The Atlantic Police Department reports one arrest and one recent accident. Officials say 34-year old Kevin Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested Friday on a warrant for Violation of his probation. Jensen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an accident at around 3:40-p.m. Friday at 8th and Plum Streets caused $8,000 damage, but no one was seriously injured. Officials say vehicles driven by Nadine Gladwin, of Des Moines, and Devon Bretey, of Atlantic, collided when Gladwin failed to obey a stop or yield sign as she was headed east on 8th Street, and Bretey was traveling north on Plum. Gladwin’s car hit the Bretey vehicle on the left side. Gladwin complained of minor injuries, but declined medical assistance.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest Sunday (3/16) of 23-year-old Scott Nathaniel Belew of Audubon on a Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana charge.  Belew was arrested at approximately 7:00pm Sunday after a traffic stop on Davenport Street in Audubon.

Belew was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond and was released.  He is set to appear in court on March 20th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Woodbury County Board chairman is defending more than $180,000 in county funding for the nonprofit organization he manages.  George Boykin told the Sioux City Journal that it would not be fair for Sanford Community Center to suffer because he’s on the county board.  Boykin is the center’s executive director. It operates after-school and summer programs for at-risk young people, as well as coordinates numerous outreach efforts.

Boykin says has never had a say in funding that goes to the center and abstains from funding discussions on it. James Van Bruggen, of the Taxpayers Research Council, says it seems to him that the center is “getting favoritism, because they are getting six figures of money.”

w/ Ric Hanson

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With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a few simple tips, the process doesn’t need to be so daunting. According to professional organizer Amelia Hatcher, for most people, it’s not realistic to maintain a home in perfect order each day, but they can focus on clearing out the clutter.

“Clutter is anything that causes frustration, anxiety or chaos in your life,” as she defined it. “It completely drains you of your energy. It could be the pile of paper on your desk. It could be the pile of laundry. It could be your dumping ground like your kitchen table, and it just completely causes stress.” “Amelia the Clutter Queen” also recommends only cleaning and organizing one area at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed.

Hatcher was drawn into the clutter-fighting line about five years ago when she began helping family and friends. She said that for other caregivers, getting rid of the clutter not only helps get rid of chaos, but also helps improve safety of mobility.

“I’ve had several situations where people have fallen, broken a hip, and it’s actually not safe in the home,” she recalled. “So it’s my goal to go in and change things around to where the home is more accessible to things like walkers, possibly a wheelchair.”

Hatcher said that, among other points to look at, old medications should be properly disposed of, and no-longer-needed documents with personal information should be shredded to protect against identity theft.

More information is at AmeliaTheClutterQueen.com/a>.

(Iowa News Service)

Shelby County Emergency Management officials say as of today (Monday), natural fuels (Low humidity, strong winds and extremely dry grass/timber) have reached a point where they will readily ignite, and spread.  With predicted winds increasing, and Relative Humidity expected to drop into the Mid 20’s authorities recommend that Fire Danger Boards in Shelby County be placed in the HIGH category. 

The County is also included in a Fire Weather Watch, so expectations of rapid fire growth should be anticipated.  The situation will be assessed and the Fire Danger Boards updated, on Thursday.  In the mean time, outdoor burning of timber, grasses and other materials should not be conducted.

If you must burn, call your local fire chief to obtain authorization. If you are cleared to begin a controlled burn, contact Shelby County Dispatch at 712-755-2124  and let them know it is an authorized burn to avoid any confusion.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Two people were hurt during separate accidents over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports 42-year old Scott Hipp, of Rutherfordton, NC, was injured when the semi he was a passenger in swerved to avoid a vehicle parked in the right lane of Interstate 29 northbound Sunday morning, in Fremont County. The crash occurred at around 2:50-a.m.  Officials say the intoxicated driver of the parked vehicle left the vehicle unattended, with no lights on, on the traveled portion of the roadway at the 22.35-mile marker. The driver of the other vehicle was not identified.

The semi, driven by 41-year old Rodney Bristol, of Shelby, NC, hit the parked vehicle and then overturned. Hipp, who was in the sleeper portion of the cab, was transported by Tabor Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The other accident happened Saturday morning. The Patrol says 45-year old William Kohnekamp, of Defiance, was transported to the Crawford County Hospital by Crawford County Ambulance, after the 2008 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving went out of control on southbound Highway 59, south of Denison, at around 11:25-a.m.

The pickup entered the east ditch and rolled over. Kohnekamp, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, which came to rest on the northound lane of Highway 59. The Patrol says alcohol likely played a role in the crash.

The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program says only a small percentage of Iowans who have a gambling disorder are getting the help they need. Eric Preuss  provided a report to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on the program’s progress in 2013. “About 678 Iowans received services for problem gambling and we had a little over 4,000 calls for assistance through our 1-800-BETS-OFF Helpline,” Preuss said.

The program’s 1-800-BETS-OFF website was launched three years ago and receives around 14,000 visits annually. Preuss said relatively few people, around 18,000 Iowans, are described as problem gamblers. “Although point-six percent (0.6%) of Iowans have a gambling disorder, approximately 13.1 percent of Iowans are at risk of developing a gambling disorder,” Preuss said.

In addition, a problem gambler’s activities can impact a lot of family members and friends. “Although the percentage of Iowans with a gambling disorder is low, our behaviors and attitudes studies have indicated that more than one in five adult Iowans say they’ve been negatively affected by gambling behavior by someone that they know,” Preuss said.

This week is designated as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. An American Gaming Association report estimates two-point-one billion dollars ($2.1 billion) is spent on illegal gambling in the U.S. in the month of March, when many people are betting on the outcome of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After a warm and sunny Saturday, Iowans received another reminder than winter isn’t over yet on Sunday. The Des Moines area received about one inch of snow, but roads remained clear because ground temperatures were warm enough to melt it. The Iowa Department of Roads did not report any road closures due to weather.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Five-term Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will face a challenger in the June 3rd Republican primary, and one Democrat has been disqualified from his party’s race. The Des Moines Register reports that 53-year-old Tom Hoefling of Lohrville collected enough signatures to appear on the Republican primary ballot. He will face Branstad, who is seeking re-election.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A resident at a Des Moines group home is accused of strangling and punching one of his caretakers. The Des Moines Register reports that 27-year-old Joseph Vanzant Bonner is charged with willful injury and a probation violation. Des Moines police say Bonner was arrested after officers were called to Optimae Life Serivces on Friday evening. Bonner was still listed as an inmate in the Polk County Jail yesterday and could not be reached.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa law enforcement is stepping up its patrols through Monday for St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Des Moines Register reports that local and state officers will be out in greater numbers to keep watch for drunken drivers.