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Backyard and Beyond 07-02-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

July 2nd, 2015 by admin

Lavon Eblen talks about fresh berry season.

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Creston man faces additional charges

News

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Creston man arrested Tuesday for Driving While Barred and OWI/3rd offense, now faces an additional charge. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 48-year old Joel Alan Weeks was arrested Wednesday afternoon at the Union County Jail, on a Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation. Weeks remains in the Union County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Heading out for a dip? Tips on how to avoid becoming a drowning statistic

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Before the summer is over, statistics show about 33 people will drown in Iowa’s lakes, rivers and swimming pools. Deb Cooper, at the Iowa Department of Public Health, says it’s vital to follow safety rules when you’re around a body of water, especially as we head into the hot, busy 4th of July weekend.  “The thing I can’t stress enough is to watch children around open areas of water,” Cooper says, “whether it’s at the swimming pool or at a lake or a pond, always keep your eye on children.”

According to state records over the past decade, as many as 43 people drown in Iowa during 2005, while there were 22 deaths from drowning in 2009. Cooper credits the role that pool lifeguards play in keeping everyone safe and in keeping water quality healthy. “Most public swimming pools do provide lifeguards and you should always swim in an area where there’s a lifeguard, that’s the safest way,” Cooper says. “There are people at the swimming pools who regularly test the water to make sure the chemical levels are staying up where they should.”

All Iowans are encouraged to learn how to swim and how to perform C-P-R. “Always wear a life jacket around open bodies of water,” Cooper says. “Two-thirds of drowning victims are good swimmers, so it’s important you wear a life jacket when you’re around those areas of water.”

Find more tips at the Iowa Department of Public Health website: www.idph.state.ia.us.

State taxes for fiscal year top $8 BILLION

News

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

For the first time in state history, overall state tax collections for a fiscal year have topped eight BILLION dollars. State officials have to subtract tax refunds and local option sales tax payments to schools from that eight BILLION dollar figure. It represents GROSS state tax receipts. That means NET state tax collections were over six-point-six BILLION for the state fiscal year that ended Tuesday.

A report from the Legislative Services Agency indicates state tax collections grew by six percent over the 12 month period. That growth rate beat the official expectation of five and a half percent growth in state tax revenue during the fiscal year.

The six percent increase amounts to nearly 377-MILLION dollars in additional tax payments to the state this fiscal year compared to the last one. The increase was spurred by a nearly six percent increase in personal income tax payments to the state, plus corporate income tax payment to the state were up by about five percent. Sales and use tax payments to the state were up by more than four percent. That’s just under the prediction from a three-member panel that sets an official estimate of state tax collections. Lawmakers use that prediction as the basis for their state budget plan.

(Radio Iowa)

2 Iowans take deals in marijuana-for-sale cases

News

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WALL LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa woman is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 5 after pleading guilty to selling marijuana from the home she shares with her four children. The Sioux City Journal reports that 37-year-old Laura Lawler was convicted Wednesday in Sac County District Court. Prosecutors dropped other charges in exchange for her plea.

The father of the children, 38-year-old Jason Ransom, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge after several other charges were dropped in exchange for his plea. He was given a deferred judgment and a year of probation. Under a deferred judgment, the conviction will be removed from Ransom’s record if he successfully completes probation.

Officers say they found bags of marijuana locked in rooms and two measuring scales during a search of Lawler’s home on March 22.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 7/2/2015

News, Podcasts

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

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

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Former coach denies allegations he choked 7-year-old boy

News, Sports

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

TREYNOR, Iowa (AP) – An assistant high school basketball coach has denied that he choked a 7-year-old boy at the man’s residence in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Michael Doner is charged with assault causing injury. The 40-year-old is due back in court on July 9th. Doner’s attorney, Chad Primmer, told the newspaper that Doner “denies the allegations and looks forward to his day in court.”

Authorities say the boy was choked on May 21 at Doner’s home in Treynor. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says that when authorities interviewed the boy, marks were found on his neck. Doner has told athletic officials at St. Albert Catholic Schools in Council Bluffs that he would not be part of the school’s boys basketball coaching staff this coming season.

Heartbeat Today 07-02-2015

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

July 2nd, 2015 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning about a Movie in the Park event on Friday at Cold Springs State Park.

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OK man arrested for assault in Creston

News

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A man from Oklahoma was arrested Wednesday on an assault charge, in Creston. The Creston P-D says 42-year old Gustavo Parra-Bello, of Hugo, OK, was arrested at around 4:20-p.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) for Simple Assault. The man was later released on a citation to appear in court.

Also arrested Wednesday in Creston, was 40-year old Jason Michael Spelts (whose address is unknown). Spelts was arrested at the Union County LEC at around 4:20-p.m., for Public Intoxication, and also released on a citation to appear later in court.

And early this (Thursday) morning, 37-year old Delbert Thomas Davis, of Clearfield, was arrested in Creston on a charge of Driving While Suspended. He was subsequently released on $300 bond.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 7/2/2015

Podcasts, Sports

July 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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