Two, school bond elections will take place in the KJAN listening area, Tuesday. Voters in Cass, Adair, Adams, Audubon, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, and Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties, will decide the fate of an $11.5-million bond issue for Iowa Western Community College. The funds would be used to replace steam lines at IWCC’s main campus, in Council Bluffs.  The polls will be open from noon to 8:00 p.m.

And, patrons of the Harlan Community School District will head to the polls from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m., to decide the fate of a $28.5-million bond referendum. There are four propositions on the ballot:

• Proposition A: A General Obligation bond which would fund facility updates.
• Proposition B – Authorizing an increase in the tax levy by $4.05 per thousand dollars of taxable property value, of which the district will contribute 80-cents per $4.05, leaving a net tax impact of $3.25 per thousand.
• Proposition C – asks for voter approval to extend the PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy).
• Proposition D – Seeks to extend the Instructional Support Levy (ISL).

The latter two propositions have no added tax effect, and are renewals of those levies. Proposition A would impact for homeowners’ property taxes. A homeowner with property assessed at $100,000 would pay $13.75/month, while persons owning agricultural property would pay $3.97/acre.

School officials say the Harlan Intermediate and High School facilities are between 40- and 50-years old, and are in need of major renovations that include security and system updates at the Intermediate and High School. It also would provide more Classrooms/Hands-on space; Auditorium updates; STEM/Science spaces, and updates to the Weight Room, at the Harlan High School. The bond would fund over 180-thousand square feet of renovations at a cost of 50-percent less than a new building.

Safety and Security, Educational Enhancements, and Systems Upgrades are the three main priorities identified as a result of multiple work sessions, and community meetings.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A woman who tried to smuggle more than five-grams of methamphetamine into the Clarinda Correctional Facility last August, has entered a plea of guilty to the charge. According to a criminal complaint, 30-year-old Linda Whitlatch, of Carlisle, attempted to leave in a garbage can, a box of Pop Tarts with meth inside. A criminal complaint says she intended to deliver it to an inmate.

Whitlatch entered a guilty plea last week to felony charges that include conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, furnishing a controlled substance at a detention facility, and failure to affix drug tax stamp. According to her plea deal, she could spend up to 15 years in prison.

DORCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man found pinned under a tractor has died in northeast Iowa. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office reports that the accident occurred around 3 p.m. Saturday near Dorchester. First responders found the man under a tire of the tractor. The man’s name and other details have not been released.

Police in Creston report three arrests over the past few days. Sunday evening, 53-year old Tamera Wofford, of Blockton, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. Wofford was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail. Her bond was set at $600. Saturday evening, 38-year old Aaron Riepe, of Afton, was arrested in Creston for OWI/2nd offense and driving while suspended. He was later released on a $2,000 bond.

On Friday, 37-year old Robert Girard, of Lenox, was arrested in Creston on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was later released on a $300 bond. Girard was also arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree, he was cited for the offense and released.

And, the Union County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Saturday, a man from Adel reported that a trail camera had been taken from his land off of 150th Street in Union County. The camera valued at $100 has since been returned to the property.

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 (4.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) — President Donald Trump has nominated William Barr to become the U-S Attorney General, leaving the future of an Iowa native who has been serving as acting Attorney General unknown. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says Matt Whitaker is a friend from Iowa and she recently talked with him about it. “Not sure where he is going to land — but when I spoke to him just the other day before President Bush’s Memorial Service — (he said) he would take it as it comes, and I am sure he will land on his feet,” Ernst says.  Whitaker was the chief of staff for Attorney General Jeff Sessions before Sessions resigned, and he immediately was in the spotlight after being named to the acting role. “Of course all of us from Iowa, we wish the absolute best for Matt Whitaker, in whatever his endeavors may be. Whether he is staying at the Department of Justice or moving on to another career,” according to Whitaker.

Ernst says she has not had a chance to meet Barr. “So, I can’t tell you about his character. I am sure he is a good person, I think just by virtue of his nomination — it speaks very well to his capability, his credibility. I look forward to the opportunity to meet him,” Ernst says. Ernst says she will get a chance to meet and talk with Barr during the Senate confirmation process.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Supreme Court has suspended the license of a western Iowa lawyer after he admitted to a sexual relationship with a client. The court has suspended the license of Michael Jacobsma for 30 days and ordered that he continue mental health counseling until he is released by his therapist. Jacobsma practices law in Sioux City and Orange city and admitted that from May to November of 2017 he had a sexual relationship with a female client. Two partners in his law firm confronted him and told him he would have to report the relationship or they would report it. The ruling on the suspension says the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission found no allegations or evidence that Jacobsma deliberately preyed on his client’s vulnerable personal, mental, or financial state. Or that the relationship was uninvited, unwanted, or harassing toward the woman.
………………
The Iowa Supreme Court has ALSO suspended the license of a Marshalltown attorney after she admitted to having sex with a client.  The court suspended the license of Melissa Nine for 30 days after she admitted that she had a sexual relationship with a client while representing him in his divorce. The suspension came after Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board determined this was an isolated occurrence and nobody appeared to suffer harm from the relationship. The commission also noted Nine’s counseling to address mental health issues may have played a role in her misconduct and it said she has done “admirable” pro bono work and has a significant history of involvement in the community and within the legal profession.

A traffic stop today (Monday) at around 1:45-a.m. in Adams County, resulted in the arrest of two women on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a vehicle was pulled over near the intersection of Quince Avenue and 240th Street. During the course of the traffic stop, K9 “Baxo” was deployed on the vehicle and gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics. Upon further investigation, Netosha Stalder and Joleen Most, both from Corning, were placed under arrest for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

(Radio Iowa) — A Democratic state senator facing sexual misconduct allegations hasn’t been assigned to any committees for the upcoming legislative session. Last month, a woman filed an ethics complaint alleging State Senator Nate Boulton of Des Moines had harassed her, before he was elected to the senate. Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen says she will wait to make committee assignments for Boulton until the Senate Ethics Committee completes its investigation. Boulton has until today (Monday) to respond to the complaint.

Boulton dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor this spring, shortly after The Des Moines Register published allegations from three women who accused Boulton of harassment. Petersen — the top Democrat in the state senate — called on Boulton to resign from office months ago, but Boulton has said he intends to serve out his term, which runs through 2020.