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Atlantic Parks & Rec Board meeting set for Monday

News

September 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting 5:30-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Action items/New Business on their agenda includes:

  • Park House Plans
  • A washout at Bull Creek
  • Implementation of Native planting
  • Bull Creek/Edible landscaping
  • An update on the Schildberg Recreation Area
  • An agreement with the Little League Board
  • and, the Schildberg Campground closing date.

In his report to the Board, Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen will mention several matters, including: Chess and Checker Boards are now available; Flag football and Soccer are starting-up at the Sports Complex, and the Sunnyside entry sign brick work is finished.

Woman fails to return from Work Release

News

September 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 27-year old Erica Lynn Shales, convicted of Assault on Peace Officer and other crimes in Boone County, left the Des Moines Women’s Residential Correctional Center without permission on Friday evening and has not returned.

Erica Lynn Shales

Shales is a white female, height 5’8″, and weighs 169 pounds. She was admitted to the work release facility on July 29, 2019.  Persons with information on Shales’ whereabouts should contact local police.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, Sept 15, 2019

News

September 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:57 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than $8.5 million was wagered at 13 participating casinos in Iowa’s first month of sports betting. Ames station WOI reports that figures release by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission show the state reaped nearly $146,000 in tax revenue from the wagers on sports events. On Aug. 15, Iowa became the 11th in the nation and first in the Midwest to allow such wagering.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation for a woman accused of injuring an Iowa City police officer with BB gun fire. The woman herself was injured when the officer returned fire with his service weapon. Officer Michael Clark and 25-year-old Cierra Lewis were both hospitalized after the July 29 shootout as officers investigated a shoplifting report. Lewis’ attorney tells the Press-Citizen he doesn’t believe she is mentally fit enough to participate in her own defense.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a wounded homeless man, as well as the officer who shot him in a confrontation at a Des Moines homeless encampment. Des Moines police say 26-year-old Bryan Tyler Norris was shot Friday afternoon at the encampment in a wooded area near the Raccoon River. Police say officers were responding to complaints about the homeless camp when Norris armed himself with a knife, refused commands to drop and advanced on an officer. Police say Officer Trudy Paulson then shot him.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The opioid crisis has hit virtually every pocket of the U.S., from rural towns in deeply conservative states to big cities in liberal-leaning ones. But a curious divide has opened up. The nation’s Republican state attorneys general have, for the most part, lined up in support of a tentative multibillion-dollar settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, while their Democratic counterparts have mostly come out against it, decrying it as woefully inadequate.

Mental evaluation ordered for woman in Iowa City shooting

News

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation for a woman accused of injuring an Iowa City police officer with BB gun fire. The woman herself was injured when the officer returned fire with his service weapon.

Officer Michael Clark and 25-year-old Cierra Lewis were both hospitalized after the July 29 shootout in south Iowa City as officers investigated a shoplifting report. Lewis’ attorney, Quint Meyerdirk, tells the Press-Citizen that he doesn’t believe she is mentally fit enough to participate in her own defense. She’s charged with assault and willful injury.

Lewis will be evaluated by a psychologist at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. Clark’s involvement is being reviewed by the Johnson County Attorney’s Office.

$8.5M-plus wagered in Iowa’s first month of sports betting

News

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than $8.5 million was wagered at 13 participating casinos in Iowa’s first month of sports betting. Ames station WOI reports that figures release by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission show the state reaped nearly $146,000 in tax revenue from the wagers on sports events.

The report shows Prairie Meadows in Altoona topped Ameristar II in Council Bluffs, with more than $3.4 million in sports handle — or money placed on bets — and nearly $2.9 million paid out to betters.

On Aug. 15, Iowa became the 11th in the nation and first in the Midwest to allow such wagering. Iowa’s law allows betting on-site or through a mobile app, but requires mobile betting to be done within the borders of the state. Betting software includes precision geo-fencing technology that nullifies bets made outside of Iowa.

Police ID homeless man shot at Des Moines encampment

News

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a wounded homeless man, as well as the officer who shot him in a confrontation at a Des Moines homeless encampment. Des Moines police say 26-year-old Bryan Tyler Norris was shot Friday afternoon at the encampment in a wooded area near the Raccoon River. Police say officers were responding to complaints about the camp when Norris refused to cooperate with officers, then jumped into the river. Police say he later emerged from the river, ran back to the camp and armed himself first with a shovel, then a machete-style knife. Police say Norris refused commands to drop the knife and was advancing on an officer when Officer Trudy Paulson shot him.

Police say Norris underwent surgery and remained hospitalized Saturday in stable condition. He’s been charged with assault on a police officer and other counts. Paulson is a 12-year veteran of the force.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 9/14/19

News, Podcasts

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 9/14/19

News, Podcasts

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories and the funeral announcements from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police-involved shooting at homeless camp in Des Moines

News

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Des Moines Police shot a man at a homeless camp near the Raccoon River, Friday — not far from the governor’s mansion. A spokesman for Des Moines Police says officers were responding to a complaint about the homeless camp when a man in the camp ran and jumped in the river. When the man came back out of the water, police say he had armed himself with some sort of a weapon. A police spokesman says the man failed to respond to multiple orders to drop the weapon and an officer shot the man once. According to police, the man was alert and talking as he was taken from the scene and to a hospital for treatment.

Pottawattamie County Anticipating Third Round of Missouri River Flooding

News

September 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Officials are preparing for the third round of Missouri River flooding in Western Pottawattamie County. Current river forecasts call for a nearly four and a half foot rise in the river over the next week. At these levels, many of the areas that have recently seen some relief could once again find themselves inundated with floodwaters. There is also a very real potential that the Interstates 680 and 29 could once again be impacted by encroaching waters.

Increased risk flood area (Pott. Co. EMA image) – click to enlarge

In a statement late Friday evening, Doug Reed, emergency management director for Pottawattamie County, said “The time to prepare is now.” Residents in areas that still have ponding water, recently receded water, damaged levees, or damaged drainage ditches should take proactive measures to protect their property and themselves. Reed said, “With the heavy rains experienced north of us, there’s no doubt we will see a significant rise on the river.”

Reed also commented that the Corps of Engineers announced reductions for Gavin’s Point over this weekend in attempt to help reduce the overall crest to try and keep the interstate system open.

Officials urge residents and travelers to remain aware of conditions over the next week, especially the northwest portion of the county. If your house flooded previously then you should assume that it may do so once again. There are many variables that make predicting the flood extent of this event very difficult when you consider that some temporary repairs have been made to levees and drainage ditches, some have not, fluctuating flows from the dam system, and any future rainfalls in the basin.

Residents should pay close attention to local media outlets, the National Weather Service, the Emergency Management 2019 Flood website and emergency management social media platforms to stay aware of updated conditions. Reed said “We urge residents to use the information we provide to make the best decision for their safety and protection of their property.”

Those living in the northwest portion of the county should remain on high alert over the next week and be prepared to leave their homes should it become necessary. If the river forecast is accurate we can expect to lose access to some of our roads which means residents may not be able to leave the area when needed and emergency services will have difficulty and delays getting to them.