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Atlantic Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Possession

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A man from Cass County (IA) was sentenced today (Friday) to 14 years in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.

According to public court documents, 38-year-old Derek Allen McDermott, of Atlantic, was found in possession of distribution quantities of meth during two traffic stops in October 2023 and December 2023. McDermott has two state convictions for possession with intent to deliver meth.

Derek Allen McDermott (Pott. Co. Jail photo from 3-4-24)

After completing his term of imprisonment, McDermott will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Charges

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to 8 years (96 months) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, Marshon Lamarr Johanson, 30, shot his dog after it reportedly bit him. In August 2024, Council Bluffs Animal Control went to Johanson’s house to check on the welfare of the dog. Johanson was uncooperative. The Council Bluffs Police Department returned a few days later with a search warrant. The dog was found dead in the basement. A Ruger handgun and loaded magazine were found in the bedroom of the residence. Johanson was convicted of animal torture in the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County and sentenced to a 75-day suspended prison term.

In 2015, Johanson was convicted of burglary and aggravated robbery in Texas, and, in 2022, Johanson was convicted of two felony assault charges in the Nebraska District Court for Douglas County. As a result, Johanson is prohibited from possessing firearms.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Johanson will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Council Bluffs Animal Control, the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Debate over racing pigeons in Storm Lake

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – After push-back from residents who raise AND race homing pigeons, the Storm Lake City Council has hit pause on a proposal that would have allowed no more than 10 pigeons to be kept at a single property. At a city council meeting this week, a woman told the council her family sometimes has up to 80 pigeons.

The family’s racing pigeons are banded and she said the birds spend most of their day in the coop.

Storm Lake officials say they’ve fielded complaints about the family’s pigeons flying around the neighborhood. Storm Lake’s mayor says the council may convene a working group to make changes in the proposed ordinance that’s been tabled. The policy would have set time limits on when pigeons could be released in Storm Lake for exercise or for racing. The sport of pigeon racing started in Belgium in the 19th century and became popular in Great Britain and other parts of Europe. The American Pigeon Racing Union says there are 700 clubs around the country, with races for the birds that are between 100 and 600 miles.

Millions of tiny biting mites may have Iowa in their sights

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s bumper crop of buzzing cicadas this year may lead to a population boom in another, much-smaller insect known as the oak leaf itch mite. St. Louis-area entomologist Tad Yankoski says the mites are tiny, but there are many, many millions of them emerging in Missouri, and Iowa could be next.

Unlike mosquitoes, these weensy mites don’t seek people out, but he says if they find you, you’ll know it.

Those mite bites can leave annoying welts that might persist for days or even weeks.

Cicadas (Photo by Ginny Mitchell at Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo)

Cicadas can grow one to two inches in length, and they’re insect giants compared to these mites.

Iowa saw emergence’s of both the 13- and 17-year cicada broods this spring, with large populations in both northeast and southeast Iowa.

New Resource Available to Assist Disaster Survivors Through Recovery

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

[Council Bluffs, Iowa] – Persons impacted by April storms and June flooding in Pottawattamie County now have access to enhanced capabilities within the Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program (DCA). The DCA program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There is no cost for this service or to connect with available resources.

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management has approved this local request for enhanced support to residents impacted by disaster. “Our state partners are providing experienced case management staff that can provide support and guidance for those struggling through the recovery process,” said Doug Reed, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Director. Reed says, ” This is a valuable resource for anyone impacted that still has needs or feels lost in the process; take advantage of this free service.”

Impacted residents in Pottawattamie County can start applying for this program now. In the near future, announcements will be made where you can also visit a DCA Specialist and other resources in person.

How to Apply for the Disaster Case Advocacy Program
· Call 515-675-1884
· Online at https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/disasters/individual-disaster-assistance-programs#disaster-case-advocacy-dca

Eligibility
· No income restrictions and there in no cost to the individual
· Household has disaster related needs that represent a burden that is unable to be resolved
· Household members are citizens or legally residing in the United States

For more information on disaster-related programs and resources available to Iowans, visit DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov.

Online Resource and Information Links
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management

Share Iowa Emergency Relief Resources

Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program

Iowa Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Iowa Legal Aid Disaster Relief Project

USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program

Flood Cleanup Resources

Health & Human Services Disaster Assistance

Iowa Disaster Housing Programs

Get connected to assistance for your ongoing and long-term disaster recovery needs by completing the online
Pottawattamie County Needs Assessment Survey.

Who’s Gonna Win? – Week 4 – 09/20/2024

Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

September 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Asa Lucas, Chris Parks, Christian Adams, and Matt Mullenix take a look at 8 area high school football games each week throughout the season. We try to provide some insight into the match-ups while competing for top prognosticator and the Whosman Trophy.

Who’s Gonna Win? is brought to you again in 2024 by Rush CPA & Associates and Fareway.

Last Week:

Asa Lucas: 5-3

Matt Mullenix 7-1
Chris Parks 8-0
Christian Adams 5-3

Overall 2024 Standings:

Matt Mullenix 20-4
Chris Parks 22-2
Chrisitan Adams 19-5

Asa Lucas 19-5

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Trojan Preview – Week 4 – 09/20/2024

Trojan Preview/Who’s Gonna Win?

September 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

KJAN Sports Asa Lucas’ weekly discussion with Atlantic Head Football Coach Joe Brummer. This week we talk about the Week 3 win against Greene County and look ahead to a road trip at Winterset.

 

 

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Hinson says TikTok can avoid ban by cutting ties with China

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she understands the angst TikTok users have about the looming U-S ban of the app, but Hinson says the law congress passed gives Chinese-owned TikTok a way to keep operating in the U-S. “That bill recognizes and puts into place, I think, a very fair path that allows them to make the right decision here, to divest their spy tool on millions of Americans’ phones,” Hinson says, “and they can sell it to an American company, they can sell it to a country that’s not one of our adversaries, but that’s what has to happen.” If TikTok doesn’t those steps, the nationwide ban on the app is set to take effect January 19th. TikTok has sued, arguing the right to free expression outweighs other concerns. The U-S Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. heard the case this week. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

“I’ve had many conversations with folks in the district who are concerned about having a platform to get out and get their message across,” Hinson says. “I feel that. I’m one of those who uses lots of platforms to get my message across, but what I think is important is we have to balance making sure we have that avenue in a private company with national security threats.” Hinson says TikTok already exhibited concerning tactics in its lobbying effort before congress voted on it this spring. “We saw what they did when they mobilized that app…They wouldn’t even let you log in unless you called your representative,” Hinson said. “What if, on Election Day, they say to all their millions of users, ‘Oh, you know what? We’ve received word that elections are cancelled today. Stay Home.’ This could be a tool that they could use for election interference, not mention to mention a tool that they are using to control the algorithm and what people are seeing.”

170 million Americans are on TikTok, including former President Donald Trump. Trump, who owns Truth Social — a social media platform, has said it’s important to maintain TikTok as a competitor of Facebook. In mid-2020, Trump called for banning TikTok in the U-S, but this spring Trump said a ban is not necessary because national security and data security issues can be resolved if TikTok’s U-S managers cut ties with its Chinese owner. In December of 2022, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds banned state agencies from using TikTok due to the national security risk.

Pharmacist is sanctioned after several alleged prescription-filling errors

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A western Iowa pharmacist has been sanctioned by the state for incorrectly filling multiple prescriptions for patients. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy alleges that in June 2023, three weeks after he renewed his license to practice pharmacy in Iowa, Christopher Steele of Underwood incorrectly filled a prescription for a patient. In July, August and September of 2023, the board alleges, he incorrectly filled three additional prescriptions for a different patient.

The board has not publicly disclosed where Steele, 57, was working when the drugs were dispensed, the nature of the alleged errors, the types of drugs that were dispensed, or the effect the alleged errors had on the patients. Steele recently agreed to settle the case by paying a $1,000 civil penalty and having his license placed on probation for one to two years. As part of the settlement, Steele will be required to complete an educational course on medication errors and patient safety.

Steele declined to comment on the matter other than to say the alleged errors occurred while he was working at the Foodland store in Woodbine. Court records show that Steele’s hiring at Foodland resulted in a significant court decision on the scope of a state law that legislators passed in 2022 in an effort to discourage price gouging by staffing agencies working for health care entities.

Shortly after the legislation was signed into law, a staffing agency called PharmServ Solutions sued the Foodland store, alleging the store had asked PharmServ to provide a pharmacist for six days in early 2022. PharmServ routed Steele to the job, after which Foodland allegedly hired Steele as a permanent employee of the store’s pharmacy. PharmServ then sued Foodland, alleging the store was refusing to pay an agreed-upon fee of up to $30,000 for Steele’s hiring.

Foodland argued the new price-gouging law prohibited employment agencies in the health care field from charging fees when temporary workers were hired by the agency’s clients on a permanent basis. PharmServ argued the law didn’t apply since Foodland was not a “health care entity” as defined by the legislation. A Harrison County judge disagreed and dismissed the lawsuit while ruling that the new law applied to Iowa pharmacies and pharmacists.

Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors hosted by Wildwood Farms in Lewis

News

September 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted Thursday, September 19th,by Brent & Michelle Vance of Wildwood Farms in Lewis. The Ambassadors were on hand to welcome the couple as Chamber members, and to learn about their high-quality hemp products and view their quaint Airbnb.
Michelle Vance worked at Creighton University in the pathology department for many years, where she began to see the increase in studies showing the potential health benefits hemp has for cancer patients and long-term conditions such as autism, arthritis, Parkinson, and more. Michelle began using hemp products personally and experienced significant relief. In 2020, Brent and Michelle got married and embarked on the venture of producing hemp products that are both effective and safe.

Pictured from Left to Right: Chris Parks, Krysta Hanson, Dolly Bergmann, Dr. Keith Leonard, BJ Hart, Michelle Vance, DeeDee Kalny, Jeff Christensen, Brent Vance, Kathie Hockenberry, Sue Liston, Kelsey Beschorner

Michelle & Brent shared with the Ambassadors that unlike marijuana, hemp contains negligible amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that causes a “high.” Instead, hemp is rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound that has been studied for its potential therapeutic properties. Wildwood Farms products are made using premium-quality hemp extract, ensuring purity and potency. Whether you’re seeking relief from discomfort, improving your overall well-being, or simply exploring new and innovative products, Wildwood Farms has something to offer. Products include topical gels and rubs along with edible gummies, jams, jellies, and most recently added Seltzers.
Wildwood Farms is also home to a charming 5 bed, 1.5 bath Airbnb. The historic farmhouse features cozy amenities and a welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect place to unwind and recharge. Wildwood Farms in located in rural Lewis, Iowa. For more information about their products, visit their website at www.wildwoodfarmsiowa.com.