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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Creston Police late Tuesday night arrested a homeless man on numerous charges, including Attempted Murder.

Casey Welcher (Photo courtesy Creston P-D)

Officials say 24-year old Casey Welcher was taken into custody at around 11:18-p.m. at 205th Street and Hi and Dry, on charges that include: Attempted Murder; Eluding; Criminal Mischief in the 1st degree; Driving While Barred, and OWI 3rd offense.Welcher was being held without bond in the Union County Jail until making an appearance before a Magistrate.

Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer is expected to provide additional information either later this morning or early this afternoon, with regard to the arrest.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Council Bluffs say a tip from a concerned citizen led to the arrest this morning of a Council Bluffs man on a Burglary charge. At around 1:40-a.m., Council Bluffs Police Officers responded to 1620 So 11th St in reference to a possible burglary in progress of a residence that was being remodeled. Upon arrival officers noted movement inside of the residence and found an open door. Officers detained 51-year old Michael Weltch inside the residence. After verifying he was not in the residence legally, he was placed under arrest for Burglary 3rd.

Pheasant hunting season in Iowa starts Saturday and Iowa D-N-R wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz is expecting a big turnout. “There’s a lot of hunters in the state and they’re going to be excited,” Bogenschutz says. “Looks like our crop harvest is progressing nicely and getting the crops out always helps on that opening day.”

While it won’t likely be a record, he estimates many thousands of hunters will take to the fields and forests this weekend. “We’re expecting somewhere between 55- and 60-thousand,” Bogenschutz says. “Hopefully, more toward the 60-thousand mark, maybe a little better. We should have a bump in hunters this year. Looks like our counts were pretty good.”

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pheasant counts were up in some regions of the state and down in others, which balances out to being relatively close to last year, which was one of the best for pheasant hunting in several years. The annual youth pheasant hunt was held over the weekend. Between one- and two-thousand young hunters took part in the two-day event for those ages 15 and under. Learn more at: www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau is seeking public input on possible changes to the minimum-stay requirements for all state park campgrounds and at the multi-family cabin at Springbrook State Park for the Fourth of July holiday. The public is also being asked for comments regarding the proposed rental fee pricing for a large open-air picnic shelter scheduled to be built and opened in 2017 at Lake Manawa State Park.

The DNR would like to change the three-night minimum stay requirement for Fourth of July reservations at all campgrounds and at the multi-family cabin at Springbrook State Park. Currently a 3-night minimum stay is required for the Fourth of July holiday when the Fourth of July occurs on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Monday. The DNR would like to require a 3-night minimum stay for the Fourth of July holiday ONLY when the Fourth of July occurs on a Monday, making it similar to the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday requirements.

A new, large open picnic shelter design is now being used in Iowa state parks. These new shelters, accommodating 150-200 people, are two to four times larger than the older style shelters and are equipped with electricity. The DNR proposes the new shelter at Lake Manawa State Park have the same rental fee, $75 per day, as the large shelters currently available at Big Creek and Lake Darling state parks, and Brushy Creek State Recreation Area.

To view further details of the rule changes, visit iowadnr.gov/parks and select “Proposed Rule Changes” on the left menu. Any interested person may call in or make written suggestions or comments on the proposed amendments. Comments should be directed to Sherry Arntzen, State Parks Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; fax at 515/725-8201; or e-mail to Sherry.Arntzen@dnr.iowa.gov; or call at 515/725-8486. Comments must be received by 4:30 PM (CST) Monday, Nov. 21, 2016.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence is set to make a campaign stop in Omaha. Donald Trump’s presidential campaign says Pence will appear at a rally at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Midstates Construction Products. Pence had been scheduled to appear at a rally and GOP fundraiser in Omaha earlier this month, but the event was canceled. Doors for the Pence event will open at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are available through the campaign’s website.

Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton visited Omaha in August in an attempt to mobilize voters in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district. Nebraska split its electoral votes for the first time in 2008 when Democrat Barack Obama won that district on his way to the presidency. In addition, the region’s media market reaches into western Iowa.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:59 a.m. CDT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Activists who have been protesting the nearly 1,200-mile Dakota Access oil pipeline for months ratcheted up the pressure this week by moving onto private land owned by the pipeline developer. Law enforcement has said they don’t have resources to remove the protesters right now, but that could change as reinforcements arrive from several other states.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Hispanic woman claims her co-workers at an Iowa claims office repeatedly used the image of Donald Trump to harass and demean her. In a lawsuit against her company and two supervisors, the 32-year-old says her colleagues repeatedly put a Trump photo on her computer screensaver, signed her up to volunteer for his campaign and sent her racist memes. She says they did this to harass her after she objected to Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the shooting of a 14-year-old boy who was injured while riding in a car in downtown Des Moines. Police say Yore Thour Jiang, of Des Moines, was in a car driven by a relative when he suffered a gunshot wound about 6:15 p.m. Monday. He remained in critical condition Tuesday. Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek told The Des Moines Register two bullets also hit the windows of a nearby bank. He says there was no evidence the victim provoked the shooting.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say wagering on races at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque has increased more than 35 percent in its second year under the ownership of the Iowa Greyhound Association. The Telegraph Herald reports that the track’s total amount wagered in 2016 was $4.52 million, up from $3.33 million in 2015. Most of this year’s wagering growth came from people at off-track facilities who bet on races at the greyhound park. This year’s racing season concluded Saturday.

Update (8:44-p.m., 10/25): Mr. Blum was found safe in Rockwell City according to the H-PD.

PLEASE HELP !!!! The Harlan Police department is looking for an elderly male with some health issues. He usually returns home well before 5:00. He has not returned home yet. His name is Christian Blum, 82 yrs old, last driving a Maroon 2014 Dodge 1500 Pick up truck, License CQG257.

Christian Blum

Last known he was going to Harrison County to check on his farms, the farms have been checked and we have not located him. If anyone sees him or the pick up please call your local Police or Sheriff.

(Posted 7-p.m.) (Updated w/phot0 7:36-p.m.)

Officials with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday, 19-year old Leila Mulondo, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday evening along Highway 34. Mulondo was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance. Her bond was set at $1,000.

And, the Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston resident reported Monday, that sometime over the course of the past two months, someone took a chainsaw from his property in the 1600 block of 230th Street, in rural Union County. The item was valued at about $400.