DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers are making good progress on getting the corn crop in the ground. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers took advantage of dry weather early last week and now have planted 50 percent of the crop. That’s up from just nine percent the previous week. The five-year average is 32 percent. The USDA says in Monday’s weekly report that five percent of the corn has emerged, which is 10 days ahead of normal. Farmers have planted three percent of the soybean crop. The week ended with rain and cooler weather from Friday afternoon to Sunday, which put planting on hold. The statewide average rainfall for last week was .83 inch. The rain helped soil moisture, with topsoil at 92 percent adequate or surplus.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Griswold School Board will hold a special session at 5-p.m. Tuesday, in the Central Office Middle School/High School Building. Superintendent Dana Kunze says the Board will review with Piper-Jaffrey, the results of the bond sale. The board will then act on directing the sale of bonds to the low bidder, and discuss the parking lot project along with providing direction to the project engineer.

Authorities in Adams County said Monday, a Lenox man was arrested Friday on a sex abuse charge. 33-year old Peter Davidson was taken into custody on a charge of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse, following an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Human Services. No other details concerning the allegations were released. Davidson was subsequently released on $10,000 cash bond. The case remains under investigation.

An investigation into text messages allegedly sent by a Council Bluffs school teacher to a student, has resulted in the teacher’s arrest. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 40-year old Adam Jones, a science teacher at Council Bluffs/Thomas Jefferson High School, was taken into custody Friday, on a misdemeanor charge of distributing a controlled substance. Authorities say Jones allegedly provided Xanax…a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders…to an 18-year old female student. The drug was allegedly given to the girl when she visited Jones at his residence.

Authorities were investigating text messages allegedly sent by Jones to the girl, when they became aware of Xanax transaction. Police and school officials began their investigation last April 23rd, after receiving reports of an improper relationship between Jones, and the unnamed student. According to the paper, both individuals told authorities their physical relationship advanced no further than hugging.

Jones was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of his case in the court system. His preliminary hearing is expected to be held in about two-to-three weeks. The maximum penalty for distributing a controlled substance, is two years in prison with possible probation time.

Two people were injured during an accident this (Monday) morning, in Shelby County. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 61-year old Kathy Block, of Harlan, and 39-year old Renee Parrott, of Kirkman, were injured, when their vehicles collided on Highway 59, at the intersection with 1600th Street. Officials say both women were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Harlan. Parrott, who was trapped in her vehicle and had to be extricated by rescue crews, was later transferred to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, for additional treatment. Sources told KJAN News Parrott, who is a member of the Kirkman Volunteer Fire Department, suffered from broken ribs and other injuries.

According to the accident report, a 2012 Buick Enclave driven by Block, was northbound on Highway 59 when Parrott, who was traveling west on 1600th Street, failed to yield. Her 2005 Dodge Caravan collided with the SUV at the intersection. The vehicles then came to rest in the west ditch. Both were considered to be a total loss. Officials say Parrott was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Entering a Through Highway. The Harlan Fire Department and Westphalia Fire Department assisted the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

KJAN Big Deals is the best way to save money at local stores at your convenience!  How does it work?  All you do is click box to enter the KJAN Big Deals online marketplace on the top of just about any page on www.kjan.com.  We have more than 50 area businesses who are offering gift certificates.  The best part…..they are all at discounted prices!  It’s like giving us $20 and we give you $25 back!  Start an account with KJAN Big Deals today and start saving money!

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman has launched a new Facebook page for residents, the media and others to follow. Hamman says the page is a work in progress and something he’s wanted to do for a while but hasn’t had the chance to complete. 

The MCEMA Facebook page will include information and pictures as events happen in Montgomery County, as well as any information that would help out surrounding counties and southwest Iowa. 

Here’s the link to the page:

http://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryEMA

The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators has ordered a disciplinary hearing to held in October in association with charges filed against a former nursing home administrator in Tabor. Mitchell Worcester, of Tabor, who served as the administrator of the Tabor Manor Care facility from October 2007 through July 2011, was charged with Professional Incompetence, Negligence, and Violation of Regulations, rules or laws pertaining to nursing home administrators. A disciplinary contested case hearing is scheduled to take place October 11^th, in Des Moines.

The Board says under Worcester’s administration, the facility lacked adequate policies and procedures to guide staff in the performance of their duties, in several areas including: Completion of Incident Reports; Ensuring proper physician and family notifications regarding residents; Investigating allegations or suspicions of resident abuse, and handling those incidents.

The Board says under Worcester’s administration, Tabor Manor staff did not respond appropriately to multiple resident-on-resident sexual encounters, including five separate incidents whereby a resident admitted in December 2007 was suspected or directly accused of sexually accosting other residents, from June 2008 through October 2008. One of the alleged victims was not promptly treated and assessed for rape, despite evidence supporting the incident. The resident suspected of rape was released from the facility in October 2008, without documentation of cause or family notification.

To view additional information on the case visit: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphPLActions/Archive.aspx  On the drop-down menu, select Nursing Home Administrators Board, and click on the link to a pdf file on the IBNHA’s Notice of Hearing and Statement of Charges pertaining to Worcester.

Iowa’s warm winter and early spring have farmers more ready than ever to get into the fields for spring planting, meaning Iowa motorists will soon be sharing the road with farm vehicles. The Iowa Department of Transportation is urging motorists and farm vehicle operators to exercise caution during the movement of slow-moving equipment on Iowa’s roadways. Data for 2011 shows a total of 198 crashes involved farm equipment. Those crashes resulted in seven fatalities, 15 major injuries, 46 minor injuries and 55 other possible injuries. Of the 198 crashes, 119 resulted only in property damage.

Tips for motorists

• Be alert and always watch for slow-moving vehicles, especially during planting and harvest seasons.
• Be patient and do not assume the equipment operator can move aside to let you pass. The shoulder may not be able to support a heavy farm vehicle.
• Slow down as soon as you see the triangular-shaped, red and fluorescent orange slow-moving vehicle emblem.

Tips for farm vehicle operators

• Make your intentions known when you are turning by using signal lights or the appropriate hand signal in advance of the turn.
• Drive slow-moving vehicles in the right-hand lane as close to the edge of the roadway as safely possible. Traveling partially on the shoulder may cause motorists to risk passing in a dangerous situation.
• Avoid encouraging or signaling motorists to pass. Pull over where it is safe, and let the traffic go by.
• Do not get trapped on the tracks; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train extends 3 feet beyond the tracks on both sides.