IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Three months after a high-speed pursuit, a trooper who was driving Gov. Terry Branstad has been ticketed for driving 84 in a 65-mph zone. The Hamilton County Clerk of Court said that state trooper Steve Lawrence was issued the ticket Friday. He paid a fine of $181.50 for the ticket, which was written by an Iowa State Patrol major.  Lawrence was driving Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Highway 20 on April 26 when he was clocked by a deputy traveling 84 mph.

Another trooper, Matt Eimers, eventually caught up to the vehicle but didn’t stop it after seeing it was Lawrence driving the governor’s official vehicle. The Iowa Department of Public Safety launched a review of the speeding incident after audio and video was made public this month.

Over the past several weeks, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and local public health agencies have received 26 reports in 19 counties of illness linked to a relatively uncommon strain of Salmonella. Among the area counties reporting cases of infection, is Madison and Union, with one case, each.

IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “Salmonella is commonly the result of improper handling or preparation of food. This particular strain is often associated with improper cooking of poultry or eggs.” While the symptoms of Salmonella infection are similar to those of Cyclospora infection (diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, etc.), the recently reported cases of Salmonellosis are not related to the cyclosporiasis outbreak, according to Quinlisk.

The best way to avoid all illnesses, including food borne illnesses, is by frequently washing your hands, especially after using the bathroom, before preparing food, and after playing with pets or visiting a petting zoo.

Officials say it is especially in the summer, when chicken is on the grill and egg-containing treats like homemade ice cream are common, to take extra care to keep food safe.

Food safety tips include:

• Grill chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F as measured with a food thermometer; leftovers should also be reheated to 165 degrees F. The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. Only by using a food thermometer can one accurately determine that poultry has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product.
• When making salads containing eggs, like potato or macaroni salad, be certain the eggs are thoroughly cooked and the yolks are firm.
• Do not use raw eggs to make homemade ice cream. You can make homemade ice cream safely by using pasteurized egg products, or by tempering and cooking the eggs in a hot custard ice cream base.
• Keep cold food cold and hot food hot. Whether in your car or on the picnic table, illness-causing bacteria can grow in many foods within two hours and during the summer heat, that time is cut down to within one hour.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/Foodborne.aspx.

In a closed-session portion of the Harlan Municipal Utilities Board meeting, Thursday, the Board acted to approve a pay raise for their Chief Executive Officer. The Trustee’s action followed a performance evaluation of CEO, Darrell Wenzel, who has served in the position for a year. The board approved a CPI raise of 2.2% and a merit raise of 2.8%. Wenzel’s contract is for 3 full years.

In other business, HMU purchased two new extended work trucks. One is a 2014 Chevrolet from Keast Auto Center in Harlan for the price of $28,000 while the other is a 2013 Ford from Keast Ford in Harlan for $23,500. HMU also approved a customer service charge of $35 per hour on cable TV calls that are costumer caused issues.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a man authorities had been searching for in connection with an incident which occurred Wednesday night, was arrested early this (Friday) morning. 37-year old Donald James Ryan, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody after being interviewed at the Shenandoah Police Department, at around 1:30-a.m. He faces a felony charge of Going Armed with Intent, and was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Authorities say deputies were dispatched to 1672 A Avenue (approximately 1.5 miles north of Shenandoah) at around 10-p.m. Wednesday, in connection with a disturbance at the Valerie Kay Kalkas and David Ryan residence. The incident allegedly took place between Kalkas, Ryan, and another family member, who was later identified as Donald Ryan.  When Law Enforcement arrived, they determined the man had allegedly physically assaulted David Ryan and Kay Kalkas. 

You can watch the Queen/King contest from the Cass County Fair on our new video outlet….KJAN TV!  Just click the link to take you to our video page to watch!

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The Shelby County Area Solid Waste Agency is sponsoring a Free Cleanup Crew Event this weekend. Residents of Shelby County can dispose of household hazardous waste from their homes at the Shelby County Secondary Roads Department on Industrial Parkway in Harlan from 8am to 11 on Saturday. Dan Ahart, Director for the Solid Waste Agency says residents can bring a wide range of waste. “Things that are in your garage or basement, under your sink, even pesticides or herbicides. I do want to emphasize no latex paints.”

He says the reason why the Waste agency won’t take latex paint is because consumers can dispose of that at home. “Latex paint is something households can dispose of on their own. You can use kitty litter, floor dry by stirring it up in the paint and dispose of as regular waste. Another good way to do it is pour it on old carpet and then when it dries, dispose of the carpet.”

Other items which will not be accepted include ammunition, explosives, asbestos, radioactive materials and non-hazardous waste. Ahart says you don’t even need to sort the materials. “We take boxes that have household wastes and regular garbage and will sort it. It all goes into the proper containers and disposed of by Metro Waste who we have a contract with.”

If you have questions on this Saturday’s Free Cleanup Crew Event hosted by the Shelby County Area Waste Agency, contact Dan Ahart at 712-755-5954.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A seed company reports it is awarding over $70,000 in grants to Iowa communities for the purchase of grain bin rescue equipment. Officials with DuPont-Pioneer say fire departments in 16 communities, including Harlan, Lewis and Malvern,  are receiving grants to purchase grain bin rescue equipment for use in their communities through the Pioneer community betterment program.

Bart Baudler, business director for DuPont Pioneer in Iowa, says the company is “Pleased to work with local fire departments across Iowa to provide this important, and sometimes life saving, equipment.” Baudler said also “Grain bins pose a significant safety risk on the farm, and we hope this equipment not only provides a functional use, but also increases awareness of these risks and leads people to think before entering.”

Iowa community fire departments and EMT’s were eligible to apply for the grants through their local Pioneer sales representatives.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is appointing a former state Supreme Court justice to review the firing of a veteran criminal investigator who had complained about the governor’s speeding vehicle.  Branstad today (Friday) appointed former Chief Justice Louis Lavarato to independently examine the firing of Larry Hedlund, a special agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation. The move is a surprise since Branstad had defended Hedlund’s firing and denied retaliation.

Hedlund pursued the governor’s speeding SUV on a highway April 26 and called troopers, who clocked it traveling 84 mph in a 65-mph zone. They backed off after learning the vehicle was being driven by a fellow trooper transporting Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Hedlund was fired last week for what the Department of Public Safety called unbecoming conduct.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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