A new federal report ranks Iowa 7th in the country for the percentage of residents who spend time volunteering. Wendy Spencer is CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency in charge of volunteering and service. She notes the most popular volunteer activity in Iowa involves donating food or preparing meals for the needy. That’s also the case for most other states.  “In Iowa, it’s 32-percent, so that’s very high and that’s one of the top ways people can help,” Spencer says. “I think, in general, Americans don’t like the idea of anyone going hungry.”

Utah is once again ranked as the top state for volunteerism. Idaho, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska round out the top six, followed by Iowa. Spencer says there are a number of reasons why states with a lot rural communities tend to have higher volunteer rates. “For example, low commute times…so, it’s easier to get around. There are higher densities of nonprofits, higher education levels, and high levels of home ownership — that could indicate to us that people are settled in to their community and they really care. They want to make sure their community is strong and vibrant and they want to help,” Spencer says.

The report states slightly more than 1 in 3 Iowans (34.7%) volunteered in 2013. The study also calculated the economic value of those volunteers.  “Of the nearly 800,000 volunteers serving statewide, the value of that is $1.5 billion in economic value to the charities, nonprofits and faith organizations,” Spencer said.

Nationally, one in four Americans volunteered last year. The report found those between the ages of 35-44 had the highest volunteer rate, while those over the age of 65 spent the most time volunteering.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a recently reported scam. Officials say a person received a letter that claimed to be from Cigna Dental/Health & Life Insurance. The letter said the woman had won a sweepstakes, and included a check, along with a request for the recipient to put the check in her bank account, and send funds back to the sweepstakes to cover the cost of fees.

The Sheriff’s Office says while Cigna is the name of a valid company, the letter is a scam. They remind you that when a company asks YOU to send THEM money in order to receive money, it’s always a scam.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report the arrest of two Atlantic men. 42-year old Michael Chad Barnes was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. And last Thursday, 31-year old Jeffery Leroy Carpenter was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Serve Jail Time. Carpenter was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held until sentence is served. Barnes was released from the jail later in the day, Sunday, on his own recognizance.

Two separate accidents in Union County Monday resulted in one person being transported to the hospital in Creston. Authorities say at around 4:45-p.m., a 2005 Pontiac driven by 45-year old Rodney Taylor, of Corning, was traveling westbound on Highway 34 in Creston, when Taylor apparently blacked out, due to coughing and choking.

His car left the road and went over a curb and grassy area into a parking lot, where it continued at a high rate of speed, and hit another curb on the west side of the parking lot. The vehicle launched into the air and landed on the side of a ditch. Taylor suffered from chest pain and was transported to Greater Regional Hospital in Creston. His vehicle sustained $10,000 damage, and was considered a total loss.

The second accident happened at around 7-p.m., when a vehicle driven by 19-year old Jess Haryle, of Creston, ran into a legally parked 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck. The accident occurred as Haryle was traveling south on Division Street, in Creston. The man told authorities he didn’t see the pickup before running into the back of the vehicle. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,000. Authorities cited Haryle for Striking an unattended vehicle.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 8-a.m. Wednesday, in Greenfield. During their regular session, the Board will act on easement contracts for a bridge project, and approve a new hire for the Sheriff’s Department. Earlier this month, Sheriff Jeff Vandewater was sworn into office, and the Board approved the hiring of Ron Hrubtez as Chief Deputy Sheriff. His first day on the job will be December 31st.

In Cass County, the Board of Supervisors will meet at 8:30-a.m., Wednesday. On their agenda is an annual report from Weed Commissioner Larry Randel, who was unable to make it to last week’s meeting.

(Update 11:50-a.m.)

Fire fighters from Adair, Exira and Anita responded to the scene of a structure fire northwest of Adair, this (Tuesday) morning. Adair Fire Chief Jordan Smith told KJAN News a female in the residence at 3025 Union Avenue (about 5-miles northwest of Adair) was awakened by the smell of smoke at around 8-a.m., and saw the garage on fire. There were no smoke detectors in the home. The woman called 9-1-1 and escaped without injury along with two dogs.

When the first fire crews arrived on the scene, the garage, which was connected to the home by a breezeway, was fully engulfed in flames. The garage was a total loss, while the home sustained some flame and smoke damage. Law enforcement was called to control traffic at the scene because the thick, dense smoke was crossing the road.

Smith said a wood burning stove in the garage, or an electric fan circulating air in the garage, or a combination of the two, may have caused the blaze, but the incident remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

He said Mother Nature helped keep the flames from destroying the house, by blowing the wind away from the structure. Crews were on the scene for about three hours.

More area news with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The legacy of television and movie writer/director/producer Norman Lear was already well established in the history of Greenfield, where in 1969 he filmed the comedy “Cold Turkey.” But the long-running “romance” between the Hollywood legend and the community was further established Dec. 13th, when the Warren Cultural Center announced the naming of its auditorium The Norman Lear Theater.

Writer/Director/Producer Norman Lear stands in the newly named “Norman Lear Theater” at the E.E. Warren Opera House, in Greenfield. (Photo submitted)

Lear visited the town on Saturday morning, to once again view the town square that captured his attention more than 45 years ago, share personal greetings and insights and read from his new memoir, “Even This I Get to Experience.” A crowd gathered at the Warren Center, some wearing “Cold Turkey” buttons, a few with “Eagle Rock” band uniform jackets, to hear Lear, pose for pictures and get autographs. Many indicated they had played a part in the movie.

In announcing the naming – a surprise to the 92-year-old Lear – Leon Schwartz, EE Warren Opera House board member, said “To commemorate our special bond and the lasting imprint you have made on this community we want to share something with you and together make a permanent sign of our special bond. You completely disrupted the normal rhythm of life for us that summer, and we thank you for that experience.”

Schwartz went on to says “Today, 45 years later, your impact can be seen right here in this beautifully restored theater. You brought a form of art – filmmaking — to our community that we had not experienced. You reminded us that the arts are a necessary and integral element of any healthy society. You also gave us the script proving that small towns can meet seemingly impossible challenges, such as breathing life back into old buildings and creating a cultural center in rural America.”

Prior to the announcement, Lear spent some time on stage answering questions posed by Liz Gilman, executive producer of Produce Iowa – the State Office of Media Production, as well as from the audience, covering his career, his outlook on life, and even his trademark hat.  He also enjoyed some unexpected videotape greetings and congratulations from musician Randy Newman, who composed the score for Cold Turkey; and comedians Bob Newhart and Dick Van Dyke, stars of the film.

Lear was named an Honorary Iowan in 1999, when he returned to Greenfield with other stars, including Van Dyke, Tom Poston, and Jean Stapleton, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie. Lear also produced many hit television shows, including “The Andy Williams Show”, “All in the Family,” and “The Jeffersons,” and other classic films, such as “The Princess Bride” and “Stand by Me.”

Cold Turkey tells the story of a small town – Eagle Rock, Iowa – that takes up the challenge for all its residents to quit smoking for one month to win a $25 million prize. Many scenes were filmed on the Greenfield square and throughout town, as well as locations in Winterset, Orient, and Des Moines. Hundreds of locals and other Iowans were used as extras in the film.

Lear attended the gathering with his daughter Maggie, who visited her father on the location as a young girl, and grandson Daniel. Former Iowa lieutenant governor Sally Peterson and her husband, James Autry, personal friends of Lear, also attended. The night before Lear was the guest of honor at the Celebrate Iowa Gala in Des Moines.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Senator-elect Joni Ernst, Monday, announced that she has been assigned to four Senate committees that she says are of “major importance” to Iowans.

When the 114th Congress begins, Ernst will serve on the: Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship, committees.

Senator-elect Joni Ernst is slated to take the Oath of Office on January 6, 2015.