UPDATE 3/11/21 – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), said with regard to an odd call some have received in the County, they were informed that the call was a legitimate call from Cass County Public Health, regarding whether the receiver of the call is eligible for the COVID Vaccine. Therefore, it is not a scam, just something the Sheriff’s Office was notaware of. Authorities say “Don’t be afraid to answer calls from Cass County. If someone is asking about money or computer information, or for money for a family member in jail, that would be a scam.”

Original Post 3/10/21:

Official with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office say they had a report of an odd call that starts out automated, and says “This is Cass County. Please press 1.”(or whatever number). Then the automated voice says, “Thank you. Goodbye.” While this sounds similar to phone calls that are outgoing from the jail, unless the person knows someone who is in jail, they would probably be confused.

Officials say they don’t think it’s a scam, exactly, but it’s not clear what exactly it is in reference too. They just want people to be aware of these occurrences.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Ken Rozenboom of Oskaloosa says the deer population is too large in some areas of the state and it’s time to change some of the state’s hunting regulations.  “In Appanoose County…the DNR’s target was to have 2700 deer taken this past year,” Rozenboom says, “but only 2200 were taken, so that’s 500 deer that are out there.”

Rozenboom is sponsoring a bill that calls for a study of the economic and environmental impact of the state’s deer population. He expects the study would indicate the Department of Natural Resources deer management targets should be increased. Jim Obradovich, a lobbyist for the Iowa Conservation Alliance, says the organization suggests changing who grants permits to hunters who have permission to hunt on specific properties. “Moving it out of a central location here in Des Moines and then actually having the conservation officers who know their areas the best be the ones who are able to issue those permits,” Obradovich says. “We wouldn’t be breaking new ground with this, by any means. We have some neighboring states who do that.”

Rozenboom also wants to reduce the 15-hundred dollar civil fine for illegally taking a deer. He hasn’t settled on a figure yet and Eric Goranson, a lobbyist for Pheasants Forever and the Iowa Bow Hunters Association, warns if it’s too low, unscrupulous hunters will exploit it. “It’d very easy to roll the dice and just start slaughtering deer, knowing that if you get caught every few years, it might be cheaper to do that,” Goranson says.

The bill has cleared a senate subcommittee, but the bill’s sponsor says major adjustments are in the works.

The Iowa Department of Public Heath Wednesday, reported on the Coronavirus dashboard, an additional 883 positive COVID-19 test results, for a pandemic total of 368,636.  There were also 27 additional deaths reported, for a statewide total of 5,601. There was one additional death reported in each of Cass, Adair and Pottawattamie Counties. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 2,195 of the State’s total number of deaths.

The number of Long-Term Care facility COVID-19 Outbreaks is down to six. Three less than before. Hospitalization  statistics are down again, with 173 Iowans hospitalized with COVID, compared to 179 previously. The number of COVID patients in an ICU is up six, to 39. There were five more patients admitted to hospitals over the 24-hour reporting period, for a total of 22, and 10 patients are on a ventilator.

Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 15 people are hospitalized for COVID; seven are in an ICU, no one with COVID symptoms was admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person was on a ventilator.

State data shows 916,360 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 293,783 individuals fully vaccinated. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate remains 4.1%, but the seven-day positivity rate was up a tick, to 4.2%.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,372 cases; {+2}; 52 deaths
• Adair, 933; {+0}; 31
• Adams, 327 {+1}; 4
• Audubon, 494 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,180 {+0}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,802; {+2}; 70
• Madison County, 1,596; {+1}; 18
• Mills County, 1,646; {+6}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,046; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,911; {+22}; 148
• Shelby County, 1,240; {+8}; 34
• Union County,  1,274; {+4}; 31

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report two recent arrests. Tuesday afternoon, 55-year old Edward Eugene Johnson, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody in Council Bluffs. Johnson was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Parole. And, 19-year old Michael Lee Noel, of Council Bluffs, was arrested during a warrant check at a residence in Council Bluffs. Noel faces charges that include Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree (damage under $300), Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, and Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $1,300.

The 8:10-a.m. newscast with Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A man who was arrested last week for his alleged role in the robbery of a bank in Scranton, also faces felony drug charges in Carroll County. Authorities says 26-year-old Tyler Scott Mattingly, of Carroll, was taken into custody March 3rd, on an outstanding felony warrant for controlled substance violations,and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of driving while barred.

The charges stem from an investigation into an accident that took place January 2nd, near Arcadia. Authorities allege a container with nearly 41 grams of methamphetamine was located inside the vehicle Mattingly was driving when the crash occurred. Several small plastic bags were also found inside the car.

At last report, Mattingly remained in custody at the Carroll County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He also faces charges in Greene County for allegedly aiding and abetting 27 year old Zachary Michael Anderson Wailes, of Fort Dodge, during the February 25th robbery of People’s Bank in Scranton.  His bond is set at $75,000 on charges of first-degree robbery, a class B felony and first-degree theft, a class  C felony.

***********

A Crawford County man charged with Felony Drug Possession, is scheduled to appear at his trial that begins April 27th with the selection of a jury. His pretrial conference is set for April 14. Court records show 28-year-old Brandon Lee Schechinger, of Manilla, faces a Felony drug possession charge. Schechinger faces one count of third-offense possession of methamphetamine, a class D felony.  The charges stems from a traffic stop on Sept. 29, 2020 by the Carroll Police Department. Authorities located a baggie containing methamphetamine residue in the backseat of the car along with several glass smoking devices.

Schechinger has entered a written plea of not guilty. A class D felony in Iowa carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and $7,500 in fines.

The Creston Police Department reports three people were arrested on drug charges, Tuesday morning. Authorities say 35-year-old Michael Walton, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 3rd or subsequent offense and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is being held in the Union County Jail on a $5000 bond. 34-year-old Shaune Tindle, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Less than 5 grams), Violation of Protection Order, Driving While Barred and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is being held in the Union County Jail on a $13,000. And, 31-year-old Tonya Tindle, of Clearfield, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 3rd or subsequent offense, Violation of a Protection Order and Possession of Paraphernalia. She was released from the Adams County Jail on a $5300 bond. All three were taken into custody at around 7:50-a.m., in the area of Cherry/Pine Streets, in Creston.

Later that same morning, 34-year old Jessica Swietlik, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Violation of Probation on the original charges of Child Endangerment (2 counts). She is being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5000 cash only bond. Late Tuesday night, 41-year-old Justin Hodge, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense. He was released from the Adams County Jail on a $1000 bond.

At around 2:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), 19-year-old Kelli Romero, of Osceola, was arrested at the Union County LEC, for OWI 1st Offense. She was also cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. Romero was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. And, at around 5:30-a.m. Wednesday, 21-year old Noah Young, of Creston, was arrested for Violation of Protection Order and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is being held in the Union County Jail awaiting bond hearing.

Creston Police said also, a woman reported Tuesday morning that sometime between 6-p.m. Monday and  6-a.m. Tuesday, her purse was stolen from 1700 W Townline, her place of employment. The purse contained Cash, car keys, checkbook and credit cards. Estimated loss of $300.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:07-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is warning aquarium owners a popular product they purchased could have the potential to spread an invasive species into state waterways. D-N-R aquatic invasive species coordinator, Kim Bogenschutz says the product is used to absorb harmful nutrients in the water– but has been found to have invasive zebra mussels in them. “They are called moss balls — but they are actually an algae, so it’s a balled algae. They were imported — we think from Ukraine — but they are distributed around the world,” Bogenschutz says.

Bogenschutz says they could lead to a much greater spread of the zebra muscles in the state. “The concern is that the people who have bought them for their aquariums and then decide they no longer the plants and fish and then dump them in a local waterway or down a storm drain and then they get into our lake and rivers,” she explains. “And that is certainly something we do not want to happen.” They are called Marimo balls too and can be sold as the “Betta Buddy” product. They were first found in Washington state on March 3rd and have since been found in pet and aquarium stores in several states. Bogenschutz says there are a couple of things you can do to kill the mussels before throwing them away. “Freeze them for a day, boil them for a minute. Or they can also disinfect them with chlorine and put them in a ziplock bag and throw them in the trash,” according to Bogenschutz. “If they have water in their aquariums, they should disinfect that as well. If they have a small amount they can boil it or disinfect it with chlorine.”

She says they are no longer for sale. Bogenschutz says state and federal law enforcement have gone to all the chain stores and confiscated the product. Zebra mussels grow rapidly and choke out all other species. Bogenschutz has led the effort to get boaters to keep from spreading them. “We’re doing really well. We don’t have them in too many locations, but there is always a potential for the spread between those water bodies too,” Bogenschutz says. “That’s why we need people to clean and drain and dry their equipment, the things you hear me talk about in the summer with your equipment, and now with the aquarium. This goes for goldfish or anything else that is in your aquariums…they never should be dumped out in ponds or lakes or rivers.”

Zebra mussels look like small, D-shaped clams that have alternating light and dark bands. Most are less than one inch long. Find more information about aquatic invasive species and how you can help prevent their spread in Iowa’s waters on the D-N-R’s website at www.iowadnr.gov.

The cause of a fire in Anita late Tuesday (March 9th) was unknown, as of the last report. Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were dispatched to the scene at 306 Elm Street, at around 11:49-a.m.  Dispatch reports indicated the residents were out of the home and safe. Anita Fire Chief Josh Peach said the fire caused minimal damage to a patio on the back of the home, and no damage to the house itself. No injuries were reported.