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Backyard & Beyond 8-14-2020

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

August 14th, 2020 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen talks about mindfulness.

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Staff Assault: Iowa State Penitentiary

News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

FORT MADISON – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Corrections report a correctional officer was assaulted by two inmates at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Authorities say the officer was conducting his rounds on a unit when two inmates began assaulting him with closed-fist punches and kicks. The officer utilized defensive techniques while additional staff quickly responded to the assault and took control of the situation by using a combination of pepper spray and physical restraining techniques.

The officer that was assaulted was taken by department vehicle to the local hospital where he was treated and released for lacerations suffered during the assault. The inmates that attacked him were found not to have suffered significant injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

Officials: Dump of spoiled milk leads to fish kill in Iowa

News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Environmental officials in Iowa are investigating after officials say a central Iowa grocery store dumped 800 gallons of spoiled milk, leading to a fish kill. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the incident happened Wednesday morning when officials discovered a stretch of Fourmile Creek fouled by rancid milk and traced it to a Hy-Vee store in Ankeny. Officials say a store employee instructed workers to dump the milk following a power outage caused by a rare high wind storm on Monday. Television station KCCI reports that Hy-Vee released a statement saying the store employee made an uninformed decision. DNR officials say minnows and small game fish have died in a span of a half-mile in the creek.

Woman survives violent bison attack in Custer State Park

News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CUSTER, S.D. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say a motorcyclist has survived a violent attack by a bison in the Black Hills. A bystander’s video shows several bikers had stopped while a herd of bison crossed a road in Custer State Park Wednesday. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says a 54-year-old Iowa woman got off the motorcycle on which she was a passenger and was attacked by a bison. Sheriff’s officials say the bison caught the woman’s belt and jeans on its horns and swung her around violently before running away. Custer County Sheriff’s deputies, Custer State Park rangers, Custer Ambulance and Black Hills Life Flight responded to the incident. There’s no word on the woman’s condition.

Cass Co. Fair Champions participate in Denison competition

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Champions of the Cass County Fair participated in the Best of the West competition, held in Denison on August 3rd.

  • Maddy Anderson – Breeding Ewe
  • Natalye Scholl – Breeding Doe
  • Brock Henderson – Breeding Heifer
  • Morgan Will – Market Lamb
  • Makenna Potter – Market Goat
  • Morgan Will – Market Beef
  • Photo provided by Melanie Petty

    Grant Petty – Market Hog

Four out of the six animals shown were crowned either Champion or Reserve Champion during this competition.  Cass County should be very proud of their 4H/FFA members and all of the hard work they put in to show some of the best in Iowa! C

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 8/14/20

News, Podcasts

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 8/14/20

Podcasts, Sports

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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Creston Police report for 8/14/20

News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department reports 38-year old Rhiannon Leigh Cooney, of Villisca, was arrested Thursday evening. Cooney was taken into custody at the Creston Wal-Mart, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited for the offense and then released.  Authorities said also, 19-year old Jeremiah Lee Whitney, of Creston, was arrested Thursday night at his home, for Allowing an Animal to Run at Large. Whitney was released at the scene on a citation and a Promise to Appear in court.

And, a man residing in the 200 block of N. Maple Street, in Creston, reported to Police Thursday afternoon, that the light bar on his Jeep Wrangler had been stolen from the vehicle, as it was parked outside of his residence. The loss was estimated at $400.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 8/14/20

News, Podcasts

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowans are warned to watch for a destructive tree-killing bug

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 14th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – If your trees are still standing after this week’s derecho, Iowans are asked to check those trees and be on the lookout for the Asian longhorned beetle as August is when it emerges from inside trees where it burrows. Samantha Simon, an invasive species coordinator with the U-S-D-A, says the destructive bug is not native to the U-S and has few-to-no natural predators.  “It likes to attack our 12 types of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, birches and willows,” Simon says. “Once a tree has the beetle, the infested tree doesn’t recover and they die. We’re looking for the public’s help to identify this beetle and to help us eradicate it.”

Asian Longhorned Beetle

Watching for the beetle and the damage it causes is one way for homeowners to protect their own trees. She notes, it’s a distinctive creature. “It measures one to one-and-a-half inches in length,” Simon says. “Its body is black with white spots and its antenna are banded in black and white. It sounds kind of gross but it’s actually really cute.” People can unknowingly spread Asian longhorned beetles by moving firewood, since they can hide inside wood. She asks that Iowans familiarize themselves with the pest and spend five minutes checking their trees for signs of them. “We ask that people take a photo or if they can capture it, if it’s alive, they can put it in a container and put it in the freezer for us,” Simon says. “It’s really important that they report it to USDA and they can do that online at Asianlonghornedbeetle.com.”

You can also call the agency’s hotline: 866-702-9938. The beetle was first spotted in the U-S in New York in 1996 and spread far quite quickly. It’s one of a group of invasive pests and plant diseases that costs the nation some 40-billion dollars each year in losses to trees, plants and crops.