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One arrest and one accident Thursday, in Creston

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

One person was arrested, and one non-injury accident was investigated Thursday, in Creston. Authorities say 25-year old Natasha Campbell, of Creston, was arrested at around 3:20-p.m. at 806 Laurel Street, and charged with Theft in the 4th Degree. Campbell was later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, an accident that happened at around 11:40-a.m. at the intersection of South Elm and Highway 34 in Creston caused a total of $2,800, but no one was hurt. Officials say vehicle driven by 67-year old Jeannittie Todd, of Maloy, and 16-year old Brooke Hague, of Creston, collided as both drivers were traveling south on S. Elm Street.

When Todd stopped her 2007 Jeep at the intersection, Hague, who authorities say was following too closely, failed to stop her 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix in-time. Her car hit the left rear corner of the Jeep. No citations were issued.

(Podcast) KJAN News & Funeral report, 4/10/15

News, Podcasts

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

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

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Life in prison for s.w. IA man who killed his girlfriend

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Shenandoah man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison in connection with the July 2009 death of 29-year old Holly Durben, of Shenandoah. The Daily NonPareil says Fourth District Judge Timothy O’Grady also ordered 34-year old Brian Davis to pay court costs in the case, make restitution for his court-appointed attorneys, and pay $150,000 to either the estate of Holly Durben or her heirs. In a February bench trial, O’Grady found Davis guilty of first-degree murder in Durben’s July 18, 2009 death.

Durben was found with a shotgun wound to her head in the couple’s bedroom at the farmhouse where they lived, about four miles south of Shenandoah on U.S. Highway 59. Prosecutors have said Durben’s death was a homicide staged to look like a suicide. Davis’ attorneys maintained that Durben killed herself.

Davis was transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale, where he will begin his sentence immediately. Davis has the right to appeal the sentence within 30 days of his sentencing Thursday. Before the sentencing in the Fremont County Courthouse defense attorneys Eric Nelson, Joseph Reedy and Michael Hooper filed a motion for a new trial, which Judge O’Grady denied.

New Superintendent hired for Shen. School District

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Shenandoah School Board has found a replacement for their former superintendent who was terminated last November. The Daily NonPareil reports Kerri Nelson will take over from interim superintendent Monte Munsinger. Nelson was selected over Mount Pleasant Superintendent Mike Wells, the other finalist for the position from a field of 19 applicants.  Nelson will begin her duties as superintendent on July 1.

Nelson is currently the superintendent of South Tama Community School District, where she has been since 2008. She is also a representative for Class 3A schools this year on the School Administrators of Iowa’s Executive Leaders Steering Committee, according to the organization’s website.

Nelson replaces Jeff Hiser, who was accused of submitting fraudulent expense requests, giving inaccurate information during an investigation and misusing district property for personal gain, among other reasons offered by the school board for his ousting. Hiser initially challenged the decision, but he decided in January to allow the termination to proceed because of an ongoing medical issue. He had been “medically unable to perform” the job since Oct. 6, 2014, and a medical provider said an administrative law proceeding would aggravate his depression and anxiety.

Villisca woman arrested on a drug charge Thu. night

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A routine traffic stop late Thursday night in Villisca resulted in the arrest of a local woman on a drug charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 46-year old Claudia Elizabeth Schubert, of Villisca, faces a Possession of a Controlled Substance, charge.

The woman was arrested during the course of a traffic stop at around 11-p.m., after the Montgomery County K9 “Rex” alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from Schubert’s 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The vehicle was searched and a controlled substance was found. Schubert was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

2 men arrested in Red Oak on weapon and burglary charges

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Two men were arrested Thursday night on separate charges, in Red Oak. Authorities say Red Oak Police arrested 65-year old Steve Lester Delong, of Red Oak, at around 8:05-p.m. , for discharging a firearm within the City limits. Delong was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

And, at around 9:35-p.m., 22-year old Cody Dean Johnson, of Red Oak, was arrested for Felony Burglary in the 2nd Degree. Johnson’s bond was set at $10,000.

3 arrested on burglary and drug charges in Adams County

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Three men were arrested Thursday evening on burglary and narcotics charges, in Adams County. Sheriff’s officials say Josh Cooney, Hubert Scherer and Charles Williams, all from Brooks, were taken into custody at around 6:40-p.m., after authorities investigated a reported burglary in Brooks. Narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found during the investigation.

Triple A sees gas prices staying steady or dropping

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

As you start thinking about summer vacation, Triple-A Iowa spokesperson Gail Weinholzer says you might not have to budget as much money for traveling by car. Weinholzer says all signs are pointing for stable or lower gas prices. “The refineries have completely switched over from the winter to the summer grade fuel, gas stations have to do so by May 1st,” Weinholzer says. “And so we have an abundance of crude oil and refined oil available…as a result we expect cost to remain relatively stable, if not decline back toward two dollars by Labor Day.”

The cost of a gallon of gas in Iowa is well below what it was during the last summer driving season. “A year ago the state of Iowa’s average was three-58 and today it is two-37. So, it is a dollar-20 or so below were you were a year ago on this date. And we expect prices to remain very low, at least until we head into the summer, if not through the summer,” according the Weinholzer. She says that’s the fuel cost forecast from what is known right now.

“There’s always some exceptions to that should anything significant happen to the oil fields in the Middle East. One we get into the summer season, of course we always have to keep an eye on the Hurricanes in the Gulf,” Weinholzer says. “But aside from those two things — the increased supply and relatively stable demand will keep prices low.” Weinholzer wouldn’t be surprised if the gas price trend takes a dip.

“There’s no reason to expect any significant increases, and in fact, we may see a slight decrease as we approach two dollars a gallon perhaps, as we head into the summer driving season,” Weinholzer says. Iowa gas prices would be even lower, but the Iowa Legislature passed and the governor signed an increase into law that up the gas tax by 10 cents on March 1st.

(Radio Iowa)

Changes in online search engine could impact businesses

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa businesses that don’t have a mobile-friendly website may be pushed down the list when potential customers search for them on Google, under changes coming this month. The world’s most popular Internet search engine wants to better accommodate people who use smart phones and tablets, according to Rob Rance, president of the digital division of an advertising firm in Omaha-Council Bluffs.

Rance says, “With 50-percent of searches online being conducted on a mobile device, businesses that get business from online are going to be negatively affected if they are not compliant with a mobile-friendly website.” Mobile-friendly means the website is designed to adapt to any screen size. Google is used in seven of every ten searches and with half of all searches being done with a smart phone or tablet, he says it makes sense that mobile-friendly websites take precedence. Google Analytics is a free testing tool that can be used to analyze a website to see if it’s designed to be mobile friendly.

“It will actually tell you for your own business exactly how many mobile searches you’re getting on a monthly basis,” Rance says. “Then, you can see that if you don’t have a responsive site, you can tell exactly how many visitors you’re probably not going to get as a result of this algorithm change.” Google says the changes will go into effect April 21st. Rance, who works for Sleight Advertising, says it’s a good idea for Iowa businesses to make the necessary changes now.

Rance says, “In my experience, it’s probably reasonable to assume that most businesses could take as much as a 30-to-50% dip in their online search traffic by not being responsive.” He notes, about 90-percent of consumers check out a business website before visiting a store or making a purchase.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, April 10th 2015

News

April 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Severe weather making its way across eastern Iowa has produced at least one tornado. The National Weather Service confirms that a tornado was located around 5:25 p.m. yesterday in rural Donahue, which is about 15 miles north of Davenport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of sending a threatening letter that contained white powder to a Des Moines bar has been arrested. The Des Moines Police Department says 49-year-old Eric Reese Wiethorn of Ames was charged yesterday with first-degree harassment in connection with the letter sent to Blazing Saddle, a gay bar. Firefighters closed a street in Des Moines’ East Village on March 27th after an opened the envelope and white powder spilled out.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City teen has pleaded guilty to igniting a fire that damaged a home. The 14-year-old boy entered his plea yesterday in Woodbury County District Court to second-degree arson in connection with an August fire in Sioux City. The plea agreement reduces his charge from first-degree arson, which would mean a fire was intentionally set to an occupied building.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa waste company has paid a $100,000 fine for illegally dumping trash into its landfill in Sheldon. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller’s office said Thursday that the Northwest Iowa Area Solid Waste Agency made the payment in a lawsuit filed in 2013 on behalf of the state Department of Natural Resources. A judge approved the payment Wednesday.