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(Update 2:06-p.m.) Infant dies at Shenandoah daycare center – name released

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Shenandoah have released the name of an infant who died after being found unresponsive at a daycare center in Shenandoah. Police Chief Kris Grebert identified the child as three-month old Lily McKeever, the daughter of Nichole McKeever, from Thurman.

The incident occurred in the 200 block of West Lowell on Wednesday. Grebert says a caller to 911 said the infant was unresponsive. Lily was taken by ambulance to the Shenandoah Medical Center, where she later died. Chief Grebert says the Iowa Department of Human Services and the State Medical Examiner’s Office are involved in the investigation.

“We did make a call to DHS and to the state because this is a state-licensed daycare where this happened,” he says. “We are ongoing in our investigation on the cause. The coroner was notified and we’re working with them on the cause of the death.”

(Radio Iowa)

Casey man arrested on drug & other charges in Cass County

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday of 52-year old Kim Lavere Hester. The Casey man was taken into custody on a felony charge of OWI 3rd Offense, a Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance charge, and Simple Misdemeanor charges that include Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hester was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following Wednesday, on $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, that on Monday, January 18th, they will be closed due to plumbing repair. They anticipate being open again on Tuesday, January 19th.

Injury accident in Montgomery County

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

One person was injured during a rollover accident this (Thursday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say Tiffany Meier, of Emerson, suffered minor injuries, and was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, after the 2001 Dodge pickup she was driving hit a patch of frost and went out of control before rolling over and landing on its top, west of Red Oak.

The accident happened at around 8:40-a.m. in the 1400 block of 200th Street. The pickup was totaled in the crash. A county road sign was also damaged.

(12:40-p.m. News)

Rep. Tom Moore (R-Griswold) sworn-in this week

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Representative Tom Moore, a Republican from Griswold, was sworn-in to the Iowa Legislature Monday, during a ceremony in the Iowa House chamber. He took the oath of office just as the second session of the 86th General Assembly kicked off at the Capitol in Des Moines. Moore won a special election for House District 21 in December. He replaced Jack Drake, who died suddenly in October, at the age of 81.

The 2016 Iowa legislative session kicked off this week amid the traditional pomp and circumstance including speeches by legislative leaders, Governor Branstad’s Condition of the State address and the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court’s Condition of the Judiciary speech.

Rep. Moore taking the oath of office.

Rep. Moore taking the oath of office.

Rep. Moore says that balancing the state’s budget and quickly setting education funding are among his top priorities: “The state needs to budget just like Iowa families and businesses do,” said Rep. Moore. “That means we must continue to spend less than the state collects, and fight against using one-time money to fund ongoing expenses.

Additionally, the House will look to set school funding as quickly as possible. It is important to our local school districts that we get this done early, but it is equally important that they can depend on the commitments the Legislature makes.”

The legislative session is slated to last 100 days, ending April 19th. Last session the Iowa House approved a state aid increase just two weeks into the session only to see it languish in the Iowa Senate until spring.

During the current session, Rep. Moore can be reached at tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov or through the House switchboard at (515) 281-3221.

Backyard & Beyond 1-14-2016

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

January 14th, 2016 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen talks about a variety of topics.

Play

Emerson man arrested on Page Co. warrant

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Wednesday night, of 36-year old Michael Wayne England, of Emerson. England was taken into custody under the authority of a Page County warrant charging him with Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of assault, that allegedly took place Nov. 15th.  England was being held in the Mills County Jail on $300 bond.

2 big prize winning Powerball tickets sold in western Iowa

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Lottery said Thursday, a $2-million winning Powerball ticket was purchased in western Iowa. Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says a total of seven tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of the jackpot. One of those tickets purchased at the Casey’s General Store in Onawa, won $2-million. The ticket matched the first 5 numbers but missed the Powerball. However, the person who bought the ticket also selected the Power Play option, which doubled the prize to $2-million. The Onawa ticket was one of eight across the country that each won a $2-million prize.

Because the Onawa Casey’s Store sold the winning ticket, it will receive a $2,000 bonus. Six other Iowa tickets were also one number away from the jackpot. One of the tickets, worth $100,000, was sold at the B-W Gas and Convenience Store, in Walnut. The winners had not yet stepped forward, as of late Thursday morning.

Lottery officials say people bought more than $12 million in Powerball tickets in Iowa for Wednesday’s drawing. The buyers of tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee will share the estimated $1.6 billion jackpot or the $983.5 million cash option. The odds of winning the jackpot were about 1 in 292.2 million.

Infant dies after being found unresponsive at SW Iowa daycare

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Shenandoah police are investigating the death of an infant who was found unresponsive at a local daycare center. Shenandoah Police Chief Kris Grebert confirms the incident occurred in the 200 block of West Lowell on Wednesday. The caller to 911 said the infant was unresponsive. E-M-S and police responded. The child was taken to Shenandoah Medical Center and later died. Chief Grebert says the Iowa Department of Human Services and the State Medical Examiner’s Office are involved in the investigation.

“We did make a call to DHS and to the state because this is a state-licensed daycare where this happened,” he says. “We are ongoing in our investigation on the cause. The coroner was notified and we’re working with them on the cause of the death.” The infant’s name has not been released.

(Radio Iowa)

2 injured in Audubon County crash

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Two people were transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll, following an accident early this (Thursday) morning, about nine-miles north of Audubon. The Sheriff’s Department say 18-year old Brianna Lee Schwab, of Audubon, was driving a 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup southbound on Highway 71 at around 1-a.m., when she hit a patch of ice.

The pickup went into the west ditch and rolled over, landing on its top passenger side before coming to rest on its wheels. Schwab, and her passenger, 21-year old Jayme Allen Brower, of Defiance, were transported to the hospital.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $10,000. Deputies cited Schwab for Failure to Maintain control. Brower was cited for Open Container as a passenger. The accident remains under investigation. Deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

Iowa deputies find missing woman alive in snow-covered field

News

January 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say deputies have found a missing Sioux City woman lying in a snow-covered field in rural Woodbury County. The 24-year-old woman was last seen Sunday after leaving her job in Dakota City, Nebraska. Friends and relatives reported her missing on Monday. Her cellphone location transmission led two deputies to her Tuesday on a farmstead near Moville.

Authorities say Shaniqwa Hayes was found conscious but unresponsive. She was taken to a Sioux City hospital. The two Woodbury County officers, Deputy David Hansen and Lt. Tony Wingert, said Wednesday they found a faint footprint 15 yards in front of her car at the farmstead and followed footprints to Hayes, who was lying in snow near a grain bin. Wingert estimated that Hayes walked at least 100 yards from her car.