DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Frustrated Iowans and supportive business owners have packed a legislative hearing to discuss a bill that would revoke wage increases for low-income workers. The House Local Government committee heard feedback Monday on the legislation, which would freeze the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and roll back wages that have already been increased.

Opponents say the bill perpetuates poverty for Iowa’s poorest workers and undermines community decisions. Wage increases have been approved in Polk, Johnson, Linn and Wapello counties.

Mike Holms, of Jethro’s barbecue restaurant, says small businesses need wage consistency. The Iowa Chamber Alliance, a business lobbying group, also sought a standardized state wage.  The bill was introduced by Johnston Republican Jake Highfill. The panel already has approved the proposal, which is set for a House floor vote.

Red Oak, IA – Walking School Buses and Afterschool Programs will kick off on Wednesday, April 5th for youth in Red Oak. The Walking School Bus program is available to youth enrolled in 4th – 8th grades. The program is coordinated and organized Live Well Montgomery County in partnership with SWCC, ISU Extension and Outreach, Red Oak Library and Questers-Calendar Girls 1254 with the goal to educate and encourage youth to move.

A walking school bus is a group of children walking from school with adult volunteers to an afterschool program. Walking School Buses are fun for youth of all ages and provide the exercise they need to develop healthy habits and engage in afterschool enrichment.

Walking School Buses will start at both Washington Intermediate School and the Red Oak Middle School. Youth will be walked to an afterschool program of their choice for duration of the 6-week program on Wednesday early outs from April 5th through May 10th. Three afterschool programs include Literacy at the Red Oak Library (hosted by Red Oak Library and Questers-Calendar Girls 1254), Wellness at the YMCA (hosted by MCMH and the YMCA) and Career Exploration at the Gold Fair Building (hosted by SWCC and ISU Extension and Outreach).

The program is free for participants. Afterschool programs will be capped at twenty participants per program. Activities will be cancelled if inclement weather occurs. Volunteers will meet the students’ afterschool at 1:00 PM and walk students to the afterschool program. Parents are required to pick up youth at the afterschool program location no later than 3:15 PM.

Registration forms have been sent home through the school with youth in 4-8th grades. Registration forms are due to the school secretary no later than March 15 at 1:00 PM. Registration forms are also available at the Montgomery County Extension office at 400 Bridge Street, Ste. 2 in Red Oak, Iowa and online at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.

For questions, please contact Ashley Peterson at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital at 712-623-6462, Kattie Lewis at SWCC at 712-623-2541 or Chelsea Cousins at ISU Extension and Outreach at 712-623-2592.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. 26-year old Tarayia Shilon Brooks, of Des Moines, was arrested Friday night, on an Adair County warrant for Driving While Barred. Brooks was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash only bond. 53-year old Kim Lavere Hester, of Casey, was arrested Friday afternoon, for Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI-related. Hester was also cited for Operating a vehicle without a registration card or plate, No Insurance, and Open Container. She was released Saturday afternoon on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

32-year old Jason William Holsinger, of Des Moines, was arrested Feb. 28th in Adair County, by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper, after the Trooper clocked Holsigner allegedly speeding on Highway 25 near 180th Street. His Preliminary Breath Test revealed a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .164%. A later Blood Alcohol Test determined his BAC was .132%. Holsinger was later released on $1,000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottaawattamie County are investigating the theft of a 2007 H&H tandem axle enclosed trailer and items stored inside the trailer. The incident was reported Friday afternoon, by a woman from rural Honey Creek. The trailer was stolen from a property in the 31,100-block of 170th Street. A dollar amount of the loss was not immediately known.

A pickup truck stuck in the mud resulted in a Nebraska man’s arrest Saturday evening in Pott. County. Authorities say 35-year old James P. Griese, Jr., of Omaha, was arrested at around at around 5-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He arrest occurred after a Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a request for assistance by a Pott. County Conservation Officer, who was out with a 2008 Honda Ridgeline, that had become stuck in the mud in the area of 152nd and Liberty Lane. A man he made contact with (later identified as Griese), was allegedly acting “very suspiciously.” Authorities at the scene seized 13.9 grams of marijuana in a blue container and a red glass pipe containing marijuana residue.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also a man from Shelby County was arrested Saturday evening for Driving While Barred and Interference with official acts. 35-year old Joseph Allen Schoemann, of Portsmouth, was arrested at around 5:50-p.m., after he allegedly attempted to elude a deputy while on foot, after a license plate check showed he had a suspended license.

A gas drive-off from the Kum and Go Store in Walnut Friday night, resulted in the arrests of a Council Bluffs man. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says an Iowa State Patrol Trooper stopped the 2006 Ford van on an unrelated traffic offense and upon further checking, arrested 30-year old Robert Allen Henry, of Council Bluffs, for Theft in the 5th degree. Henry allegedly pumped nearly $32 in gas which he did not pay for. And, a Council Bluffs man was arrested a little after 1-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/2nd offense, and interference with Officials Acts, after a Deputy responded to the Casey’s Store on Virginia Hills Road, for a report of a vehicle in the ditch. When the deputy arrived, 24-year old Julian Otto Brayman was attempted to drive the 2001 Hyundai Elantra out of the ditch. He was arrested on the charges mentioned and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

Authorities in central Iowa are releasing the name of the woman who was found dead in a wrecked car over the weekend. A bicyclist on a bike trail northeast of Des Moines spotted the four-door sedan on its top in Fourmile Creek on Sunday morning and called 911. Polk County deputies arrived and found the car submerged in about three feet of water and the woman’s body inside. 46–year-old Jody Ponxs of Des Moines was pronounced dead at the scene. It’s unclear how long the vehicle had been there as it wasn’t visible from the nearest road. An autopsy is planned.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County say no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon. Authorities said a 1996 Jeep Cherokee owned and driven by 28-year old Rebecca Lynn Drake, of Elliott, was southbound on Highway 6 when the vehicle entered the west ditch and hit a utility pole. The accident happened at around 12:40 p.m., Saturday.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $500.

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

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Officials with the Creston Police Department are reporting three, recent arrests. Saturday morning, 35-year old Joshua Armstrong, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Assault. He was later released on $300 bond.

Friday afternoon, 22-year old Nicholas Weckman, of Creston, was arrested at the Probation Office on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Weckman was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

And, Friday morning, 75-year old Charles Blakeslee, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Fraudulent Practice in the 1st Degree, and Tampering with Records. He was later released on a $10,000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Shelby County Local Fire Danger rating will be EXTREME this week, due to low humidity, strong winds and the availability of available fuels (dry grass/field stubble and brittle timber). Fires that begin in these conditions will spread rapidly and tend to resist firefighting efforts. NO OUTDOOR BURNING is allowed in Shelby County until further notice.

A wind advisory is in effect for the area until 2-p.m., followed by a RED FLAG WARNING for dangerous fire conditions until 8-p.m. today (Monday).