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Creston Police report: 2 thefts, 1 citation

News

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Two thefts were reported to Police in Creston, Monday. A resident of the 1200 block of N. Chestnut told authorities that sometime between 7-p.m. Friday and 8-a.m. Monday, someone broke into a storage unit he rents at 801 W. Townline. Two cable locators valued at $18,000, were stolen. And, a man residing Nodaway, reported to Creston Police that his vehicle had been towed from the 100 block of N. Elm Street in Creston, sometime during the past week. Missing from the vehicle were two flashlights that were inside the vehicle when it was towed. The loss was estimated at $150.

Creston Police report also, 67-year old David Rooker, of Creston, was cited Monday afternoon on a Failure to Abate a Nuisince, charge. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released at his residence.

Car sales and traffic are picking back up

News

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Traffic and the sale of new cars are both picking back up as the state emerges from the shut down brought on by the coronavirus. Iowa Department of Transportation director of planning, Stuart Anderson, told the Transportation Commission during a workshop Monday traffic numbers bottomed out the week of April 10th. He says all traffic was down 44 percent that week and the interstate traffic was down 47 percent for the same week in 2019. Anderson says traffic volume has increased every week since the low. “We are still below the 2019 levels — but the week that ended last Thursday — total traffic was down 21 percent,” according to Anderson. So, we’ve cut in half the traffic impacts on the state.”

The fees paid when someone buys a new car also saw a drop. “In March they were down a little over 50 percent from April of last year…..in May it’s down a third from what it was,” Anderson says. The car fees and gas tax are used to fund road repairs. Anderson says they had projected a loss of 25 percent in road funding or about 35 million dollars. But those numbers are looking better. He says COVID-19 impact now for the June distribution is a drop of 25 million dollars — which is a 20 percent reduction compared to the previously predicted 25 percent.

Anderson says there is a lot of variability and projections “are highly subject to change.”

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 6/9/20

News, Podcasts

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Lawmakers debate whether face masks are necessary

News

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — There have been some partisan policy disputes now that the 2020 Iowa legislative session has resumed, but there’s some intense public bickering about face masks. Most Democrats have been wearing face coverings. Most Republicans are not. Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, gave two speeches urging his colleagues to wear a mask at all times. “Have respect for us who might have underlying conditions or family members who had them underlying conditions,” Dotzler said. “We’ve even got people who are health care professionals in this room who aren’t doing it.”

Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, the Republican nominee for Iowa’s second congressional district seat, is an eye doctor. Miller-Meeks responded to Dotzler, saying she’s read reams of research that suggests maintaining six-feet of separation is sufficient. “I don’t need to be chastised as a physician on whether I should wear a mask or not wear a mask because I’ve looked at the CDC guidelines…I am, in fact, following those guidelines,” Miller-Meeks says. “…When I’m at a store, at a location, at a restaurant I make sure I’m six feet apart.”

There was no floor debate Monday in the House or Senate. The legislature will reconvene today (Tuesday).

Iowa COVID-19 update, 6/9/20 (as of 10:50-a.m.)

News

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard shows 15 more people have died from the virus over the past 24-hours, for a total of 622. The number of positive cases increased by 259 to 22,177. The number of Negative COVID-19 test results also increased, from 170,635 Monday, to 174,764 today (Tuesday). Another piece of good news: the number of Iowans who have recovered from the virus amounts to 402, for a total of 13,277.

Statewide RMCC data show 255 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase of 10 from Monday. The number of persons in an ICU has decreased from 85 to 82, while the number of persons admitted to a hospital was listed as 16. Two persons were removed from a ventilator. A total of 51 remain hooked-up to the breathing assistance machines.  In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4: Eight people are hospitalized (1 more than Monday); four are in an ICU (3 more than Monday); One person was admitted to a hospital, and two are on ventilators.

Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities reported one less outbreak, with a total of 39. The amount of residents/staff at those facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19 number 1,561 (5 more than previously reported). 858 have recovered, and a total of 309 have died (5 more than Monday).

There’s been a slight change in some of the area county-by-county COVID-19 case and recovery numbers. The counties with changes include:

Cass: 12 persons have recovered of the 13 positive cases.

Audubon: 10 out of 13 have positive cases have recovered

Shelby: 39 positive cases were reported (1 more than the past few days), with 34 recovered.

Pottawattamie: 383 cases (+25 from yesterday), and 220 have recovered (+19 from Monday).

Bill boosts penalties for trespassing at ‘food operation’ — including meat packing plants

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa legislature has passed another bill that toughens penalties for those who trespass at a food operation, including livestock confinements and meat packing plants. Representative Jarad Klein, a Republican from Keota, says it’s a pretty simple concept. “It doesn’t mean you can’t go up and knock on somebody’s door that’s a farmer,” Klein says. “You just can’t go in their livestock building, for example, without permission.”

Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom of Oskaloosa says he was targeted by animal rights protesters who got inside a hog confinement he had leased to someone else and released photos and video the group said showed animal neglect. “The M.O. here is simply lies, deception and intimidation. That’s what they do,” Rosenboom says. “In my case, intimidation to the point of a number of death threats. That’s who we’re dealing with.”

The bill enhances the penalty for trespassing in or on a food operation to an aggravated misdemeanor. A second offense would be a class D felony. Senator Liz Mathis (MATH-iss), a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says what happened to Rozenboom is wrong. “But let me put this in another perspective,” Mathis says. “We have current laws on the books that deal with trespasses…harassment and damage to your reputation,” Mathis says. “We have current laws that will protect you.”

Republican Representative Louie Zumbach of Coggon says current law isn’t protecting barns where livestock is bred and fed. “People are often on our farms without being invited and it needs to stop,” Zumbach says, “and this is the effort to do that.” Critics predict the bill — if the governor signs it into law — will be successfully challenged in court. The bill passed the House and Senate Friday. The enhanced penalties for trespassing in the bill would apply to plants where eggs, milk and fish are processed as well as meat packing plants.

Casinos will push for change in law to allow betting on E-sports

Sports

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission failed to take action on legalizing the betting on E-sports last week after a legal opinion that the state’s gambling law did not allow it. The president of the Iowa Gaming Association, Wes Ehrecke, says the 19-state licensed casinos will work to get state lawmakers to change the law. “We want to go back and visit with a lot of those key legislative leaders and legislators who help support legalizing sports wagering to see if they will include E-sports as another viable option that could be wagered upon,” Ehrecke says.

The Iowa Legislature is back in Des Moines after suspending the session as the coronavirus outbreak took off. He says they will start talks with lawmakers now. “Take the opportunity while they are in session or back to mention what has occurred and at least heighten their awareness to see what might be available — planting the seed at the very least for future opportunities,” Ehrecke says. Ehrecke is not sure lawmakers would have time to take up the issue with all they have going on this year. If not, they would shoot for getting the law change in the next session. He says the goal is to get it passed and authorized.

The I-R-G-C did approve betting on sports games involving E-sports — which is allowed in the gambling law — while direct betting on E-sports is not.

University of Northern Iowa welcomes football players back to campus

Sports

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The University of Northern Iowa began welcoming athletes back to campus beginning today with veteran football players. It is part of a staggered process that will have all athletes back by the end of the month. UNI athletic director David Harris.

Harris says athletes will be monitored daily.

Harris believes bringing back sports at different times is the safest approach.

Panther football coach Mark Farley says about 60 percent of the tream has returned and with it comes a responsibility.

Farley says they will take extra precautions to make sure players are separated as much as possible.

Farley is more confident there will be a complete season with fans but it is not what the team is focused on.

MARILYN IHNKEN, 82, of Atlantic (6-12-2020)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

MARILYN IHNKEN, 82, of Atlantic died Monday, June 8th at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.  Funeral services for MARILYN IHNKEN will be held on Friday, June 12th at 11:00 am at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Atlantic.

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Visitation with the family will be held on Friday from 9:00 am – 11:00 am at the funeral home.

Burial in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

MARILYN IHNKEN is survived by:

Daughter:  Leann (Tony) Baumgarten of Adair.

Brother:  Jack Carstensen of Oakland, NE

3 Grandchildren

1 Great-Grandchild

CHARLOTTE MARY BIERBAUM, 65, of Griswold (Svcs. 6/15/20)

Obituaries

June 9th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CHARLOTTE MARY BIERBAUM, 65, of Griswold, died Monday, June 8th, at home. Funeral services for CHARLOTTE BIERBAUM will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, June 15th, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic. CDC guidelines will be enforced, and per the family’s request, persons attending the funeral are asked to wear a face mask.

Visitation with the family will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, June 14th, from 1-until 4-p.m.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family’s wishes, to be designated at a later date.

CHARLOTTE MARY BIERBAUM is survived by:

Her husband – Dwight Bierbaum, of Griswold.

Her daughters – Shelly (Greg) Asbee, of Colorado Springs, CO; Tammy (Randy) Dill, of Atlantic; Valerie (Jeff) Carlson, of Omaha, NE., and Melanie (Ricky) Rohrig, of Red Oak.

Her sister – Cynthia (Russ) Ranniger.

13 grandchildren, brothers-in-law, David (Sue Ann) Bierbaum and Doug (Joyce) Bierbaum; and sister-in-law, Diane Johnson, other relatives & friends.