A Republican-dominated panel at the statehouse last week approved another gun rights bill, part of a package of legislation backed by the Iowa Firearms Coalition. A bill to make weapons permits confidential will now be considered by the full House Judiciary Committee. Missouri Valley Republican Matt Windschitl says it’s a matter of privacy for gun owners.

“As many of you know, anyone can walk into any sheriff’s office right now and request any information on any permittee,” Windschitl said. “They can get all the information, including their home address and any other information that’s on that form.” Windschitl says those individuals who get a permit-holder’s personal information from the sheriff could then go after the gun owner.

“If they’re going on vacation, they could maybe break into the home and steal their guns. Or, for the folks who don’t have a permit, the conclusion could be drawn that they don’t have a weapon in their home and they could be the targeted by someone with nefarious intent, to break into their homes and rob them,” Windschitl said. “Keep in mind, we’re talking about a constitutional right here. We’re talking about the right to keep and bear arms.”

In some states, Windschitl notes entire lists of weapons permit holders have been published online, exposing gun owners, and violating their right to bear arms. Critics of the bill include the Iowa Newspaper Association, which argues weapons permits are public records. Other opponents of the bill say the public should be able to keep an eye on the local governments issuing the permits.

A similar measure passed the Iowa House three times last year, but died in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent, non-injury accidents. Last Friday night, a pickup driven by 51-year old Jane Maxine Liles, of Clarinda, was traveling westbound on 140th Street just east of K Avenue, about six-miles east of Essex, when the pickup went out of control after hitting a patch of ice. The 2000 Dodge Durango went into the north ditch, where it rolled through a barb wire fence before coming to rest on its side. The pickup was considered a total loss.

And, early Saturday morning, 16-year old Jasilyn Danae Roop, of Farragut, was traveling north on Tolbert Ave from 210th Street (about one-mile east of Clarinda),  when the vehicle she was driving went out of control on the ice / snow covered road, and slid off the road into the ditch. Damage to the vehicle was considered disabling.

No charges were filed in connection with either accident.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – More than 80 Iowans have been convicted of violating a state law that bans domestic abusers from owning guns in the five years since it went into effect. A review by The Associated Press shows those convicted include people who used weapons to kill others, to threaten their spouses and to shoot at police officers.

The law signed by Gov. Chet Culver in 2010 bars individuals who are subject to protective orders and who have committed domestic violence-related misdemeanors from owning guns. Violating the prohibition is a felony that carries up to five years in prison. Attorney General Tom Miller and other supporters predicted the law would save lives by keeping guns away from dangerous individuals. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, warned that it could unfairly take away gun rights.

Adair County Sheriff’s Jeff Vandewater said it was pretty quiet in his county over the past week. Vandewater had only one arrest to report: At around 12:30-a.m. Friday, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 35-year old Francisco Martinez-Villagomez, of Carter Lake, for OWI/1st offense. The man was arrested after the Trooper was called to the McDonald’s restaurant in Stuart.

During an interview with Martinez-Villagomez, the Trooper learned the man’s car was in a ditch off I-80, but it wasn’t clear where the vehicle was. In the report, the Trooper said Martinez-Villagomez had a very strong odor of alcohol coming from him, and the man admitted to drinking whiskey. He failed a Field Sobriety test, was placed under arrest and was transported to the Adair County Law Enforcement Center. A breath test at the LEC revealed Martinez-Villagomez’ alcohol level at .247, or more than three times the legal limit.

Martinez-Villagomez was released later in the day, Friday, after posting at least 10-percent of his $1,000 bond.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports two, recent arrests. Today (on Monday, 2/8), 57-year old Pamela Jo Steele, of Pittsburgh, KS., turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office at around 2-a.m.  Steele was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Audubon County for allegedly violating the terms of her probation. She was being held without bond in the Audubon County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, late last Friday night (Feb. 5th), 42-year old Chad William Darrow, of Audubon, was arrested on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. Darrow was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $10,000 bond.

A Blizzard Warning is posted for more than 30 counties across Iowa’s northern half, while much of the rest of the state is under a Winter Weather Advisory. While the term “blizzard” conjures thoughts of deep snow drifts for many Iowans, National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Small says that won’t be the case today.

“People think of blizzards, probably the common definition is associated with a lot of snow,” Small says, “but technically, all it means is that you can’t see where you’re going because of strong winds and low visibilities.” To be a blizzard, winds need to be howling at 35-miles an hour or greater and visibilities need to be at a quarter-mile or less due to blowing snow. Small says new snowfall today will be minimal.

Blizzard Warning for counties in red. Winter Weather and/or Wind Advisories for counties in lavender.

“It’s really difficult to measure,” Small says. “Probably an inch is a very common snow amount so far, of what we’ve seen. The snow amounts are not going to be the problem with this storm. It’s definitely going to be the visibilities, especially in rural and open areas.” Another hazard in this latest weather event is the bitter cold.

“We’ll have wind chills across the state in single digits above and below zero,” Small says. “Conditions will improve later today and into the night but we’ll see lows in the single digits above zero north and maybe around 10 south. Wind chills will be well into the teens below zero toward the Minnesota border by daybreak Tuesday.”

A frosty week is ahead. The forecast calls for low temperatures to remain mostly in the single digits and teens through the weekend, with highs only in the teens and 20s. See more at weather-dot-gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Gronewold, Bell & Kyhnn & Company, PC., have released on audit report on the Cass County Environmental Control Agency. The agency had total revenues of $874,229 for the year ending June 30, 2015. Revenues included solid waste fee of $812,179, and recyclables fees of $55,874.

Expenses totaled $937,843 for the year ending June 30, 2015. They included $59,377 for administration, $129,228 for recycling, and $169, 517 for cover, compacting and scale expense, as well as $56,700 for closure and post-closure costs. In addition, the Agency expended $145,397 for the purchase of equipment and $216,930 to service existing debt.

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the office of the Auditor of State, and the Cass County Environmental Control Agency.

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

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Police in Creston report three arrests took place last Friday. 54-year old Clifford Mark Williams, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Williams was being held at the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. 41-year old Carrie Ann Johns, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for OWI/Interference with Official Acts. Johns was being held without bond, in the Ringgold County Jail. And, 18-year old Emily Nichole Stults, of Creston, was arrested Friday for violating a No Contact Order. Stults was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 300 block of Oak Street reported Friday that his vehicle was vandalized while parked in his apartment complex parking lot. The incident, which happened sometime between 6-pm and 11-p.m. Friday, resulted in a loss of about $250.