Officials with the Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of Iowa presented 27 awards recognizing excellence in the tourism industry Thursday night (Oct. 22nd), in Fairfield, during the 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference. Carla Eysink, president of the Travel Federation of Iowa, said “The Iowa Tourism Awards are the highest honor given in our state’s tourism industry The winners are truly the best of the best.”

Awards to both metro and rural areas were made in 13 award categories. In addition, conference attendees voted for the People’s Choice Award; nominees were the second-highest scoring nominations in 12 of the categories.

In the category of “Outstanding Attraction,” the Hard Rock Hotel in Casino, in Sioux City, won the award in the Metro communities division. Manning’s “Kinderfest” event won an award for “Outstanding Event” in the rural division. Among the persons receiving an “Outstanding Individual Leader” awards, was Cindy Thompson, with the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board (Metro division), and Jay Hartz, with the Hotel Pattee, in Perry (rural division). The Hotel Pattee also won the “Outstanding Niche Marketing Initiative” award in the rural division.

The annual Iowa Tourism Conference brings together nearly 300 industry representatives from across the state to network, attend educational sessions and discuss emerging industry trends. Officials say tourism in Iowa generates more than $8 billion in expenditures, employs 66,500 people statewide and generates $374 million in state taxes.

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

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(Council Bluffs) — Three students at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs were arrested Thursday afternoon on various charges following an altercation over an allegedly stolen pot pipe. Council Bluffs Police responded at around 2:30-p.m. to the college, for a report of a subject that was reportedly armed with a gun. Prior to any officers arriving on scene, IWCC campus security personnel had been able to stop and detain a male student, who had been pointed out as having displayed a handgun at other students during an altercation.

A further investigation revealed that three male students had been gathered in the dorm room of 19-year old Ethan Grask, of Clive, smoking illegal drugs together, when 18-year old Anthony E. Sanders, of Omaha, went to leave the room while allegedly attempting to steal a piece of drug paraphernalia from Grask.

Anthony E. Sanders

Raekwon Gray

Ethan J. Grask

A fight between Grask and Sanders ensued, with Sanders eventually displaying and threatening 18-year old Conner Holdsworth, of Carroll, with what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun, in order to exit the residence hall.

While fleeing, Sanders was stopped by campus security in a parking lot near the dorm building. After searching the scene, officers located a plastic “Air-Soft” pellet gun in some bushes near the area where Sanders was taken into custody. The pellet gun looked similar to an actual handgun, as the orange colored safety tip had been removed.

Grask suffered minor injuries during his altercation with Sanders, but did not require any medical attention. No other students were injured. The campus was not placed on “lockdown”, as Sanders was located and detained by campus security staff almost immediately after the incident took place.

Sanders, Grask and 18-year old Raekwon Gray, of Fredrick, MO., were booked into Pottawattamie County Corrections. Sanders and Gray both were charged with Robbery in the 1st Degree. Sanders faces an additional charge of Aggravated Assault. Grask was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

While being booked into corrections Gray was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance that is suspected to have come from Grask’s room. All three men face a charge of Gathering where controlled substances are unlawfully used. And, while the investigation continues, authorities say they do not anticipate any additional charges at this time.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Pres

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials cancelled afternoon classes at a Des Moines high school after many staffers suffered from food poisoning, apparently by a catered meal. The Des Moines Register reports classes were cancelled Thursday at Roosevelt High School and students were sent home early. School district spokeswoman Amanda Lewis says the Polk County Health Department believes the staffers were sickened by a meal catered by two businesses. The food wasn’t prepared by the school kitchen and no students are believed to have been sickened. Roosevelt Principal Kevin Biggs says classes were cancelled because there were too few staffers to continue classes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be in Iowa more as the leadoff presidential caucuses draw closer. His campaign also tells The Associated Press that Christie is opening his first office soon in suburban Des Moines.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tests on more than 750 ducks shot by Minnesota hunters this fall have turned up no signs of the kind of bird flu that devastated the Midwest poultry industry earlier this year. Wild waterfowl don’t normally get sick from these viruses, but they’re deadly to domestic poultry. Bird flu cost producers more than 48 million chickens and turkeys earlier this year, mostly in Minnesota and Iowa.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Plans have been canceled for placing a 40-foot-tall statue in a roundabout intersection near Cedar Falls Industrial Park. Former City Council member Barbara Brown told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the controversy about roundabouts proposed for University Avenue made it hard to collect donations.

As a follow-up to our story about Wednesday morning’s robbery at a Casey’s Convenience store in Creston (200 S. Elm St.), here are surveillance still images of the suspect. The incident took place at around 6:30-a.m. If you have any information about the suspect, call the Creston Police Department at 641-782-8402.

Photos from the Creston P-D’s Facebook page as captured by surveillance cameras in the store.

Officials with Audubon County Economic Development say a candidate forum will be held Monday evening in Audubon, for those candidates running for Mayor and City Council in Audubon. Current Mayor Sam Kauffman is not running for re-election.

On the ballot for Mayor during the November 3rd City Elections is Barb Jacobsen, and Write-in candidate Brandon Toft. City Council candidates include Brad Hemmingsen, Andy Griffith, Bob Jacobsen and John  Whetzal.

The candidate forum, sponsored by Audubon County Tourism, will be held 7-p.m. Monday, Oct. 26th, at the Audubon Memorial Building, on the square, in Audubon. Persons needing a ride to the event should call 712-563-3269.

A reminder today from officials with UnityPoint at Home and Cass County Public Health: Community flu clinics are being offered in Cass County, now, through Oct. 29th. Clinics were held in Anita and Atlantic earlier this week. The next opportunities for you to get yourself protected against the four strains expected to affect the nation this year, are on Monday, Oct. 26th, from 11-a.m. until 2-p.m. at the 1st United Methodist Church, in Atlantic, and on Wednesday, Oct. 28th, from 9-until 11-am at the Massena Medical Center, and from 12:30-until 2:30-p.m. Wednesday, at the Griswold Medical Center.

The last chance to get immunized is at Unity Point at Home in Atlantic, next Thursday (Oct. 29th), from 3-until 5-p.m.  The 2015-2016 influenza vaccine is quadravalent, meaning it covers four types of strains; H1N1, H2N3, and two types of Influenza B. Groups at a higher risk for flu complications include the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Those in the high risk group are encouraged to get vaccinated early.

Flu shots will be billed for those presenting Medicare Part B and Medicaid documentation. No other insurance companies will be billed. The cost is $30 for the Fluzone shot or $40 for the FluMist vaccine, which is a nasal spray. Officials note that there is a limited supply of the high-dose flu vaccination, which is $35. Payment is accepted in cash or check. All children present with a parent or guardian may receive the vaccination. No physician’s order is required. For more information, call UnityPoint at Home at 712-243-7551.

ISU Extension officials in Montgomery County say an informational meeting on emerald ash borer (EAB) will be held for the public on Thursday, November 5th beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Gold Building, 1809 4th Street in Red Oak.

Emerald ash borer is a small, metallic green beetle about ½ inch long that is destructive and invasive. It was discovered in rural Montgomery County in August of this year. The meeting will focus on the history of EAB in Iowa, how the insect works, and treatment options for owners of ash trees.

Presenters include Mike Kintner of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Lindsey Barney of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Mark Shour, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Entomologist.

The meeting is free and hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Montgomery County. Call 623-2592 or email Stephanie Langner at slangner@iastate.edu with questions. Find them on the web at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery, or on Facebook at Montgomery County-IA Extension.

Four people, three adults and a child, were injured Wednesday night south of Atlantic, during a collision between a semi hauling grain, and a minivan. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Larsen says the accident happened on Highway 71 near the intersection with Memphis Road, at around 6:14-p.m.

Larsen says both vehicles were traveling north on Highway 71 when the van attempted to turn at Memphis Road. As the semi was trying to pass the van, the vehicles made contact. Afterward, the minivan spun out and ended up in the west ditch. The semi came to rest on the right shoulder of Hwy 71.

The driver of the semi, 79-year old Don Pelzer, of Marne, was not injured in the collision. The driver of the van, 62-year old Jane Becker, and her passengers, 39-year old John Becker and 40-year old Michael Plagman, suffered minor injuries in the crash. A two-year old male, backseat passenger, suffered from a broken leg, and was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, before being transferred to a hospital in Des Moines. All of the crash victims are from Atlantic.

No charges were filed pending completion of an investigation. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Atlantic Fire and Rescue, Medivac Ambulance, and the Iowa State Patrol.