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Annual Mosquito spraying to begin June 11 in Atlantic

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s annual battle against mosquitoes begins next week. City crews will be out with the fogger to spray from 4-until 7-a.m. every Thursday and Friday, beginning June 11th and 12th.  The spraying will take place weather permitting, throughout the summer, until further notice.

A common mosquito

Omaha man arrested following accident in Griswold

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man was arrested Thursday morning following an accident at Highway 92 and 510th Street, near Griswold. 51-year old Craig Thomas Arellano, of Omaha, was charged with OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000. And, Thursday evening, a 17-year old male was cited for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, following a traffic stop at 205th and Badger Avenue, in the Crescent area.

Illinois man ID’d as body found after Iowa police shootout

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was found dead at the scene of what they say was an ambush on police officers during a night of unrest in Davenport, Iowa, earlier this week. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday identified the dead man as Marquis M. Tousant, of Rock Island, Illinois, which is just across the Mississippi River from Davenport.

Tousant was found dead at the scene of what authorities say was an ambush on an unmarked police truck in an alley early Monday. Police say men fired several times at the truck, wounding the officer who was driving it. Another officer returned fire. Six suspects were later arrested after a high-speed chase.

Top GOP lawmakers developing bill to address police misconduct

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The two top Republicans in the Iowa legislature say they’re preparing legislation to respond to the death of George Floyd and protesters asking for racial justice. Hundreds of peaceful protesters marched past the state capitol last (Thursday) night. “Those voices are being heard and we’ve had conversations with the speaker and with the governor about taking a very positive step forward.”  That’s Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny.

On Thursday, Democratic lawmakers proposed banning most police chokeholds, making it illegal to hire officers with a record of serious misconduct and ensuring the attorney general can investigate police actions. “I think it would be a very good step forward if we could craft a bill that incorporates these ideas, maybe others,” Whitver says, “but we want to make sure we’re listening and these are good ideas that they are bringing forward and we want to see if we can get it done.”

Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says he met privately on Wednesday with the Democratic Leader of the House and an African American state representative from Des Moines to discuss positive actions the legislature might take now. “We had a conversation. I said: ‘With the timeline that we’re working within the legislature, what are some things that we can do immediately to have an impact immediately on the situation before us,'” Grassley says, “and I’m hopeful that some of these things are in response to us having those conversations and I think we can have a productive piece of legislation come from that.”

This week lawmakers reconvened the 2020 legislative session after a hiatus for the initial pandemic response and hope to complete work soon on policy and budget matters. Grassley and Whitver made their comments this (Friday) morning during taping of “Iowa Press” which will air tonight on Iowa P-B-S.

Man charged in torching of Waterloo bowling alley

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities have arrested a man on multiple charges connected to a February 4th fire that heavily damaged a Waterloo bowling alley. Officials believe 29-year-old Kevin Cruz Soliveras was one of several people who forced their way into Maple Lanes Bowling Center and set the fire after stealing money from vending machines, video games and an ATM. Police say an overnight maintenance worker was also robbed of his wallet.

Cruz is charged with first-degree arson, second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary. He’s also facing charges linked to other recent crimes in Waterloo, including a March 5th robbery and fire at the popular Wishbone Restaurant and Bar and the attempted robbery of an armored car outside a bank on March 11th, when one suspect was shot and killed.

DNR investigating wastewater discharge in Fort Dodge

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa— Iowa DNR environmental specialists responded to a wastewater discharge to surface water between the Fort Dodge Industrial Park and the City of Fort Dodge on Thursday.  Officials say a leak from a force main carrying mixed wastewater from both the Cargill Ethanol plant and the CJ Bio America Lysine production plant to the city’s wastewater treatment plant entered a surface water intake that was eventually discharged to Lizard Creek. The bypass was reported to the DNR on Thursday but believed to have started Wednesday evening. Wastewater was rerouted early Thursday morning through another force main to the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater entered a surface intake in a cornfield and discharged to a drainage ditch, which flows into Lizard Creek.

Samples from Lizard Creek have been collected and based on preliminary results, ammonia and oxygen levels appear to test normal.  No impact to aquatic life has been documented as a result of the bypass. Repairs to the force main are to be completed this (Friday) morning. The DNR still encourages caution for anyone in the area of the discharge and reminds residents to keep children and pets away from the discharge area for the next 24 to 48 hours. DNR staff will be onsite again today (Friday), to evaluate Lizard Creek.

Virtual ceremony honors 14 Iowa historic preservation projects

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – A barn in Ogden, a courthouse in Decorah, a tiny cemetery chapel in Avoca and a sprawling military base on the south side of Des Moines – these are just four of the 14 historic preservation projects that were honored in a virtual ceremony Thursday during the annual Preserve Iowa Summit. Chris Kramer, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees the State Historic Preservation Office, says “These outstanding properties give communities a unique sense of pride and place. The adaptive reuse of these iconic buildings is a creative and economic way to revitalize an entire neighborhood.” The IDCA is co-hosting this year’s summit with the City of Dubuque.

The state office presented four awards, for projects that were completed July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019. The nonprofit group Preservation Iowa presented 10 additional awards. Preservation Iowa President Bruce Perry said “It’s thrilling to see owners, architects, contractors and communities work together not only to save Iowa’s historic treasures but to make them focal points to attract new investment into Iowa communities. Preservation is a unique way of using our collective history to prepare for Iowa’s bright future.”

Graceland Cemetery Chapel, Avoca

Among the winners of the “Preservation at its best” awards, was:

Graceland Cemetery Chapel, Avoca
Best Rural Preservation Project
Members of the Newton-Avoca Historical Society teamed up with the City of Avoca to save a tiny octagonal chapel in the local cemetery. Built around 1875, the 320-square-foot chapel now has a refurbished chimney, restored arched windows and new cedar shingles that pay tribute to the original design.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 6/5/20

News, Podcasts

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Play

Iowa COVID-19 dashboard update (7:50-a.m., 6/5/20)

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Friday), reports 316 additional, positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 21,022. The number of deaths since Thursday, increased by 10, to a total of 589.  Out of the 179, 808 Iowans tested for the virus, 158,391 proved to be Negative. And, 12, 436 people have recovered from the virus. RMCC data show 299 are hospitalized with COVID-19, 102 are in an ICU, 23 were admitted over the past 24-hours, and 62 were on ventilators. The IDPH said also, the number of Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks went back down to 40. At those facilities, 1,535 patients/staff have tested positive for the virus, 768 have recovered, and 294 have died.

Here are the latest numbers for Cass and surrounding counties [the number of positive COVID-19 cases, and the (number who have recovered)]:

  • Cass 12 (10)
  • Adair 9 (6)
  • Adams 7 (4)
  • Guthrie 54 (30)
  • Montgomery 10 (6)
  • Pottawattamie 317 (193)
  • Shelby 37 (33).

Woman wanted on warrants arrested in Pottawattamie County, Wednesday

News

June 5th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday, 39-year old Kathleen Ann Beckmann turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office in Council Bluffs, late Wednesday morning. Beckmann was wanted on warrants out of both Pottawattamie and Muscatine Counties, along with a non-extraditable warrant from State of Illinois.  Beckman was transported to the Pott. County Jail.

In addition, three inmates at the Pott. County Jail were presented with additional arrest warrants before being turned over to Corrections Staff. And, two men held in other jails, were transported to Pott. County to face separate charges in the County.