ST. ANSGAR, Iowa (AP) – A new deer crossing warning sign in northern Iowa is attracting attention and mixed reactions. “Suicidal deer” says the sign just outside of St. Ansgar, with another sign underneath that says, ‘Next 2 mi.” The signs along Iowa Highway 105 sit near Sally Hertel’s land. She says she found the deer sign a little insensitive. But Becky Dodson, who also lives near the sign, says she thought it was funny. Mitchell County officials got the idea after seeing postings about a similar sign in central Illinois.

Mitchell County Supervisor Stan Walk in Iowa says the county didn’t intend to offend anyone in its effort to prevent accidents caused by the numerous deer in the area. He says officials wanted the sign to be an attention-getter, and it has been.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

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

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

Subscribe: RSS

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says some 10-thousand boat owners are running out of time to register the hull identification number of their boats. D-N-R Boating Law Administrator, Susan Stocker, says the U-S Coast Guard found the numbers from the manufacturers did not meet regulations. “Recently the states have been tasked with making sure and verifying that these boats to have the 12-digit hull identification numbers, H-I-N’s. And so, we’re just trying to give a heads up to the boat owners that still need to register their HINS before they want to register it,”

Stocker says. She says boat owners should have gotten notice. “We’ve sent them an affidavit,” Stocker says, “and so what they do is they fill it out and either do a pencil rubbing or take a photography of their hull identification number to verify it. And then they can either mail it in, email it in or fax it in, and then we’ll process it.” Boat owners will need to verify the H-I-N prior to April 30th in order to renew their boat registration.

Stocker says any boat owner has to register their boat by the deadline or they face a five dollar penalty. Stocker says many boaters are probably getting the itch to get out on the water, and need to get the verification and registration complete. “As the weather does get warmer and everybody will want to get out on the water, we want to be sure they are able to do that by doing a little bit of paperwork before it gets too nice,” Stocker says.

Stocker says there are around 235-thousand boats registered in the state. for more information on the boat registration, go to the D-N-R’s website at: www.iowadnr.gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports early this (Monday) morning, deputies conducted an investigation into illegal drug activity. As a result of that investigation 35- year old Joshua Martin of Riverton, IA, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

The arrest happened after undercover deputies conducted a drug transaction with Martin. Martin was arrested with incident at the scene, following the transaction. He was transported to the Fremont County Jail being held on a $100,000 cash bond. Other drug charges are pending following conclusion of the investigation.

Joshua Martin

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested 32-year old Scott James Wiese, of Red Oak, Sunday afternoon. Wiese was charged with providing tobacco to a person or persons  under the age of 18. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested two people on alcohol-related charges, Sunday, with the assistance of Red Oak Police. At around 4:26-a.m., 28-year old Trenton Lee Murry, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and on a valid Iowa State Patrol warrant for OWI/1st offense. Murry was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $3,000 cash bond.

And, at around 10-p.m., Sunday, deputies arrested 60-year old Fidel Ramos-Leon, of Red Oak, for Public Intoxication. Ramos-Leon was taken into custody in the 700 block of E. Joy Street and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs officials are making plans to document the history of an historic former elementary school before it is demolished. The Daily Nonpareil reports the city council will decide Monday whether to support an agreement with the Iowa State Historic Preservation about the former Walnut Grove Elementary School. The 1926 building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, so the city must take additional steps before demolition.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Local emergency managers are practicing tweeting and updating their statuses to make sure they will be prepared to use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to share information in a disaster. Dubuque County Emergency Management Director Tom Berger tells the Telegraph Herald he is looking at setting up social media pages for his agency.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Crews continue working to clean up a spill of roughly 30,000 gallons of gasoline in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports workers from Magellan Pipeline and contractors hired to help with the cleanup have been working since the spill happened Friday morning.

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Tyonna Snow recorded her second straight double-double with 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds and Number 3 seed Missouri State won its 10th Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 71-58 victory over top-seeded Northern Iowa on Sunday to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Regular-season MVC champion Northern Iowa was led by Madison Weekly with 17 points and Sharnae Lamar’s 16.

Police in Council Bluffs, Sunday evening, said an arrest warrant has been issued in connection with the shooting death of 22-year old Anthony Walker at an apartment complex the evening of March 7th. Authorities are seeking 30-year old Markis Moses Davis, who is wanted for 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder and 1st degree Robbery. Davis is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous. He may also be in the company of a female whom police have identified as 22-year old Rachel Lewis, who is also a person of interest, and whose whereabouts are unknown. Lewis is wanted for questioning in the continued investigation of the homicide. She is a white female, with brown hair about 5-feet 3-inches tall, weighing 135-pounds. Davis is a black male, about 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing 140 pounds

Markis Davis

Rachel Lewis

Both are from Council Bluffs. The pair may be in a maroon Pontiac Grand Prix with a possible Iowa license plate of EAH 903, or a black Nissan Sentra with an “In Transit” tag in the rear window. Authorities says you should NOT make any attempt to confront Davis or Lewis on your own. Call your local police department or the Council Bluffs Police Department should you come into contact with them. Persons with information on Davis’ or Lewis’ whereabouts may also call Crime Stoppers at 712- 328-7867 if you have any general information and wish to remain anonymous

Two other men were arrested last week in connection with Walker’s murder. 19-year old Ben Lein, of Council Bluffs was arrested Tuesday morning. 22-year old Wesley W. Correa-Carmenaty was arrested Monday night. Both men are from Council Bluffs. They face the same charges as Markis Davis. Lein was also wanted on warrants for from Pottawattamie and Dallas County, for Escape from Custody and Violation of Probation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs officials are making plans to document the history of an historic former elementary school before it is demolished. The Daily Nonpareil reports the city council will decide Monday whether to support an agreement with the Iowa State Historic Preservation about the former Walnut Grove Elementary School.

The building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, so the city must take additional steps before demolition. The school was built in 1926, and two additions to the structure were constructed in 1951 and 1966. The school, which closed in 2014, was sold for $104,000 to NeighborWorks Home Solutions. The nonprofit plans to build 14 homes on the site.