w/ Ric Hanson

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports they’ve taken a pledge to keep tobacco out of the hands of Montgomery County youth.  Iowa Pledge (“I-Pledge” for short) is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division (ABD) to educate local retailers, and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco laws. Officials say the program has helped increase statewide tobacco compliance to a rate of 93-percent since it began in the year 2000. By partnering with the ABD, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it will do its part to continue the upward trend.

Clerks who successfully complete an online training program and pass an exam, will be I-pledge certified, and the retail establishment will receive an affirmative defense against a civil penalty, of the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. To take the training, or search I-Pledge certification records, go to http://ipocp.iowaabd.com:8080/portal.

Officials say the I-Pledge retailer program is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco sales. As part of the I-Pledge program, deputies will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments. Criminal penalties resulting from the sale of tobacco to a minor during the unannounced checks using underage customers, include fines from $100 for the first offense, to as much as $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Sheriff Joe Sampson says handing out citations is not the intent of the I-Pledge program. He says the hope is to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in communities within Montgomery County. More importantly, according to Sampson, is the “Pledge to help keep tobacco out of the hands of Iowa youth.”

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested Thursday afternoon. 23-year old Charles Albert Mace, Jr, was arrested at around 12:40-p.m. on charges of providing false information to a peace officer, and driving while suspended. Mace was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and later released on $300 cash bond.

Audubon Police report three people were arrested over the past week. On Sept. 2nd, officers arrested 38-year old James Raymond Nottingham Jr., of Wadsworth, Illinois, for violation of a no contact order. Nottingham was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held to be seen by a magistrate.

On September 4th, 33-year old Shanda Jolene Tews, of Audubon, was arrested for violation of a no contact order. Tews turned herself in at the Audubon County Jail and was released.

And on Sept. 5th, officers with the Audubon Police Dept. arrested 22 year old Christopher Allan Campeau, of Audubon, for Public Intoxication. Campeau was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held to be seen by a magistrate.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say three teenagers accused of bringing airsoft pistols to a Dubuque middle school face disciplinary action. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that a 14-year old and two 13-year-olds have been suspended and charged as juveniles in violation of a city ordinance that prohibits carrying concealed weapons without a permit. The ordinance includes air guns. Washington Middle School was briefly placed on precautionary lockdown Thursday morning after an airsoft pistol was found in a student’s backpack. Two more were later found.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a fire the killed a southeast Iowa man in his mobile home was accidental. Burlington Fire Marshal Mark Crooks told The Hawk Eye newspaper Wednesday that the fire that killed 75-year-old Jerry Hensen started in his kitchen. Crooks says Hensen apparently tried to extinguish the fire early Tuesday, but he was overcome by smoke.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man has been accused of selling heroin to a man who later died from an overdose. The Quad-City Times reports 50-year-old Cornel Miller was arrested yesterday in connection with the Wednesday death of 53-year-old Daniel Charles Hansen, also of Davenport.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has a stable of talented running backs and an impressive line. The Hawkeyes also have issues in the receiving corps and a sophomore quarterback, Jake Rudock, who will be making his road debut tomorrow at Iowa State. Saturday’s matchup in Ames kicks off at 5 p.m.

The Atlantic Police Department says it’s receiving a number of calls reporting even more scams. The latest one involves a caller claiming to work with Microsoft, and says that they are a technician. They claim they can fix your computer problem over the phone. They will ask for your debit card/bank account information. Authorities are asking you not to give out any personal information.

The scam usually involves people in foreign call centers…usually from India.. saying that they are representatives from Microsoft technical support. The tell the victim that their computer is running slowly because of viruses or because they need an additional piece of software, which the victim has to pay for. The typical charge is around $300. The scam has been around since 2008.

If you have any questions feel free to contact the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512. Or, go to the official Microsoft link on how to deal with such scams, at http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx

The Iowa Finance Authority’s (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved a combined total of nearly $2-million in federal grants to assist 25 agencies across the state with homelessness prevention and assistance initiatives during the 2014 calendar year. The funding is made available through the federal; Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, which is administered by the U-S Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and by the IFA. The purpose of the grant, is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

In southwest Iowa:

The Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center in Adel…which serves 19 counties, among them Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Shelby… received a grant amounting to $69, 104, for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing.

The Catholic Council for Social Concern in Des Moines…which serves Pottawattamie, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties…received $71,984 for Shelter and Outreach programs.

Heartland Family Services/Council Bluffs, which serves Pott. County, received $47, 989 for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing.

MICAH House/Council Bluffs, received $47,989 for shelter and outreach programs benefiting the 11 area counties it serves.

And, the YWCA in Fort Dodge receives $91, 564 for shelter/outreach, Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing. It serves 24 counties, including four in the KJAN listening area.

Those and other agencies can use the grant funds for many purposes, including Street outreach, Emergency Shelters and essential services, short-term rental or utility assistance, case management and other, similar services.

U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today (Thursday) announced funding for projects in seven states, to improve electric service for about 7,000 rural customers. Rural Utilities Service Administrator John Padalino made the announcement on the Secretary’s behalf during a regional meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The loan guarantees are made available through the Rural Utilities Service of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. They include more than $5 million for smart grid projects and nearly $3 million to improve electric service for Native Americans.

In Iowa, the Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc., based in Greenfield, will receive $10 million. The funds will be used to serve 305 customers, build 273 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan includes $60,000 for smart grid projects. And, the Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative based in Stanton, is receiving $6 million. The funds will be used to serve 336 customers, build 133 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan includes $145,711 for smart grid projects.

Officials say altogether, the more than $136 million in USDA loan guarantees will help build more than 2,200 miles of line, fund more than $5 million in smart grid projects and make other system improvements.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Monday of an Atlantic man. 43-year old Donald Lee Klindt, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Klindt was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $10,000 bond.

And, on Wednesday, deputies in Cass County arrested 39-year old Tara Marie Brosam, of Atlantic. Brosam faces a charge of OWI 1st Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance.

(12:40-p.m News)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Heat and little rain continue to intensify the drought in several states including primary crop growing areas. The national drought monitor report released Thursday says in Iowa, the nation’s largest corn producer, severe drought spread to nearly 42 percent of the state up from 32 percent a week ago.   The drought monitor tracks conditions from Sept. 3 through Tuesday morning.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about a third of corn and soybeans are in good or excellent condition in Iowa down from more than half rated in those categories a month ago. In Nebraska, where drought increased in some areas, non-irrigated corn is in similar shape.

Drought worsened in portions of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.