(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman-elect Ashley Hinson of Marion says to stabilize the Social Security system, she’s open to the idea of raising the age when younger Americans may begin receiving benefits. “I think it’s my job now to go in and try to make some of those tough decisions to fix and make sure it is solvent for my kids,” she says, “and hopefully their kids, too.” Hinson opposes raising payroll taxes. She says any change to the retirement age would have to be phased in and would not apply to current retirees or those nearing retirement age.

“I’m 37 years old. If I know, coming in, I’m going to have to work longer, it’s much easier for me to absorb that than to pull the rug out from under someone who’s 62 years old right now,” Hinson says. “…Somebody’s got to be willing to make a tough call and that’s exactly why the problem hasn’t been fixed and I may be roasted on both sides for saying that I’m willing to be open to it, right? But I am and I think that’s why I won this election ’cause people are like: ‘O.K., she’s willing to go and just at least entertain the topics.”

Hinson will be sworn in as Iowa’s first district congresswoman in January. According to the Social Security Administration, the system will be able to pay full benefits until 2037. At that point, monthly benefit checks would have to be cut by about 25 percent. Hinson says a Social Security fix should be part of a larger debate in the next congress about the national debt. “If we aren’t cognizant of that, in this bigger discussion, there won’t be any Social Security or any of these entitlement programs if we don’t get a handle on that, too,” Hinson says, “so I think that’s a part of the discussion, trying to look at the debt, so these things are preserved long-term.”

Hinson says both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the ballooning national debt, which tops 27 trillion dollars, and both sides should seek to reduce it. Hinson made her comments this weekend on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office Monday (Today), reports the arrest on drug charges, of 32-year old Chad Sheard, of Omaha, Nebraska and 30-year old Danya Schafer, of Springfield, Missouri. Their arrests are the result of an investigation that began at around 8-p.m. Sunday, with a traffic stop in Hamburg, when the deputy noticed a Cadillac SUV with heavy front end damage and a headlight out. The plates on the vehicle came back to a 2005 Buick.

Photos courtesy Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say paraphernalia, including a white crystal substance, was located along with other items. Sheard and Schafer were both arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and taken to the Fremont County Jail. They were being held on a three-hundred-dollar bond, each.

Five people were arrested on separate charges over the past few days, in Creston. According to Creston Police, there were four arrests on Friday:

• 26-year old Brandon Stone, of Gravity, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was cited and released from the scene on a Summons to Appear.
• 27-year old Jesse Johnson, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Theft in the 5th. He was also cited, released & issued a Summons.
• 40-year old Jennifer Wollums, of Creston, was arrested Friday night for Driving While Suspended. She was cited and issued a Summons.
• 31-year old Roy Bond, of Las Vegas, NV, was arrested Friday night in Creston, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. He was released on a $200 bond.

And on Saturday, Creston Police arrested 37-year old Keri Lemon, of Creston, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. She was cited and released with a Summons to Appear.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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If you’re looking to take in the holiday season via a brief road trip, consider seeing the Baird Family Christmas Light Display, in rural Montgomery County. Jack Baird has been adding to, and updating the display, since the first display was lit-up about 45 years ago. The family began to work on this year’s display began around the first of October.

This year’s display was first opened to the public on Saturday. Jack Baird says making sure everything is working on the nearly one-quarter of a mile light and display show, is a constant challenge.

Jack Baird checks on the lights during this 2106 file photo from the Baird Facebook page.

When you come to see the display, you’ll stay in your car and be able to drive around to see all the details. The lights are turned on when it turns dark, and remain on until 10-p.m., each night, through New Year’s night. One of Jack’s favorite, new displays to be on the lookout for, is a 14-foot horse and carriage with moving feet and wheels.

The display – which can be seen for miles can be found four-miles west/southwest of Elliott. The address is 1233 E Avenue, rural Red Oak. If there’s severe weather, like a blizzard. The family will notify the media so no one gets caught in a storm. A donation box is available to help with the costs of the display. Baird says all contributions to are put toward the repair/replacement of the lights and for new additions each year. For more information, follow Baird’s Christmas Lights on Facebook.

A reminder from Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke: Today is the last day to request an in-person Absentee ballot for a Special Election that will take place Tuesday, for those persons residing in Montgomery County Board of Supervisors District 1. The election is to fill a vacancy in that District only. The District #1 map can be viewed at www.montgomerycountyia.gov or at the Auditor’s office. Candidates on the ballot include Charla Schmid (Nominated by Petition) and Steve Berendes (Republican).

The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15^th at the Red Oak Gold Fair Building. Request forms and ballots can be mailed, dropped off at the county Auditor’s office or in the official county drop box located at the courthouse. The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. If anyone has questions about voter registration, absentee ballots, or voting, call the Auditor’s office (712)-623-5127.

(Radio Iowa) – Holiday shopping is underway from home and out at stores this year, and both methods can cause you some problems if you don’t take the necessary precautions. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says if you go out don’t get caught up in the excitement and forget some simple things. “When you are filling up your gas tank at gas stations, make sure that you lock your doors. don’t leave your wallet or purse laying on the seat,” Vande Vegte says. “Do not leave your car unlocked or unoccupied idling in a driveway or at a store.”

He says if you are going to different stores — put the things you have bought in the trunk or out of sight in your car. Vande Vegte says be aware of strangers that may approach you. “Be wary of strangers coming up to your door and asking strange things — they’re probably trying to case you out or get you to look away — and somebody might be on the other side of the car and they might steal something,” he says.

Vande Vegte says home shoppers need to take steps to prevent porch pirates. He says if you are expecting packages from online purchases you might consider getting an outside camera. Or you can put a large decorative piece on the porch which the packages can be hidden behind to keep them out of view of thieves. There are other precautions you can take as well. “If you are expecting a high-dollar item or expecting something to come at a certain time — try to be home or ask somebody to look for the item for you,” Vande Vegte says.

The Le Mars Police Chief also reminds you to not sit out empty boxes with your trash to clue in thieves about items in your home they may be interested in.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are invited to an online webinar on winter weather tonight (Monday) being hosted by the National Weather Service office in Johnston. Meteorologist Alex Krull says they’re constantly recruiting weather spotters to help be the eyes and ears for forecasters. “We’ll talk about how we forecast different types of winter precipitation and how we officially report that then to the National Weather Service,” Krull says. “That includes how to properly take a snowfall measurement, if you have any ice on trees or power lines, how you can take a picture and officially report that to the National Weather Service and to be able to identify differences between things like snow, sleet and graupel.”

You don’t know what graupel is? Graupel is considered a soft hail or small snow pellets. Spotter training sessions were cancelled earlier this year due to the pandemic and Krull says these webinars are a good alternative for now.  “There are plans to host more online virtual severe weather spotter training sessions come this springtime,” Krull says. “At this time, it doesn’t quite look like we’ll be able to have in-person meetings again, come springtime.”

The webinar is free and runs from 7 to 8 PM. Register to take part here: www.weather.gov/dmx

One person died and two others were injured, when a pickup truck struck a car broadside Sunday night, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a passenger in a 2009 Toyota Prius, 31-year old Jessica Ann Marie Schulte, of Upper South Amana, died at the scene of the crash at U-S Highway 151 and 120th Street, in Iowa County. The Patrol says the car was traveling south on Highway 151 at around 9:53-p.m., when a westbound 2001 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 33-year old John David Nagel, of Amana, failed to yield.

Nagel, and the driver of the Prius, 25-year old Michael A. Humna, of Amana, were injured and transported by Iowa County Ambulance to a local hospital. The accident remains under investigation.