After several months of rehabilitation, two great horned owls will be released at Prairie Rose State Park near Harlan in western Iowa tonight (Monday) at 6 P-M. Kay Neumann, executive director of Save Our Avian Resources, or SOAR, says one of the owls had been hit by a car, while the other one had injuries consistent with getting caught in a soccer net.

“They aren’t like us when we go, ‘Oh, we’re stuck in something,’ hold still and figure out how to get yourself out, they will panic,” Neumann says. “They’ll start flapping wings and doing things like that and in a soccer net, it doesn’t take too long and they get entangled.” At night, soccer fields are wide open hunting grounds where owls snatch mice and other rodents, but the nets can quickly turn predators into victims. Tonight’s release of the owls is a celebration for SOAR, which focuses on rehabilitation, education and research.

“We’re over 350 bird-patients this year,” Neumann says. “We take in injured wild birds, we try to fix whatever’s wrong with them and release them back into the wild. It’s been extremely busy.” In the first few months of this year, Neumann says they took in 13 American bald eagles, all with lead poisoning. Only one of the eagles survived to be released. The eagles got sick, she says, from eating animals that were shot by hunters who used lead shot as ammunition. She’s campaigning for hunters to use copper shot instead.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the weekend. Saturday morning, 33-year old Zachary Dean Anderson, of Glenwood, was arrested on Highway 34 near 280th Street, for OWI/1st offense, Failure to Maintain Control, Failure to Reduce Speed to Reasonable and Proper Rate, and Speeding. His bond was set at $2,000. 33-year old Joseph Lawrence Isenbart, of Pacific Junction, was arrested Saturday morning for Driving Under Suspension and No SR-22 Insurance. His bond was set at $1,300.

Saturday night, 18-year old Brian Burdette Kuhn, of Carter Lake, was arrested on Highway 34 in Mills County for Possession of Prescription Drug, Reckless Driving, Child Endangerment. He was also wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court. His total bond was set at $4,000.

And, Sunday morning, 41-year old Benjamin David Sieck, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for OWI 3^rd, No Insurance and Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle. His bond was set at $5,000.

Governor Terry Branstad says he doesn’t like the “hodge podge” of city and county minimum wage hikes that are going into effect in Iowa. After the election’s over, he plans to talk with legislators about setting a higher statewide minimum wage. “I think it would be wise for us to carefully review the workforce and what the needs are out there and look at what neighboring states have done and what is competitive,” Branstad says. The state’s minimum wage is 7-dollars-and-25 cents an hour, identical to the federal minimum wage. Every state that borders Iowa has raised its minimum wage higher than that.

“Now we’re seeing this activity in several counties and I think it becomes a challenge and difficult for many businesses and many people,” Branstad says. “It would be better if we had a uniform, statewide minimum wage.” County boards of supervisors in Johnson, Linn, Wapello and Polk Counties have voted to raise the minimum wage locally. Many of those county officials have expressed the hope their action would pressure state officials to act on the issue.

“I know this is a challenging and controversial issue and there are those that would like to demand $15,” Branstad says. “And honestly, I think most people, including the supervisors here in Polk County, determined that wasn’t realistic, so we have to look at what’s fair, but also what’s realistic and will hurt people and not hurt small business.” Branstad says he wants to find a “bipartisan” consensus in the legislature on the issue. Branstad’s staff issued a “clarification” later in the day, Monday, saying Branstad was not openly advocating for an INCREASE in the minimum wage

In 1990, Republicans in the legislature voted against a bill Democrats passed that called for raising the state’s minimum wage above the federal level. Branstad surprised his fellow Republicans by signing it into law. Now, Branstad’s giving advanced warning that he’s open to taking similar action in 2017.

Here are the minimum wage rates in surrounding states: $8.25 in Illinois; $7.56 in Missouri and it will go up to $7.80 next year; $9.00 in Nebraska; $8.50 in South Dakota; $9.50 in Minnesota.

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Afton resident reported Sunday, someone had cut the left rear tire of a 1998 Dodge Durango owned by Megan Short, sometime during the day, while the vehicle was parked outside the residence. The loss was estimated at $200.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater today (Monday) released details about three search warrants that were executed Sept. 22nd, in Bridgewater. After examining all of the physical evidence seized and other relevant information, Vandewater says complaints alleging 18 criminal violations were filed with the Court, and arrest warrants were obtained for five people.

Warrants were served on the following individuals:

• James Jeffrey Reese, who faces charges of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. His bond was set at $25,000.
• 52-year old Toni Lynn Reese, of Bridgewater, was charged with felony Ongoing Criminal Conduct/Criminal Network, Dominion/Control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, and Gathering where controlled substances are used. Her bond was also set at $25,000.
• 25-year old Shane Sim Blackford, of Bridgewater was charged with felony Ongoing Criminal Conduct/Unlawful Activity, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used, and Theft in the 2nd degree. His bond was set at $25,000.

Two other suspects, Julie Holmes and Duane Funke, currently have outstanding arrest warrants. Holmes is wanted for Ongoing Criminal Conduct/Unlawful Activity, Theft in the 1st Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Prescription drugs. Funke is wanted for Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anyone with information on the location of Holmes and Funke are encouraged to contact the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department today (Monday), released the results of a Drug Take Back Event that took place Saturday, October 22nd, at the Council Bluffs Walgreens store. During the four-hour event, dubbed “Operation Medicine Cabinet,” 206 people anonymously dropped off their unused, expired prescription or over the counter drugs which resulted in 320 pounds of total weight of surrendered pharmaceuticals.

So far the Department’s 13 Take Back Events since 2010 have resulted in the accumulation of over 4,200 pounds of prescription drugs and over the counter medications with over 2,300 residents participating. The event was held as part of  the Drug Enforcement Agency sponsored “National Prescription Drug Take Back” day.

Officials say the Departments’ success with these events would not be possible without the collaboration of several community organizations, volunteers, and the Council Bluffs Recycling Center.