The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Wednesday, 34-year old Michael Eugene Matherly, of Casey, and 39-year old Robin Lynn Matherly, of Creston, were both arrested for Violation of a Protection Order. Michael Matherly was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted bond. Robin Matherly was transported to the Adams County Jail.

Thursday morning, a homeless man, 24-year old Keegan Wayne Williams, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. And, Thursday afternoon, 41-year old Chastity Cari McFarland, of Creston, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited, and released on a Summons to Appear in court.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Boy Scouts of America isn’t just for boys anymore, and for the first time, two girls in the Mid-Iowa Council have attained the top rank of Eagle Scout. Sixteen-year-old Angelina Hemphill of Ankeny and 15-year-old Hannah Massey of Ottumwa are true trailblazers, according to Matt Hill, the council’s C-E-O. “They have taken it upon themselves to achieve the highest honor that Scouting has,” Hill says. “They have worked extremely hard within their troops and within their communities to achieve the rank of Eagle and we’re just excited to celebrate their success.”

Hannah Massey

Angelina Hemphill

Only about six percent of Scouts attain that highest rank. This year, 145 boys in the region made Eagle, while Hemphill and Massey represent the first-ever females to earn it in the council — which serves about 10-thousand young people in 27 counties. Reaching Eagle is a difficult challenge that requires mastery in subjects ranging from first aid and safety to civics, business and the environment.  “You have to earn a certain number of merit badges where you showcase different skills,” Hill says. “You also have to show leadership both within your unit and in your community, and then at the end of all that, you cap it off with a service project that gives back to your community as a whole.” The rules were changed to allow girls to join the Boy Scouts about two years ago.

The Mid-Iowa Council now has six all-girl troops and about 200 girls in Cub Scout packs, which are co-ed. Hill says the Scouting program teaches valuable lessons for all young people. “It has been a great experience so far,” Hill says. “Oftentimes, it’s a young lady who’s the sister of a current Scout or it’s someone like me, who’s also an Eagle Scout, who has a daughter who’s going to be in Cub Scouts because ‘that’s what Dad did’ and I want her to have that same experience.” The two Iowans join about a thousand young women from across the country in the national organization’s inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. “Both young women joined Scouting to share the same once-in-a-lifetime adventures that boys have experienced for more than a century,” Hill says. “These two are paving the way for future generations. They’re our council’s first young women to join an elite group of young men.”

For more information on Scouting in Iowa, go to http://www.scoutingiowa.org/.

DES MOINES, IOWA— FFA members from Atlantic FFA and other FFA members from across Iowa converged on the FFA Enrichment Center at DMACC and the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, recently, to build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism, and patriotism. Atlantic FFA Reporter Aspen Niklasen says Atlantic FFA members, Taylor McCreedy, Alyssa Derby, Craig Alan Becker, Gunner Kirchoff, Aspen Niklase, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Garrett Reynolds and more than 100 high school students wearing blue corduroy from 20 schools flooded the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines on February 16th. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom and learned the importance of citizenship. This was all part of the 36th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol.

FFA Officers with Moore

FFA Officers with Shipley

During the morning, FFA members heard from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President, Craig Hill talked about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the agriculture industry. Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture addressed the students about the importance of agriculture in Iowa and abroad. Kelsey Tyrrell from the World Food Prize addressed students about the future of Iowa agriculture and the importance of being involved with statewide issues. After traveling to the State Capitol, FFA members were able to watch Governor Kim Reynolds present and sign the FFA Week Proclamation, declaring February 20-27, the week of President George Washington’s Birthday, FFA Week in Iowa. The proclamation signing took place in the rotunda of the State Capitol where all members could observe.

The 36th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol was made possible with support from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

A woman from Shenandoah was arrested Thursday afternoon in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 35-year old Colbie Jo Sue Hunter was taken into custody at around 1:25-p.m. at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, on a valid Red Oak P-D warrant charging her with three counts of Child Endangerment, and Gathering where marijuana is used. Hunter’s bond was set at $7,000.

(Radio Iowa) -U-S House Democrats have proposed an amendment that would remove a provision by Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra that provides money in the pandemic relief bill for victims of natural disasters. Areas of Iowa damaged by the August derecho would see some of that money and Fenstra says he will push to keep it in. “Unfortunately, it seems that the outcome is already predetermined. But I am not letting this stop me. I will continue to fight for Iowa farmers, families, and Main Street,” Feenstra says.

Feenstra says he will testify before the rules committee this (Friday) morning. Feenstra says his provision was one last hope for bipartisanship in the entire reconciliation process. “I even did my due diligence and reached out to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who I know have constituents who have suffered loses from natural disasters. I was able to find common ground- but it seems Speak Pelosi doesn’t care,” Feenstra says.

He says Iowa wouldn’t be the only state to benefit. “Many states in the south and west were also affected by wildfires, severe drought, and weather-related incidences, the further harmed producers and rural businesses that were already dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic,” according to Feenstra.

He says House Democrats would rather use the bill to pay for abortions with taxpayer money and to fund their pet projects instead of helping natural disaster victims.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds isn’t saying whether she’ll sign a bill that reduces Iowa’s early voting period and cuts an hour off Election Day voting, but Reynolds suggests it’s a direct response to Republicans who question the integrity of 2020 election results, adding: “There are Americans across this state that have some concerns about what happened in this last election, it’s imperative that it’s not just understood, but they feel that there’s integrity in the election process and they feel that it’s fair and it’s done in an equitable manner.”

Republicans won huge majorities in the Iowa House and Senate and President Trump won Iowa by nine points last fall — and Reynolds isn’t raising concerns with Iowa’s election results. “I think we do it well in Iowa,” Reynolds says. “I’m proud of our system. I think we’re a role model for other states, but we should always be looking at ways that we can enhance and improve.”

Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate passed the bill this week. It cuts nine days off the early voting period in Iowa and will require all absentee ballots to be in a county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Night. Ballots that are MAILED before Election Day but are not DELIVERED by that deadline will not be counted.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 34-year-old Kansas has been convicted of killing his girlfriend in Iowa in 2018. Zackery Bassett, of Elwood, Kansas, was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder in the September 2018 death of 50-year-old Andrea Solokowski, in Webster City, Iowa. Bassett was originally charged with first-degree murder in the case. Prosecutors said Bassett had abused and stalked Solokowski, of Sioux City, for more than a year before her death. An autopsy found injuries consistent with asphyxiation but Solokowski’s cause of death was listed as undetermined. The maximum sentence possible for second-degree murder is 50 years in prison. Bassett is scheduled to be sentenced April 5.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s optimistic that the vaccination of Iowans will accelerate due to the impending authorization of a new one-dose coronavirus vaccine and increased deliveries of the two-shot varieties. Reynolds said Thursday that 19.2% of eligible Iowans have received at least one dose of a vaccine and nearly 53% of residents 65 and older have had a first dose. Reynolds credits the federal government for increasing the production and delivery of vaccines to states. If current projections hold, Reynolds says most eligible Iowans may begin getting vaccinated as early as April.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been arrested and charged with livestock neglect resulting in death after authorities found dead cattle on his property. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 43-year-old Brian Greazel, of Mount Vernon, was arrested Wednesday. Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner says deputies called to a rural property near Libson for a complaint about neglected cattle discovered numerous head of cattle dead. Authorities say a veterinarian determined the cattle died for lack of food, water and shelter. The sheriff’s office did not say how many animals were found dead, but said 18 head were rescued from the property.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested an Iowa City landlord, accusing her of breaking into an apartment to try to forcibly remove a tenant and hitting the tenant with a baseball bat. The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reports that police arrested 67-year-old Suzanne Dashner on suspicion of burglary and assault for the Feb. 10 incident. Police files say Dashner and three men, all armed with baseball bats and a board, went to the apartment around 7 p.m. and broke in as the tenant hid in a bedroom and called 911. Police say Dashner and the men kicked open the woman’s bedroom door and threatened her and that Dashner hit the woman in the leg with a bat.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Thursday of 27-year-old Daniel Brian Foote of Essex on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Foote was arrested in the 1700 block of Broadway Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.