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A potential rift among Iowa Democrats at national convention

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Delegates from Iowa head into the Democratic National Convention today (Monday) in Philadelphia, where a potential party squabble may erupt. The chairwoman of the Democratic NATIONAL Committee resigned Sunday after the release of email showing national party staff favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders. Caleb Humphrey of Madrid is a Bernie Sanders delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

“What the Bernie camp has thought since the conception of this whole race is that the scales have been tipped in favor of Hillary Clinton,” Humphrey says. “Now we know unequivocally, in black and white, that this is true.” The solution, he says, is to dump Clinton and nominate Sanders. Sanders delegate Ingrid Olson of Council Bluffs says Clinton’s still probably going to win the nomination, but Olson warns there’s a “division” between Clinton and Sanders delegates from Iowa.

“They think we’re ‘one hit wonders’ and we’re here temporarily, but the people that I know are very dedicated and they’re here for the long haul. They are energized. They’re youthful and the party needs them if the party’s going to survive, otherwise we’re going to end up having a Republican candidate such as Donald Trump,” Olson says. “…They need to figure out a way to welcome us and not make us make us feel like outcasts.”

Andy McGuire, the chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party, says party unity is a “work in progress.” “We need to continue to talk about the issues that we have in common and get to unity,” McGuire says. “When we talk about education and we talk about equal work for euqal pay and when we talk about college affordability — these are issues we all agree on.” Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin backed Clinton in the Iowa Caucuses and he predicts Democrats will unite.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help bring our party together, to work with both Sanders and Clinton people to get us united,” Harkin says. “…If all else fails, all I’ve got to say is: ‘Trump.’ That brings us together right away.” Iowa delegate Cindy Pollard of Newton was wearing an “I’m With Her” t-shirt Sunday night in Philadelphia. She expects “smooth sailing” for Clinton this week.

“I think it really will be,” Pollard says. “It’s going to be powerful in that room and I think when we go in there everybody will come together and it’s going to happen.” The Iowa delegates went to a bowling alley in Philadelphia for a pre-convention party Sunday night. It appeared the Sanders delegates gathered in their own bowling lanes, while the Clinton delegates teamed up in others. Eighteen-year-old Sruthi Palapniappan of Cedar Rapids, a Clinton delegate, noticed.

“I think we kind of just went into our own pods and then just realized: ‘Oh no,'” she says. “‘We accidentally divided.'” Fourth district congressional candidate Kim Weaver will speak with Iowa convention delegates later this (Monday) morning in Philadelphia.

(Radio Iowa)

Florida man injured when pickup hits his tent in Fremont County

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A Florida man was transported by helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, after the tent he was in was struck by a pickup truck Sunday morning, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol says 67-year old James A. Foley, of Middleburg, FL., was struck by a 1996 Ford F-250 pickup driven by 55-year old Danny T. Cardin, of Homer, Louisiana.

Officials say the accident happened at around 11:35-a.m., Sunday, when the pickup was traveling down a private drive at the 59er Motel and campgrounds. The vehicle struck the tent Foley occupied, and dragged the tent, with Foley inside, underneath the truck, for about 50-feet. Cardin continued to drive his truck until he parked it at his campsite.

A dispatcher with Mills County Sheriff’s Officials could not say if Foley was part of the RAGBRAI ride or was simply staying at the campgrounds for recreation. A report on his condition is currently not available.

RAGBRAI is underway, motorists can help keep cyclists safe

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Thousands of bicycle riders from across Iowa and around the world are starting their second day of the statewide trek known as RAGBRAI today (Monday). This year’s route runs 418 miles across southern Iowa from Glenwood to Muscatine. On the first day of the event, a 72-year old man from Florida was struck and killed by a pickup truck, near Glenwood. Andrea Henry, with the Iowa D-O-T, urges motorists who encounter long lines of bikes to stay alert and don’t do anything to distract or startle the riders.

“We ask that you do not honk your horns at bicyclists,” Henry says. “Use extra caution when you’re passing them. Give them plenty of room because sometimes bicyclists might swerve to avoid road hazards like potholes or debris or railroad tracks or narrow bridges.”

RAGBRAI organizers say that about 30 people have died in the event’s 44 year history, but most deaths are linked to medical problems. Including the latest victim, nine bicyclists have been killed in Iowa this year in collisions with vehicles. Henry notes, the safety tips for motorists apply all year long, not just during RAGBRAI.

“Be careful when opening your vehicle door,” Henry says. “Sometimes bicyclists will be riding close to the edge of the roadway and that can become a problem. When in doubt, always yield to bicyclists. Make sure you give them plenty of space and don’t try to pass if you don’t have the room to do so.”

Cyclists, too, need to keep safety first by always wearing a helmet. “We ask that you never ride against traffic,” Henry says. “Bicyclists are always supposed to follow the same flow as traffic. Obey traffic signs and signals just like you would if you were in a vehicle. Always, make eye contact with a motorist. Sometimes, it’s difficult for them to see you and if you make eye contact with them, that ups your chance of visibility.”

At night, use a headlight, taillight and reflectors. Today’s section of RAGBRAI takes the cyclists 75 miles from Shenandoah to Creston.

(Radio Iowa)

Northwest Iowa man found after missing for 17 hours

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An 82-year- old northwest Iowa man who got lost in a cornfield Saturday evening was found Sunday afternoon following an extensive search. Family members say Stewart “Skip” Harris left his home in rural Akron Saturday evening, riding his all-terrain vehicle at around 9:30 p.m. to check on irrigation units. Son John Harris says he saw a light on at his father’s house in the evening, so didn’t stop to check on him. Harris says he discovered his father wasn’t home Sunday morning and began looking for him.

“Right away I came down here to the field to see if he happened to be down here — and then that’s when I found the four-wheeler here in the cornfield abandoned. I called my sister and told here ‘we got problems.’ We looked for a while, five family members and finally we just said we can’t do this ourselves and called 9-1-1,” Harris. “Somehow the word got out…and there’s just so many people here who have helped us out.” He says his dad apparently went out to check on an irrigation units.

“Evidently in the dark he got disoriented and he drove into the cornfield and couldn’t find his way out. He left the four-wheeler and started walking around. It’s hard enough to find your way out in the daylight, let alone in the dark,” Harris says. The elder Harris was located in a cornfield at about 2:12 Sunday afternoon, nearly 17 hours since he was last seen. He was in good condition, aside from being exhausted, and dirty and dehydrated. Volunteer searchers cheered when Skip Harris was brought to the command center ending the search. John Harris was thankful with the way things turned out.

“It could have been a tragic ending — fortunately it worked out the right way,” Harris says. “We thank all the volunteers, and thank God for helping us find him.” More than 150 people from various emergency agencies, along with several volunteers concentrated their search within two corn fields Sunday.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, July 25th 2016

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 1:40 a.m. CDT

ATLANTIC, Iowa – Five people, an adult and four teens, suffered what were believed to be minor injuries, when an amusement park ride had a mechanical breakdown Sunday night, causing some of the arms of “The Octopus” ride to collapse onto the ground.

EMERSON, Iowa – Authorities say a medical condition may have caused a fatal, single-vehicle accident west of here Sunday afternoon. 62-year old Stephen Pierson died in the crash.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Opening day of bike ride across Iowa marred by death of bicycle rider. Iowa State Patrol says rider was killed near Glenwood on Sunday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say 59-year-old man was killed Sunday morning in a shooting. Officers are investigating the shooting that happened around 4:30 a.m. near Roosevelt High School. Few details about the shooting were released Sunday and no arrests had been made.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The National Weather Service confirms at least three tornadoes moved through eastern Iowa on Saturday. The storms damaged crops and some farm outbuildings but mostly avoided towns. Experts are still surveying the damage from the storms.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A new Kossuth County sheriff’s department drone helped authorities quickly find and rescue an Iowa man and his granddaughter whose boat became hung up on a logjam on the Upper Des Moines River. Authorities said the remote-control aircraft reduced the amount of time it took to locate the pair.

Emerson man dies in Mills County crash Sunday afternoon

News

July 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol says one person died following a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon, in Mills County. 62-year old Stephen Pierson, of Emerson, died at the scene of the crash that took place at around 2:36-p.m.  Pierson was traveling west on County Road H-34 about 8-miles west of 390th Street, when his 1993 Chevy Lumina left the road  and went into a ditch. The vehicle traveled for about 195-feet in the ditch prior to hitting an embankment and coming to rest.

The Patrol says Pierson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was known to have medical conditions, that may have played a role in the accident.

(Update 10-p.m.) 5 injured in Cass County Fair Amusement park ride

News

July 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Five people, an adult and four teens, suffered what were described as non-life threatening injuries Sunday evening, when a mechanical failure caused the arms of an amusement park ride at the Cass County Fair to come crashing to the ground. Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson told KJAN News Sunday night, that the incident happened at around 7:30-p.m. on “The Octopus.” The ride is located just outside of the “Kids Barn” portion of the two commercial buildings on the northwest side of the fairgrounds.

Erickson said the injured parties, a woman believed to be in her 20’s, along with two  teens, a male and a female, were transported by ambulance to the Cass County Hospital. Two 15-year old males went to the hospital by private vehicle. The injured complained of neck, back and shoulder pain, and bruises, according to Erickson.

He said the Fair Board has contacted the State Division of Labor about the incident, and until an Inspector can come out and examine the ride and find out what went wrong, the “Octopus” is shut down.

3 injured on amusement ride at the Cass County Fair

News

July 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Three people, two children and an adult, were injured Sunday night when a mechanical failure occurred on an amusement ride at the Cass County Fair, in Atlantic.  According to KETV in Omaha, the mechanical failure, which was reported around 7:40 p.m. at the Cass County Fair, caused the arms of the octopus ride to slam to the ground. The ride is located just outside of the “Kids Barn” portion of the two commercial buildings on the northwest side of the fairgrounds.

An adult and child went to Cass County Memorial Hospital by ambulance. The other child went to the hospital in a private vehicle. The ride is currently shut down. No further information was given. We’ll update this story on KJAN as officials provide us with more details.

Wildlife refuge to use Olympics to teach about animal skills

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is offering visitors a chance to test their athletic skills against area wildlife. The refuge will offer an animal Olympics program at 1 p.m. on Saturday where visitors can see if they can jump as high as a deer or balance like a great blue heron. The program will teach about the abilities of native wildlife.

The refuge sits north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required to enter the refuge. For more information, call 712-388-4800.

3 arrested in Creston

News

July 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Three people have been arrested on separate charges, in Creston. The Creston Police Department reports 21-year old Dylan Daniel Hudson, of Shannon City, was arrested Saturday afternoon at the Afton Fairgrounds in connection with a Domestic Assault that allegedly took place Friday. Hudson was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before a magistrate.

19-year old Coltyn Michael Bredberg, of Creston, was arrested Saturday night in Creston, for Driving While Suspended. Bredberg was later released on $300 bond.

And, Friday night, Creston Police arrested 46-year old Lisa Kay Foster, of Creston, for allowing an animal to run at large. Foster was issued a citation, and then released.