712 Digital Group - top

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Sept. 29th 2015

News

September 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed an executive order to create an office that will tackle school bullying in Iowa, a move that follows years of failed attempts to pass comprehensive legislation on the issue. The order will establish a bullying prevention office through the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Violence Prevention. The office will examine training opportunities, develop guidelines on various issues and address inconsistencies in data reporting of school bullying cases.

ODEBOLT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in western Iowa say charges are possible for a man accused of discharging a gun into the air and shooting himself in the leg. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a property Saturday night in Odebolt. A 29-year-old man was found lying on a kitchen floor with a gunshot wound. The man was taken to a Sioux City hospital. His condition is not available. Authorities say charges are possible following further investigation into the shooting.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls is celebrating the reopening of the Island Park Beach House after the original structure was destroyed by floodwaters in 2008. A ceremony will be held Thursday to commemorate the reopening after seven years of planning and fundraising. The house has been an institution in the city for 90 years. Businessman Dave Krejchi says it is an important part of the city’s quality of life. The house cost about $650,000 to rebuild.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Preschool is becoming a more popular option for families with young children across Iowa. Educators with the Dubuque Community School District and Holy Family Catholic Schools credit a statewide program offering free preschool for the increase in enrollment. The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for 4-Year-Old Children was established in 2007. Since its first year, enrollment in the program has grown from about 5,100 to nearly 22,700 this school year.

 

Names of those involved in Glenwood shooting incident released

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Attorney’s Office Monday afternoon released more details about Sunday evening’s shooting incident that left three people injured, with one person suffering from a gunshot wound. Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said nine people were present during the incident that happened at the home of Glenwood High School Principal Richard Hutchinson at around 6-p.m., Sunday.

During the altercation, Hutchinson and his step-son — Hurl Beechum — were injured and taken to the hospital. Colton McDaniel was shot during the incident and taken to the hospital.Three minor females, and three males, including McDaniel, Denver Cook, and Kameron Myer, along with Hutchinson’s wife Randi, were also involved. All of the injuries were considered to be non-life threatening.The ages of those involved was not released, Monday. Officials said they are still investigating and charges are being considered.

McSorley says the incident appears to have been isolated, and all motives including the possibility of a hate crime, were still being investigated.Hutchinson is a African American. Neighbors reported that the people who went to Hutchinson’s house Sunday were white. Rumors were swirling around town since the incident began, that those involved targeted him because he is black.

Meanwhile, all Glenwood homecoming week activities will take place as scheduled. The Mills County Attorney’s Office say more information on the incident will be released as the investigation unfolds. Hutchinson has been the Glenwood high school principal since July 1, 2014.

EPA proposes adding former Atlantic dry cleaner site to Superfund Priorities list

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday the government agency is proposing to add two environmentally contaminated sites in Region 7 – the PCE Former Dry Cleaner Site in Atlantic, Iowa, and the Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Site in Norfolk, Neb. – to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL), potentially making both sites eligible for long-term cleanup funding. All told, the Agency today added five sites to the NPL, and proposed the addition of seven others.

The NPL, which is updated at least annually, contains the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites, and serves as the basis for prioritizing both enforcement actions and long-term EPA Superfund cleanup funding. Only sites on the NPL are eligible for such funding.

The PCE Former Dry Cleaner Site, in Atlantic, is the former location of a dry cleaner operation (at 7th and Plum Streets) that was in business in the 1960s, and beginning in 1974, the building there was leased by the Iowa Department of Transportation for use as a materials testing laboratory. It was demolished sometime after 1982 and the land is now occupied by a bank. The site has groundwater contamination from chlorinated solvents, including tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE) and degradation products.

To date, the City of Atlantic has disconnected one municipal well from the municipal system. It is currently being pumped continuously to the city wastewater treatment plant to provide hydraulic control and protect the nine other municipal wells from PCE contamination. The owners of the business on the site have installed a vapor mitigation system. The City of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Municipal Utilities, have expressed support for placing the site on the NPL.

The EPA will accept public comments regarding these and other proposed NPL site listings during a 60-day comment period following the publication date of official notice in the Federal Register. Those notices and supporting documents for final and proposed NPL sites are available online.

Established by Congress in 1980, the Superfund program investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and converts them into productive community resources by eliminating or reducing public health risks and environmental contamination.

4 arrests in Audubon

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon Police Department, Monday, released a report on recent arrests. On Sept. 20th, 54 year old Robert Charles Atkinson was arrested for Public Intoxication – 3rd or subsequent offense. Atkinson was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

On Sept. 19th, 48 year old Michele Ann Darrow was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Darrow was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released on bond.

And on Sept. 18th, Audubon Police arrested 30 year old Shawn Leroy Schmidt of Audubon for Violation of a No-Contact Order. Schmidt was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he appeared before a magistrate. That same day, 22 year old Samantha Christine Schmidt was arrested for Aiding and Abetting. She also was transported to the Audubon County Jail where she appeared before a magistrate.

SW IA woman featured on Cooking Channel show

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A 92-year-old southwest Iowa woman has been featured on the Cooking Channel. Guelda Barker of Mount Ayr appeared on an episode of “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” that aired last Wednesday and again on Sunday. During the episode, Mo Rocca, the show’s host, answered Barker’s phone as Barker bustled about the kitchen.

Barker is a retired lunch lady and well-known in Mount Ayr for her cinnamon rolls. Her recipe for cinnamon rolls was featured on the show, but Barker also showed Rocca some of the greeting cards she paints. Barker told Rocca she took a correspondence course after her first husband died and learned to paint with watercolors.

“How come you didn’t pursue it as a career?” Rocca asked. Barker answered: “Well, I just felt like I couldn’t handle it and do chores and take care of children and can and all that.” Rocca followed up: “Do you regret not pursuing it as a career?” Barker said: Yes, I do, because I think I could have made a little money. I loved it.” She shared her recipe for canned meat, plus recipes for cinnamon rolls, “Addictive Cookies”, “7-Up Salad” and “Blue Ribbon Chocolate Cake”. (A link to the recipe can be found here: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/cinnamon-rolls.html )

The episode is titled “Walking on Ayr” — a play on Barker’s hometown of Mount Ayr and it was filmed in mid-July during this year’s “Ayr Days” celebration in Mount Ayr.

(Radio Iowa)

Man arrested in 2013 Stuart motel fire arrested again, Monday

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An arrest was made Monday (Today) in connection with a fire at the Economy Inn motel, in Stuart. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater. 31-year old Jason McGowan, of Stuart, was living in the room he allegedly set on fire at around 8:30-a.m., Monday. McGowen faces a charge of 1st Degree arson and was being held at the Adair County Jail in Greenfield.

It’s not the first time McGowan was arrested in connection with a motel room arson in Stuart. In November 2013 McGowan, he pled guilty to  a room fire at the Super 8 motel in Stuart. The man served slightly less than  360 days in jail.
No injuries were reported following Monday’s fire. There’s no word yet on the extent of damage to the motel, but the fire was limited to the one room.

Cass County arrest report, 9/28/15

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. Sunday night, 21-year old Martin Eduardo Vidales, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a felony Possession with Intent to Deliver, charge, and for Driving While Revoked. Vidales was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 38-year old Richard Dwaine Smith, of Atlantic, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for OWI 2nd Offense. Smith was also cited for Driving Under Suspension. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2000 bond.

Accident in Cass County Sat. afternoon – no injuries/ 1arrest

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon south of Atlantic caused about $2,500 damage, but no one was hurt. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded at around 1:20 p.m. to the scene of the crash on Jackson Road, one-half mile east of 630th Street (Hwy 71).

Officials say a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo owned and driven by 31-year old Amy Jo Cameron, of Atlantic, was eastbound on Jackson Road when the car went out of control and entered the north ditch. Cameron was subsequently arrested for felony OWI 3rd Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5000 bond.

4 arrests in Mills County

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four, recent arrests.On Sunday, 20-year old Chey Matthew Bullis, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested on a warrant for OWI/1st Offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Also arrested Sunday, was 29-year old Andrew John Horton, of Omaha, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Horton’s bond was set at $300.

There were two arrests in Mills County on Friday: 31-year old Scott Anthony McDonald, of Mondamin, was arrested on a warrant out of Sac County for Failure To Appear in court. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 26-year old Joshua David Hastie, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault, with bond set at $2,000.

Small fire reported at a Stuart motel

News

September 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A small fire damaged a single guestroom  at a motel in Stuart this (Monday) morning. According to reports, firefighters from Stuart and Menlo responded to the Economy Inn in Stuart at around 8:30-a.m.,where a blaze was found in one of the rooms. No injuries were reported, and damage to the building was still being assessed at last report.

Authorities say the cause of the fire was suspicious, but no charges have been filed, as the investigation continues. Stuart Police Department and Stuart Rescue assisted at the scene.