788 each, along with a Blue Bird lift bus for $109,542, and a propane filling station from Olsen’s Fuel Supply, for $18,352.

They also approved: A bid of $63,762 from R-L Craft for work on the Washington Elementary School Roof; A bid of $81, 636 from National Playground for playground equipment and safety surfaces at Washington, and, a bid of $175,626 from Camblin Mechanical, for the replacement of heat pumps at the Atlantic High School.