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Exira-EHK School Board regular meeting set for Monday evening

News

April 11th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Exira-EHK School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting 6-p.m. Monday (April 12th). During their meeting in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn building, the Board will hold a Public Hearing on the FY 2021-22 Budget.

New business on their agenda includes:

  • Discussion on & approval (D/A), of the 2021-22 School Budget.
  • D/A on approving an AEA Purchasing Contract for Food Service items
  • D/A on an approving Operational Sharing Agreements for 2021-22 with IKM-Manning for: A School Business Official; Superintendent and Technology.
  • D/A on approving a Sharing Agreement w/Green Hills AEA for a Librarian.
  • D/A on approving the 2021 Graduating Class (Pending the meeting of graduation requirements)
  • D/A on approving a PK-5 Principal
  • D/A on approving a bid for the renovation of restrooms in the Elementary School building.
  • D/A of Personnel hires, transfers and/or resignations.
  • and, D/A with regard to the Return-To-Learn Plan (re: facial coverings)

(Updated) Iowa State Patrol Trooper shot & killed during a Grundy Center stand-off is identified

News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A man known to local law enforcement officers in Grundy Center, shot an Iowa State Patrol Trooper who was part of a tactical entry team, following an incident that began late Friday night. The Trooper, Sgt. Jim Smith, a 27-year veteran of the Patrol, died from a single gunshot would, after being transported to the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. He was the 11th Trooper to die in the line of duty in the history of the Patrol. Trooper Mark Toney was the last to die in 2011, when he tried to make a traffic stop.

ISP Sgt. Jim Smith

During a press conference Saturday afternoon, Iowa DPS Asst. Director of Criminal Investigation, Mitch Mortvedt, said Sgt. Smith was shot by 41-year old Michael Thomas Lang, of Grundy Center. He was shot several times during a standoff, and transported to the University of Iowa Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Lang faces one Class A felony count of murder in the first degree. His bond was set at One-million dollars.

Assistant Director Mortvedt said “On Friday, April 9th at approximately 7:22-p.m., the Grundy Center Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Lang, who fled from the Grundy Center Police and was chased to an area east of town. He pulled over on 250th Avenue exited his vehicle, and assaulted the Grundy Center Police Officer who chased him.

During the assault,” Mortvedt said, “Lang yelled shoot me!,” to the officer, multiple times. “Lang disarmed the officer of his Taser, removed his radio and put the officer in a choke hold. Law enforcement responded to the area of the assault. A Grundy County Deputy arrived on scene and witnessed the Grundy Center Police officer recovering from the assault, and Lang in the area of the officer’s patrol vehicle. The Deputy drew his weapon and gave commands to Lang, to ‘put his hands up.'” Lang refused to comply. Instead, he yelled “Come get me.” He subsequently got into his vehicle and fled the area.

“The Deputy pursued Lang back into Grundy Center,” Mortvedt said, but lost sight of him. The Deputy then went to Lang’s residence located at 305 G Avenue in Grundy Center. He saw Lang’s vehicle parked in the driveway, and Lang entering his residence through the garage. The Deputy requested assistance from other law enforcement officers in the area. Responding [officers] set up a perimeter around the house. Lang’s father arrived at the house,” according to Mortvedt, and informed law enforcement his son had multiple firearms inside the residence, including a .410 shotgun.

At around 8:55-p.m., four additional Iowa State Patrol Troopers and a Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputy K9 Unit made entry into the residence, through the door of the garage leading into the residence. “Prior to entering the residence,” Mortvedt said, the entry team verbally identified themselves as law enforcement. They also announced that they would send in a K9. As the entry team began to clear the upstairs of the residence, Sgt. Jim Smith was hit by gunfire coming from inside the residence.”

“After Sgt. was shot, members of the entry teams observed Lang emerge from the doorway holding a black, pump-action shotgun. Two members of the entry team that were with Sgt. Smith, retreated into the basement, while other members of the entry team pulled Sgt. Smith from the residence. Lang then barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to come out. Members of the entry that remained in the basement, stated that Lang made several statements about having shot Sgt. Smith, and expressed the desire to shoot more police officers.”

“Lang remained barricaded inside the residence for several hours,” Mortvedt said. “At approximately 11:50-p.m., and Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team attempted to make entry into the residence with a wheeled, armored personnel carrier (APC). During the entry, Lang shot multiple rounds at the [APC}, and three members of the Tactical Team returned gun fire, striking lane multiple times.” He was then taken into custody by the Tactical Team members. No other injuries were reported.

 

Update: Iowa State Patrol Trooper dies in Grundy County shooting

News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Safety will hold a press conference this (Saturday) afternoon at 2:30, to provide an update of an officer-involved shooting leading to the death of an Iowa State Patrol Trooper.

The Iowa State Patrol said earlier that an officer-involved shooting was under investigation in Grundy County. The incident happened Friday night. The Iowa State Patrol, Grundy and Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputies were involved.

The Grundy Register has reported police gathered outside a residence after reports of a high-speed chase from Parkersburg that led to the shooting.

Officer involved shooting in eastern Iowa Friday night

News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol has confirmed to KCCI that an officer-involved shooting is under investigation in Grundy County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the incident happened Friday night. The Iowa State Patrol, Grundy and Hardin county were involved.

In a statement to the television station, patrol spokesman, Sgt. Alex Dinkla said “At this time, we are working with the DCI gathering information. Look for more details regarding a press conference that will be held later today.”

The Grundy Register reported police gathered outside a residence after reports of a high-speed chase from Parkersburg that led to the shooting.

Iowa’s wacky spring temperature swings are making planting a risky chore

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s temperatures this spring are rollercoastering, warming into the 80s one day and spiraling into the 30s the next, making it a challenge for farmers to launch into their spring planting. Iowa State University Extension field agronomist Meaghan Anderson says the optimum planting window for Iowa corn has been April 11th to May 18th, but growers need to pay attention to the weather before — and after — planting.

“The date on the calendar, at least in Iowa, is not right quite yet,” Anderson says. “To totally eliminate any risk as far as maybe a frost issue, or just cool temperature effects on our crops after they’ve been put in the ground, so there’s always that risk.” Although having a soil temperature of at least 50 degrees at planting is important, Anderson says that soil temp should remain at 50 degrees or higher — after — planting to prevent injury to the seed.

“We want the soil temps to be about 50 degrees and then we want to make sure the forecast would allow it to be trending warmer after we’re planting,” Anderson says. “That allows some stability in temperature to make sure the crop’s not going to be exposed to any especially cold temperatures.” For those who decide to plant early, she says to keep in mind that crop insurance will not cover a replant until April 11th.

“If a farmer would be relying on the crop insurance to help us replant crops,” she says, “they’ll want to make sure they’re waiting until that replant has kicked in with the crop insurance before they’re planting the first time.” Early planting for soybeans is anytime between April 11th and April 25th. Anderson says growers wanting soil temperature information can access the Iowa Environmental Mesonet at: https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/

DCI celebrates 100 years

News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation celebrated its 100th birthday, riday. During a ceremony at the state capitol, Special Agent Adam DeCamp says the agency was created as the Bureau of Criminal Investigation on April 9th, 1921. “While much has changed with the world since then — the principles that led to the creation of the Bureau remain. The cooperation of effort and purpose between local authorities, the public, and the state,” DeCamp says.

Special Agent Adam DeCamp (at the podium) w/Gov. Reynolds seated on the left & Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper on the right. (Radio Iowa)

DeCamp says the tasks of the agency now best known by the acronym D-C-I have gone from chasing the Barrow gang to regulating Iowa casinos. He says the heinous crimes often overshadowed the work of the agency — which he says is to help the people of Iowa. “For more than 36-thousand days, the men and women of the D-C-I have come to work knowing that each name on a registry represents someone else’s lost innocence. Every piece of evidence represents someone’s broken life. And every phone call in the middle of the night is an invitation to someone’s worst day,” DeCamp says. “Each member of the D-C-I made a conscious choice to stand with our law enforcement partners to ensure that the guilt should not escape, nor the innocence suffer.”

Governor Kim Reynolds spoke about the longevity of the agency. “A hundred years of uninterrupted service to the people of Iowa is a monumental achievement. One made all the more impressive, considering that the agency has only grown better with age,” Reynolds says. Reynolds says she gets a report each month from the D-C-I and says there are many heartwrenching stories. “Stories of pain and brutality, abuse and theft. And of course, heartbreak and bereavement for victims,” she says. ” But D-C-I’s victim-centered approach demonstrates that there’s no contradiction between world-class investigative prowess and treating victims of profound injustice the way we ourselves would want to be treated.”

Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper spoke about his association with the organization. “I’ve worked with a lot of rock-star caliber professionals serving and protecting at the local, state, and federal level. The Iowa D-CI for me had always represented the best of the best, without a doubt,” Tupper says. “The state of Iowa is very fortunate to have high-caliber women and men serving all levels of the D-C-I.” He says the relationships the state agency builds with local officers are invaluable.

The D-C-I joined the new Department of Public Safety in 1939 as a charter bureau. It took over crime scene examination and preservation duties in 1970 with the creation of the criminalistics lab. The law enforcement agencies were unified in 1983 under a larger umbrella and took the Division name.

Iowa COVID-19 update for 4/10/21: 6 additional deaths (2 in Shelby County); 679 additional cases

News

April 10th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus dashboard today (10-a.m., Saturday, 4/10/21) showed there were six additional COVID-19 related deaths reported since 10-a.m. Friday, leaving the statewide pandemic death toll in Iowa at 5,849. There were two additional deaths reported in Shelby County, for a total of 158. There were also 11 new cases reported in Shelby County over the 24-hour period. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 2,290 of the total number of deaths across the state.

There were 679 additional positive test results for COVID-19 returned from the labs, for a total of 385,270. There are now three Long-Term Care facility outbreaks (In Polk, Wapello & Washington Counties), with 27 positive cases among residents and staff within those facilities.

Health officials say COVID-related hospitalizations are 218 (compared to 228 previously). There are 52 COVID patients in an ICU (compared to 49 previously). The IDPH says 47 people were admitted to a hospital across the state, compared to 54 the day before, and19 patients remain on a ventilator.

RMCC Region 4 hospitals (those in western/southwest Iowa) show: There are 32 hospitalized with COVID (Compared with 25 on Friday); 14 COVID patients are in an ICU (There were 11 Friday); Nine people were admitted with symptoms of COVID (3 more than previously reported), and there remain two COVID patients on a ventilator.

The 14-day positivity was unchanged at 4.7%, while the seven-day rate was 4.6%. State data shows 1,794,368 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 733,783 individuals completing the vaccine series.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,417 cases; {+4}; 54 deaths
  • Adair, 959; {+1}; 32
  • Adams, 336 {+0}; 4
  • Audubon, 511 {+2}; 9
  • Guthrie, 1,247 {+4}; 28
  • Harrison County, 1,873; {+2}; 73
  • Madison County, 1,653; {+1; 19
  • Mills County, 1,732; {+3}; 20
  • Montgomery, 1,073 {+1}; 37
  • Pottawattamie County, 11,638; {+37}; 158
  • Shelby County, 1,322 {+11}; 37
  • Union County,  1,320; {+0}; 32

(PODCAST) KJAN News 04/10/2021

News, Podcasts

April 10th, 2021 by admin

w/ Chris Parks

Play

Two arrests in Red Oak Friday night

News

April 10th, 2021 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department reports two separate arrests on Friday.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Officers arrested 21-year-old Tyler Blaine Baucom of Red Oak for OWI Drug 1st Offense. Baucom was arrested at 106 W Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

At approximately 11:21 p.m. Officers arrested 26-year-old Lisa Ann Blake of New Market at the intersection of Highway 34 and K Avenue for Driving While Barred. Blake was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

2 arrested on drug charges in Cass County; Wiota woman arrested for Sex Abuse/Child Endangerment

News

April 9th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Friday (today), said as the result of an ongoing investigation, 32-year-old Jodi Lynn Bailey, of Wiota, was arrested Wednesday, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for three charges of Sex Abuse 2nd Degree (B Felonies) and three charges of Child Endangerment (D Felonies). Bailey was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $100,000 bond.

On April 5th, as a result of a traffic stop, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old Kaseem T. Brewington and 28-year-old Sidney Mannan, both of Schenectady, NY, on one charge each of Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense (Serious). Subjects were cited and released.

And, on April 6th, 33-year-old Jessica Lynn Pedrin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Pedrin was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held without bond.