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Remains of IA Vietnam Vet identified in 2017, and 2 others, to be buried at ANC

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says the remains of three U.S. Marines killed when their helicopter was shot down during the Vietnam War will be buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery. One of the Marines was Lance Corporal John. D. Killen, III, of Davenport. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today (Friday) that the remains of the three men will be buried as a group with full military honors next Thursday. The other two men were identified as Capt. John A. House II, of Pelham, New York, and and Cpl. Glyn L. Runnels Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama.

The Pentagon says their remains were identified in March 2017. Military officials say House, the oldest at 28, was the pilot of the Sea Knight helicopter that crashed after being hit by enemy fire on June 30, 1967. Four others also were killed, including 18-year-old Killen and 21-year-old Runnels.

Department proposes fines over attacks on school workers

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ELDORA, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa worker safety agency has proposed fining the Iowa Human Services Department, saying the department’s school for delinquent juveniles isn’t protecting its employees. The Des Moines Register reports that school residents assaulted staffers at Iowa State Training School for Boys in Eldora during at least three incidents last spring. The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in its Aug. 28 report that the staffers “were unnecessarily exposed to violent attacks.” In one, the worker had numerous teeth smashed out and suffered broken bones in his face.

The agency proposes more than $23,000 in fines for the department. The school’s home to about 100 boys who’ve been convicted in juvenile court. Human Services Department spokesman Matt Highland says he can’t comment, because the two agencies are negotiating a settlement.

Investors buy steel company assets from bankruptcy court

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A local investment group has bought an eastern Iowa steel castings company that filed for bankruptcy protection in March. Scott Tinsman Jr. represents the Tinsman family, which is part of the group, and he said Friday the group bought 100 percent of the Sivyer Steel assets from the bankruptcy court in July. The price: $6.5 million.
The company’s new name will be Sivyer Steel Castings LLC. New CEO Michael Baxley says the company plans to renovate its Bettendorf facility and update its equipment. The company also hopes to add to the list of more than 240 employees.
Sivyer produces medium to large steel castings for the mining, military, passenger rail and oil and gas industries. Company officials say a slowdown in orders, especially from the mining industry, forced the bankruptcy filing. Tinsman says Sivyer has “hit the bottom, and we’re on the way up.”

Iowa unemployment rate down to 2.5 percent, 2nd lowest in US

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 2.5 percent in August, giving the state the second-lowest rate in the country. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the unemployment rate dropped from 2.6 percent in July and was down from 3 percent a year ago. Iowa was only behind Hawaii, which has the nation’s lowest rate of 2.1 percent.

The number of unemployed people in Iowa dropped to 42,800 in August, with the total number of working Iowans climbing to 1.64 million.

Missouri River changes create sinkholes in Iowa community

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Missouri River’s fluctuating water levels are keeping crews busy fixing broken sewer lines and filling sinkholes around Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Army Corps of Engineers believes the river will fluctuate between 23 feet and 28 feet deep over the next week. The agency says the water rises as upstream dams release water in order to reduce flood risk along the lower Missouri River.

Dan Christensen is the sewer department supervisor for Council Bluffs Public Works. He says the river’s ebb and flow has created several sink holes in the city. The issue has been complicated by heavy rain and drainage issues. Christensen says city workers and contractors are working as fast as possible to repair the holes, but more sinkhole issues could arise.

Strong thunderstorms hit NW Iowa with high winds, heavy rain

News, Weather

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Powerful winds and heavy rain hit northwest Iowa last (Thursday) night, leaving a mess behind. Emmet County was one of the areas hit hardest with destructive winds and heavy rainfall. There were reports of power outages, as well as numerous trees and branches down.

Extensive damage occurred at the Green Plains ethanol plant office in Superior, and damage to equipment and trucks was reported to have taken place at the Superior Co-op. Part of the roof was torn off, along with blown out windows and an outside wall was ripped off the structure.

There were also reports of buildings and homes in the Estherville area that sustained extensive damage. As a precaution, several businesses along Central Avenue were evacuated because of a natural gas leak. Iowa Lakes Community College evacuated students from two dorm buildings due to downed power lines. All students were safe and were able to return to the dorms later in the evening.

Iowa regulator fines Florida man, citing insurance scheme

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Insurance Division has fined a Florida man and revoked his license, alleging he’d scammed people who were buying health insurance. The division said in a news release Thursday that it ordered Covals Douze, of Coconut Creek, Florida, to pay fines and fees totaling nearly $44,000. The division also revoked Douze’s nonresident insurance producer license and barred him from reapplying for licensure for 15 years. Division spokesman Chance McElhaney says that, among other violations by Douze, people were told they were purchasing a health insurance policy but instead received a life insurance policy.

Bluffs man in jail faces a contraband charge

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man being held in the Pott. County Jail on a Driving While Barred charge, now faces an additional charge of Possessing Contraband in a Jail facility. 26-year old Nathanael Lee Romick-Sleep, of Council Bluffs, was charged Thursday with the narcotics violation, and returned to the custody of jail staff. His bond on the Possession charge was set at $5,000. And, a traffic stop Thursday afternoon on a pickup in Crescent, resulted in the arrest of 49-year old Joseph Bernard Duffy, of Crescent. Duffy was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked. No listing of him was found on the Pott. County Jail roster this (Friday) morning.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 9/21/18

News, Podcasts

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

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100mph pursuit Friday morning in Montgomery County

News

September 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop at around 2:40-a.m. today (Friday), resulted in a pursuit that reached speeds of up to 100-miles per hour. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies tried to stop a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse at the intersection of Highway 71 and 235th Street. The vehicle continued south on Highway 71 at a high rate of speed. The chase ended on Montgomery-Page Street, west of Highway 71, when the car attempted to travel down a mud road, and slid into the ditch. The driver, identified as 25-year old James Robert Castillo, of Bedford, tried to flee on foot and ignored Deputies’ commands to stop. He was taken into custody in an open field south of his vehicle, after the Montgomery County K-9 was deployed.

Castillo was charged with felony Eluding, along with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. Castillo was also cited for Speeding 100-mph in a 55 zone, Driving While Suspended, Having No Insurance, Operating a vehicle without registration, fraudulent use of registration, and a stop sign violation.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Deputies with the Adams and Page County Sheriff’s Departments, Red Oak Police, the Montgomery County K-9 Unit, Clarinda EMS and Snyder’s Towing.