(Atlantic FFA reporter submission) – To many students, the ride to school usually involves the requirement of driving themselves by car, or having their parents drop them off. But last Friday, on March 6th, the Atlantic FFA members were given the opportunity to ride to school in a different style. This “style” was a part of the annual Tractor Ride to School Day that the Atlantic FFA Chapter conducts every year during the spring. Members who participated met together at the Walmart located approximately 1 mile away from the High School. From there, they drove to the High School all together in a large line.

Photo: On top the tractor left to right: Derek Dreager, Chase Vogl, Tate DenBeste, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Dylan Comes, Dillion Shepperd, Dan Freund, Cooper Jipsen; On the Ground left to right: Ryan Klever and DJ Shepperd. (photo submitted)

This year, 10 members took place in the event. Dillion Shepperd said, “Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy a tractor and have you ever seen a sad person driving a tractor?” Tate DenBeste said, “It was fun to be able to drive a tractor to school my senior year.

The following is the list of members who participated in tractor day: Derek Dreager, Chase Vogl, Dylan Comes, Dillon Shepperd, DJ Shepperd, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Dan Freund, Cooper Jipsen. Tate Den Beste, and Brett Dreager

A one-hour stand-off Monday in Tabor ended with a Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy suffering minor injuries and a suspect arrested on numerous charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports Tabor Police were called to a residence in Tabor at around 9:30-p.m., following a report a man was causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer observed 34-year old Kain Endicott, of Tabor, armed with a knife inside the residence. The responding officer called for assistance from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Kain Endicott (Fremont Co. S/O photo)

A Fremont County K9 and a crisis negotiator were also called to the scene. During the approximately one-hour standoff, authorities say Endicott brandished the weapon towards officers, ingested controlled substances, admitted to ingesting methamphetamine, and requested officers to shoot him. Endicott then exited the residence through a rear door, where a taser was deployed. He continued to struggle with officers, resulting in a deputy receiving a laceration from the knife to his hand. After the K9 “Roby” was deployed, Endicott released the knife and was placed under arrest without further incident.

He  was transported to Grape Community Hospital with minor injuries and then to the Fremont County Jail. The injured deputy was treated and released at the scene. Endicott faces felony charges that include Going Armed with Intent (a Class D Felony) and Assault on a Police Officer while using a weapon (a Class D Felony). He was also charged with Interference with Official Acts/ causing Bodily Injury, a Serious Misdemeanor, Possession of Marijuana, 3rd or Subsequent Offense, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor.

Endicott was being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond, awaiting initial appearance with the Fremont County Magistrate. The Tabor Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and Tabor Rescue responded to the call.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report an Essex man was arrested Monday afternoon. 41-year old Jerry Joseph Richardson was taken into custody at the Page County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Pretrial Release Revocation. His bond was set at $5,000.

And, a Bellevue, NE man was cited for Failure to Maintain Control this (Tuesday) morning, after a non-injury accident in Mills County. Authorities say 26-year old Maverick Martin was driving a 2005 Mercury westbound on Highway 34 at around 2:30-a.m., when his car went out of control while negotiating a curve. The vehicle entered the median and spun around before hitting a concrete barrier. Speed was considered to be a factor in the crash.

(Radio Iowa) — It appears a Senate-passed plan establishing some restrictions if Iowa voters decide to automatically restore felon voting rights is on the fast track in the Iowa House. The bill is ready for debate in a House committee Wednesday after a subcommittee hearing this (Monday) morning. Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity urged quick action on the plan. “We knew from the beginning that we had to define what discharge of sentence looked like and this bill does a good job of carving that out and really dealing with some tough issues,” Klein said.

If Iowa voters eventually pass a constitutional amendment automatically grants felons the right to vote when they’re paroled, this bill would kick in. It would require felons to pay all the restitution they owe victims before they’d get the right to vote. Iowa Catholic Conference executive director Tom Chapman urged House members to reconsider and merely require felons to be current in a restitution repayment plan. “Requiring the payment of restitution is just,” Chapman says. “However, all repayment before the right to vote would be restored could end up keeping low income people from voting.”

Greg Baker of The Family Leader says his group supports providing second chances to paroled felons — and restoring their voting rights. “There has to be a point where we allow the person to move on and become a part of society again,” Baker said. But Baker says he doesn’t envy legislators wrestling with how to define when felons have completed their sentences. Former State Representative Clel Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield who’s a retired state trooper, urged the legislature to abandon the whole effort and keep the process requiring all felons to apply to the governor for their voting rights. “I oppose the whole notion that felons should be automatically be given something once they get out of prison,” Baudler said.

Key House Republicans say the bill is likely to come up for debate in the 100-member House next week — and pass as is.

The Glenwood Police Department reports four arrests. On Monday, 58-year old Darrell Klahn, of Omaha, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree ($1,000 cash/surety bond). Klhan posted the bond and was released. On Sunday, 21-year old Ethan Howell and 26-year old Patrick Giesting, both of Glenwood, were arrested for Disorderly Conduct. (Bonds set at $300 each). Both later posted bond and were released.

And, on Saturday, 52-year old Lloyd Blank, of Emerson, was arrested in Glenwood for OWI/1st offense (Bond $1,000 cash/surety).

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

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (March 10, 2020) – The American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals who are feeling well to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages as concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, rise in the U.S. Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply. As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the U.S., the number of people eligible to give blood for patients in need could decrease further.

Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services, says “We’re asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it’s critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients. As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most.”

Please make an appointment to donate blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.

Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. There are no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including this coronavirus, from a transfusion.

The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements, available at RedCrossBlood.org. At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols including wearing gloves, routinely wiping down donor-touched areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation, and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub. These mitigation measures will help ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may potentially have this respiratory infection.

The Red Cross has also implemented new blood donation deferrals out of an abundance of caution. Individuals are asked to postpone their donation for 28 days following:

Travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea;
Diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus.
As the situation evolves, the Red Cross will continue to evaluate all emerging risks in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and industry partners to determine if additional intervention strategies are needed.

Some upcoming blood donation opportunities, March 10-31:

Cass County: Atlantic, 3/12/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA; 3/18/2020: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School.

Audubon County: Exira, 3/23/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center

Adair County: Orient, 3/30/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School

Carroll County: Manning, 3/27/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., IKM Manning High School

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A Clinton man has been charged with vehicular homicide while driving under the influence for the crash death of his wife in July. Clinton County court records say Brandon Clary also is charged with driving with a suspended license and with other crimes. The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. on July 26 when Clary was driving west on a rural county road. A court document says the vehicle rolled after he over-corrected when it ran off the roadway. Authorities say his wife, 24-year-old Ashley Clary, was ejected and fatally injured.

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

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The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will meet 5:15-p.m. Wednesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. First up on their agenda, is a clarification on the objectives of regulating Atlantic Property Conditions. They will also review Property Regulation Policies as an extension of their meeting on Oct. 9, 2019, including:

• The Dangerous Building Code (See the current Code here: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/Chapter%20145%20-%20Dangerous%20Buildings[69139].pdf)
• The Minumum Maintenance Code (Current Ordinance: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/Chapter%20148%20Property%20Maintenance%20Codes[69140].pdf)
• and, International Property Maintenance Code (Current Code: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/2018%20International%20Property%20Maintenance%20Codes[69141].pdf)

The Committee will also discuss and make a recommendation for the full City Council, with regard to which laws should be utilized. Included in the discussion is an Assessment of Resources Required, and a Review of Implementation of Enforcement.