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House fire in Atlantic Wednesday morning

News

September 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Update 7:40-a.m.) Firefighters and rescue personnel from Atlantic were called to a house fire at 107 E. 9th Street at around 3:19-a.m. today (Wednesday). Atlantic Police Officer Spencer Walton and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh McLaren were the first to arrive on the scene after seeing smoke a couple of blocks away. They reported the home was fully engulfed and that they could not get close enough to determine if anyone was inside, due to the intense heat. The house is owned by Dean Adams. The current resident was identified as Rick Parrot. He was not home at the time.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.  Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News the blaze apparently started in the northeast corner of the home, near the main door/living room area. He said also there were no utilities connected to the home, which sustained significant damage and will likely be declared a total loss. Crews were on the scene for a little more than 2 1/2 hours.

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Atlantic Fire and Rescue was assisted at the scene by Atlantic Police, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Medivac Ambulance.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 9/5/18

News

September 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa-related news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether U.S. Rep. Rod Blum violated any rules related to his role in an outside business. A statement Tuesday from the committee chair and ranking member says the committee will continue a previously unannounced investigation into the actions of the Iowa Republican. The statement says the committee plans to announce its results in December, after a midterm election in which Blum faces a difficult campaign.

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Filmmaker Tyler Perry and a prominent attorney have announced a lawsuit against a former Florida sheriff’s deputy connected to the disappearance of two minority men almost 15 years ago. Perry and Benjamin Crump said Tuesday that the lawsuit in a state court alleges former Collier County deputy Steve Calkins was responsible for the death of Terrance Williams, a black man who disappeared in 2003.

ALGONA, Iowa (AP) — Some farm buildings, trees and utility poles in rural north-central Iowa have been damaged by what officials believe was a tornado that briefly touched down. Kossuth County Emergency Manager David Penton says trained spotters saw what looked like a tornado touch down just southwest of Algona around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Penton says buildings used in a hog confinement operation were damaged. He said no injuries had been reported.

VALIER, Mont. (AP) — The problem of Native American women who go missing or are killed is getting new attention among lawmakers and activists. In this era of the #MeToo movement, there’s a push to find out how many of these women have vanished or been killed and develop ways for authorities to better pursue these cases. One U.S. senator has proposed new legislation. Some states also are trying to get a better handle on the scope of the problem and help the families of these women.

Iowa hunter shot on opening day of squirrel season

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

LEHIGH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say north-central Iowa man has been shot while squirrel hunting at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area near Lehigh. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the incident happened Saturday when 55-year-old Sao Bunpan was shot in the upper chest by his brother, 50-year-old Khor Bunpan. Both men live in Webster City.

Authorities say the two brothers were hunting together with a party of four for the opening day of squirrel hunting in Iowa. Sao Bunpan was taken to a Webster City hospital and then to a Des Moines hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Conservation officers are investigating, but preliminary efforts have led officials to believe the shooting was an accident. No charges have been filed.

Trained spotters report tornado in north-central Iowa

News, Weather

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ALGONA, Iowa (AP) — Some farm buildings, trees and utility poles in rural north-central Iowa have been damaged by what officials believe was a tornado that briefly touched down.

Kossuth County Emergency Manager David Penton says trained spotters saw what looked like a tornado touch down just southwest of Algona around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Penton says buildings used in a hog confinement operation were damaged. He said no injuries had been reported.

The National Weather Service at Des Moines issued a tornado warning for the area that expired around 4:15 p.m. Penton says it will be up to the weather service to confirm whether it was a tornado that hit the area.

Man who allegedly tried to rob a bar in Guthrie County is in custody

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest has been made in connection with the August 27th attempted robbery of a bar in Jamaica. 22-year-old Andrew Onnen, of Guthrie Center, was taken into custody Sunday afternoon. He faces a felony charge of second degree robbery, following an investigation into the incident at ToJo’s Bar and Grill.

The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Panora Police Department assisted in the arrest. Onnen was being held in the Guthrie County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

January sentencing for man who admitted threatening judge

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Ottumwa man who once threatened to kill then-President Barack Obama is scheduled to be sentenced in January for threatening a federal judge.

Federal court records say Matthew James Howard has pleaded guilty to threatening the judge and to mailing a threatening communication. His sentencing is set for Jan. 10 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Howard, who is serving prison time for robbery and burglary, received an additional three years in September 2013 for writing letters threatening to kill Obama and a judge earlier that year.

Howard was indicted in April for threatening U.S. Judge Linda Reade in a letter sent from prison in Anamosa in November.

House Ethics Committee discloses review of Iowa congressman

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether U.S. Rep. Rod Blum violated any rules related to his role in an outside business. A statement Tuesday from the committee chair and ranking member says the committee will continue a previously unannounced investigation into the actions of the Iowa Republican.

The statement says the committee plans to announce its results in December, after a midterm election in which Blum faces a difficult campaign. The investigation stems from a February story by The Associated Press into Tin Moon, an internet marketing business that Blum and a business partner began in 2016 during his first term.

Blum failed to disclose that he was a director of the business as required by House rules. Also, an online ad featured Blum’s chief of staff falsely posing as a satisfied customer.

Mills County Sheriff’s report (9/4/18)

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County  Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past few days. On Monday, 56-year old Christine Jean Hobson, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution/Jail. Her bond was set at $5,000. Also arrested Monday, was 41-year old Clyde William Larcom, of Bellevue, NE. He was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000.

At around 4:40-a.m. Sunday, 21-year old Estuardo Carreto-Diaz, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense, No Valid ID, Leaving the scene of an accident, Failure to Maintain Control, and for Open Container. Bond was set at $1,000.

Friday afternoon, 37-year old Colleen Lyn Salmons, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension and Speeding. Bond $300. And, Friday night, 23-year old Kinzey Kay Long, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Long was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, pending a court appearance.

Red Oak woman arrested on drug charge in Mills County

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Katie Rose Carnes, of Red Oak, was arrested Saturday afternoon on a drug charge, following a traffic stop for a vehicle registration violation. Upon further investigation and a search of the vehicle, prescription pills were found. Carnes was arrested for Possession of a Schedule 4 Controlled Substance. She was booked into the Mills County Jail without incident. Bond was set at $1,000.

Early Saturday morning, a traffic stop in Mills County on a vehicle with an equipment violation, resulted in the arrest of 45-year old Jason Kibat, of La Vista, NE. Kibat, who was a passenger in the vehicle, had an outstanding warrant out of Douglas County, NE., for being a Fugitive From Justice. He was also found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Kibat was arrested on the warrant, Possession of a controlled substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,300.

Public hearing in Atlantic on amendment to Zoning Reg’s, re: Fencing

News

September 4th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council will act on several matters pertaining to infrastructure during their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. A Public Hearing will also be held with regard to an amendment to Chapter 165 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, which pertains to Zoning Regulations. The amendment is with regard to fencing in Industrial and Commercial Zones.

Gary Richter, of Atlantic, would like to erect an eight-foot chain link fence with barbed wire around his impound yard. Current Zoning does not accommodate that request in any aspect. City Administrator John Lund suggests that heavy industrial areas be allowed to use a fence of 10-feet in height, with barbed wire as a permitted use. Such as change would also allow for variations from the six-foot limit in those same areas, by a Conditional Use Permit for construction on existing facilities, which requires a hearing from the Board of Adjustment, or variations to be a part of the site plan approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), which recently approved unanimously, to amend the Zoning Ordinance to better accommodate the needs of commercial and industrial development in their proper zones.

The hearing will be followed by the first reading of Ordinance pertaining to the amendment as written. There will also be a first reading on an amendment to an Ordinance with regard to speed limits, especially as it pertains to Sunnyside lane, where a 1,650-foot stretch of the road is unregulated to near 22nd Street. The change would make the entire stretch of Sunnyside, from 10th to 22nd, a 25-mile per hour zone.