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(Podcast) KJAN News, 10/6/21

News, Podcasts

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The 7:08-a.m. broadcast News, from Ric Hanson.

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Atlantic Public Library grant for mental health resources

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen reports the library was selected for a Public Library Collaboration grant Award totaling $18,042, to bring mental health resources to Cass County, through local libraries and in collaboration with other local organizations. The award is made possible through the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 6. Andersen says “I have been getting NNLM’s newsletters for a while, and this grant opportunity sounded like a good match for our needs in Cass County. I am excited that we received the award, and now it’s time to get to work.”

During the Summer, Andersen asked Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh if Healthy Cass County (HCC) would support the application and mental health programming. Andersen said HCC was instrumental in completing the Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment in April, 2021, in which mental health was identified as the top health need by both health service providers, and the public. Over 470 people participated in the assessment, representing various income levels, ages, races, and geographic locations across the County.

The Public Library Collaboration Award will provide funding for a three-pronged approach to mental health resources:

  • It will assist in the purchase of tablets for use at the Atlantic Public Library. Tablets give a greater sense of privacy for the user to look-up information that may be stigmatized, without concern of someone else seeing what they are doing.
  • It will purchase mental health resources to distribute for use at every library in Cass County. A list of books, documentaries, games and kits have been selected, and will be placed in each of the six public libraries.
  • It will fund mental health programs that will be available at no charge, to the public.

As part of the application, the library submitted letters of support from COVID Recovery Iowa, Full Circle Therapy, HCC, ISU Extension, Make it OK, Senior Life Solutions,  and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services. Andersen said those organizations committed to participating in and supporting, mental health programs available to the public, and that the depth and breadth of support in their letters, demonstrated significantly, the library’s application.

Dallas County woman arrested after drugs & paraphernalia found near her child

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

ADEL, Iowa — A woman from Adel was arrested Monday afternoon in West Des Moines, for having drugs and syringes around her 4-year-old child. According to authorities, 31-year-old Heather Marie Harding was arrested at West Des Moines Hy-Vee after police found 13 hypodermic needles in her possession, along with nearly 2 grams of a grey substance that tested positive for fentanyl and heroin.

Heather M. Harding (Dallas County S/O booking photo)

Harding was initially charged with drug possession and child endangerment. She was being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $3,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing will take place Nov. 4th.

Gov. Reynolds announces funds available to support rural communities

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Tuesday, announced four competitive funds available for rural communities with a population under 20,000. Specifically, funding of up to $500,000 has been allocated to the following funds for current fiscal year (FY) 2022 through FY 2023:

Rural Innovation Grant Program – Provides up to $200,000 in grants supporting creative, non-traditional ideas that focus on current issues and challenges faced by rural communities associated with the themes of community investment, growth and connection; the
Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program – Provides up to $100,000 to support the use of publicly available online information through the “Profile of Iowa” tool and rural community efforts to interpret this hard data with supplemental information, as well as to implement through changes to development codes, local ordinances and housing incentives specific to their community needs in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; the
Rural Child Care Market Study Grant Program – Provides up to $100,000 to support the use of data and analysis by rural communities to determine the specific needs and solutions for their area. In partnership with First Children’s Finance, funding from the program will empower communities to assess their current child care market environment and develop strategies; and the
Rural Return Program – Provides up to $100,000 to support creative programming that attracts new residents to move and/or work in rural communities. Grant funding will support the development and implementation of incentive programs.

Guidelines and scoring rubrics for all programs are available on the Center for Rural Revitalization’s website. The programs, defined in Iowa Administrative Code, are administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of IEDA, in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Forces. Applications for FY 2022 are currently being accepted via iowagrants.gov and are due by December 1, 2021. Applications will be scored by volunteer panels that will include the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Force members and expert professionals. Successful applicants will be informed in mid-December.

1 injured during a Montgomery County collision

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Villisca, Iowa) – An accident over the weekend in Villisca, resulted in one person being transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, in Red Oak. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies responded to the scene at 4th Avenue and 4th Street, in Villisca, at around 9:30-a.m., Saturday. Upon investigation, they determined William Lewis, of Villisca was traveling a 2009 Chevy Malibu westbound on 4th Street, when he failed to yield at the stop sign.

Amanda Johnston, of Villisca, was traveling south on 4th Avenue in a 2017 Jeep Compass. When her SUV entered the intersection, it was struck by the Malibu on the rear driver’s side door. Lewis was transported to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. No citations were issued.

Dozens displaced by massive fire at central Iowa hotel

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say more than 100 people have been displaced by a massive fire that raced through an extended stay hotel in West Des Moines early Tuesday. According to The Des Moines Register, about 130 rooms at the Valley West Inn were occupied when the fire started late Monday night. West Des Moines officials say residents were crawling and jumping out of windows to escape the blaze.

Online records indicate the hotel was built about 50 years ago. The facility was heavily damaged by the fire.

Two face charges after lockdown at Saydel High School

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A 19-year-old and a teenager face charges after an incident that authorities say started at a central Iowa school. The principal at Saydel High School placed the school on lockdown at about 7:40 a.m. yesterday after a student reported someone in the parking lot had a gun. According to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies tried to stop the vehicle after it left the school, the car crashed into a yard, the occupants ran, but were caught. Officials say drugs, a 22 caliber rifle and three guns that shoot non-lethal, plastic pellets were found in the vehicle.

A 19-year-old woman has been charged with carrying weapons and interference with official acts. The 16-year-old boy is accused of possession with intent to deliver meth and marijuana, carrying a weapon on school grounds and a variety of driving-related infractions, including driving without a license and without the owner’s consent.

There was also a 15 year old boy in the car, but no charged were filed against him and he was released to his parents.

Des Moines Police say officer shot woman armed with a knife

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Police say an officer shot a woman armed with a knife who had reportedly threatened a man in downtown Des Moines. According to a news release from Des Moines Police, a man called 9-1-1 just before 6:30 p.m. to say a white woman armed with a knife tried to stab him as he was walking and was still following him.

An officer was dispatched to the area and police say the women turned her attention to the officer, started advancing and ignored his commands. The news release indicates the officer shot the woman less than a minute after he arrived on the scene.

The woman was taken to a nearby Des Moines hospital for treatment. The officer was not injured.

Audubon Democrats to host State politicians

News

October 6th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – Audubon Democrats have announced two special guests will be attending their annual fall fundraiser Sunday October 17th “after church” between 11 and 2 at Albert the Bull Park.

Ross Wilburn is an Iowan politician and social worker serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives elected in November 2018 from House District 46. Wilburn has served as chair of the Iowa Democratic Party since January 2021. Sunday he will address issues critical to western Iowa farmers and their rural main street communities.

Ross Wilburn

Dr. Glenn Hurst, US Senator candidate, chairs the Iowa Democratic Party’s Rural Caucus and the party’s 3rd District Central Committee. He was involved in founding a branch of Indivisible, a progressive activist organization, in western Iowa. He operates a private medical practice in Minden, where he sits on the city council.

Dr. Glen Hurst

Abby Finkenauer, Glenn Hurst, and Dave Muhlbauer are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Iowa on June 7, 2022. The general election against Grassley will occur on November 8, 2022.

The public is invited to meet Dr. Hurst and Chairman Wilburn on Sunday the 17th at Albert the Bull Park after church from 11-2.

Update: DCI Investigates Mason City Homicide and Officer Involved Shooting

News

October 5th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Mason City, Iowa – On October 3rd, 2021, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was requested by the Mason City Police Department to investigate a homicide, followed by an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Mason City.

On October 3, 2021 at about 1:13 AM,  the Mason City Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Happy Donkey Bar located at 5 South Federal Avenue in Mason City, Iowa for a report of shots fired.  At about the same time, Mason City Police Officer Noah Friese was on foot nearby and heard the shots fired.

Officer Friese identified two male subjects running toward him as approached the area. Friese ordered the subjects, later identified as Jelani Faulk, age 25, of Chicago, Illinois and Kristopher Keys, age 24, of Dubuque, Iowa to the ground.  Keys complied with the officers’ orders.  Faulk pointed a handgun towards Friese.  Friese shot at Faulk, striking him.   Faulk was transported to the MercyOne North Iowa for medical treatment.  Friese was uninjured.

Officers then located a shooting victim from the original shots fired call near the Happy Donkey Bar.  That subject was identified as Christopher Tucker, age 35, of Garner, Iowa.  Tucker was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, with multiple gunshot wounds. Tucker died from those injures on October 4th, 2021.

Jelani Faulk is in custody at the Cerro Gordo County Jail.  He is charged with Interference with Official Acts, a class D felony, and a federal probation violation.  Charges are currently being filed against Faulk charging him with one count of Murder in the First Degree, a class A felony.

This incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call Special Agent in Charge Mike Krapfl at 563-599-4239.

Upon completion of this investigation, the results will be forwarded to the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office for review.