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

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The Shelby County Trails Committee will be gathering to bike / walk / run at numerous venues throughout the county in 2016. They invite you to join them to show your support and desire for trails in Shelby County. In the process you’ll get some exercise, good company, the opportunity to sample some refreshments and to learn what needs to be done to make a trail system in the county a reality.

The first event takes place beginning 6-p.m. Thursday, May 26th, at Pauley’s Pub in Panama (IA), and will conclude at Norma Jean’s. The final destination is the Bent Rim Fermentation Project at the intersection of Main Street & Highway 191, in Panama.

Runners and Walkers will travel south along Highway 191. Each individual will decide when to turn around and return to Panama. Bikers will ride south on Highway 191 to Portsmouth. Those riders who want to experience hills will continue to Westphalia via Highway 44, Highway M16 and Highway F32. From Westphalia, riders will return to Panama via Highway F32. Riders who want to stick to the flat roads will return to Panama from Portsmouth on Highway 191.

For additional information, please contact Dean Kloewer (panamadean@panamatransfer.com) or Patrick Stessman (patrickstessman@yahoo.com).

The Trevor Frederickson Foundation has announced two, recent donations. The Foundation has presented a check for $1,000 to the Schuler Elementary School in Atlantic, for their computer program.

And, $500 was donated to the “Friends of Lake Anita,” for their annual fishing clinic held the first Saturday in June.  The clinic, which has been held for several years, is a great way to kick off summer, enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family. 

The checks were presented by Trevor’s mom and Fund spokesperson, Melanie Petty. The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund was started to give back to the community Trevor loved. Trevor was 21-years old when he died during a 2009 house fire, in Council Bluffs.

Creston Police Thursday evening, arrested 21-year old Tyler White, of Creston. White was taken into custody just before 7-p.m. on a Simple Assault charge. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

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

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(Updated 11:42-a.m. 5/6)  from the Adams County S/O: “The individual who allegedly posed as a sheriff’s deputy yesterday has been identified and a thorough investigation is underway. The community is no longer in danger from this individual. That being said, please educate your children how to handle strangers approaching them. Proper training and preparation can help keep our children safe!”

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County are investigating a reported incident of officer impersonation that took place Thursday.  Authorities say a middle-aged male described as being approximately 5’8″ tall, heavyset with short dark brown hair and going bald approached a group of juveniles between 4:00 and 4:15 PM near the high school in Corning.

The man identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy and informed the group he was looking for a fight in progress and he was taking them to jail. The individual was driving a late 90’s or early 2000’s Chevrolet or Ford pickup black and red with a silver stripe down both sides. He was wearing blue jeans and a red polo shirt with white stripes, and tan work boots.

The group of juveniles left the scene and the male drove off in an unknown direction. If you see a vehicle matching the description or have further information, please contact the sheriff’s office at 322-4444. In case of emergency, please call 911.

Students with the Griswold Community School District and the Lewis area, have an opportunity to  receive one of two $10,000 scholarships from the Roy and Lois Jahnke Memorial Scholarship fund. The fund is made possible through the estates of Roy Ernest and Lois Yulan Jahnke. The two $10,000 awards may be made each year for students who grew up in the Lewis area. A list of requirements and applications can be picked up in the Griswold Community High School Central Office or downloaded off of the website. Applications are accepted from May 15th through June 15th.

About the scholarship fund:

Roy Jahnke was born and raised in the  Lewis, Iowa area. He graduated from the Lewis High school. In 1949, he married Lois Yulon Johnke who was born at Brazil, Iowa. Lois Graduated from Centerville High School and later attended college in Cedar Falls. The Couple farmed southeast of Lewis. In addition, Lois taught elementary school in Lewis, and Roy was custodian and bus driver at the Lewis school.

Both Roy and Lois were certified ceramic teachers, members and Nishna Valley Wood Carvers, Mid-America Wood Carvers Association of Omaha, Nebraska, and Audubon own and Country Wood Carvers. The Jahnke’s were passionate about the Lewis Community and School and felt education to be a conduit to a fulfilling life.

A motorcycle accident Thursday night in Montgomery County resulted in life threatening injuries to the operator of the machine. Montgomery County Sheriff’s officials say 44-year old Darin David Dykes, of Red Oak, was flown from the scene to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, following the crash that happened at around 10:22-p.m., west of Red Oak.

Authorities say Dykes was traveling east on 200th Street near Boxelder Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the 2002 Harley Davidson he was driving, went out of control, ejecting Dykes, who was not wearing a helmet.

Multiple charges are pending against Dykes, as alcohol was considered to be a factor in the crash. Damage from the crash amounted to $1,000. The sheriff’s department was assisted at the scene by Red Oak Police, Red Oak Fire and Rescue, Montgomery County EMA, Emerson 1st Responders & Fire Dept., and Mercy 1 air ambulance.

State officials are focusing attention on a handful of arson fires that have occurred in the past two decades — hoping someone comes forward during Arson Awareness Week with information that could lead to arrests.  One fire happened in a Red Oak apartment building in September of 1997. An elderly woman died in the fire. Investigators determined the fire was set at two different places inside the building. While suspects were identified, there were no arrests.

The other arson fires the State Fire Marshal’s office is discussing publicly this week. One case involves a string of arson fires last year in Sioux Center. There were two different house fires in Council Bluffs as well as last year’s torching of a bowling alley in Mount Vernon that are featured.

Here is additional information on the Council Bluffs fires:

On September 10, 2013 a fire occurred at 2720 Ave. A in Council Bluffs, IA. During the investigation, racial and sexual slurs were found spray painted throughout the house. There were no signs of forced entry into the home. An accelerant canine was used during the investigation of the fire and alerted to two areas in the main bedroom of the house. The fire was determined to be arson. There were no injuries in this fire. Anyone with any information concerning these fires or any other fires in the Council Bluffs area is asked to call Fire Investigator Dan Roberts, Council Bluffs Fire Marshal’s Office 712-256-6953.

On January 16, 2015 a fire occurred at 2929 Ave. G Council Bluffs, IA. Gasoline was found poured throughout this residence and then lit on fire. Anyone with any information concerning these fires or any other fires in the Council Bluffs area is asked to call Fire Investigator Dan Roberts, Council Bluffs Fire Marshal’s Office 712-256-6953.

(Radio Iowa/IA DPS)

A new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation is outlining “significant, structural reforms” to simplify Iowa’s tax system. First, Iowa’s income taxes LOOK higher than they actually ARE because of a rare tax deduction. Iowans get to deduct how much they’ve paid in FEDERAL taxes before calculating their STATE income taxes.

Jared Walczak, with the Tax Foundation, says “On paper, Iowa looks like it actually has some of the highest taxes you could possibly face in the country and that’s a competitive disadvantage” Getting rid of that deduction is the top recommendation in his report. Iowa’s income tax system has nine tax brackets, too. The Tax Foundation outlines a few alternatives, including one “flat” rate of five-point-eight percent for all taxpayers. In addition, the foundation’s report suggests Iowa’s property tax system should be dramatically simplified.

“Taxes in Iowa are too complex,” Walczak says. “On the property tax, very few people have a good sense of what they will be paying from year-to-year. On the individual income tax, no one really understand what the effective rates that they’re subjected to are. Complexity has its own costs.” The report outlines “revenue neutral” proposals, meaning the same amount of taxes would be collected by the State of Iowa after the proposed changes. Walczak says that’s different from the approach used in Kansas.

Lawmakers in Kansas dramatically reduced taxes altogether without making similar reductions in state spending and they’ve been grappling with deficits ever since. “Good tax reform is neutral,” Walczak says.”It’s also simple and transparent.” Walczak’s report was commissioned by The Future of Iowa Foundation, a sister organization of the Iowa Taxpayers Foundation. Jeff Smith — the president and C-E-O of the Iowa Taxpayers Foundation — says the report provides the research “legwork” and outlines a “menu of options” for legislator.

“Our first objective is what can we do structurally that will help our tax code become simpler and more fair, that doesn’t have a fiscal impact,” Smith says. The group analyzed all the taxes the state collects, including sales taxes. It recommends ending current exemptions for a long list of goods and services. For example, you pay sales taxes when you buy a television, but not an airplane in Iowa. Walczak says there’s “no good economic reason” to exclude airplanes from the state sales tax.

(Radio Iowa)