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7AM Newscast 01-09-2012

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January 9th, 2012 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

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Accident and arrest reported in Atlantic over the weekend

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday evening on Highway 6 (7th Street), at the entrance to the Wal-Mart store. Officials say vehicles driven by Virginia Eilts, of Wiota, and Beverly Lehman, of Adair, were traveling east on Highway 6 at around 6:45-p.m., when Eilts stopped for the traffic light which had just turned yellow. When Lehman failed to stop in-time, her vehicle rear-ended the Eilts vehicle, causing a total of $2,800 damage. No citations were issued.

The Police Department reports also, 21-year old Justin Jacobs, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Jacobs was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Republicans hold fundraiser before legislature begins

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Republicans held a final fundraiser early this morning for legislative campaigns before the 2012 session began, as fundraising is forbidden while lawmakers are meeting in Des Moines. Senator Brad Zaun, the Republican “whip” in the Iowa Senate, made a final pitch for money. “There’s a lot of you in this room that have the financial resources. We need the help,” …The Iowa Senate is the battleground, one of the top battlegrounds in the United States this year and that’s good news, but we can’t do it without your help.” Democrats currently control the Iowa Senate by a slim 26-to-24 seat majority. About 180 people attended the early morning fundraiser and about a quarter were Republican legislators. The rest were lobbyists. Iowa Republican Party chairman Matt Strawn told the crowd there were “two ways” to make sure Democrat Mike Gronstal isn’t the top leader in the Iowa Senate next year.

“The best news is there’s two ways to make sure we don’t have a Majority Leader Gronstal in the Senate. One is to make sure we have 26 smiling Republican senators — or more — when we have this breakfast next year, or we can just beat him in his own district,” Strawn said, to laughter and applause. “Either way, we’re going to take care of it.” Gronstal, who is from Council Bluffs, faces a Republican opponent in November. Governor Branstad pledged his support for the effort to win Republican senate races.

Republicans current hold a 60-to-40 seat edge over Democrats in the House. Senate Republican Leader Jerry Behn says Gronstal, the Democratic leader, is a roadblock to Republican proposals from the House.“There were a lot of things in the senate that got stopped and so we jokingly turned his name into a verb,” Behn said. “We referred to bills being ‘Gronstalled.’” Republicans and Democrats in the legislature have held more than a dozen fundraisers since January 3rd — Caucus Night. Democrats held a big fundraiser for legislative campaigns Sunday evening in Des Moines.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

Iowans urged to check their homes for killer radon gas

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Most folks know smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but the number-two cause is radon. While the E-P-A estimates one in every 15 homes nationwide has elevated radon levels, many parts of Iowa are at much greater risk. Micki Sandquist is spokeswoman for the American Lung Association in Iowa. “Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that is produced from decay naturally occuring in the soil and it enters homes through their basements,” Sandquist says. “We are encouraging people to test their homes to see if they have radon in their home and if so, to take care of it.” Testing kits are easy to use and usually cost less than 20-dollars. Sandquist says most of the state’s American Lung Association chapters will have them in stock.

Sandquist says, “You keep the kit in the basement or the lowest level of the home and you send the test away and the results come back and let you know the level of radon that is in your home or if there’s no radon in your home.” Homes with high radon levels can usually be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques.  “It is estimated there are 400 deaths per year in Iowa that are caused by radon-induced lung cancer,” Sandquist says. “It’s about the same number of annual deaths that are seen in Iowa for traffic fatalities.” Governor Branstad is proclaiming this as Radon Action Month for the state as radon levels are highest during the winter months. Learn more by calling 800-383-5992 or visit: www.healthhouse.org

(Pat Powers/Matt Kelley, Radio Iowa)

3 arrests & 1 accident reported in Fremont County last week

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department reports today (Monday) three arrests and one accident took place last week. On Tuesday (Jan. 3rd), 26-year old Jennifer Nicole Lekey, of Shenandoah, was arrested on a Child Support Warrant. Last Wednesday, 35-year old Michelle Dawn Moore, of Hamburg, was arrested for Serious Assault, and on Thursday, 26-year old Kain Tylor Endicott, of Tabor, was arrested for Simple Domestic Assault and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief. The Sheriff’s Office said also, Mallory Jones, of Farragut, was transported to a local hospital after the car she was driving was blown off the road by a strong gust of wind southwest of Imogene. The 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling north on 370th Street just north of 130th Street, when a gust caused the car to enter a ditch. The vehicle rolled once and came to rest on its wheels.

Atlantic woman arrested on drug charges

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on drug charges. 33-year old Bridget Lea Barnholdt, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Barnholdt was being held in the Cass County Jail on $51,000 bond.

MONDAY, JANUARY 9th

Trading Post

January 9th, 2012 by Jim Field

FOR SALE: Male blue peacock female blue peahen and a white peahen $150 for all three or best offer 712 243 4960.

FOR SALE: 1997 Dodge Dakota, 5-speed, Black, runs good. $1000 Call 712-783-4523.

FREE: three 30 x 57 combination storm windows and three 32 x 57 storm windows, self storing.  Call 243-2316.

FOR SALE: Office Chair (Gray fabric) good shape, all functions works Perfect.  $50.00 OBO.  Three cordless Phones for sale; one has (Digital answer) 5.8 GHZ. All are in the box they came in and have the manuals for them.  $20.00 for all three phones.  Golds Gym 250 exercise Bike (Brand New) paid $289.00 want $200.00.  Call 712-243-3122 or 712-249-0077.

FOR SALE:  Whirlpool 30 inch glass top electric range white stove with five burners from the gold series and in excellent condition.  $225.  563-3526.

FOR SALE:  Brand new never been used 13 piece cast iron cookware set and a 19 inch cast iron griddle/grill.  $125 for both.  563-2992

WANTED:  Size 3X leather jacket.  243-3396.

Proposed changes would limit dog-friendly cabins at Iowa State Parks

Ag/Outdoor

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Dogs would no longer be allowed in some rental cabins at Iowa state parks under a list of proposed changes compiled by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Currently, there are no restrictions on pets in state park cabins. Sherry Arntzen, with the DNR, says they’ve seen an increase in complaints from renters about dogs and damage to cabins. One of the proposals would establish a nonrefundable “dog fee” for cabin or yurt renters who bring dogs.

“That would be charged for anybody who is renting one of the designated pet cabins,” Arntzen said. “This would help offset the cost of extra cleaning time and materials we would need after a renter with pets vacated the cabin.” The proposed fee would be $25 for a two-night stay or $50 for three or more nights. Other possible changes would set a limit of two dogs per cabin and require that dogs be put in a crate or kennel when left unattended inside the cabin or yurt. Arntzen said DNR staff would like to hear feedback from both dog owners and those renters who’ve raised concerns.

She notes some people have allergies or don’t like the barking by dogs left unattended. “So what we’re trying to do is talk with the public and see what people’s feelings are. We’d like to be able to strike a balance between the two user groups that are either for it or against it,” Arntzen said. Many states do not allow any pets in cabins. Dogs are currently allowed in all cabins or yurts located in 15 Iowa state parks. The proposed changes would designate some of those units as pet-free.

“We have some (parks) that would be 25-percent (dog friendly) and some at 100-percent,” Arntzen said. “We want people to look at (the proposed changes) and give us their comments. Based on all of the comments we receive and additional discussion with our management team, we will look at whether or not we’re going to go with what we’re looking at or if we’re going to modify it.” The DNR has also proposed changes related to rental fees and damage deposits for state park lodge facilities. The deadline to submit comments about the proposals is January 23. A public hearing will also be held at a date yet to be determined. Arntzen said any changes wouldn’t be enacted until sometime in 2013.

LINK to proposed rule changes and information on submitting comments: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/ProposedRuleChanges.aspx

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

Nat’l. Weather Svc. Forecast Jan.9, 2012 – Near record High’s possible Tuesday

Weather

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the forecast for Cass and nearby Counties:

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…NEAR RECORDS HIGHS POSSIBLE. SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING IN THE AFTERNOON. NORTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…COLDER. LOW AROUND 15.

THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…COLDER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S. LOW AROUND 10.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. LOW 15 TO 20.

(Update to Bluffs robbery story) Omaha teen arrested Sat. night

News

January 9th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say an Omaha teenager was arrested Saturday night in Council Bluffs, following the  robbery of two pedestrians.  According to Bluffs Police Sgt. Pat Toscano, a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery. A second suspect is being sought by police. Toscano said the victims reported being robbed about 7:45 p.m. while walking near 1908 8th Avenue. The victims, who were not identified, said they handed over cash and a cellphone after a suspect showed a handgun.

The suspects fled in a small, red car that officers located about 10 minutes later at a convenience store on West Broadway. Toscano said several people standing near the car “fled the scene” when officers approached. The teen identified as brandishing the gun during the robbery was taken in for questioning and later arrested.