Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports Kevin Littleton has filed papers to run for Anita City Council. On Aug. 30th, Mark Harris also filed papers to run in the November City/School Elections, for Anita City Council.  As of today (Wednesday), no one had filed to run for the Mayor’s position.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of helping a volunteer firefighter set fire to a corncrib in western Iowa has pleaded not guilty. Sac County District Court records say 18-year-old Alexander Lilly entered the written pleas Friday to charges of arson, burglary, criminal mischief and trespass causing damage. His trial in Sac City is scheduled to begin Dec. 10.
Authorities say Lilly helped 25-year-old Brent Mack start the blaze Aug. 19 at the corncrib a little more than a mile north of Nemaha.

Suspicions grew after another firefighter found Mack had arrived first at the Nemaha station even though Mack lived at least 15 minutes away in Newell. The court records say Mack later told investigators that he, Lilly and a 17-year-old girl had driven around the area, looking for a place to set a fire, and settled on the corncrib. Mack’s set to be arraigned Sept. 16.

The City Council in Walnut is set to hold a regular meeting 5-p.m. Thursday. On their agenda, is discussion with MidAmerican Energy, with regard to a franchise renewal and the possible setting of a Public Hearing for Oct. 3rd. The Council will discuss several other matters, including: Zoning; the Walnut Community Center (with regard to the Old Gym HVAC system and TLC Food Pantry); Property Maintenance issues; and, closing certain streets for the Sept. 20-22 Walnut Antique Festival.

Proposed street closures for the event include: Antique City Drive, from Pearl to Summit Streets; One-half block of Highland Street, from Antique City Dr. east, to the alley; and, one-half block of Highland Street from Antique City Drive west, to the alley. The proposed hours are from 6-p.m. Friday Sept. 20th until 6-p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22nd.

(Radio Iowa) — Blood supplies in Iowa are at a critical low and donors are being urged to schedule immediate appointments or just walk in to the nearest blood center to donate. Hurricane Dorian is beginning its trek up the East Coast and Danielle West, spokeswoman for LifeServe Blood Center, says blood stockpiles in Iowa were already low coming off the three-day weekend. “Locally, we are definitely in need of blood donors after the Labor Day holiday,” West says. “We sent a lot of blood products out to our hospital partners before the holiday and donations are always lower around holidays. We want all of our local donors to step up so we can not only help locally but also nationally in those hurricane-affected areas.”

LifeServe is the sole provider of blood to more than 120 hospitals in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. It’s also part of a network of health care providers who share resources — and blood — following acts of terrorism or natural disasters, like the hurricane. “We sent some ahead of the storm, thinking maybe last weekend it could hit, but with our current level as low as it is, we wouldn’t be able to help in this situation if we got the call today,” West says. “We’re really hoping we can get more donors in the door here to be able to help our local hospitals and to also help those in need in other areas.”

LifeServe has blood centers in Ames, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Sioux City and Urbandale. West says all blood types are needed for donations. “Our number-one responsibility is to help locally, making sure all of our local hospitals have what they need,” West says. “As part of the disaster task force, we actually send blood directly to Florida to the blood centers in that area. So, an Iowan sure could help someone in Florida that needs a blood product if they’re not able to get it.”

To schedule an appointment, call 800-287-4903 or visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org. Locally, Cass County residents can donate blood this Friday during an American Red Cross Blood drive, in Griswold. The event will be held at the Central Church of Christ, 51 Harrison Street, from 11-a.m. until 5-p.m., Friday.

A motorcycle accident Sunday evening in Pottawattamie County resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Derrick Eugene Klahn was charged with OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into the accident that happened at around 5:40-p.m. Authorities said Klahn was driving a 2016 GMC Sierra pickup, when he collided with 40-year old Brandon Jay Frank, who was operating a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Frank was transported to the UNMC in Omaha for treatment of his injuries. His blood alcohol level was below the legal limit.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 31-year old Rachel Linn Nielsen, of Council Bluffs, was served Tuesday afternoon, with two Pott. County warrants for Absence from Custody, and Violation of Probation. Nielsen was already in the Pott. County Jail at the time she was served. Tuesday morning, a man being held in the Harrison County Jail was transported to the Pott. County Jail, to address a Pott. County warrant. 28-year old Dustin Kimbol Collier, of Missouri Valley, was wanted for Violation of Parole, along with two moving violations.

Monday evening, 33-year old Corey Andrew Stephens was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His arrestfollowed a call about Trespassing at a residence in the 44,000 block of Pioneer Trail. Early Monday morning, 45-year old Donald Christopher Van Gieson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at a residence on Lime Kiln Road, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court.

Early Sunday morning, 23-year old Nicole Frances Murray was arrested for OWI/1st Offense, after she was found passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle on the side of Tamarack Road near 380th Street. Late Saturday night, 46-year old Abdur Rahim Abdullah was arrested of OWI/1st offense, following a “Motorist Assist” call on southbound I-29. Not long thereafter, 21-year old Kate Smith was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a call about a car that had gone into a ditch/median off I-29 near mile marker 70. An investigation determined the woman was heavily intoxicated.

And, Friday evening, 44-year old Shane Elam Rouse, of Oakland, was arrested following a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 22,000 block of Hackberry Road. Rouse was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia.

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

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

Subscribe: RSS

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man who caused his baby son’s brain injury has been given five years in prison. Linn County District Court records say 20-year-old Matthew Judd, of Marion, was sentenced Tuesday in Cedar Rapids. He’d pleaded guilty to child endangerment causing injury after prosecutors lowered the charge.

The Gazette reports that prosecutors say Judd squeezed and bruised one of the 2-month-old’s legs in July last year and, on the same day, set the boy on the floor too fast, causing the baby’s head to hit the floor.

The child’s mother says he’s partially recovered but still is undergoing therapy for the brain injury.

The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested Tuesday on separate Union County warrants. 55-year old James Aydelotte, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:50-a.m. on warrant for: Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Disorderly Conduct by loud or raucous noise/Disorderly Conduct by use of an abusive epithet and/or threatening gesture. He was also charged with Allowing an animal to run at large. Aydelotte was cited and released at the scene on a Promise to Appear in Court on the latter charge.

And, at around 6:15-p.m., Tuesday, Creston Police arrested 44-year old John Neely, of Creston, on Union County warrants for: Failure to serve jail sentence on an original charge of Driving While Barred, and, Failure to Appear on a Child Support matter. Neely was being held in the Union County Jail until the balance of his sentence is served, on the first warrant, and on a $2,000 bond for the second warrant.

(7-a.m. News)

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) — A central Iowa trucking company has gotten a state grant to train a small group of Iowans to be truck drivers or for the high-tech career of tracking trucks. Melissa Brooker Zollman is head of human resources for T-M-C Transportation, the largest, privately-owned trucking company in the nation. “In addition, we’re employee-owned,” she says. “…One of our greatest challenges is truly to find, attract and recruit skilled talent.”

The company is using the state grant to work with Youth Emergency Shelter Services to recruit four Story County students for internships next summer. The students will work in the company’s training facility in Ames for potential jobs in Information Technology or Logistics. “Those are two of our fastest growing departments at TMC,” she says, “and I think given the programming in the community and the schools, YSS has the ability to truly engage and recruit students and adult learners from under-represented and/or low income households.”

The company and Youth Emergency Shelter Services in Story County also will recruit and enroll six young adults who are at least 23 years old in truck driving school. “The participants will receive advanced pay each week as well as paid living assistance while they’re completing that program,” Brooker Zollman says. “Upon successful completion of the eight-week training program, participants will receive their (Commercial Drivers License) certification from the Iowa Department of Transportation and continued employment with TMC.”

The Des Moines-based trucking company is among 13 firms getting state grants from the Iowa Employer Innovation Fund. All the companies promise to spend their own funds along with the state grants on projects that boost the number of Iowans who get an advanced degree or some sort of professional certificate after they graduate from high school.