The City Council in Walnut will hold a Special Meeting beginning this evening at 5. On their agenda is discussion with regard to: the future and finances of, the Wellness Center; the Community Center, involving Family, Inc.; RAGBRAI, and, the transfer of Debt Service Institute.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, heard a request from officials with the City of Orient, with regard to Wind Turbines. County Auditor Mandy Berg says Gary Metzger, Orient City Councilman, asked if the City could TIF the turbines located within a two-mile radius of the City. It was the consensus of the Board to allow Tax Increment Financing for those particular turbines.

And, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater made a request to the Board with regard to two staffers receiving Holiday Pay.  Berg said the Sheriff is short-staffed right now, so two of his dispatchers will be working the holiday. Usually, they only receive Holiday Pay for eight-hours, but because the Sheriff’s Office operates on 12-hour shifts. The Sheriff asked for those employees to receive 12-hours of holiday pay instead of just eight.

The Board agreed to allow Memorial Day and July 4th as Holiday Pay. After July 1st, the Board may enact a change in policy for those and other holidays. And, the Adair County Board of Supervisors held a Public Hearing on a FY 2019 Budget Amendment, during which there were no comments from the public. The amendment was subsequently approved as well as the appropriations.

(Radio Iowa) — As the American Red Cross responds to another round of deadly tornadoes overnight, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is introducing legislation that aims to make sure the relief agency is spending its funds appropriately. Grassley, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, says his bill would give a congressional watchdog group more complete access to Red Cross records for oversight. “It’s a tax-exempt organization,” Grassley says. “My committee has responsibility over making sure tax exemption is used properly.”

He says the bipartisan American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2019 responds to concerns the agency tried to halt a review by the Government Accountability Office and limited the scope of the review. “We feel that there hasn’t been enough transparency on the part of this federally-chartered organization,” Grassley says, “and that’s pretty important because most non-profits aren’t federally-chartered, very few are.”

The American people rely on the Red Cross to respond when tragedy strikes and it receives federal tax dollars for some of its disaster responses. Grassley says Congress has a responsibility to make sure the Red Cross answers questions asked on the public’s behalf and is operating up to the standards required of it during disasters. “The bottom line is, the Red Cross needs to share their books with the federal government when it’s investigated,” Grassley says. “And we want to make sure the Government Accountability Office has access to the records so the Red Cross can’t impede government review.”

Grassley says the Red Cross has shown an “unwillingness” to answer questions in the past and the legislation strengthens transparency to make the agency more accountable to the public.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 30-year old Floyd Frank Ezell, who was convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility as required Tuesday afternoon, and has removed his GPS device.  Ezell is a black male, 6-feet 4-inches tall and weighing 158 pounds.

Floyd Frank Ezell

Ezell was admitted to the work release facility on April 11, 2019.  Persons with information on Ezell’s whereabouts should contact local police. This latest escape is the fifth such incident to have occurred at a Residential Corrections facility in Iowa, over the past week.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a woman being held in the Sarpy County, NE., Jail, was transported to the Pott. County Jail Wednesday morning. 21-year old Lashana Janae Westbrook, of Omaha, was wanted on two felony warrants for Forgery, and for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Her bond was set at $17,000.

A woman was transported from the Douglas County, NE. Jail to Pott. County, Wednesday, to address warrants from Pott. County for Absence from Custody and Violation of Probation. 30-year old Shanta Rena Wood, of Omaha, was being held on $1,000 bond. A man being held in the Shelby County Jail on a Pott. County warrant for escape from a Residential Corrections Facility, was transported to Pott. County Wed. afternoon. 28-year old Anthony Michael Benett, of Council Bluffs, was being held in the Pott. County Jail on the warrant, and on a hold for the RCF. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, an Omaha man being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, was served with a warrant Wednesday for Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree – Child Under 12/1st offense. 35-year old Joshua James Black was read the warrant and returned to his cell, where he was being held without bond.

Council Bluffs Police say one person was injured by gunfire early today (Thursday), following an apparent attempt to steal a vehicle. Authorities say just after 4-a.m., the residents of 2902 Avenue K were awakened by the sound of someone starting one of the residents’ vehicles, which was parked in a detached garage.

19-year old Eric Martinez and 20-year old Carmen Hernandez left the house to investigate, and saw three men near their garage. The three men took off running eastbound through an alley, with Hernandez in a foot pursuit. During the chase, one of the three suspects fired multiple rounds toward her from a handgun. Hernandez was struck once in the lower leg.Hernandez was taken by ambulance to Jennie Edmundson Hospital for treatment. Her injury is not life threatening.

Officials say it appears the suspects were unable to steal the vehicle, because they could not open the garage door. Responding officers were unable to locate any of the suspects in the area.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Council Bluffs police detectives at 712‐328‐4728, or tips can be left anonymously, by calling 712‐328‐STOP (7867).

(Radio Iowa) — Five eastern Iowa men have been charged with sex trafficking, often in the Johnson County area. Twenty-one-year-old Isaiah Devon Patterson is accused of using advertising to sell sex with a minor girl. Twenty-five-year-old Arrion Marcus West is accused of forcing TWO minors to have sex for money.

Thirty-nine-year-old Albert Kelly Price is charged with paying THREE minors to have sex in hotels and other locations. Fifty-two-year-old Kendall Andrew Steb has been charged with a variety of sex trafficking, drug and firearm offenses. And Forty-year-old Tommy Tate Collins is charged with sex trafficking a minor and giving the victim marijuana and cocaine.

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

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Two people were arrested on separate charges late Wednesday morning, in Creston. Police say 41-year old Lindsey Woollums, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. She was released from custody on a $300 bond. And, 43-year old Tommy Moad, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested in Creston on a Union County warrant for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. The charges were summarily dismissed, and Moad was released from the Union County Jail.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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