Police in Harlan today (Friday) released a compiled report on recent arrests and incidents. Officials say 25-year old Charles Hayes, of Harlan, was arrested Monday on a Shelby County warrant for Failure to Appear on burglary charges associated with a theft which occurred in the Dye Street area, last February. Hayes plead guilty earlier this month to a charge of 2nd degree theft, and was sentenced to 5-years in prison. The term was suspended, and Hayes was placed on supervised probation for a period of two-years. His sentencing on the charge is set for January 3rd, 2012.

Last Sunday, police in Harlan investigated a report of theft from Mikels Family Restaurant. Several items, including commercial griddles, and a milk dispenser used for their catering business, were reported missing. Officials say they have no suspects at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.

On December 17th, 23-year old Theodore Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested after officers were called to a disturbance in the 11-hundred block of Willow Street. The officers ended-up returning to the scene three separate times. Behrens was brought to the Shelby County Jail on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

And, on December 13th, 42-year old Kim Musich, of Harlan, was arrested by the Harlan P-D, after she allegedly tried to obtain prescription medication with a prescription that had been altered. Musich was brought to the Shelby County Jail on a charge of Tampering with Records.  She posted a $1,000 bond Monday, and was ordered to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on January 5th.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Friday) announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has approved the Branstad/Reynolds Administration’s request for a temporary waiver of income restrictions on federal housing tax credit properties throughout the state to assist Iowans who may have been displaced by the Missouri River flooding last summer. The Iowa Finance Authority administers the federal housing tax credit program in Iowa and a listing of properties is available at: www.IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/EmergencyHousing. 

Branstad says “The IRS approval of our request for affordable housing relief means that hundreds of Iowans who may have been displaced by the Missouri River flooding, but may not have been income-qualified to live at a federal housing tax property now have that option.”  Reynolds says “Having adequate housing is at the core of strong families and vibrant communities. By allowing Iowans who have been displaced by the floods access to hundreds of affordable housing properties throughout the state, we’re arming them with a tool that will be vital in their rebuilding process.”  

Eligible Iowans must have resided in one of the five counties that were designated for Individual Assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the period of May 25, 2011, to August 1, 2011. These counties include: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Pottawattamie counties. More than 1,200 Iowans have registered for FEMA Individual Assistance as of December 19, 2011.

An Atlantic man was arrested Thursday on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. According to Atlantic Police, 24-year old Ryan Juhl was taken into custody and booked into the Cass County Jail, where he was being held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

The Atlantic Police Department says also, no injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Thursday. Officials say Jenna Kaufmann, of Anita, was given a warning for Failure to Obey a Traffic Light, after her vehicle collided with a vehicle being driven by Janice Peterson, of Atlantic. The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m. Thursday, at the intersection of 5th and Chestnut Streets. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,500.

The second accident happened at around 9:30-p.m., on Fair Ridge Circle, when vehicles driven by Blake Stender and Trey Lovell, both of Atlantic, collided on a curve in the road, as they approached a legally parked vehicle from opposite directions. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,200. No citations were issued.

w/ Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ethanol production in Iowa has increased to a record 3.7 billion gallons in 2011. The Des Moines Register says production for the state’s 41 plants has jumped by about 200 million gallons from last year. Monte Shaw, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, says the industry has relied on export markets for growth. The overall production for ethanol in the U.S. for 2011 is estimated at 13.8 billion gallons,. Foreign sales of U.S. ethanol have added an additional 1 billion gallons of production this year. Much of the foreign demand has come from Brazil. A shortfall in the sugar cane crop caused that nation to turn to imports for domestic use.

Iowans who will be away from home for the holidays may want to reconsider telling the world about their plans on Facebook and Twitter. Scott Parsons, an insurance agent in Waterloo, says your cheery news could quickly end up being read by an evil-minded Grinch. Parsons says it’s best to keep your travel plans to yourself. Parsons says, “It would help to prevent broadcasting your private information to everybody that is a friend and an acquaintance of yours but it would also prevent it from going out to all of their friends and acquaintances as when you make a post, it shows up on their social media website, too.” The way social media often works, Parsons says your simple comment might end up bringing you a lot of trouble.

“There could be thousands of people who know that you have left to go to your mom and dad’s for Christmas,” Parsons says. “It could really set you up for a loss, somebody breaking in and stealing your property.” Parsons says you should also be careful about posting pictures and videos on social websites, because you really don’t ever know how far and wide they’ll be seen. “When you make a video, you could reveal your house number so people will know where you live,” Parson says. “If you purchase a new car, you may put some nice photos on the Internet but it also has your license plate information on there.” That, he says, makes it easy for someone to track down your address. While there may be some amazing gifts under your tree and you’d like to brag online, Parsons says to stifle that urge.

“Resist the temptation to post updates about any big-ticket items to your household,” he says. “That 60-inch TV or the X-box 360 games are high targets for people who want to steal, so putting it on Facebook that you have those new items could set you up for being a target.” Parsons also says using the “Find Friends” feature is something you might want to disable on your mobile device as the information about your exact location using GPS mapping technology could also be abused. 

(Pat Powers/Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a Lenox woman was arrested and her vehicle impounded to be searched for additional investigation, following a traffic stop early this (Friday) morning. 54-year old Vicki Abell was charged with OWI, speeding, having no insurance, no valid license, and expired plates on her vehicle.

The womans’s vehicle was impounded after a Ringgold County K-9 unit was deployed and alerted his handler to the possibility drugs may be, or had been used, in the vehicle. Abell was taken into custody at around 1-a.m. and brought to the Adams County Jail.

An alarming number of outbreaks of stomach illness across the state should be a reminder to Iowans participating in gatherings where food is served. With more than a week remaining for holiday and year-end celebrations, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is asking sick Iowans to think twice before preparing food for others.

“If you’re healthy and you’ve been healthy for the last few days, go ahead and mix up a batch of cookies or slice up a fruit tray,” said IDPH Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “But if you’ve had any sort of stomach illness, do not prepare food of any kind for others. In particular, symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea should be your ticket out of the kitchen until 48 hours have passed since your recovery.”

In the last 10 days, IDPH has been investigating reports of eight medium to large outbreaks of probable norovirus in five counties. Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis (also called “the stomach bug”) and most of these outbreaks are associated with sick people preparing food for others.

Three groups got ill after eating at a restaurant where several food handlers had also been ill. Outbreaks were also associated with events like holiday parties and holiday potlucks, where foods were likely prepared and served by recently ill people.

“We’re also getting lots anecdotal reports of probable norovirus outbreaks in other areas of the state,” Quinlisk added. “This virus can be a real holiday spoiler, making your friends and loved ones sick for several days. So, if you are or have been sick, you’ll just have to wait for the next opportunity to make your signature fudge-you’re off kitchen duty until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped!”

To learn more about norovirus, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/Foodborne.aspx