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(Podcast) KJAN 8:05-a.m. News, 2/25/21

News, Podcasts

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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

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Afton man arrested for Assault on a Police officer & other charges

News

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Casey Welcher

The Creston Police Department reports a traffic stop in the 600 block of Sheldon at around 10-p.m. Wednesday, resulted in a man being arrested on assault and other charges. Authorities say 28-year old Casey Welcher, of Afton, was arrested on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, Assault on a Police Officer without injury, Criminal Mischief 5th degree and Driving While Barred. Welcher was being held in the Union County Jail on a $3,600 bond.

And, at around 3-a.m. today (Thursday), 20-year old Joel William Blazek, of Creston, was arrested at Fremont and New York Streets. Blazek was charged with Driving While Suspended. He was taken to Union County Jail, and soon thereafter released on bond.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News, 2/25/21

News, Podcasts

February 25th, 2021 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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Red Oak man arrested on multiple drug charges

News

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Wednesday night, executed a search warrant at 904 N. Boundary Street. During their investigation, Officers arrested 27-year old Ozzy Ray Hunter, of Red Oak, on charges that include:

  • Unlawful Possession of Prescription drug(s)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana/3rd offense
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or great offense
  • Gathering for use of Marijuana
  • and three counts of Child Endangerment.

Hunter was taken into custody at around 10:50-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $2,000 bond. Authorities say additional charges are pending.

Iowa DOT Officer lucky to be alive after her SUV was hit by a semi near Hamburg

News

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media, Wednesday, a statement that read “Our local DOT Officer was very lucky to survive today as she was hit while directing traffic on Interstate 29 assisting DOT workers.”

According to the Iowa State Patrol, at around 2:45-p.m., a Volvo semi registered to a company out of Denver, CO., was traveling in the right-hand lane of I-29 southbound near the Exit 1 overpass. A 2015 Chevy Tahoe was also in the right-hand lane, traveling south, with its driver, 56-year old Theresa Ann Fox, of Ankeny, providing traffic control for a DOT Highway repair crew conducting pavement patching.

Photos via Fremont County Sheriff’s Office & Officer Fox.

The Tahoe was traveling slowly with its rear emergency lights activated and arrow stick directing traffic to merge left, upon approach. The semi, driven by 34-year old Makalim Rafkat, of Hollywood, FL, failed to merge left, and struck the rear of the Tahoe, causing the SUV to leave the road to right before it rolled over, coming to rest on its wheels.

DOT Officer Fox was transported by Hamburg Rescue to Grape Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released. She said on social media, “I’m alright. Seat belts save lives.” The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office added, “ Please move over and slow down for stopped vehicles on the roadway.”

Council Bluffs convenience store robbed Wed. night

News

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the armed robbery late Wednesday night, of a convenience store. Authorities say at around 11-p.m., a black male entered the Kwik Shop at 1749 West Broadway.  The suspect approached the clerk and displayed a handgun while demanding money. He then left the store in a dark colored Chevrolet Malibu with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured in this incident.

The suspect is about 5’ 2” tall. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, and a surgical mask. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328‐4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Feb. 25 2021

News

February 25th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Republicans have cast the final vote needed to send a bill to the governor that sharply limits early voting in the state, months after a general election overseen by a Republican secretary of state that saw record turnout and overwhelming victories by GOP candidates. Like states across the country with Republican legislatures, Iowa lawmakers said early voting must be reined in because of the potential for fraud, even after a successful election in a state with no history of problems. The House passed the bill Wednesday a plan approved by the Senate a day earlier, Democrats who are outnumbered in both chambers were left aghast but in no position to stop the changes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Democratic attorney general has installed the Republican governor’s lawyer into a high-level job in which he is defending his former boss’ policy agenda and management decisions in court. Weeks after joining Attorney General Tom Miller’s staff, Sam Langholz has participated in cases defending Gov. Kim Reynolds’ coronavirus restrictions, her law requiring a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, her denial of overtime pay to some nurses, and her administration’s ouster of a longtime public health spokeswoman. Miller and Reynolds announced Langholz’s appointment as an assistant attorney general for civil and appellate litigation in November.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Ames say an autopsy shows the death last month of a 21-year-old woman outside an Iowa State University sorority house was caused by acute alcohol intoxication and hypothermia. Emergency responders found the body of Olivia Chutich on the ground in the parking lot of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority the morning of Jan. 22. Chutich was the daughter of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chutich and Allina Health CEO Penny Wheeler. Investigators have said Chutich was last seen late the night before she was found and believe she had been lying in the parking lot for several hours before she was found. No foul play is suspected.

Carroll man arrested for Public Intox in Red Oak

News

February 24th, 2021 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday evening of 46-year-old Eric Stephen Pierson of Carroll on a charge of Public Intoxication. Pierson was arrested at 6:12 p.m. in the 600 block of East Washington Street in Red Oak. Pierson was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Atlantic School Board sets date for Public Hearing on the Certified Budget

News

February 24th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education held a Special Meeting Wednesday evening that was also broadcast via YouTube. During their session at the High School Media Center, the Board approved discussing the Certified Budget on March 10th, and holding a Public Hearing on the Budget March 24th, with certification of the budget that same night. Superintendent Steve Barber said the State requires the Certified Budget for the three counties served by the District, to be submitted by April 15th. The Board approved Contract Recommendations for: James Todd, Chemistry and Physics Teacher. Todd comes to Atlantic from the CAM School District, where he is the Chemistry Teacher; and Cayleigh McBee, as High School Special Education Teacher. McBee is in the process of finishing her Master’s Degree in Special Education.

The Board also approved the resignations of: Rebecca Drake, H.S 1:1 Paraeducator; Diane Schuler, MS Paraeducator, and Henry Hallgren, HS Government Teacher. Afterward, the Board approved Open Enrollment applications, and tentative two-year agreements for 2021-2022 /22-23 Master Contracts with the Atlantic Education Association and Employees Association. Superintendent Steve Barber explained what the Certified Staff package entails. He said a BA Degree, which is the first lane, will see an increase of $1,425 or 4% for the first year of the contract.

A similar increase takes place for the 2022-23 school year.

The Board discussed at length, the District’s 1:1 (one-to-one) Computer Plan. The District uses Apple products currently. The original plan was for four-years, but so far they’ve managed to get seven-years of use. Technology Director Roger Warne said the district has a “Hodge Podge” of 13 different devices that they are trying to manage, between the MacBook Air’s and Chromebooks of various types of MacBook Pros, etc.

The District’s programs must be removed before the computers can be sold to other vendors or the public.

Chromebooks would be provided to students in grades 1 through 12 that are exactly the same device in all grades. Kindergartners and preschoolers would receive an I-Pad, which is easier for the kids and teachers to work with. The Board agreed to put out an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the purchase of 1,400 Chromebook licenses with a decision on the purchase to be made during the Board’s March 10th Board meeting, assuming the cost of licenses is known by then. The licenses and touch screen devices would be purchased soon thereafter with the District’s CARE dollars.  Technology Director Roger Warne says he has three vendors he can get an RFP from. Once he has the licenses, he said it doesn’t matter what device they are used on.

Cass County School Districts receive supplemental school supplies from County Dem’s

News

February 24th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports each of the three Cass County school districts has received a supplemental distribution of school supplies from the Cass County Democratic Party. “Some very generous monetary donations came into our office after the autumn drive was over,” Toelle said. “It was decided to wait to distribute them until the second semester to fill in any gaps that students might have in their supplies,” she explained.

Nigel Horton, Griswold Elementary School Principal, and Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Party Chair

Dorene South, CAM Middle School Secretary, Sherry Toelle, and Cheri Chester, CAM South Elementary School Secretary

Washington Elementary School Staff and Sherry Toelle

Toelle went on to state that the annual school supply drive would be held from mid-July to mid-August so that Cass County children would be able to start the new school year with new supplies. She said “This is something we do every year and it is great to see how the community supports the cause.”