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(UPDATE) Iowa judge will block fetal heartbeat abortion law

News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge will temporarily block the most restrictive abortion law in the country from taking effect in Iowa next month under an agreement between lawyers for the state and abortion rights groups.

Attorneys for the state and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed Friday to prevent the law from taking effect on July 1 after discussions with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood Federation of American and the Emma Goldman Clinic.

The advocacy groups have sued the state to block the law, which bans most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected. An attorney for the state says the goal is to quickly get the case before a judge to argue the law it’s constitutional.

Judge Michael Huppert said during a court hearing Friday that he’ll issue a temporary injunction later in the day. Reynolds signed the law May 2, two days after lawmakers approved it.

Iowa motorcyclist dies in crash with horse in SE Minnesota

News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

MABEL, Minn. (AP) — A motorcyclist from Iowa is dead after colliding with a horse in southeastern Minnesota. Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase says the crash was reported about 11:30 a.m. Friday on Highway 44 west of Mabel.

The 60-year-old man from Decorah, Iowa, was driving a motorcycle eastbound on the highway when he struck a horse in the eastbound lane. The man died at the scene. His name was not immediately released. The horse also died in the accident.

Dead woman’s home searched for info on 2012 death of girls

News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have searched the Belle Plaine home of a woman who killed herself and her 8-year-old son, looking for information on the 2012 killings of two Evansdale girls. The Des Moines Register reports that detectives recently searched 36-year-old Teresa Catherine Gerleman’s home, taking several items and a handwritten note.

On May 4, Gerleman pulled 8-year-old Henry Fields onto tracks in the path of a train that killed them both. Police say in court documents that someone who had counseled Gerleman told investigators that Gerleman claimed to have a six-page letter written by men who admitted involvement in the girls’ deaths.

Ten-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins were taken on July 13, 2012, as they rode their bikes. Their bodies were discovered on Dec. 5, 2012, in Bremer County. No one has been charged in the killings. It was not clear if any evidence relating to the girls’ deaths was found in Gerleman’s home.

Air Quality Alert expanded to all of Iowa

News, Weather

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Alert for all of Iowa. Ozone levels near EPA health standards are expected to persist in these areas until 7 pm today.

The DNR recommends that individuals with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children limit prolonged outdoor exertion until air quality conditions improve

SIRWA Boil Advisory update (3:10-p.m. 6/1)

News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A boil water advisory has been put into effect for an extended period of time for SIRWA Customers and the Cities of Afton, Arispe, Creston, Cromwell, Lorimor, Shannon City and Thayer.  Residents need to avoid drinking/injecting water from hydrants, water fountains, splash pads and the swimming pool.

The water fountains and hydrants at the 3-mile camp ground and the city parks in Creston, Afton and Arispe will be shut off until advisory has been lifted.  The bathrooms will remain in operation.

Residents should boil water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food. The water may be used for laundry as usual, showers and bathing as long as no water is swallowed.  Dishes and utensils should be washed using bottled water or water that has been boiled.

If you have any questions please contact:

Emergency Management Agency (EMA) @ 641-782-1622

SIRWA @ 641-782-5744

City Water Works @ 641-782-5817

Accident in Montgomery County Friday

News

June 1st, 2018 by admin

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports no injuries occurred during a two-vehicle accident on Friday morning. At 11:50am Deputies responded to the accident at 200th Street and Fernwood Avenue in Montgomery County. After investigation it was determined that a 2000 Ford F250 pickup owned by Gregg Greene and driven by 30-year-old Jeffrey Scott Greene of Malvern was westbound on 200th Street at about Fernwood Avenue. At the same time a 2015 Chrysler 200 4-door car owned and operated by 76-year-old Lawrence Leroy Lafollette of Red Oak was westbound as well and had slowed behind a vehicle turning left onto Fernwood Avenue. As Lafollette was getting back up to the posted speed limit he was rear-ended by Greene’s pickup.

Both vehicles sustained disabling damage due to the accident. Damage to the Ford pickup was estimated at $7,500 and damage to the Chrysler was estimated at $8,000.

Jeffrey Greene was cited for Following Too Close and Expired Registration Plates. Red Oak Fire assisted with cleanup at the scene.

NORMA BAUDLER, 75, of Greenfield (Visitation 6/4/18)

Obituaries

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NORMA BAUDLER, 75, of Greenfield, died Friday, June 1st, at Panora Speciality Care, in Panora.  An open visitation for NORMA BAUDLER will be held Monday, June 4th, from 4-until 8-p.m at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield, where the family will greet friends from 6-until 8-p.m., Monday.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be made to the Norma Baudler memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

NORMA BAUDLER is survived by:

Her son – Matt (Wendy) Baudler, of Panora.

Her sisters – Judy Knutsen, of Atlantic, and Patty (Steve) Gette, of Oregon.

8 grandchildren and one great grandson; other relatives and friends.

Mother of naked wanderers gets 2 years of probation

News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — The mother of twin toddlers spotted wandering naked near a busy central Iowa highway has been given two years of probation. Dallas County District Court records say 19-year-old Jasmine Teed was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison, but the term was suspended. She also was told to perform 80 hours of community service. Teed had pleaded guilty to child endangerment.

Officers were sent to a house along U.S. Highway 6 in Adel on Nov. 2. Police say witnesses reported seeing someone herd the unclothed 2-year-olds back in the house after they were spotted near the highway. An officer entered the house and called out but received no answer. The officer reported finding Teed asleep in a bedroom. Police say the outdoor temperature at the time was 43 degrees.

ROBERT D. BAILEY, 90, of Perry (Graveside Svcs. 06/23/2018)

Obituaries

June 1st, 2018 by admin

ROBERT D. BAILEY, 90, of Perry, died Tuesday, May 29th at Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry. Graveside services for ROBERT D. BAILEY will be held June 23rd at 11:00am at the Union Cemetery in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfuneralhome.com

ROBERT D. BAILEY is survived by:

Half-Sisters: Maxine Blaker of Anderson, IN. Charlotte Ochs of Deertail, CO.

Sister-in-law: Clara Bailey of Centerville.

Niece: Krista (Jeff) Brown of Moulton, IA.

Step Nieces and Nephews.

5 dead, nearly 200 sickened in romaine lettuce outbreak

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — Four more deaths have been linked to a national food poisoning outbreak blamed on tainted lettuce, bringing the total to five. Health officials have tied the E. coli outbreak to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona. The growing season there ended six weeks ago, and it’s unlikely any tainted lettuce is still in stores or people’s homes, given its short shelf life. But there can be a lag in reporting, and reports of illnesses have continued to come in. In an update today (Friday) on the nation’s largest E. coli outbreak in a decade, health officials said 25 more cases have been added, raising the total number of illnesses to 197 in 35 states. At least 89 people were hospitalized.

Previously one death had been reported, in California. On Friday, health officials said they had learned of four more — one in Arkansas, one in New York, and two in Minnesota. The first illnesses occurred in March, and the most recent began on May 12, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of the new cases were people who became ill two to three weeks ago, when contaminated lettuce was still being sold. Some said they did not eat romaine lettuce but were in close contact with someone who got sick after eating it.

Most E. coli bacteria are not harmful, but some produce toxins that can cause severe illness. People who get sick from toxin-producing E. coli come down with symptoms about three to four days after swallowing the germ, with many suffering bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.