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Braddyville man arrested Tuesday evening

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports a traffic stop Tuesday evening resulted in an arrest. 23-year old Matthew Thomas Riddle, of Braddyville, was arrested for Driving While Barred, after the 2007 Chevy Cobalt he was driving was pulled over at around 5:45-p.m., Tuesday, near the intersection of Highway 2 and 12th Street. Riddle was brought to the Page County Jail and held until posting a $1,000 bond.

Pickup and utility truck/trailer collide in Page County

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported after a pickup and utility vehicle collided Wednesday night, in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say a 1998 Toyota pickup owned and driven by 24-year old Jeffrey Davison, of New Market, was traveling south on Willow Avenue at around 8-p.m., when Davison failed to stop at the intersection with County Road J-20.

His pickup hit a tilt bed trailer attached to a 2009 GMC utility truck, driven by 41-year old Scott Brown, of Clarinda, as Brown was traveling westbound on J-20. During the collision, the trailer became detached from the truck and came to rest in the south ditch.

The damage was estimated at $5,300. Davison was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

2 women injured during separate accidents in Mills County

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), said two people were injured during separate accidents that happened Tuesday. The first occurred at around 9:40-a.m. Officials say Renae Gaver, of Glenwood, was driving a 2002 GMC eastbound on Highway 34, when she came upon an eastbound tractor. Gaver swerved onto the gravel shoulder of the road and turned to the left, causing gravel to be sprayed on the driver of the tractor. Her vehicle then crossed the median and nearly collided with a westbound cement truck before rolling over and coming to rest on its wheels in the north ditch. Gaver was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The other accident happened at around 5:35-p.m. Tuesday near the Tabor City limits. Sheriff’s officials say Teresa Orme, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2008 Hyundai eastbound on Waubonsie Avenue, when for reasons unknown, her car crossed the road and went into the north ditch. The vehicle continued through a fence and finally came to rest in a field. Orme was transported by Tabor Rescue to the hospital in Shenandoah.

Zaun makes push for votes before June Primary

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Senator Brad Zaun is making a push for votes in the final two weeks before the June 3rd Primary. Zaun, a 20th District House of Representatives Republican from Urbandale, has been hitting the campaign trail hard since the Senate adjourned earlier this month. He’s running for the 3rd District Congressional seat being vacated by Congressman Tom Latham, who announced in December he would not be seeking re-election.

Senator Brad Zaun, (R-IA)

Senator Brad Zaun, (R-IA)

Zaun, who has served in the Iowa Senate since 2004, stopped by the KJAN studios Wednesday afternoon. He’s the leader among candidates seeking the 3rd District seat, according to a recent poll by Loras College. Even thought he doesn’t get into following the polls, Zaun says they’re helpful because it shows he needs to work harder to get name recognition, especially with so many voters undecided. Zaun says he “Has a lot of work to do,” because out of 300 likely voters polled, Zaun collected 17.4-percent of the vote, which is still well below the 35-percent required for nomination.

The polls indicated the other candidates, including Robert Cramer, David Young, Matt Schultz and Monte Shaw, all received between 5.3 and 8.3 percent. Just over half of those polled indicated that they were undecided in the upcoming race. Zaun says the reason he is running, has to do with how the national debt will affect his kids. He says he will not pass the debt and spending onto his kids or any other young person.

He says when he gets to Washington, the three areas he won’t touch in terms of cutting spending, are those affecting services for seniors, the disabled and military veterans. Any other subsidies are fair game. Zaun says he is in favor of term limits, and abolishing the Department of Education in Iowa and nationally. He says a bill he’s proposed would give parents the choice of how to educate their children, whether it in a private school or home-school setting.

He says he also has a bill to shut down the “Common Core” curriculum, and create an Education Savings Account that could be used for competent non-public instruction whether that is a private school, homeschooling or online education. On the subject of term limits, Zaun says it’s not up to him to decide how long is too long to stay in office. He says “It’s in God’s hands…if it’s one term, so be it.”

The 3rd Congressional District Zaun is running for, covers an area in the southeastern corner of Iowa. Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Warren, Madison, Adair, Cass, Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont, Page, Montgomery, Taylor, Adams, Union and Ringgold counties are also included in the district.

Grassley to Hold Meetings in Six Iowa Communities (Revised info.)

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(This is an update to our May 16th story, with a change in location for the Greenfield event)

Senator Chuck Grassley will hold six town meetings in Iowa during the week of May 26 as part of his annual 99-county tour. Grassley has held a meeting in each of Iowa’s 99 counties at least once every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate.

On May 28th, 29th and 30th, Grassley will be in Greenfield, Atlantic, Mount Ayr, Chariton, Pella, and Bloomfield. On Wednesday, May 28th, Grassley will hold Town Hall meetings:

• In Greenfield from 9:45-to 10:45-a.m., in the cafeteria at the Adair County Memorial Hospital (NOT in the courtroom at the Adair County Courthouse, as previously announced.)
• In Atlantic, from Noon-to 1 p.m. at Iowa Western Community College
• And in Mount Ayr, from 5-to 6-pm, in the Assembly Room at the Ringgold County Courthouse.

Bluffs appreciation group apologizes to veterans

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs civic group has apologized to Vietnam Veterans over controversy involving a parade float. The Vietnam War veterans group pulled out of last weekend’s “Celebrate Council Bluffs” parade, after event organizers told the vets they couldn’t display a replica bamboo “Tiger Cage” on their float, which symbolized the plight of American POW’s in the Vietnam War. The Council Bluffs Daily NonPareil reports The Celebrate CB board issued a written apology, Wednesday.

Carol Horner, chairwoman of the Celebrate CB board, said the move to deny the group’s float application was made after complaints were received last year from parents and veterans alike, who expressed concern regarding the veterans group’s depiction of a soldier in a “tiger cage” cell. Horner, who is the daughter of a Vietnam veterans,  said organizers erred by not realizing the importance of the imagery behind the float.

Ben Wiese of Glenwood, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 798, said he was sincerely pleased with the board’s apology, which he graciously accepted. The board’s decision to deny the Vietnam veterans’ float sparked a protest, as several groups pulled out of the parade to stage a small demonstration Saturday afternoon in Bayliss Park.

Outrage against the board’s decision also spurred citizens to make angry emails, phone calls and voicemails to members of the Celebrate CB board and subcommittees. One board member was also allegedly threatened. Wiese says those types of actions are not acceptable, and they in no way meant for their protest over being excluded from the parade to present a danger to anyone.

Carol Horner  said she would like to see the debate become a teaching moment, working with veterans to help educate students about the true nature of the Vietnam War and the hardships endured by soldiers returning home.

***********

The text of the letter is as follows: “It is with great humility that the Celebrate CB Board offers an earnest apology to the veterans, members of the armed forces, police and fire departments and residents of Council Bluffs. Our board never meant to exclude, harm or separate our war heroes. The mission of Celebrate CB is to celebrate our city and take pride in our community.

We recognize the importance and sacrifices our veterans made for our freedom. We obviously failed in our recognition of those who served our great nation, and we ask for compassion regarding our actions. Veterans all over the country make up the fabric of being America strong. Please accept our deepest apology. It would be our honor to work and learn from our veterans, members of the armed forces, police and fire departments and those citizens who have a genuine interest in making our great city of Council Bluffs even greater.

Sincerely, The Celebrate CB board

 

7AM Newscast 05-22-2014

News, Podcasts

May 22nd, 2014 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Public Hearing July 2nd on Atlantic Tax Abatement Program

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(re-posted with proper formatting)

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set July 2nd as the date for a public hearing on the implementation of a City-wide Tax Abatement program. City Administrator Doug Harris said Mayor Dave Jones and the Community Development Committee recommended the council approve the program as described in the city’s Urban Revitalization Plan.

The plan includes a five year sliding scale tax exemption for residential and commercial new construction starting at 80-percent, 70-percent, 60-percent, 50-percent and 40-percent. Harris said residential rehabilitation would include a 100-percent tax exemption on the actual value added by the improvements. The improvements however, must increase the actual value of the property by a minimum of 10-percent. That also applies to all qualified real estate assessed as commercial property.

Eligible property improvements would include rehabilitation and additions to existing residential and commercial structures located within the Urban Renewal Area, new construction on vacant land, or on land with existing structures. Properties classified as “Commercial” effective January 1st, 2014, would not be included, but would instead be re-classified multi-residential, effective January 1st, 2015.

Individuals and business owners interested in participating in the program, if approved by the Council after the public hearing, will be required to file an application at City Hall. If the application for tax abatement is approved, it will be forwarded to the County Assessor’s Office for inspection once the project is complete, and subsequent assessment for valuation.

In other business, the Council approved: the sale of property at 405 W. 4th Street to Todd Knudsen, for $400; a request from the 1st United Methodist Church to close Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, on August 10th from 3-to 7-pm (for the purpose of a community block party); and, they unanimously passed a Resolution approving a policy for the use of Public Funds for Observances. Seven years ago, the City established a policy setting the maximum amount to be paid for flowers, gifts, cards and plaques given in observance of City employees’ major events such as retirements, hospitalization and death.

City Administrator Doug Harris said he and Mayor Jones drafted an addition to the policy that would include recognition of citizens who regularly dedicate countless hours helping the community with events and perform other services for the City.

Omaha man injured in Bluffs motorcycle accident

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Nebraska man was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, following an accident Wednesday evening in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police, 54-year old Brian P. Loye, of Omaha, was driving his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on Interstate 80 at around 8:20-p.m., when he lost control as he was about to cross the state line into Nebraska.  The cycle crashed into the southbound median. Loye, who was wearing a helmet, suffered incapacitating injuries during the crash and was last reported to be in critical condition at the hospital.

Witnesses told accident investigators Loye was traveling at a high rate of speed when something fell off his cycle. They said when he turned his head to look back, he lost control of the motorcycle.

County auditors open May 31 for early voters

News

May 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — County auditors are opening their offices Saturday May 31 for voters who want to cast ballots early for the June 3 primary. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz says voters not yet registered may register at their county auditor’s office using election day registration procedures and cast their ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Friday, May 30. Absentee ballots received in the county auditor’s office by 9 p.m. on June 3, are eligible for counting.

Schultz says his office also has developed a smart phone app that allows voters to check voter registration information, fill out the Iowa voter registration form, find the correct polling place, and request and track an absentee ballot.