A ban on open burning in Mills County is scheduled to be lifted Wednesday afternoon. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports the Burn Ban, which was initiated in Mills County on April 8th, will end 4-p.m. Wednesday, because conditions are less conducive to field and grassland controlled burns, getting out of control. Once the ban is lifted, there will be no counties in Iowa which remain under such a ban.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Public school districts would be required to conduct background checks on all employees under a bill approved by the Iowa House. The measure that unanimously passed Tuesday requires districts to pre-screen job applicants to see if they are listed on the state sex offender registry and registries for child abuse and dependent adult abuse. That includes part-time and substitute employees. Current law requires federal and state criminal checks for licensed teachers and state checks on bus drivers.
Under the measure, districts would recheck employees every five years after their hiring date. Republican Rep. Megan Hess of Spencer amended the bill to require businesses to conduct criminal history and abuse registry checks on motorized food vendors, such as ice cream truck drivers. The bill returns to the Senate for review.
AMES, Iowa (AP) – It will cost Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg $2 million to leave the Cyclones for another Division I school under a new contract signed last week and made public on Tuesday. Hoiberg agreed to a new 10-year, $20 million deal in March after leading Iowa State to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
Hoiberg would essentially owe a year’s salary to Iowa State if he leaves for another school. But Hoiberg’s buyout will be just $500,000 if he accepts a job as a head coach or general manager in the NBA. Hoiberg also receives $250,000 for reaching the Final Four and $100,000 for winning or tying for the Big 12 regular season title.
Hoiberg’s new deal, which mirrors one recently signed by football coach Paul Rhoads, runs through 2023.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says trumpeter swans will be released at four locations in southwest Iowa as part of the DNR’s trumpeter swan relocation efforts to restore a wild free flying population to Iowa.
Four swans will be released at 10-a.m., May 8th, at the Mt. Ayr Wildlife Area’s Walnut Creek Lake, with the help from the Ringgold County Conservation Board. Four swans will be released at 2 p.m., May 8th, at Summit Lake, near Creston. The swans will be released near the boat ramp on the south side of Hwy. 25. Four swans will be released as well, beginning 10:30 a.m., May 9th, at Viking Lake State Park, near Stanton, with the help from the Montgomery County Conservation Board. The swans will be released near the restaurant/beach area. And, four swans will be released at 2:30 p.m., May 9th, at Lake Anita State Park, near Anita, with the help from the Cass County Conservation Board. The releases will occur rain or shine.
The public is invited to the releases. There will be a 20 minute presentation including an opportunity to see the swans up close. Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. The all white birds can weigh up to 32 pounds and have an eight foot wingspan.
The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on April 28th, of 28-year old Aaron McCutcheon. Officials say the Harlan man was taken into custody following an investigation into a domestic disturbance in the 1700 block of Lincoln Avenue. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree.
The H-PD says also, no injuries were reported following an accident Monday in the 1900 block of College Place. Vehicles driven by Gretchen Scofield and Matthew Gubbels, both of Harlan, collided as Gubbels’ 2003 Chrysler was backing out of a parking space. The damage was estimated at $1,500 altogether.
The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests over the past few days. Early Friday morning, 18-year old Dominique James Schlup, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving While Revoked following a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 34 and 350th Street. And, early Saturday morning, deputies arrested 25-year old William Joseph Seier, of Omaha, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 59, about a mile north of Highway 34. Both men had their bonds set at $1,000.
Sheriff’s deputies also investigated reported incidents of: forgery, in Glenwood; a Theft in the 2nd degree, from a company in Council Bluffs, and, a report of Criminal Mischief in Malvern. There was also a non-injury accident which occurred Saturday.
Officials say Dru Little, of Glenwood, was traveling north on 220th Street about a mile south of Glenwood, when a deer ran onto the road. Little swerved to miss the animal, but ended-up striking the animal. The 1996 Saturn he was driving went out of control and rolled onto the passenger side into a ditch and came to rest on its wheels in a field.
Monday’s U-S-D-A crop report showed only eight-percent of the corn crop has been planted in Iowa, the slowest start to the planting season since 1995. The wet, cold weather has not only impacted the state’s major crop, but it is also hitting farmers who plant one of the state’s summer favorites — sweet corn. Dean Rebal grows sweet corn on a farm in eastern Iowa between Solon and Iowa City. He says he just got his sweet corn into the ground, while last year he had it planted on the 28th of March. Rebal likes to stagger the planting so he has sweet corn maturing throughout the season. The slow planting is causing trouble with the schedule.
“Usually I plant in every week to week and a half intervals…so I am gonna be cut a little short, I probably won’t get quite as many acres in as I normally do,” Rebal says. Last year’s early planting resulted in a longer season and more corn to sell. “Last year we were right at nine-thousand dozen here, right on Highway one,” Rebal says. He is not expecting the sweet corn season to last as long this year. “We’re going to be cut on this sweet corn season by, I would says two to three weeks,” according to Rebal.
The means sweet corn lovers will have less time to enjoy the golden ears compared to last year.
(Radio Iowa)
An investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred April 26th in Lenox, has resulted in an arrest.
Jeff Brown
According to the Lenox Police Department, 49-year old Jeff Brown, of Lenox, was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. Monday, on a warrant for Domestic Assault. Brown was transported to jail where he was being held pending an appearance in front of the magistrate.
A traffic stop for an equipment violation Monday night in Lenox resulted in the arrest of an alleged drunken driver.
Jeffrey Luft
According to the Lenox Police Department, a vehicle driven by 33-year old Jeffrey Luft, of Sharpsburg, was pulled over a little after 9-p.m. Monday, on Van Buren Street.
The officer determined Luft had been drinking and performed sobriety tests. The man was subsequently arrested and transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs office where a breath test indicated a Blood Alcohol Content of .195, or more than twice the legal limit. Luft was charged with OWI-2nd offense and transported to the Ringgold county jail.
The Atlantic Airport Commission and Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold separate meetings Wednesday. Both sessions begin at 9-a.m. At the airport, the Airport Commission is set to discuss a request from the Atlantic Jaycees for a fireworks show. The Atlantic City Council approved the request during its meeting, on May 1st.
The Commission will also act on a resolution setting the bid date and public hearing for the Parallel Taxiway Paving Project, and approval of the Sponsor Certification for the project plans and specifications.
At the courthouse, the Cass County Board of Supervisors will act Wednesday, on authorizing an application through the Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program of the USDA, and approval of matching funds amounting to $2,500, if the grant is received. The Board will also act on appointing someone to fill a vacancy position on the Cass County Zoning Board of Adjustment.
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