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Construction begins on 17-mile Iowa bike trail

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Construction has begun on a 17-mile long bike trail that will link three southwest Iowa communities. The Daily Nonpareil reports that work began on the first segment of the Railroad Highway Multi-Use Trail Saturday. The trail is expected to link Council Bluffs, Underwood and Neola.

Brian Shea, chairman of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association, says the nearly 2-mile long section is scheduled to be completed this year. Underwood Deputy City Clerk Jan Ehrens says the trail is meant to provide bicyclists a safe place away from traffic.

Brian Leaders is with the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. He says more than $4 million has been raised for the trail, which will be part of a larger network of trails that will cover about 100 miles.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (6/12/17)

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), reports numerous arrests took place over the past few days.  At around 1:15-a.m. Sunday, 45-year old Michael Darrell Jacobsen, of Oakland, was arrested following a traffic stop for a registration violation, and charged with Driving While Barred and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug (One-half pill of Zanax). And, at around 12:15-a.m. Sunday, 26-year old Jerry Lee Grounds, of Elliott, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after he crashed his 2001 Dodge Caravan into a ditch near Beechnut Road and 510th Street.

At around 11:17-p.m. Saturday, Pottawattamie County Deputies arrested 32-year old Christopher Russell Marsh, of Macedonia. Marsh was taken into custody on an active Pottawattamie County warrant for Probation Violation, and a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree.

Saturday afternoon, Pott. County authorities arrested 37-year old James David Yopp, Jr., of Underwood, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree and 1st Offense Stalking associated with an incident involving his wife. Saturday morning, 23-year old Courtney Sue Westcott, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a disturbance in the area of 320th Street and Highway 6. Westcott was charged with Simple Assault with Injury. Her victim, a 34-year old woman from Macedonia, reportedly suffered minor injuries during the incident.

And, late Friday morning, 47-year old William Joseph Grego, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop, on a Pott. County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.

4 arrested on Attempted Burglary & Theft charges in Walnut

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A call about a possible burglary in progress in Walnut Friday afternoon, resulted in four arrests. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a deputy was dispatched at around 3-p.m. to a residence in the 600 block of Country Street in Walnut. Upon further investigation, Phillip Houston, Jacob Jens, and Cody Varnes, all of Walnut, along with Daniel Rosse, of Avoca, were arrested for Attempted Burglary in the 3rd Degree/Breaking and Entering, and Theft in the 3rd Degree. The suspects are allegedly to have stolen household goods that included a washer and dryer, hutch and table saw, with a combined value of $800.

Backyard & Beyond 6-12-2017

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

June 12th, 2017 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning about the summer educational programs planned with county libraries.

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Iowa official pitches stopgap health insurance solution

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s insurance commissioner is proposing a plan he thinks could keep Iowa from becoming the first state to lose all of its health care insurance carriers offering policies on the Affordable Care Act exchange next year.

Doug Ommen says he traveled to Washington last week with officials from two major Iowa insurance carriers to pitch a proposal to federal officials that would save the Iowa market from collapsing.

Minnesota-based Medica is the only remaining statewide insurer on the exchange and has said it will drop out if changes aren’t made. Ommen’s plan reallocates federal subsidies currently used to lower costs for older participants to entice younger people into the insurance market and uses federal reinsurance dollars to help insurers absorb high-cost claims.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has committed to selling insurance in all 99 Iowa counties next year if the plan is approved. Without approval, Ommen says Medica will drop out and 72,000 Iowans will be uninsured next year.

Montgomery County Fair Queen Contest

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with ISU Extension in Montgomery County, report the Montgomery County Fair Queen Contest, sponsored by the Montgomery County Fair Board, will be held July 9th, at 4 pm. All judging will take place July 9 in the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Conference Room. The Fair Queen will be crowned Tuesday, July 18, at 7:30 pm in the Fairgrounds Auditorium.

To qualify, contestants must be 16 to 21 years of age, have not been married, be enrolled in or graduated high school and be an active member of a community organization.

The Fair Queen and all other contestants are expected to help and take part in many activities throughout the week of fair, July 16 through July 23. Candidates will be asked to help hand out ribbons and awards at livestock shows as well as attend events sponsored by the Fair Board.

As Montgomery County Fair Queen you will receive the opportunity to represent
Montgomery County at the 2017 Iowa State Fair. If interested in competing for Montgomery County Fair Queen please stop by the Montgomery County Extension Office for an application. Along with the application form we ask you attach a head and shoulder picture, a current school picture is ideal.

If you have any questions please contact Dawn LeRette at 712-623-2525 or the Extension Office at 712-623-2592. The fees for service will be used to offset direct expenses and to support the 4-H Youth Development County Extension Program.

Man, 5-year-old boy fatally injured in northwest Iowa crash

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 5-year-old boy and a man driving them have died after a collision in northwest Iowa. The accident occurred around 10:50 a.m. Saturday on Iowa Highway 9 near Sibley. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says a westbound car collided with an eastbound sport utility vehicle.

The car driver was pronounced dead later at Osceola Community Hospital. He was identified as 48-year-old Travis Mier, who lived in Spirit Lake. The boy was pronounced dead later at a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital. The Sheriff’s Office identified him as Elliot Mier.

The SUV driver was taken to Sanford Rock Rapids Medical Center in Rock Rapids for treatment of injuries not believed to be life-threatening. She was identified as 48-year-old Ann Vanderpool, who lives in Milford, Iowa.

Denison man arrested on Audubon County warrant

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A Crawford County man was arrested Saturday morning on an Audubon County warrant for Revocation of Probation. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 36-year old John C. Ruon, of Denison, was taken into custody with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol, at around 11-a.m. Saturday.

In July 2016, Ruon plead guilty to a charge of OWI/2nd offense. Authorities say he allegedly failed to comply with the terms of his probation and was transported to the Audubon County Jail, where he was being held on a $2,000 bond. Ruon is set to appear in District Court, June 26th.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 6/12/2017

News, Podcasts

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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From art to plants to planetariums, this is Iowa Museum Week

News

June 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The first proclamation Kim Reynolds signed after becoming governor focused on Iowa Museum Week, which opens today (Monday). Institutions statewide are holding special events over the next seven days to showcase their many resources. Sean Ulmer, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, says Iowa’s second-largest city is holding Cedar Rapids Museum Week to celebrate.

Ulmer says, “We are partnering with the Iowa Masonic Library Museum, The History Center, the National Czech and Slovak Museum, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Brucemore — which is a historic property, the Grant Wood Studio, the African-American Museum of Iowa and the Veterans Memorial Building.”

Each facility in Cedar Rapids — and statewide — is featuring its own variety of special events and bonuses to boost admission. “Brucemore is offering buy-one-get-one admission on their tours, some people are suspending admission on certain days and certain nights,” Ulmer says. “They’re offering tours, there are trivia nights. The Iowa Masonic Library Museum has a new exhibition opening that celebrates the 300th anniversary of free masonry.”

Ulmer says this will be a fun-filled opportunity for family and friends to explore all the arts and cultural amenities the region has to offer. “We regularly receive visitors, especially in the summertime, from Des Moines, from Chicago, from Minneapolis, from St. Louis,” Ulmer says. “In the summertime, when the weather is pleasant, people do travel to see various cultural institutions and we are blessed to have so many in the state of Iowa.”

Statewide, there are some 400 museums, which include: arboretums, archives, art centers, art museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, children’s museums, cultural centers, ethnic museums, historic cemeteries, history museums, historic sites, historical societies, historic theaters, living history sites, military museums, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, presidential libraries, science centers, sports museums, university museums and zoos.

(Radio Iowa)