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

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

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One person was killed when a motorcycle and John Deere tractor collided near Dyersville in northeast Iowa late Thursday morning. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened a mile south of Dyersville on Highway 136. The motorcycle, operated by 60-year old David Allen Jones, of Palatka, Florida, hit a tractor pulling a manure wagon as the tractor was turning into a farm lane.The tractor operator was identified as 82-year old Francis John Naber, of Dyersville.

Palatka died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa)

If you’re heading outside today, tonight, or tomorrow morning, you’ll need your umbrella. The National Weather Service in Des Moines says Light showers continued overnight across much of Iowa, and will continue into the day today. A few strong to possibly severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon across southwestern to southern Iowa. Rainfall amounts tonight should be a widespread 1 to 1.5 inches. Another 0.1 to 0.25 inches of rain may fall from the 7 am to noon Saturday time period. In all 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected from Atlantic to Denison to Fort Dodge to Mason City.

(RADIO IOWA/Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Public Health was happy to find the state in the minority following a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the number of deaths from strokes nationwide. D-P-H Health Systems Coordinator Terry Meek says the numbers in most states increased or held steady in the report — but not here. “Iowa is one of 13 states where we have actually continue decreasing the number of deaths due to stroke,” Meek explains. “Our rate has decreased 33 percent between 2005 and 2015.” Meek says the biggest factor in the Iowa’s ability to lower stroke deaths is linked to money it received from the C-D-C. “That funding was called the Coverdale Stroke Program. And what it did was give us some money where we were able to call together a lot of partners and really work on some targeted activities to decrease stroke deaths,” according to Meek.

That targeted program included education that highlighted the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and encouraged people to immediately call 9-1-1 at the first signs of stroke. “The reason for doing that is important because there is medication that usually can be given if people get there (the hospital) soon enough that will preclude some of the major problems with stroke,” she says.  They also strengthened the stroke identification and care at the Comprehensive Stroke and Primary Stroke Centers in Iowa, along with changing the E-M-S protocols to include immediate transfer of stroke patients to the closest and highest level of stroke center. “So more people were getting to those comprehensive and primary stroke centers in Iowa quicker,” Meek says.

The quicker treatment and transports led to fewer deaths. Meek says the state also developed the Iowa Stroke Registry with the University of Iowa to help track what is going on. She says you can help continue to improve its stroke death rate in Iowa by taking steps to prevent strokes. “Eating a healthy diet, watching their blood pressure, making sure that they have regular checkups with their physician, where the physician can check for cholesterol, high blood pressure and other things that may be a problem — including diabetes,” Meek says.

Meek says you can recognize the signs of stroke by remembering “F.A.S.T.” The Face — Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?; Arms –Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downwards?; Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?; and Time — If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more information on heart disease and stroke visit the Iowa Department of Public Health’s website http://www.idph.iowa.gov/cfy/heart-disease

Police in Red Oak arrested two people on separate charges, Thursday night. 46-year old Sonya Gail Smith, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Child Endangerment without injury, after she was pulled over at around 10:15-p.m. for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated. And, since there was a child in the vehicle, Smith was charged with Child Endangerment. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

At around 10-p.m., Thursday, Red Oak Police arrested 40-year old Dean William Beck, of Garnavillo. Beck faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $1,000. Beck and Smith were both arrested in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:00 a.m. CDT

Atlantic, Iowa (KJAN) – A 13-year old female from Anita who disappeared with a 17-year old male wanted in Georgia, was found safe Thursday night, in Colorado. The father of Gracie (Grace) Hensley said in a social media post late Thursday night, that he would be driving to Denver to bring Gracie home. She was last seen Wednesday morning, heading off to school.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Colorado engineer who split a lottery jackpot in 2005 has filed a lawsuit alleging that his prize should be bigger because the other two winners were part of a nationwide conspiracy to rig drawings. Amir Massihzadeh has filed a lawsuit against the Colorado State Lottery, alleging he should be declared the sole winner and that his $800,000 cash prize should have been tripled. Massihzadeh’s lawsuit seeks about $4 million from the lottery for what it calls a breach of contract.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An organization dedicated to open government will honor an Associated Press reporter and a former newspaper executive. The Iowa Freedom of Information Council on Thursday night will present its annual Friend of the First Amendment award to AP reporter Ryan J. Foley and Michael Gartner, who has held numerous leadership roles at newspapers and broadcasters and now is principal owner of the Iowa Cubs baseball team.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – The owner of a boarding school for teenagers has been released from an Iowa jail while he awaits trial on sex and child abuse charges. Former Midwest Academy director Benjamin Trane left the Lee County jail Thursday after a judge reduced his $500,000-bond to $50,000. Trane had been jailed since surrendering last month to face charges of third-degree sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a counselor and child endangerment.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) – A motorcyclist has died after a crash with a tractor in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says the motorcyclist was traveling south Thursday morning on Highway 136 about a mile south of Dyersville when the crash happened. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the tractor, which was also southbound, was pulling a wagon when it attempted to turn left into a farm lane. Investigators say the motorcycle then collided with the tractor.

(Corrects timeline of announcement from Wed. to Thursday)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office alerted the media at around 8:40-p.m. Thursday, that a 13-year old female missing from Anita was located safe, in Colorado. The father of Gracie (Grace) Hensley said in a social media post at around 11-p.m. Thursday, that the family is grateful to the social media community, friends, law enforcement, the CAM School District, and others who helped to search for and spread the word about the missing teen.

Grace Hensley

Gracie was believed to be with 17-year old Zach Calhoun from Georgia when she disappeared. Calhoun was wanted by authorities in Georgia. The pair was traveling in a white Ford pickup belonging to Hensley’s grandmother. Calhoun’s parent’s vehicle was found abandoned in near Anita. On Thursday, Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren said the case was not considered to be an abduction. The incident remains under investigation.

Grace’ father Wesley Hensley said late Thursday night, he was on his way to Denver, CO., to bring his daughter home. He said neither he nor Grace’s mother Claressa had any idea their daughter would run away from home with a boy she met online. He said “Wednesday morning she skipped school and went with a boy she met online from Georgia. I have never heard of this boy at all( and we do check her accounts from time to time).”

He warned parents to “Please please keep an eye on what you kids are doing online,”and said the family will work with Grace to put their lives back on track.

DES MOINES, IOWA – An official with Iowa Workforce Development say the agency has launched the Rapid Response program to serve the 215 individuals who will be losing their jobs with the closing of the Ferrara Candy Company in mid-December. The Rapid Response team will provide dedicated services to ensure affected employees receive all of the available benefits and have access to important resources for securing future employment.

Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development say “Our number one priority is making sure the workers affected by this transition have the access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about the way forward.” Townsend says “Our team of dedicated professionals will work to develop a customized service plan specific to the needs of the individuals impacted by this unfortunate event.”

Wayne J. Pantini, Executive Director of the Union County Development Association, said “We are working with local and state service providers to engage with management at Ferrara Candy Company. Our goal will be to assist the employees in finding new employment or pursue additional skill training to meet the needs of the current job market.” Pantini said also, “We are optimistic that the majority of those affected can find suitable employment by other regional employers and will remain in the community.”

Following notification and confirmation of a layoff, the IWD Rapid Response Team arranges an on-site meeting with the company, union officials (if applicable) and service providers in the area. Employee information meetings are conducted to provide information about services available at IowaWORKS offices which include:

• assistance finding new employment
• resume workshops
• career counseling
• training in a new career
• assistance filing unemployment insurance (UI) benefits

Other state agencies or community-based organizations are invited to participate in the meetings. These services are fully funded by the Department of Labor through the State of Iowa under the Dislocated Worker Program.

The IowaWORKS office in Creston is collecting a list of businesses who would like to be in contact with the Ferrara Candy Company employees. Once the plan of services is developed, these businesses will be notified with dates, times and opportunities to meet with the impacted employees. If you are interested in being placed on this list, please contact Pam Varner at pamela.varner@iwd.iowa.gov or 641-782-2119 ext. 24.

Classes were disrupted at several Iowa schools this week by threats of violence. At least one person has now been arrested – but only for a threat that led to the closing of Algona schools on Wednesday.

A 16-year-old Algona youth has been charged with “Threat of Terrorism,” a class D Felony. The teen is believed to have made a threat of violence in a social media post on Tuesday evening. Algona schools were closed on Wednesday because school officials and police believed that the threat was directed towards the school district. No other suspects are being sought in the case.

Three other schools in north-central Iowa were put on “lockdown” for a while on Wednesday — Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Eagle Grove and Belmond-Klemme.

(Radio Iowa)