Volunteers were combing fire-prone neighborhoods in Council Bluffs Monday, checking door-to-door on how prepared residents may be for a fire. Jill Orton , with the Loess Hills chapter of the American Red Cross, said yesterday, the agency’s volunteers were canvassing several areas of town that are considered high-risk.  “We’re going to hand out fire safety information and talk to the residents about whether or not they have a working smoke detector,” Orton says. “If they need assistance with that, we’ll radio back and our partners within the fire department are going to go out and either install (a smoke detector) or give them batteries. It’s a fabulous event!”

In the past ten years, more than 230 fires occurred in the city’s high-risk neighborhoods, claiming three lives and sending 11 people to hospitals.

“Single-family fires are the number-one disaster that the Red Cross responds to on a daily basis,” Orton says. “Within our region, we respond to approximately one fire a day.” Fire is the biggest threat to families, not floods, hurricanes or tornadoes, she says, and home fires are one disaster that may be prevented when people understand how to protect their families. If residents weren’t home during Monday’s sweep, door hangers were left. The hangers, printed in both English and Spanish, provide cooking and heating tips, and highlight the importance of smoke alarms and the need to create and practice a fire escape plan.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says four people were arrested over the past few days. On Friday, 25-year old Corey Richard Mlynarik , of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 8-p.m. on Interstate 29. He was charged with Driving While Barred. Bond was set at $2,000. Two people were arrested Saturday: 36-year old  Angela Hope Thurman, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at 195th & Eastman, for Driving while Barred and No S-R 22 insurance, and, 24-year old Laura Ann Spencer, of  Treynor, was arrested just before 1-a.m., on a charge of Public Intoxication.  Her bond was set at $300

Early Sunday morning, Mills County deputies arrested 27-year old Brett Allen Coyle, of Glenwood, on Domestic Abuse Assault and Criminal Mischief charges.  That same morning, 18-year old Dylan Lee Conn, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana. Conn’s bond was set at $2,000.

The Sheriff’s office also investigated seven accidents, most of which occurred between 5-and 9-a.m. Friday, when roads were covered with frost or black ice. No injuries were reported.

The manager of the Atlantic Fareway Store was recognized this (Monday) afternoon for his efforts to support military service personnel employed at the store. Jerry Hansen, Chairman and Ombudsman for Employer Support of the Guard and Reservce (ESGR) Organization, Area 2, presented Dale Breuer with Patriot Award during a ceremony held at the store.

Fareway Manager Dale Breuer (Left) is congratulated by Jerry Hansen (right), as Christopher Kinney (Center), holds the Patriot Award presented to Breuer during a ceremony Jan. 21st, 2013. (Ric Hanson, photo)

Hansen spoke about the award’s background. He said the award was created by the ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who have answered the nation’s call to serve in the military. Hansen said supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nations National Guard and Reserve Units.

Breuer was nominated by Fareway employee Christopher Kinney, who serves with the Iowa National Guard’s 1168^th Transportation Company. Hansen read a portion of the letter Kinney submitted when he nominated Breuer for the award. It said Breuer has always kept in good spirits, works hard and continuously checks on his employees to see what their plans are for the future. He said Dale was very supportive of his decision to join the Guard, even though he knew the young man would be leaving for basic and Advanced Individual Training. Breuer held open a spot at the store for Kinney while the two separate training programs were underway.

Humble in his acceptance of the award, saying it was the company’s policy to work with their employees serving in the military. He said even if it wasn’t their policy, it’s the “right thing to do.” He said there are a lot of individuals and employers doing the right thing everyday, who don’t get recognized. Therefore, he accepted the award on their behalf, as well.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell has asked a judge to dismiss a defamation lawsuit he filed against Iowa activist Ed Fallon.  Fallon alleges he was offered a job to not run against Boswell in 2008. The allegation was made by Fallon in September as Boswell was facing a tough re-election campaign against Republican Rep. Tom Latham.  Boswell lost to Latham in November.

Fallon, a former state lawmaker, lost the 2008 Democratic primary to Boswell. He alleged that Boswell sent an aide to offer him the job to drop out of the race. Boswell denied the allegations and filed the lawsuit in late September.  Boswell attorney Steve Wandro says Boswell decided to end the lawsuit after determining there’s nothing to gain now that the election is over.

Last Thursday, KJAN News told you that the Iowa West Foundation (IWF) had announced its 4th Quarter 2012 grant recipients, which included the City of Kimballton, for park and trail improvements. Jill Madsen, chair of the Little Mermaid Trail Committee, says the $38,000 IWF grant will be used for the Kimballton City Park portion of the project.

Late last fall Kimballton city employees and volunteers disassembled and hauled away old playground equipment to make room for new equipment that’s been ordered and scheduled to be installed in the spring of 2013.  The park improvements also call for construction of a new public restroom.

“Thumbelina” print, one of 6 sketches to be turned into a 3-D bronze sculpture.

And, as we mentioned last month, an entirely new addition to the park will include sculptures of the most famous of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s characters. The sculptures will be mounted on pedestals containing speakers where visitors will be able to listen to the famous tales.  Troy Muller, Art Director of Century Art Guild in Kimballton has been contracted to create the bronze sculptures.

The Danish Villages of Elk Horn/Kimballton were designated as an Iowa “Great Place” in 2010 and since that time has completed the first leg of the Little Mermaid Trail, running six-tenths of a mile west of The Danish Immigrant Museum.   This second project was recently awarded $111,410 from the Great Places program for the Kimballton Park.

To help raise funds to complete the project, the committee is offering sponsorships of the bronze statues.  A $1,000 donation will get your name on one of the statues that will be erected. If you would like to find out more about how you can contribute to the park project, please contact Jill Madsen, 712-764-6161 or email her at jill@metc.net.

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest last week of 21-year old Treasure Nicole Hurst, from Shenandoah. Hurst was arrested during an inmate visitation at the Page County Jail. She was taken into custody Jan. 16th on a warrant out of Montgomery County, for contempt of court/failure to pay past due fines and court costs related to a May 28th 2012 5th degree theft charge.

Hurst’s probation was revoked by the judge Jan. 17th,  and she was ordered to serve her remaining 14 days in jail by no later than March 1st. If she remits payment before then, the contempt charge may be dropped. Hurst was released from custody on her own recognizance.

Results of an annual poll show many of the state’s farmers believe farmland is overvalued and the market bubble will eventually burst. J. Gordon Arbuckle, co-director of the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, says nearly 13-hundred (1,300) farmers were asked a series of questions about land values and prices. An overwhelming number pointed to one major reason for the recent surge. “High grain prices, which really are the major drivers of land price increases right now, were the highest rated factor,” Arbuckle said. Around 90-percent of the farmers surveyed cited grain prices as a “strong or very strong influence” in land prices. Arbuckle, an Iowa State University sociologist, said he found the response to one survey question troubling.

“From an economic stand point, if something is more valuable, you would think that you would take better care of it. But, what we found was that almost 50 percent of the farmers disagreed with that statement and said they did not believe that the increase in land values were leading to a greater commitment to soil conservation,” Arbuckle said. The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll has been conducted by a number of agricultural agencies since 1982. It’s the longest running survey of its kind in the nation. In the 2012 survey, the average age of the farmers who responded was 64.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Shelby County DevelopSource are inviting area farmers to a workshop in February designed to help families begin the conversation and put together a plan, on transitioning farms from retiring, to beginning farmers. The discussion and information will be held at the Shelby County Center of Iowa Western Community College, during a two day Farm Succession Conversation and Planning Workshop on February 8^th and 9^th. The workshops are planned as a multi-generational event for exiting owners and spouse and succeeding owners and spouse.

Workshops are held on consecutive days to allow for the initiations of conversations and written plans. The Succession Conversation and Planning workshop will feature several guest speakers including David Baker from Iowa State University and John Baker, Beginning Farmer Center Administrator and Attorney at Law. Over the two days, participants will review the retirement plan concept and receive information on transfer plans, estate plans and a process for creating a family statement of intention. Family groups will be given time to write a statement of intent and vision of the future.

The workshops will be held from noon to 8pm on Friday, the 8^th and 9am to 3pm on Saturday, the 9^th. Cost of the two day event is $150 per family of four, $25 per each additional person and includes refreshments and meals for both days. Interested Beginnings Farmers and Retired Farmers can register by contacting Jane Nielsen at Shelby County DevelopSource at 712-755-3569. Registrations must be received by Friday, January 25^th.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Three people were arrested in Atlantic over the weekend. As we mentioned during our news and on the web Sunday, 26-year old Prudence Page, of Atlantic, was arrested early Sunday morning outside of a local bar,  following a stabbing incident. Page was charged with Willful Injury Causing serious injury, in connection with the incident outside of Desperado’s Bar. Prudence also faces a Tampering with a Witness charge. She was being held in the Cass County Jail, pending a court appearance. The victim of her alleged assault, Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, suffered a wound to the upper torso, and was transported from the Cass County Memorial Hospital to a hospital in Omaha.

Also arrested over the weekend, was 28-year old Christopher Schrader, of Council Bluffs. Schrader was taken into custody Saturday on Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and 3rd offense Public Intoxication charges. He was booked in to the Cass County Jail, along with 52-year old John Jamison, of Atlantic. Jamison was arrested Friday, on a Cass County warrant for Criminal Trespassing.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say no injuries were reported following  a rollover accident Sunday afternoon, in the northwestern part of the county. Authorities say 21-year old Hannah Elizabeth Daiker, of Manning, was traveling east on a snow-covered County Road F-24, when her 1998 Chevy Malibu drove onto the south shoulder.

When Daiker tried to get the car back on the road, the vehicle slid sideways across the road and entered the north ditch, where it rolled onto its top. The accident happened at around 2:45-p.m. near the intersection with Bluebird Avenue, or about three-miles north of Fiscus.

Damage to the car was estimated at $2,000.