Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds will honor five Iowa firefighters with the 2014 Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor. The award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 2:00PM in the Governor’s Office.

This year, the Governor and Lt. Governor will honor the following professionals with the Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor:

Captain Russ Bell, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Doug Heller, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Josh Lieb, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Casey Carpenter, Milford Fire Department
Chief Bill Hook, Cambridge & Union Township Fire and Rescue Department

Every day, men and women in uniform quietly serve, sacrificing their safety to keep our Iowa communities safe and secure. The Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor is given to peace officers and firefighters who, while serving in an official capacity, distinguished themselves by the performance of a heroic act in excess of normal demands of police or fire service, where the person was fully aware of the threat to his or her personal safety.

The Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences has reinstated the license of a salon owner in Carroll, after the owner agreed to a settlement with the state over unsanitary practices resulting from an inspection in March, 2014. Duy Quang Dau, owner of “Pretty Nails,” in Carroll agreed to pay a fine of $500, and as a result, Dau’s nail technologist licenses will be returned and all restrictions removed.

Investigators had determined on March 11th, 2014, Dau engaged in unsanitary practices in violation of Iowa Code, by: failing to provide biohazard disposal; failing to post a copy of the most recent sanitation rules; having a product containing liquid methyl methacrylate on the premises; failing to properly disinfect and record a cleaning of the spa’s tubs; permitting licensed individuals to practice outside the scope of their license, and having a chamois buffer on the premises.

A woman from Lewis has a role in an upcoming ISU Theatre production of the 100th anniversary season, “Crimes of the Heart”, on Friday, October 31st.

Samantha Koontz

Samantha Koontz, an ISU junior majoring in Performing Arts, will perform the role of  “Lenny MaGrath,” in the deeply moving Pulitzer Prizing winner “Crimes of the Heart.” Rachel Hupp, a junior in performing arts from Panora, is the production’s stage manager.

In the show, the loveable but dysfunctional MaGrath sisters reunite in their Mississippi hometown. All three are confronted by past emotional struggles and very immediate family and legal troubles. As they wrestle with their crimes of the heart, the women turn to one another for the support to forgive for what has happened in the past, face the present, and embrace the future. Hilarious and heartfelt, this contemporary American classic is a play with universal appeal.

Filled with love, passion, wisdom, and humor, “Crimes of the Heart” is a story that will truly inspire the heart and soul. Iowa State University Theatre’s production of “Crimes of the Heart” opens on Friday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theatre in the Iowa State Center. Other performance dates are November 1, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and November 2 and 9 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $11 for students. Tickets can be purchased through any TicketMaster, the Iowa State Center Ticket Office in Ames, or at the door before performances.

OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 15, 2014) — The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to make a point to give blood before the busy holiday season arrives. Blood donations often decline between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day as people become busy with holiday festivities. Donors are needed in the weeks leading up to the winter holidays to help prevent these seasonal declines. Donors of all blood types, and especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative, are needed now to help maintain a stable blood supply.

Blood donation appointments can be made through the Red Cross Blood Donor App – a faster, more convenient way to schedule and manage donation appointments, especially for donors on the go. The app also allows users to track donation histories, earn rewards and invite others to join them on a lifesaving team. The app is free and available for download in app stores.

Donors may also visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to learn more about the donation process and to make an appointment.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Audubon County

Exira
Nov. 3: noon to 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N. Jefferson
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Cass County

Griswold
Nov. 4: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison
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Fremont County

Farragut
Nov. 12: noon to 6 p.m., Nishnabotna High School, 907 Hartford Ave.

Tabor
Nov. 3: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fremont Mills High School, 27 Jackson Blvd.

Mills County

Glenwood
Nov. 3: noon to 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 2nd St.

Malvern
Nov. 14: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., East Mills High School, 1501 E. 15th St.

Page County

Clarinda
Nov. 10: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Iowa Western Community College, 923 E. Washington

Shenandoah
Nov. 6: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Shenandoah High School, 1000 Mustang Drive

Pottawattamie County

Council Bluffs
Nov. 3: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 N. 16 St.
Nov. 4: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 N. 16 St.
Nov. 5: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Abraham Lincoln High School, 1205 Bonham
Nov. 10: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 N. 16 St.
Nov. 11: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 N. 16 St.
Nov. 15: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Village Inn – Council Bluffs, 2935 West Broadway

Oakland
Nov. 4: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oakland Riverside High School, 501 Oakland Ave.

Shelby County

Elk Horn
Nov. 12: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Exira EHK Schools, 4114 Madison

Harlan
Nov. 5: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

Westphalia
Nov. 13: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Authorities in Union County say a Creston man arrested earlier this week at the Union County Jail on a charge of Attempted Burglary in the 2nd degree, was arrested again on Wednesday. 26-year old Danny Alan Fry was arrested on a warrant for the same charge, but with an enhanced felony  “Habitual Felon” designation. Fry was being held in the Union County Jail on a$15,000 cash-only bond.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Red Oak report an Essex man was arrested this (Thursday) morning, on an assault charge. 20-year-old Nathaniel William Hale was arrested at around 2:15 a.m., for charge of Domestic Abuse Assault.

Information concerning his bond is not currently available.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green is warning area residents about an internet scam involving Nigeria. Green said an Atlantic resident reported a scam that started through Facebook, with a Sgt. Harris Joe Danford, who is supposedly on a mission in Nigeria, wanting money for various items.

The resident said when Harris made contact with the resident through Facebook, he indicated further communications would be through a personal messenger. At one point, the resident was asked to send cash to Nigeria via a money order.

Chief Green warns citizens of Atlantic “Do not send [funds] by money order to a person that you don’t know.”

Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution approving the disposal of two City-owned properties acquired through the condemnation process. Interim City Administrator John Lund said a structure at 1200 Birch was used for firefighter training and the lot is currently vacant.

The other property at 1106 Poplar Street has a house located on it. Who ever purchases the property must agree to tear down the house and dispose of the debris in a timely manner. Mayor Dave Jones instructed Lund to establish a bond for the property because past agreements haven’t been fulfilled when it comes to removing dilapidated structures on properties sold by the City. Jones said the City had “Been burnt…[by people who get the property who promise to tear a structure down]…and two-years later it’s still standing there.” Lund said City Attorney Dave Wiederstein has given him a draft Demolition Agreement to look over and approve for future prospective buyers.

There will be a $1,000 demolition expense deposit that will be required that must be submitted with a sealed bid. Councilman Chris Jimerson said City will accept sealed bids on the properties later this month. Jimerson said the bidding process will open beginning 12-p.m. Oct. 17th and ending at 5:30-p.m. Nov. 5th.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved a six-month salary and benefits contract with Interim City Administrator John Lund that Councilperson Kathy Somers said was recommended by the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee.  She said it was agreed that after six-months there would be a performance evaluation, followed by another six-month contract, and then a more formal arrangement may be possible.

The Council also agreed to provide Lund with a vehicle allowance for mileage of $100 per month, since Lund uses his personal vehicle for City-related business. That figure may be renegotiated in six-months with verification of expenses and mileage. And, Mayor Dave Jones said he would refer the City’s “Mowing Ordinance” model to the Public Safety Committee. If approved, Atlantic’s ordinance would be similar to that of Creston, which the proposed model ordinance is based on.

Jones said the City Attorney has looked it over, and when approved, will require lawns to be mowed within the City of Atlantic from March 1st through Oct. 31st. Any grass during those months that grows over 12-inches tall and remains that high on the 1st and 15th of each month, will be mowed by the City and the property owner fined upwards of $150, and if the fine is not paid, the cost will be assessed to the owner’s tax bill.”