In an update to our reports over the weekend, Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County say criminal charges are currently pending against at least one of two individuals involved in a pursuit Saturday night that ended in a crash with injuries. The chase began in the southern part of the County at around 8:15-p.m., when a deputy tried to stop a 1994 Dodge Dakota pickup for an equipment violation. The pickup sped-off, and at times reached speeds of 100-miles per hour. The vehicle crashed about 30-minutes later at the intersection of Highway 44 and Shelby County Road M-56.

The driver of the pickup, 18-year old Justin Dickinson, of Harlan, was trapped in the vehicle. He was extricated by mechanical means and transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital being flown by LifeNet helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. A passenger in the pickup, 17-year old Nicholas Haner, of Council Bluffs, was transported by ambulance to Myrtue Hospital and held for observation before being released.

Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted during the pursuit and resulting crash, by officers with the Harlan Police Department, Iowa State Patrol Troopers, Cass County and Audubon County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Harlan Fire Department, Elk Horn Rescue, and Medivac Ambulance.

The Pottawattamie County Engineer has declared a SNOW EMERGENCY for the unincorporated territory of Pottawattamie County. The snow emergency goes into effect at 12:00-a.m. Tuesday, February 2nd, and will remain in effect for forty-eight (48) hours unless otherwise terminated or extended.

During a county snow emergency it is unlawful for any vehicle to be parked on or along any public roadway in the County. Additionally, no parking is allowed along any posted snow emergency routes for the duration of the snow emergency. Vehicles in violation of these parking restrictions are subject to being towed at the owner’s expense and owners may be fined.

For a listing of county snow emergency routes and updated storm information, visit the Emergency Management Facebook page.

A man wanted on a Cass County warrant turned himself-in to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday evening. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 45-year old David Allen Holste, of Yorktown, later posted a $1000 bond through a bondsman, and was released pending further court proceedings in Cass County.

Are you looking for something to bring your family together to learn teamwork, improve communication, and have fun while cooking and eating good food? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach—Montgomery County is pleased to offer a new program called Food, Family and Fun! Sponsored in part due to grant funding from Boost 4 Families, this program is geared towards families with children aged 5-18.

Families will get together with program instructors and volunteers once a month for six months to prepare healthy meals through hands-on cooking experiences. Families will also receive parenting resources and participate in activities that will focus on communication, teamwork, relationships, and health and nutrition. At the end of each session, families will take a meal home with them to freeze or eat later in the week.

There are two locations for Food, Family and Fun—Red Oak High School and Southwest Valley Middle School in Villisca. Sessions are planned to start on February 10th and 11th. Families can pay $50 for the program in either one lump sum or $10 at each session.

Registration is limited due to space, so sign up TODAY! Families need to fill out the registration form found in the brochure at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.

Questions about the program? Contact Stephanie Langner, Montgomery County Extension Program Coordinator at 712.623.2592 or slangner@iastate.edu .

(Press Release)

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

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The Internal Revenue Service is making its annual appeal to taxpayers to sign up for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The director of the program for the I-R-S, Ken Corbin, says if you made money working in 2015, you may be eligible. “Any person who has earned income from employment — whether you are running a business, farming or self employed — could potentially qualify for E-I-T-C,” Corbin says. He says taxpayers all across the country take advantage of the tax credit.

“Nationwide last year, over 27 million families received more than 66 BILLION dollars in Earned Income Tax Credit dollars,” according to Corbin. “The average E-I-T-C refund to those families was over two-thousand-400 dollars.” He says there are still one in five people who may be eligible, who don’t know about the credit, or don’t file for it. “Meaning that more than one million of the taxpayers are not putting E-I-T-C dollars to work for them,” Corbin says. “Anyone with earnings of 54-thousand dollars or less should see if they qualify at

I-R-S-dot-gov, search word: E-I-T-C.” Corbin says many Iowans do take advantage of the credit. “Over 200-thousand Iowans claimed E-I-T-C last year, bringing in a combined refund amount of over 450-thousand dollars back into the economy of Iowa. With an average refund of more than two-thousand-200 dollars,” he says. You may’ve checked in the past and found you weren’t eligible for the credit. Corbin says you should check again, especially if you’ve had some major changes in your life.

“Marital status changes, they might have children, employment changes, changes in their income,” Corbin says. He says you should check each tax year to see if changes might make you eligible. Corbin says you can still file and claim the E-I-T-C tax credit even if you are not required to file a tax return.

(Radio Iowa)

Farmers! Are the youth you hire for summer work certified to drive tractors for you? The Shelby county/ISU Extension and Outreach office will be conducting a Tractor Safety Certification course for youth between the ages of 13-16. This certification is required by Iowa law for 14-17 year olds who will be operating a tractor over 20hp for neighbors or relatives.

At the six week course, participants will learn how to operate a tractor safely, safety on the road, tractor controls and maintenance, how to avoid other farm accidents and other pertinent information. The course will be held at the Shelby County Extension office at 906 6th Street in Harlan. Classes will run each Monday beginning Feb. 29th through April 4th, with the driving test on Saturday April 9th. Classes begin at 6:30 and will end at 9:00pm.

The cost is $50 and checks should be made payable to Shelby County Extension and Outreach. Registration forms are available at the Shelby County Extension office and are to be returned by Feb. 22nd. Interested persons may also call the Shelby County Extension office at (712)755-3104 and a registration form will be mailed to them.

The 7:06-a.m. Newscast from KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department says a resident in the 300 block of N. Sycamore Street reported Saturday, someone stole Albuterol Sulfate out of his kitchen cabinet. The inhalation aerosol is typically used to treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems such as asthma. The loss was estimated at $35.

And, late Sunday night, 37-year old Ryan Ray Rinehart, of Creston, was issued a Criminal Citation for Theft in the 5th Degree. Rinehart was released on a promise to appear later, in court.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a Bellevue man was arrested early this (Monday) morning, in Villisca. 19-year old Preston Gage Struckmeyer was taken into custody at around 3-a.m. on a valid Fremont County Bench Warrant for Probation Violation. Struckmeyer was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,500 bond.