Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the theft of copper wire from a shed in Red Oak. Sheriff’s Officials say they received word from a resident late Monday morning, that someone had stolen a large pile of copper wire from a shed on his property on 207th Street. The loss was estimated at $500. The theft is thought to have occurred sometime between 11:30-p.m. Sunday and 11-a.m., Monday. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

The group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (C-C-I) is celebrating a victory in what it calls an escalating fight against requests to build large-scale livestock operations in the state. The Union County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to recommend that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources deny permits for two proposed five-thousand head hog farms. C-C-I state policy director, Adam Mason, says the Union County vote is one step toward keeping the operations from being built. “Now that the Union County supervisors have recommended denial of this site, the D-N-R will have 30 days to take their recommendation into consideration, review the factory farm construction permit and master matrix, and make their final decision. For us here at C-C-I, we’ll monitor that process, our members in Union County will monitor that process,” Mason says.

In the larger picture, Mason says they get calls daily about proposed livestock operations. He says the group has recently gotten the plans changed for facilities in Dallas, Floyd, Jefferson, and Story counties. There are ongoing fights against facilities in Poweshiek, Union, and Wright counties.  “What we look for here at C-C-I is a deep sense of commitment amongst the community, basically of the community coming together in opposition to this,” Mason explains. “If one person calls C-C-I, we don’t just automatically go out and meet with folks, there has to be a significant number of community members who want to do something about this. What we can do is go out and meet with folks and let them know what has worked in the past to stand up for family farmers and fight back against factory farms.”

The vote by the supervisors does not guarantee the D-N-R will follow its recommendation. “County supervisors and local folks don’t really have much of a say, and that’s something the legislature did back in 2002 when they created the master matrix. That provides public input, but doesn’t give those local folks or the county supervisors final authority, which we would call local control,” Mason says. He says the supervisors’ vote is a positive for residents trying to keep the facilities from being built. Mason says,”But what that means for folks in Union County today is the D-N-R staff will look at this permit application a little bit stronger than they would. But what is comes down to is the D-N-R is underfunded and understaffed as well.”

Mason says the dramatic increase in requests to build large livestock facilities is due to higher prices for hogs and the “lax regulatory environment of the Branstad administration.” Governor Branstad’s spokesman responded with this statement: “Agriculture is the strength behind Iowa’s economic success, and we welcome job-creating pork producers to locate in our state. Governor Branstad believes we must safeguard our environment with commonsense regulations. The regulatory environment remains the same as when Governor Branstad took office, but with the skyrocketing pork prices, it should come as no surprise that producers would expand their operations. Governor Branstad will continue his efforts for cleaner air and water, and believes Iowa’s laws should be enforced.”

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) say the IFA and Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors, Key Real Estate and American National Bank, will announce later this (Tuesday) morning, plans to spur regional home sales through The Meaning of Homeownership Contest this summer. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Association of Realtors in conjunction with lenders and Realtors throughout the state.

We’ll have more details after 10-a.m.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Employees and staff at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic are preparing for the first stage of their move to the newly completed addition. Officials say on Friday, June 15^th, the Emergency Department (ED), Same Day Surgery Department, and Surgery Department will all relocate into their new quarters on the first floor of the addition.  The Inpatient Services located on the second floor are scheduled to move on Friday, June 29^th. CCMH Administrator Pat Markham says they will be operating out of their old Emergency Department until the new area is fully operational.

Markham says when personnel are ready to move into the new Emergency Department, announcements will be made on the radio, the hospital’s website and on signs near the Emergency Department entrance. She says since the two entrances (old and new) are very close together, there shouldn’t be a whole lot of confusion on where to go. Patients coming to the new Emergency Department will still use the south ambulance drive.  The new ED Garage doors will open automatically when a vehicle approaches, and patients can enter from a door inside the garage.  Patients may also park outside the ED and enter on foot through the new ED entrance, which is to the right of the temporary ED entrance that has been in use for the past year.

Beginning Monday, June 18^th, all scheduled surgery patients will register in the new ED Admissions, just inside the ED entrance, and utilize the new Same Day Surgery Department and operating rooms.  Markham says The procedure won’t really be different,”  than what’s been done in the past. She says they will simply be using the new facilities and equipment. Any patients or visitors who are unsure about how to access any hospital services during this transition are encouraged to call ahead for clarification, or ask any hospital staff member for assistance.

The trial for a former Anita Community School District teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a minor won’t take place until September. The trial for 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes had been scheduled to take place on July 10th, but during a Pre-Trial conference held today (Monday) in Atlantic, Judge Jeffrey Larson agreed to extend the date until September 25th, at 9:30 in the Cass County Courthouse. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner said the extension allows attorney’s for both parties to continue any necessary review, preparation and discussions associated with the case.

Foulkes pled Not Guilty in March, to charges he sexually exploited a minor female over a period of 13-months. A former long-time Math teacher at the Anita High School, and Anita Elementary School, Foulkes was arrested March 15^th on a felony warrant for Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and 49-Aggravated Misdemeanor counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee. If convicted on all of the charges, he faces a maximum time of 103 years in prison and fines of more than $300,000. Foulkes resigned from his teaching position in November 2010. He’s accused of engaging in sexual conduct on numerous occasions with a minor female while teaching the student in a math program from August 2009 until November 11, 2010.

A DeSoto man is in custody, charged with willful injury in connection with a shooting this (Monday) morning, two-miles east of Earlham, in Madison County. The Des Moines Register reports sheriff’s officials arrested 22-year old Nicholas Clayton. He’s accused of shooting his father, 45-year old Howard Clayton, Jr., of Earlham. The incident was reported to authorities just before 5-a.m. Authorities arriving on the scene found Howard Clayton in the doorway of an outbuilding, adjacent to his residence. He was flown to a Des Moines hospital, but there’s no word on the extent of his injuries or current condition.

Nicholas Clayton was arrested a little over an hour later, after authorities executed a search warrant at a residence in DeSoto. He was being held in the Madison County Jail, with additional charges pending. If convicted on the Willful Injury charge, Nicholas Clayton could face up to 10-years in jail.

The Iowa Department of Transportation,  as a courtesy to the Nebraska Department of Roads has announced the Westbound Interstate 80 will be closed at midnight Tuesday, June 12th, until 5 a.m.-Wednesday, June 13th, at the I-80/I-29 interchange in Council Bluffs. The closure is necessary for sign maintenance. Travelers will follow a marked detour utilizing I-29 and I-480. Also on Tuesday evening, the 13th Street entrance and loop ramps to westbound I-80 will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, June 13. Both west- and eastbound I-80 will have lane closures between 13th and 20th streets in Omaha.

Authorities investigating a shooting early this (Monday) morning in rural Madison County, have made an arrest in connection with the case. According to KCCI-TV in Des Moines, the incident occurred just before 5-a.m.  Sheriff’s Officials say they received a 9-1-1 call from a woman who reported the shooting two-miles east of Earlham.

When authorities arrived on the scene, the found an adult male in the doorway of a building adjacent to the home. He had suffered a gunshot wound and was flown to a hospital in Des Moines. His name and a report on his condition have not been released.

A suspect in the shooting was arrested in Dallas County, a little over an hour later. His name has also not been released.

In an update to a story we first posted on kjan.com Saturday afternoon, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office says it was a Kimballton man and a two-year-old boy who were injured during a rollover accident on Highway 173. The crash occurred at around 3:25-p.m., about 2-miles north of the intersection with Highway 83. 

Sheriff Darby McLaren told KJAN News 34-year old Joshua Hemminger, of Kimballton, was travelling southbound on 173 when the 1999 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving went out of control. The vehicle entered the east ditch and rolled several times. 

Hemminger was flown by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. A report on his condition is not available, but dispatch reports following the crash indicated he suffered from some head and back trauma. The child was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

Marne First Responders and officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control at the scene. Highway 173 was blocked to through traffic for nearly an hour.