A report from the Iowa Department of Human Services shows there are nearly 800 children in the state who are eligible for adoption and November is National Adoption Month. Bambi Schroeder, of Iowa KidsNet, says more foster parents are urgently needed as more and more children are in need of temporary homes. “With the shortage of foster parents that we have right now, literally, people are getting their license and within days or weeks, they’re getting kids in their homes,” Schroeder says. “We are needing homes so badly that families have to be ready when they are done with their classes to be ready to get kids pretty quickly.”

To become a licensed foster care provider, parents need to complete a 30-hour training course. It runs ten weeks with each session meeting for three hours. “The goal is, within 40 days of the classes ending, the family would be submitted to DHS who would have the final stamp of approval,” Schroeder says. “We would get the family licensed and then the matching process starts.”

Adoption Day events were held this past weekend in Iowa cities including Dubuque, Des Moines and Peosta, with more adoption events scheduled in the coming days in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Webster City, Mason City, Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Learn more at: www.iowakidsnet.com

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) – A Coast Guard veteran has been honored for his heroism during the Vietnam War, when he led a response to an enemy attack and fires at a Navy ammunition and supply base in 1968. Officials at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, on Friday awarded 72-year old William Carr a plaque that was placed on the Wall of Gallantry in the academy’s Hall of Heroes.

The resident of Davenport, Iowa, commanded a patrol boat crew that led firefighting efforts, saved ammunition and other materials from the fires and called in medical assistance to the base just south of the demilitarized zone. He received the Bronze Star for his actions.  Carr says the attack and fires on the base killed six to nine servicemen and wounded 98 others.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently awarded $900,937 in grants to twenty-one organizations to assist homeless and domestic violence shelters with costs associated with providing essential services and emergency shelter operations. The funding is made available through the Shelter Assistance Fund program. IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison said Monday (today) the grants “Will have a direct impact on thousands of Iowans in need of assistance and provide many positive ripple effects to communities all throughout Iowa.”

Among the agencies sharing in the funds, is New Visions Homeless Services, in Council Bluffs, which received $47,500, and, Community Action Agency of Siouxland, in Sioux City, which received $42,439. Shelter Assistance Fund applications are accepted on an annual basis and are judged through a competitive process. The Iowa Finance Authority received 23 eligible applications for the 2015 round requesting more than $1 million in funding. The program is funded with proceeds from the Real Estate Transfer Tax.

The Iowa Council on Homelessness reports that 22,195 Iowans experienced homelessness or were at-risk of homelessness in 2014 and a total of 18,141 were served by a shelter.

The Harlan Police Department says charges are pending against a Nebraska woman, following a chase that began at around 7:45-p.m., Sunday. Officials report the incident happened after Harlan Police officers were dispatched to the area of Highway 59 and Lincoln Avenue in Harlan, for a welfare check on a female in a black Toyota. Upon contacting the female – identified as 54-year old Barbara Crosnoe, of York, NE. – the woman fled the scene, striking a 1997 Jeep Wrangler as she left.

Her vehicle continued southbound on U-S 59 at a high rate of speed, before turning east onto Shelby County road F-58. The vehicle continued eastward at a high rate of speed and finally stopped after spike strips were deployed on F-58 in the Elk Horn area.

Authorities say Crosnoe had an “Attempt to locate” alert put out by Nebraska authorities, who said the woman had possible medical issues. Crosnoe was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan to be seen by Medical staff. Damage to the SUV that was struck was estimated at $1,000.

Officials say Crosnoe faces charges that include: 1 felony count Eluding; Interference with official acts; Damage to a vehicle; Failure to prove proof of insurance and Failure to obey a stop sign.

A woman from Afton suffered serious injuries during a collision Saturday afternoon between her van and a semi. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 71-year old Connie Sue Roan was transported by Medic 1 to the hospital in Creston, after her 2010 Dodge Caravan hit the passenger side fender and gas tank of a 2004 Freightliner semi, driven by 58-year old James Jeffrey Routh, of Mt. Ayr. The crash happened at around 4:10-p.m., Saturday.

Authorities say Routh was traveling south on Osage Road, trying to cross Highway 34. Routh told investigators his side view mirror blocked him from seeing Roan’s van approaching from the east. Routh was not injured during the ensuing collision. He was however, cited for Failure to Yield. His semi sustained $20,000 damage. The van was totaled during the crash. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Earlier in the day, Saturday, a woman from Creston escaped injury, after she swerved to miss a deer. Sheriff’s officials report 35-year old Calli Ann Mitchell was driving a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country van, when the accident happened at around 2-a.m., Saturday, at about 110th St. and Kingfisher Avenue. The woman lost control after she tried to avoid the deer, causing her van to enter the north ditch and roll over before coming to rest. Mitchell was wearing her seat belt. Her van was totaled in the crash.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be in Atlantic, Wednesday. The Republican presidential candidate will be in town as part of three events in Iowa during the day. His first stop at 9-a.m. is at Hy-Vee (5750 Merle Hay Road), in Johnston, where Gov. Bush and retired Air Force Col. Leo K. Thorsness, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, will serve coffee to veterans.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R) – Fl

Bush will be in Atlantic for a Town Hall meeting beginning at 12:30-p.m, Wednesday, at the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. At 6:15-p.m. Wednesday, Gov. Bush will be at the Waukee Fire Station (1300 SE L.A. Grant Parkway), for a similar Town Hall meeting.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s office says the U-S Senator’s staff will hold traveling office hours across western Iowa over the course of the next couple of weeks. Her staff will be available to answer questions and assist Iowans needing resources related to Medicare open enrollment, which is currently underway and runs through Dec. 7th, 2015.

In addition, her staff can help with problems or questions about eligibility, involving issues such as Social Security, veterans benefits or other military affairs, passports, immigration issues, and, other federal programs.

Here’s the schedule for Ernst’s traveling office hours in the KJAN listening area:

Tues., Nov. 10th

Sac County – Sac City Public Library, 10-am to 11-a.m.

Thu., Nov. 12th

Audubon County – Audubon Public Library, 10:30-11:30-a.m.

Cass County – Atlantic Public Library, Noon-until 1-p.m.

Pottawattamie County – Eckels Memorial Library, 1:30-to 2:30-p.m.

Friday, Nov. 13th

Dallas County – Conference Room @ 902 Court St., 10-am until 11-am

Mon., Nov. 16th

Adams County – Corning Public Library, 12:30-p.m. to 1:30-p.m.

Montgomery County – Montgomery Co. Extension Office, room #2, 2:15-to 3:15-p.m.

Guthrie County – Guthrie Co. Courthouse Public Mtg. room, 3-until 4-p.m.

Tue., Nov. 17th

Adair County – Adair Co. Courthouse Meeting Room, 9:30-am to 10:30-am

Union County – Union Co. Courthouse, 11:30-a.m. to 12:30-p.m.

Harrison County – Logan Public Library, 12:30-p.m. to 1:30-p.m.

Ringgold County – Ringgold Co. Courthouse Meeting Room, 1:30-to 2:30-p.m.

Shelby County – Harlan Public Library, 2:30-pm to 3:30-p.m.

Wed., Nov. 18th

Fremont County – Sidney Public Library, from Noon to 1-p.m.

Mills County – Malvern Public Library, from 2-untoil 3-p.m.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 25-year old man from New Mexico was slightly injured after jumping into the Missouri River near a casino in Council Bluffs early this (Monday) morning. Police say the incident occurred around 2-a.m., after the man who was described as extremely intoxicated, was barred from the Ameristar Casino.

The casino called him a cab, but he later jumped into the river, but authorities talked him into coming back out. The man, who suffered from slight hypothermia, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication. His name has not yet been released.

In an update to our report Sunday afternoon, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), said a Lewis man was transported by Griswold Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following a single vehicle accident late Sunday morning. Officials say 81-year old Marlowe William Weppler was hurt, when the 2008 Chevy 1500 pickup he was driving, went out of control on left Oxford Road at around 11-a.m., and entered the south ditch. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $8,000.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater…who normally has a pretty lengthy, weekly report…says the past week was comparatively, “Pretty boring.” The Sheriff says two “new” inmates this past week, 49-year old Michelle Renee Evans, of Bridgewater, and 30-year old Vincent Ray Bentley, of Lorimor, were simply serving short sentences at the Adair County Jail in Greenfield, while the third, 35-year old James Sims, of Bridgewater, was cited for Driving Under Suspension, following a traffic stop. Sims was released at the scene. Evans was released from custody last Friday, while Bentley was released Sunday afternoon.