Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker has announced that on December 13th, at 6:30-AM, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Target at Metro Crossing, will hold the 16th annual “Shop with the Sheriff.”

This year, 36 children will be shopping for outerwear, clothing and toys with employees and family members from the Sheriff’s Office. Each family of the participating children will also receive a food basket for the holiday season.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with the Sheriff” event is made possible by the generous donations from citizens, organizations and businesses throughout the area.

A federal judge in Iowa ruled Wednesday two state laws that protect the American flag from desecration are unconstitutional. It’s a victory for the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in a court case filed on its behalf by the Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Iowa U-S Senator Tom Harkin was asked if the flag needs more protections at the federal level. Harkin’s short answer is, “no.”

“There’s always been an effort here, as long as I’ve been here, to have some kind of constitutional amendment to prevent desecration of the flag,” Harkin says. “I remember the first time that came up when I was in the Senate was in the late ’80s. I was opposed to it then and I still remain opposed to some kind of constitutional amendment.” Harkin, a Democrat, says he favors a different type of solution.

“The best way to protect the American flag is to stand strong for our Constitution and our Bill of Rights,” Harkin says. “When we stand strong for our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, that does more to protect our flag than any constitutional amendment or any law or anything else that can be done.”

U-S District Judge Robert Pratt said he based his decision on a 1989 U-S Supreme Court ruling that found burning the American flag during a protest is considered free speech. Protesters from the Kansas-based church held demonstrations at soldiers’ funerals last year in Council Bluffs and Red Oak. At the group’s protests, members reportedly stood on, spat on and dragged the Stars and Stripes. One of the Iowa laws that was declared unconstitutional specifies no one is to “trample on” or “mutilate” an American flag.

(Radio Iowa)

Health officials say this year’s flu vaccine isn’t fully protecting against the season’s most prevalent flu viruses. Doctor Patty Quinlisk, medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the vaccine was created for the expected three strains of flu virus, but one strain is showing signs of drifting into different characteristics.

“We have three strains of flu going around in Iowa,” Quinlisk says. “Against two of the strains, the vaccine is a good match, and against half of that third strain, the vaccine is a good match. It’s just against about half of that third strain, we don’t think the vaccine is going to be as effective as we would have hoped.” Quinlisk says high risk groups, including very young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with lowered immunities, should immediately consult a physician at first signs of flu.

“Because they can put you on anti-viral medications and the sooner you start those medications, the better you’re going to be,” she says. The best defense, Quinlisk adds, is getting vaccinated. The flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. She says influenza and pneumonia are among the top ten causes of death in Iowa every year.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Union County was arrested Wednesday on a warrant out of Taylor County. Creston Police say 35-year old Thomas Johnston, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 4th degree. Johnston was later released after posting a $1,000 bond.

Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner issued a statement to KJAN News clarifying the amount he is being paid as a special prosecutor for the City of Atlantic, in cases dealing with criminal matters.

Earlier, we said that during Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, City Attorney Dave Wiederstein mentioned with regard to the hiring of a City Attorney, if the General/Civil and Criminal retainers are included together in the contract, he recommended continuing the $15,000 annual salary currently paid to the County Attorney, for Criminal Prosecutions, above and beyond what is proposed in the General Retainer. Currently, the Cass County Attorney handles Criminal Prosecution cases for the City, while serving as a paid, Assistant City Attorney.

To clarify, Wiederstein said he is being paid $15,000 as City Attorney, and he recommended the new City Attorney, whomever that may be, be paid the same amount, and that they handle criminal matters as well.

Dan Feistner said he has been paid the same amount ($300.00/month or $3,600.00/yr) ever since the City of Atlantic appointed him as the special prosecutor for their criminal matters. Feistner said he bills the City of Atlantic twice per year, once in June and once in December, for his attorney fees and for office expenses.