A report released Thursday by the American Wind Energy Association predicts Iowa could produce 40-percent of its energy needs from wind power within five years.Mike Prior, with the Iowa Wind Energy Association, says the projection is based on the current rate of development.  “If development continued at the pace that is was, uninhibited, we would be able to meet those percentages by that time. Certainly there are challenges, PTC being one of them. There may be some transmission challenges,” Prior said.

PTC refers to production tax credits. The federal incentive program for wind farms expired at the end of last year. Industry analysts have also suggested Iowa could eventually sell its wind-generated electricity to other states. Beth Conley, with Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners, is working to make that concept a reality.

“Right now, we are engaged in the regulatory process in Iowa, so working through our siting and working through our engineering,” Conley said. “We are in conversations with both customers in the east that would be interested in purchasing the power and customers in the west that are interested in developing this wind power to move east.”

The report issued Thursday is based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy. Iowa was the top state in country in 2014, generating 28 percent of its electricity by wind. Nationally, that figure is just 4.5 percent.

(Radio Iowa)

A park in northwest Iowa plans to hold a two-day camp later this month designed specifically for kids and their grandparents. Karess Knudtson, with the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji, is organizing what’s being called “Grandpa, Grandma, & Me!” She says the idea is to bridge generations and let both age groups grow together and create memories.

“The older generation as well as the younger generation can serve as both a learner as well as a teacher,” Knudtson says. “That becomes a very wonderful experience for them.” Knudtson says the camp has no theme, which allows for more hands-on activities like cooking, hiking and kayaking. It’s often difficult for kids and grandparents to coordinate schedules, so Knudtson says this an opportunity for both generations to spend some quality time together.

“We might get into some cooking, we might cook a snack one of the days, maybe making some Chapstik from our beeswax that we have from our bees here.” The camp is scheduled for July 30th and 31st and targets children between the ages of 5 and 13. The cost is $75 per child.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man who had spent years a volunteer youth sports coach in West Des Moines has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for having more than 100 images of child pornography. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Frank Burns, of Urbandale, was sentenced Thursday in Federal Court in downtown Des Moines.

The judge called Burns’ crimes serious because in about half of the 121 pornographic images, Burns had edited his face onto the pictures. Burns also admitted to authorities that he had sexually abused a teenage girl. Besides coaching youth sports, Burns had worked on committees for Special Olympics Iowa and Reach Out and Read Iowa.

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

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Downtown Atlantic will find more shoppers than usual filling its sidewalks and doorways this Saturday, July 18th. Participating Atlantic businesses will once again offer crazy, summer deals during the annual Crazy Daze retail sales event.

Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Director Ouida Wymer says “Crazy Daze is a long time tradition in Atlantic. We hope to bring people from out of town to experience crazy sales, have a great time and come back to shop Atlantic.”

Shoppers can also enjoy a free, Thanks with Franks hotdog lunch on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  at 5th and Chestnut. The hot dogs and chips meal is sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care and Hy-Vee.  Beverages will be provided by the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

In addition to crazy sales at Atlantic retailers, there will be live street entertainment by BJ Hart and Caleb Kelly, as well as Sheltered Reality. Sheltered reality is a nonprofit musical organization whose performing membership spans all ages from 4 years old to 76. Performances include performance of percussion set to music, as well as high energy choreography, to engage and motivate audiences.

Crazy Daze activities are brought to you by McDermott & Son Roofing, Renew Ag Supply and Salute Gymnastics. For more information on Crazy Daze and other Chamber events visit atlanticiowa.com or contact the Chamber office at 712.243.3017.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A man from Union County was arrested late Thursday night in Creston on a couple of charges. 44-year old Brian Taylor, of Creston, was stopped in the 300 block of S. Elm Street at around 11:30-p.m. He was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked and OWI/3rd offense. Taylor was later released on $5,000 bond.

A teenager from Panama was crowned Queen of the 2015 Shelby County Fair, Thursday night. Chelsea Assmann received the honors. She’s the daughter of Larry and Christine Assmann.

Haley Klein, daughter of Bob and Julie Klein, was the first runner-up. Mackenzie Goshorn, daughter of Darren and Kay Goshorn, was second runner-up.

The Audubon County Fair Queen contest was held Thursday night at the grandstand on the Audubon County Fairgrounds.  2014 Fair Queen Cassie Irlmeier passed along her crown to Tess Albright, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Audubon High School.  Albright was crowned queen out of a field of 7 contestants.  1st Runner-Up was Deann Irlmeier, an 16-year-old Sophomore at Exira-EHK.  2nd Runner-Up went to Jessica Wood, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Exira-EHK High School.

The candidates met on Thursday, July 9th at the Audubon County Extension Office to enjoy a meal catered by Simply Sweet.  That night they were interviewed as part of the judging process on criteria that included community involvement, speaking abilities and poise.  The Audubon County Fair Board supports the contestants by providing the meal, crown and sash, prizes, and State Fair accommodations to the winner.

Albright will now participate in the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest August 11th-15th. Coronation of the State Fair Queen will be Saturday, August 15th at 7 pm on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.

The full list of candidates were: Tess Albright, Emily Campbell, Ashley Hansen, Deann Irlmeier, Sarah Mosinski, Aly Vance, and Jessica Wood.

Sheriff’s Officials in Sac County said Thursday, several residents of the County have been receiving phone calls from someone posing as a deputy with the Sac County Clerk of Court. The caller tells the victims that they have a bad check and that they can resolve this with a credit card payment over the phone.

The phone number on caller ID shows that it is a local number but the caller is telling the victim to call an (872) number. Authorities say this is a SCAM and you SHOULD NOT give out your credit card number to anyone calling you on the phone.

The 872 phone number is a trac phone out of the Chicago area.