Sheriff’s Deputies in Fremont County, Thursday evening, arrested a Nebraska man on charges that include enticement of a minor and indecent exposure. 69-year old Christopher Kudym, of Omaha, was being held in the Fremont County Jail, with an investigation into his alleged activities, on-going.

Christopher Kuydm (Fremont County S/O Photo)

(Radio Iowa) – A new map from the National Drought Mitigation Center shows dry conditions worsening in western and central Iowa. State climatologist Justin Glisan says 15 counties are now in what’s considered severe drought. “Over the last 30 to 45 days, we’ve seen a dwindling rainfall, especially across west-central Iowa,” Glisan says. “If we go back four to six months, we actually see precipitation deficits in the range of eight to 12 inches, so we’ve been dry, especially across western Iowa.”

Glisan says he’s constantly asked about when and if any significant rainfall is coming to Iowa. “The forecast models just have been off for some reason,” Glisan says. “When we expect rain out of Nebraska, it comes toward western Iowa and you can watch it on radar, it just sort of vanishes. Because of those dry conditions, there’s not enough moisture at the surface to really pop those storms up.” Glisan says he remains hopeful the situation may change soon.”If we look at our outlooks moving into next week, it looks like we’re starting to turn down the temperature dial,” he says, “and along with that, we’re trending towards near-normal rainfall moving into the first of August.”

A very hot weekend is ahead but the forecast calls for the chance of rain Sunday night, moving into Monday. Severe drought is shown in part or all of these 15 counties: Adair, Audubon, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Sac, Shelby, Story and Webster.

(Radio Iowa) – An unidentified woman claims her life was threatened by a man in western Iowa on Thursday afternoon and the suspect is now jailed following a standoff.  The woman alleged James Fishback of Manning handcuffed her to a refrigerator at his home, and threatened to kill her with a handgun. The woman also said Fishback told her if law enforcement showed up, he would kill her and a shootout with law enforcement would ensue.

Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted by other local agencies, apprehended Fishback Thursday after 25 minutes of negotiation. Fishback is charged with domestic abuse with use of weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, and kidnapping in the third degree.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports one arrest took place Thursday evening and one incident of theft was reported earlier this week. 25-year old Jeremiah David Richard Cargo, of Afton, was arrested for OWI/1st offense at around 5:30-p.m. Thursday, at Highway 34 and Poplar Street. Cargo was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, Tuesday afternoon, a Creston man reported to police someone had stolen a Simpson Pressure Washer with paint. The items, stolen from his residence in the 1100 block of N. Maple Street, were valued at $400.

Police in the Polk County community of Pleasant Hill responded at around 1:30-a.m. Thursday, to a report of shots fired near the area of Christie Lane, in Pleasant Hill. Officers found 25-year old Bethany Castro, of Des Moines, suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. Castro was transported to a local hospital where she died this (Friday) morning.

Officers found 32-year old Phillip Koromah driving a vehicle at excessive speed away from Christie Lane. When they began following Koromah, he lead them on a pursuit.

Koromah, who initially was facing an attempted murder charge, was charged Friday with 1st Degree murder, first-degree robbery, owning a firearm as a felon, traffic offenses and drug offenses. Koromah is being held in the Polk County Jail awaiting an initial appearance. Prosecutors have recommended a $500,000 cash-only bond for his pretrial release.

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

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The non-profit group “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” will present “Music on Main” – a Country Dance Music edition, this Saturday, July 25th, on Main Street, in Bridgewater. Prelude music begins at 6-p.m., with the main, 90-minute program getting underway at 6:30-p.m.  All current social distancing practices will be maintained.  Use downtown street parking, side streets or your front porch. Feel free to tailgate or picnic. Bring your own lawn chairs or just sit in your vehicle. Organizer Doug Miller says fresh popped popcorn and caramel Glaze-Pop will be available.

Other information:

• KC’s Tavern will host the First Name Band at 8 P.M.
• KC’s Tavern will offer a to-go boxed meal of Hamballs, cheesy potatoes and sides.
• Bridgewater Café will offer ice cream and desserts

Music from some of the best remembered artists including: Hank Williams Jr, Shania Twain, Alabama, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Mike Nesmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Strait, Lonestar, Brooks & Dunn, Jake Owens, Josh Turner, Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Florida Georgia Line, Tracy Byrd, Walker Hayes, Garth Brooks, Sam Hunt, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Vince Gill, Reba, Brad Paisley, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Eric Church, Lee Brice, and many more…

For additional information or to help support/sponsor this event call 641-745-5108.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s lakes and rivers continue to be busy, especially on the weekends. Iowa D-N-R boating law administrator Susan Stocker, says things really got going during the Fourth of July.”I think the challenge is for 2020 as we might all agree is that cabin fever probably hit people about four-thousand percent. And so everybody based on previous restrictions wanted to be out and enjoy the weekend,” Stocker says.

She says there were 11 people arrested for boating under the influence of alcohol during the Fourth of July weekend — which was a little above last year. There were 392 additional citations or warnings issued. Stocker says the crowds aren’t going away — especially with all the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having.”With the temperatures in the 100’s then people are out on the water recreating — and though they are surrounded by water — they forget to drink water,” Stocker says. “Adding alcohol and not adding any water, dehydration and alcohol certainly don’t mix.”

With this weekend likely to be another hot one, Stocker says boaters should drink plenty of water — and follow all the safety rules. “With lifejackets, the only way that it is going to save you is if you are wearing it. Because unfortunately just like seatbelts –if you get into an accident in a car — you are not going to have time to put your seatbelt on before you get into a crash,” Stocker says. She says having the life jacket nearby is not enough. “If you do get into a crash and are thrown out of a boat — the wind and waves are going to take you in one direction and your life jacket and safety equipment in another direction,” according to Stocker. “So, certainly, wearing the lifejacket is vital.”

Any children 12 and under must wear a lifejacket at all times on a vessel underway in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Another sweltering July weekend is in the forecast, as high temperatures tomorrow (Saturday) across Iowa are expected to climb into the low- to mid-90s with heat indices returning to the triple digits. Mark Mintun, an emergency medical staffer at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says if you’re planning on being active and outside, you must push fluids “It’s all about hydration,” Mintun says. “You should start in the morning when it’s still cool out. You should be drinking water, sports drinks, Pedialyte, whatever you like the best or think works the best. If you work outside, you really have to be proactive and start drinking early in the morning and drink every time you think of it.”

Without taking precautions and staying well hydrated in this heat, Mintun says you could be facing a very unpleasant road. “Heat exhaustion, you’ll get kind of dizzy, you’ll sweat a ton, your skin will feel cool and clammy even though your body is hot,” Mintun says. “Your heart will be going fast and you’ll start to get some muscle cramps. Heat stroke, things get a lot worse. You’ll get a severe headache, you don’t sweat any more, again a fast heart rate and you’ll feel very faint. You may even pass out.”

If you don’t pay attention to the warning signs, Mintun says your condition can quickly go from bad to worse. “Heat exhaustion can transition very rapidly to heat stroke,” Mintun says. “Once you start getting cramps and sweating bad and just feeling overall horrible, you have to get to a cool area, you have to hydrate. If that’s not working, you’re probably going to have to seek emergency medical attention.” Other tips for beating the heat include: wear plenty of sunscreen, wear light-colored, light-weight clothing — and a hat — and take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors. Keep up with the latest forecast at weather-dot-gov.