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Mapleton overwhelmed with donations

News

May 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) — The tornado-ravaged northwest Iowa town of Mapleton is facing a new problem: Too many donations.

KTIV in Sioux City reports that the town has been inundated with canned food, clothing, bottled water and other donations since an April 9 tornado destroyed more than 140 homes and businesses there. No one was killed.

Now, the town is running out of room to store the items, which had been piling up at the Mapleton Community Center. The items have been moved to the Maple Valley Bus Barn.

A lack of room wasn’t the only reason behind the move. The community center is needed for upcoming graduation parties.

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto High School Principal Dan Dougherty says the outpouring of donations and well-wishes from neighboring communities has been overwhelming and amazing.

Services set for western IA solder KIA in Afghanistan

News

May 1st, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Funeral services have been set for a western Iowa solider who was killed in Afghanistan April 23rd. Ohde Funeral Home in Manilla reports services for 32-year old Staff Sgt. James Justice,  of Grimes, and formerly of Manilla, will be held on Wed., May 4th, at the IKM-Manning High School Gymnasium, in Manning.
Visitation in the IKM-Manning Middle School gym in Manilla, will be held from 4-to 8-p.m. Tue., May 3rd. Visitation will resume at 1-p.m. Wed., prior to the funeral service, in the high school gymnasium.

Burial, with full military honors, will be at the Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the James Justice Benefit Account at Veridian Credit Union, 5910 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA, 50266.

Justice, was killed by enemy small arms fire in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan while helping to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. Specialist Zachary Durham, age 21, of Des Moines, was injured in the attack. Both Soldiers were assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry, Camp Dodge, Johnston.

Durham was being treated for his injuries at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D-C.

Lane restrictions on Iowa 191 in Council Bluffs begin May 6th

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa DOT’s Council Bluffs construction office says road construction work will cause traffic to be restricted to one lane in alternating directions on Iowa 191 from just south of eastbound Interstate 680 to just north of westbound I-680 beginning Friday, May 6th.
Traffic in the work zone will be controlled by temporary traffic signals. A 16-foot width lane restriction will also be in place. The project is expected to be completed by early July, weather permitting.

Hitchcock House Pioneer Festival

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Have you ever wondered how the pioneers made their own rope or dipped their own candles?  Maybe you have even thought about trying your hand at spinning wool.  If so, you should come to the Hitchcock Pioneer Skills Festival.

The Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7th at the Hitchcock House, which is located 6 miles south of Atlantic and 1.5 miles west of Lewis, IA.  The festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.  You will have an opportunity to visit the historic Hitchcock House and see many of the skills and crafts that people of the late 1800’s used in daily living.

You could begin your visit with a tour of the Hitchcock House that is also a National Historic Landmark.  At the barn, there will be rope making, candle dipping, tin punching, and butter making.

Don’t miss out on this exciting day!  The festival will be held rain or shine.  Families are encouraged to come and share the day together as they might have in the 1800’s.  There is a $5 fee for a tour of the Hitchcock House, last tour at 4:15 pm.  All activities in the barn are free of charge; donations to the Hitchcock House will be accepted.

For more information contact Lora Schwendinger, Naturalist, Cass County Conservation Board, at 712-769-2372

(CCCB Press Release)

Red Oak burglary under investigation

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak police are investigating a burglary reported Thursday. A resident at Villa Village located on North 8th street reported property stolen from his residence.

According to the police report, various items, including a flatscreen television were taken from the apartment. The total loss reported by the victim totals close to $2,000. Red Oak police are asking for the public’s help as they gather information on this crime. If you have any information police might find helpful, give them a call at 623-6500.

Cong. Steve King stops by the KJAN studios

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Western Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King made a tour of the area Thursday, stopping at various media outlets to spread the word that despite redistricting in 2012 which will eliminate the 5th District, which King represents, he will continue to look out for the interests of western Iowans. Under redistricting, King is placed in Iowa’s new 4th district along with fellow Republican Congressman Tom Latham. King spoke about Christie Vilsack, who is expected to announce her Democratic bid for the new Fourth Congressional District. He says Mrs. Vilsack called him recently to make her intentions known.
He says she placed a “courtesy call” to him recently. King says it’s too early to tell whether there will be a Primary race for either the Democrats or Republicans, and that’s a hurdle that has to be crossed before the general election is brought into consideration. King says people know his voting record, and people know where he stands. He intends to make his views known up to and until, the November 2012 election.

On another topic, King says the recent disclosure by President Obama’s of his birth certificate, in an effort to silence those who claim he is not an American Citizen, is nothing new. He says records clearly prove Obama is a natural-born citizen, but one question remains.

 He wants to know why the American people had to wait two and a-half years to see his birth certificate, and why he had to spend so much money to protect the information. He says it calls into question his ability to make important decisions.

Steve King spoke also about a budget plan proposed by Wisconsin Republican Representative Paul Ryan, which would reduce the deficit by $4.4-trillion over ten years, by repealing the Democrat’s health care bill and reform entitlements like Medicare and Medicaid. He says the budget is unlikely to meet approval of the Senate, and may face further cuts in the House.

 He says House Republicans have promised each other when they began the appropriations process, there would be 12 or 13 bills, and the Ryan budget as a guideline to keep spending at $4.4-trillion or below. King says he wanted to see a stronger budget, but he voted for Ryan’s version because it offers some degree of control.

Kings says “some leftist organizations” have decided to fund “robo-calls” to people in his district, in an attempt to scare Senior Citizens about proposed Medicare and Medicaid reforms in Ryan’s budget. He says there’s a guarantee persons 55 and older will not be touched. There is a proposal to provide those below age 55 with the resources to buy their own resources, but no policy is set in concrete right now.

Kings says there has to be serious discussion about how to solve the entitlement issues because of the anticipated increase Medicare recipients over the next few years. He says the program cannot sustain that increase under the current system.

Cass Co. Board of Supervisor’s news

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday) approved the second reading of a Rural Addressing Ordinance. The ordinance would provide for an orderly street and address system in the unincorporated areas of the County. The first reading was held at their meeting last week, The third and final reading is scheduled to take place during the board’s meeting on May 4th.

The board also approved an expenditure appropriations change for the flow through of funds associated with public health grants. Auditor Dale Sunderman said as of this month the county had a flow through of grants amounting to $70,000. The extra grant monies came as a result of the Home Care Services division at the Cass County Memorial Hospital’s being moved to Iowa Health Home Care.

The appropriations change was necessary in order to meet the statutory requirements prior to paying claims. It states “Whereas grant funding which was flowing through the Cass County Memorial Hospital, is now flowing through Cass County,“ as a result of the Home Care Services change. The disbursement of those funds necessitates an increase in the expenditure appropriations for the local health department.

For Fiscal Year 2011 then, the General Basic Fund non-departmental budget would be reduced by $100,000, and local health budget would be increased by $100,000, which means a zero change in the budget.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors agreed to hold a special meeting 9-a.m. May 16th, to review bids for the northwest water-and-sewer project. The Atlantic Municipal Utilities board is expected to act later that same evening, on accepting or rejecting the bids which were received. The County will fund the urban renewal/tax incremental finance (TIF) project.

Lane restrictions on I-680 begin May 6

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Bridge maintenance work requires restricting Interstate 680 traffic to one lane in each direction between exit 21 (Pottawattamie County Road L-34) and exit 27 (I-80) beginning Friday, May 6, until Monday, June 6, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs construction office.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

(DOT Press Release)

Villisca man arrested on weapon and drug charges, Thursday.

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An Adams County man was arrested last night in Montgomery County, following a traffic stop. Sheriff’s officials say 23-year old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Villisca, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over at around 8:45-p.m. near Grant.

Fitzwater did not have any identification on him. Officials say while he id’d himself as Steven L. Fitzwater, the officer who made the traffic stop had prior knowledge Fitzwater allegedly had a history of providing false identification when encountering authorities. After comparisons were made of tattoos on the passenger to known person wanted by authorities, Fitzwater admitted and further provided information which proved he was in fact, Jessie Bruce Fitzwater.

He was taken into custody on a warrant from Adams County on charges of Possession of a Firearm as a Felon, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, and two Serious Misdemeanors. Fitzwater was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later transferred to the Adams County Jail, where he was being held on $7,000 cash bond.

Cumberland woman arrested on drug charges in Harlan

News

April 29th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Police in Harlan reported Thursday a Cumberland woman was arrested Monday, for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.18-year old Shannen Tedford was taken into custody following a traffic stop. When officer offered to give four persons in the vehicle a ride home, those persons were patted-down to be checked for weapons.

During the search, the illegal substance and paraphernalia were allegedly found on Tedford, who was subsequently brought to the Shelby County Jail and booked for possession. Tedford posted a $1,000 cash bond and made her initial appearance in court, Thursday, where she plead not guilty to the charges. Her trial date has yet to be set.