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KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Radio Iowa) – Three tornadoes hit rural areas of southwest Iowa’s Adams County nine days ago. Adams County Emergency Management director Bill Lyddon says his best guess at this time is over 70 farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. “Several grain bins, probably more than a dozen of those that have had major damage or were destroyed. There’s a lot of damages other than residences out there,” Lyddon says. “We haven’t even looking at machinery and vehicles yet, but I know we’ve got a lot of them, too.”
The first tornado entered western Adams County at about 3 p.m. May 21st. A second tornado was spotted in Adams County a few minutes later and that tornado stayed on the ground for 44 miles, eventually destroying part of Greenfield in neighboring Adair County. A third tornado was spotted south of Highway 34 in Adams County, about 10 miles from Corning.
“We had quite a bit of damage from all three tornadoes. We’ve had lots of volunteers and they pretty much take care of themselves here in the county and they went to the places that had the most damage or any damage and they’ve been working since,” Lyddon says. “It’s going to be a long time, but they’re going to keep cleaning and fixing things up and hopefully we’ll get it done eventually.”
None of the three tornadoes passed through any of the cities or towns in Adams County, but Lyddon says it appears eight homes in rural areas of the county were either destroyed or have major damage from the May 21st tornadoes. “They’re going to have to decide what to do with those,” Lyddon says, “whether they’ll be taken down and replaced or ry and fix ’em.”
A Shenandoah woman was killed in one of the Adams County tornadoes when the vehicle she was driving was blown off Highway 148. A GoFundMe account has raised over 11-thousand dollars to help the family of 46 year old Monica Zamarron’s family cover funeral expenses.
(Radio Iowa) – For the past month students in a southeast Iowa school were not allowed to use their cell phones during school hours and their principal expects the policy to resume when the next school year starts August 23rd. Mike Davis, the principal of Evans Middle School in Ottumwa, says cell phone use was harming students’ mental health and diverting their attention from their classes.
“I felt like taking the cell phones away would take that focus away on the negativity of what’s going on and have them focus a little bit more on what’s going on in our building,” Davis says. Davis says the teachers noticed better behavior, longer attention spans, and more positive interactions during free time.
“You know the real reason why we’re here — it’s not about the cell phones,” Davis says. “It’s to get a quality education.” Davis acknowledges students didn’t appreciate the policy when it was announced, but Davis says cell phones were a distraction during the school day.
“When a kid feels like they can’t live without their phone or be without their phone,” Davis said. “I think that becomes more of an issue than a kid having their phone.” Davis hopes other schools consider a no-cell phone rule during school hours. “I would love to see other schools start to bring their students back to being students,” Davis said, “to being young adults, and learning to interact with others.”
Axios reported last week that Hoover High School in Des Moines will be a phone-free zone when school starts in the fall, to address anxiety and depression among students. Researchers say symptoms of depression and suicides among teens began to rise in 2012, just about the time polling began to show teens who had a phone admitted they used it for several hours a day. About 90 percent of American teenagers have a cell phone.
| WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Devastating storms once again displaced thousands of Iowans from their homes in May. The Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) wants to ensure these Iowans impacted are afforded the resources to rebuild their homes and sense of community through relief grants. Today, IAR announced it received a $250,000 grant from the National Association of REALTORS® to provide funding for individuals impacted by storms on May 21 to help with their mortgage and rental payments or hotel reimbursements. In total, IAR has received $400,000 in grants to provide relief for Iowans impacted by severe weather this spring.
Under the new grant and in partnership with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF), IAR will provide up to $1,500 in housing relief to displaced individuals who primarily reside in Adair, Adams, Black Hawk, Buena Vista, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Humboldt, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Mills, Montgomery, Muscatine, O’Brien, Page, Palo Alto, Polk, Pottawattamie, Story, Tama, and Warren counties. “As Iowans, we know that helping one another is the first line of action when faced with devastation, including when severe weather displaces community members,” Gavin Blair, CEO of the Iowa Association of REALTORS® said. “We are proud to partner with REALTOR® Relief Foundation to provide an additional $250,000 in grants to Iowans who suffered displacement due to recent storms in Iowa. Iowa REALTORS® stand behind our communities and are ready to provide support, both financially and physically, to help get Iowans back home.” Thousands of homes and buildings have been destroyed or damaged during severe weather in April and May, leading countless Iowans to be displaced. Iowa REALTORS® previously received a $150,000 grant to provide up to $1,500 in relief to Iowans in Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattomie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union counties who were impacted by severe storms on April 26. Qualifications for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation assistance include: |
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| Assistance is available to qualified applicants as one of the following options: |
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| All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds. As a result, aid will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications for displacement relief related to April 26 storms close on June 28, 2024; Applications for displacement relief related to May 21 storms close on July 29, 2024. |
(Radio Iowa) – There’s change ahead for Iowans who’re U-S Cellular customers. T-Mobile is spending four-point-four BILLION dollars to acquire most of U-S Cellular’s assets. U-S Cellular is the fourth largest cell phone carrier in the country. Iowa is one of the 21 states U-S Cellular have operated in and T-Moblie’s acquisition of company will expand its reach in rural areas of the country.
There are currently 70 T-Mobile “stores” in Iowa and the company is acquiring all of U-S Cellular’s stores in the state. T-Mobile started as a regional carrier in the Pacific northwest.
In 2017, T-Mobile acquired i-Wireless operations in Iowa, western Illinois and eastern Nebraska. T-Mobile is currently the country’s third largest cell phone carrier, behind AT&T and Verizon.
The Montgomery County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, has established the Montgomery County Disaster Relief Fund in collaboration with the Montgomery County Emergency Management and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. The fund will help support nonprofit partners, communities, disaster relief
organizations, and public health organizations on the front line of tornado & flood relief efforts in Montgomery County.
Thank you for your investment and commitment to support the devastating impact of the recent storms and tornadoes that swept through Montgomery County. Below are ways that you can contribute to the Montgomery County Disaster Relief Fund with the Montgomery County Community Foundation:
GIFTS OF CASH
-Please make checks payable to the Montgomery County Disaster Relief Fund
Checks can be dropped off at the following locations in Montgomery County:
Checks can also be mailed to:
Montgomery County Community Foundation
1120 S. 101st Street, Suite 320
Omaha, NE 68124
GIFTS VIA CREDIT CARD
– Contributions via credit card payment can be made online* here:
https://bit.ly/MontgomeryCountyDisasterRelief
Once the payment is submitted, you will receive an email receipt immediately.
*Please note that the standard credit card processing fee typically ranges from 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction’s total value when making your gift.
GIFTS OF APPRECIATED STOCK
-Please email Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) for instructions on how to make a gift of appreciated stock.
Donations receive a gift receipt from the Omaha Community Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) allowing maximum tax benefits. 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to nonprofit organizations that are directly serving tornado victims and survivors in Montgomery County. For questions about the Montgomery County Disaster Relief Fund, please contact Montgomery County Community Foundation staff:
Sunni Kamp
sunni@omahafoundation.org
402.933.4188
Sarah Beth Ray
sarahbeth@omahafoundation.org
402.704.7245
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place from May 10th through the 28th. In order of most recent to the earliest arrests:
On May 28th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Danny Devore, 57, of Cumberland, on the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Devore was transported to the Cass County jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
On May 27th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Benjamin Deal, 34, of Marne, on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree. Deal was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
On May 24th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ervin Suko Jr, 58, of Atlantic, for OWI 1st Offense. Suko was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
On May 19th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Freedom Dole, 23, of Atlantic, on the charge of Simple Assault. Dole was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.
On May 18th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Heath Nordby, 34, of Atlantic, on the charges of Harassment 3rd Degree and Trespass 1st Offense. Nordby was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
On May 18th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Amber Hoyt, 27, of Carson, on the charge of OWI 1st Offense. Hoyt was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.
On May 17th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Spenser Denison, 25, of Atlantic, on the charge of Disorderly Conduct. Denison was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release after serving his time.
On May 16th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lynn Frohlich, 53, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Frohlich was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release per court order.
On May 14th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Amber Leighty, 28, of Omaha, on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. Leighty was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.
On May 14th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Drew Miller, 25, of Omaha, on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Miller was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
On May 13th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Benjamin Barnes, 33, of Griswold, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Barnes was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
On May 12th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tiffany Wallace, 34, of Carter Lake, on the charge of Public Intoxication. Wallace was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.
On May 11th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Patti Knapp Spitler, 63, of Wiota, for OWI 1st Offense. Spitler was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.
On May 11th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alexander Phillips-Johnson, 27, of Omaha, on the charges of Unlawfully Carrying Weapons and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. Phillips-Johnson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
On May 10th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Thomas Curtis, 39, of Griswold, on the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Curtis was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
(Radio Iowa) – The Mitchell County Board of Supervisors has sent a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board, objecting to the use of eminent domain for the proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline that would pass through their county. The letter says the board believes each landowner should have “the right to decide if they want to have carbon pipelines on their property.”
Lisa Ritzert of San Antonio, Texas, owns land in Mitchell County and she urged the county’s board of supervisors to “fill the gap” after efforts to regulate the pipeline failed in the state legislature. “If carbon dioxide pipelines are to pass through Mitchell County soil; across streams and farms; right up next to Mitchell County homes, families and children and siphon public water supplies, residents deserve the very best community and natural resource protections,” she said during the supervisors’ May 21 meeting.
Deb Freeman is among Mitchell County residents who object to the pipeline. “Today my home is threatened, positioned nearly 600 feet from the proposed pipeline route,” Freeman told supervisors during their meeting last week. “The preservation of our land, groundwater and homes is of paramount importance to me…It is not just about the environment, but also about the safety and the wellbeing of our families, neighbors and children living along the proposed pipeline route.”
Supervisor Jim Wherry of Osage said the corn industry in Mitchell County supports the pipeline.
“I hear the negative side to this as far as not wanting it the most and that’s OK if people don’t want something, but there are other people that do want this,” Wherry said. “…If somebody wants this on their property…they should be able to do that. Property rights for ‘I want it’ and property rights for ‘I don’t want it.’”
Wherry said state law prohibits county officials from having any say about the pipeline project and all authority rests with the Iowa Utilities Board. State regulators have not indicated when they’ll make a decision on Summit’s construction permit and whether they’ll grant pipeline developers authority to seize land from unwilling property owners.
Pipeline opponents say 45 counties have registered some level of objection to Summit’s project.
(Radio Iowa) – Leaders of the Orient-Macksburg School District in southwest Iowa are considering dissolving the district, something that hasn’t happened in Iowa since the Corwith-Wesley Schools shut down in 2015.
Orient-Macksburg Superintendent Jeff Kruse says it’s not an easy decision, and there are several factors the board is considering for closing the nearly 65-year-old school district. Kruse says the primary concerns are dropping student numbers and finding qualified teachers.
“Staffing is an issue that the district’s faced, like a number of other schools,” Kruse says, “and secondly, enrollment. The district has a certified count of about 170 students, but we serve approximately 100 students because we have a large number of enrolled out compared to open enrolled in.” Kruse says financial projections show the district will be overspending its authority within the next year or so.
He says Orient-Macksburg had to spend almost all of its carryover balance to ensure requirements are met, leaving little funding flexibility. The superintendent says accreditation has been another issue due to class sizes.
“In order to be accredited, you have to offer certain curriculum and it has to be taught,” he says. “Because of our small class sizes, it’s sometimes difficult to get students in all the courses that need to be taught to meet certification.”
Last fall, Kruse says Green Hills AEA conducted a feasibility study for the district that provided several options for the district. One option included whole grade sharing with the Nodaway Valley School District at the 7-12 grade level, while continuing to operate a pre-K-6 district. Kruse says the financial side of keeping the district open doesn’t add up for the school board.
“While re-organization is an option that some districts go through,” Kruse says, “because of all the consolidation and the distance our district has, they just felt it would be better off if we explored dissolving. Then we could allow neighboring districts, if they want to be a part of that dissolution process, to acquire some of the district.”
While the voters have the final say via a ballot question requiring a simple majority, according to Iowa Code, if the school board goes in the direction of dissolution, it will have 15 days to form a seven-person dissolution committee made up of people who live in the district and are eligible to vote.
“That commission is held responsible for contacting neighboring school districts to see if they would like to acquire part of the property of Orient-Macksburg,” Kruse says. “Then, secondly, they would develop boundary lines to separate the district with those other neighboring districts.”
School board members are expected to formally consider dissolving and have a decision by the end of next month, which would not take effect until after the 2024-25 school year. Orient merged with Macksburg in 1960 to form the current district, which covers parts of Adair, Madison, Adams, and Union counties.
(Anita, Iowa) -UPDATE: The driver was out as of 12:48-p.m., the tractor DID NOT flip. Rescue crews that were enroute were told to “disregard.” Additional details are currently not available.
Rescue crews from Anita, and Cass EMS were called to the scene of an Iowa DOT tractor rollover accident, early this (Wednesday) afternoon. The accident at 750th and Keystone (Between Anita and Massena) was reported at around 12:32-p.m. The tractor was said to have rolled into a ditch. The operator was unable to get out of the vehicle. Unknown if there any injuries.
Anita Fire was requested for additional personnel at 12:41-p.m.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The annual Nine & Wine Fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will be held June 21st at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. Nine & Wine is not your typical golf tournament! The tournament features nine holes of golf in a best ball style game. Each hole has an appetizer, wine, and beer tasting. After nine holes of wine and beer tasting, participants will be served a meal. 
Participants can register at atlanticiowa.com. The registration fee is $300 for teams of four. This includes appetizers and wine or beer tasting at all nine holes. Dinner will be served after the tournament as you listen to music and mingle with friends.
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