Red Oak Police say no injuries were reported when a Red Oak Fire Department truck transporting a person to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, struck a cement pillar near the hospital garage. Officials say 60-year old Terrence Berigan, of Elliott, was driving the 2016 Ford F-550 owned by the City of Red Oak, when he took a turn too sharp on the entrance drive, and struck the cement post that was in-place to protect the hospital garage from getting hit. The accident happened at around 2-p.m., Tuesday. Damage to the pillar was estimated at $50. The truck sustained about $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.

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

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CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — State and local officers are investigating the death of man whose body was found by firefighters in southern Iowa’s Appanoose County. A Centerville Police Department news release sent Tuesday night says the body of 51-year-old Timothy Pasa was found Saturday in a fire-damaged Centerville house. One firefighter was injured battling the blaze but was released from a hospital Sunday morning.
The cause of Pasa’s death hasn’t been released. Investigators also are trying to determine how the fire started.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of a motorcyclist who died Monday in a traffic accident. The accident happened a little after 5 o’clock Monday evening on Highway 61 near Blue Grass. Deputies say 66-year-old James Stowe of Davenport collided with a turning SUV. He was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene. The other driver, a 73-year-old woman from Blue Grass, was not hurt. The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A June 25 hearing is scheduled for a judge to rule on whether a man killed his wife, who disappeared nearly 18 years ago in southeast Iowa. Closing arguments were held Monday in Henry County District Court in the nonjury trial of 58-year-old Michael Syperda. He was charged in December with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Elizabeth Syperda.

She was 22 when she disappeared in July 2000 in Mount Pleasant. Her body was never found. Court records say the couple had been estranged before her disappearance, because she was leaving him for a woman.
Prosecutors say Michael Syperda threatened and stalked his wife. His attorney says there is no evidence linking him to her disappearance or death, if indeed she’s been killed.

Michael Syperda didn’t testify at the trial.

Republicans in Iowa’s congressional delegation are praising President Trump for withdrawing the United States from the Iran Nuclear Deal. Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have opposed the agreement since it was negotiated and approved by the Obama Administration. Ernst says Iran remains a threat in the Middle East and loopholes in the deal meant Iran would eventually be able to restart its nuclear program. Grassley says the deal got “worthless commitments from a deceitful and repressive regime” and Grassley says the U.S. is showing “global leadership” by pulling out of the deal.

Congressman David Young, a Republican from Van Meter, says it’s time to hold Iran accountable for its support of Syria’s dictator and terror networks in the region. Reinstating economic sanctions against Iran is the right move, according to Young.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A police officer in southeastern Iowa has been charged with domestic abuse assault after being accused of attacking her girlfriend with a knife. The Des Moines Register reports that that 25-year-old Oskaloosa Officer Janay Pritchett was charged last week. Officials say police were called to her home the night of May 3, and Pritchett’s girlfriend told police that they had been arguing when Pritchett attacked her. Pritchett has been placed on paid administrative leave.

POSTVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died after a tree fell on him while he was cutting it down in northeast Iowa. The accident occurred Sunday afternoon in Postville. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office identified him as 65-year-old Stephen Smith, who lived in Postville.

LA PORT CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of candles cast a glow over people who gathered to remember an eastern Iowa teenager who’s been missing for more than a month. The vigil Monday night at Wolf Creek Landing in La Porte City was held for 16-year-old Jake Wilson, who on April 7 told his family he was headed for the creek.

HANCOCK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’re found three dog carcasses and more than 40 malnourished dogs and puppies at a rural kennel in western Iowa’s Pottawattamie County. The dogs were discovered Sunday at Young Gunz Kennel, which sits about 2 miles southeast of Hancock. Court records don’t indicate that any charges have been filed against owner Dustin Young. He told The Daily Nonpareil that he’s sorry about what happened to the dogs.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Louisiana man on Monday morning. At 2:08am Monday Deputies conducted a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Kentucky Avenue. Upon further investigation 44-year-old Bryan Barrett of Baton Rouge, LA was placed under arrest for Driving Under Suspension and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle. No further details were released.

Atlantic is celebrating its 150th year of being a city, and there are many events going on throughout the year, as evidenced by the continually updated list on the City’s Website, but many have questioned when a “big event” to commemorate the celebration will be held. Today (Tuesday), it was determined that all the elements will come together October 13th, in conjunction with the Atlantic Fireman’s Parade. PLEASE NOTE, this is a change from what was first announced on KJAN and posted on our social media pages. The change came late Tuesday evening. What happens in between, is up to YOU.

During a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, at City Hall, Mayor Dave Jones, City Clerk Barb Barrick and Steve Livengood (The latter two form the Sesquicentennial Committee), stressed this is YOUR celebration, Atlantic, and it’s up to your group, organization or committee, to come up with a plan on what you want to see happen, and then make it happen through volunteers. Livengood says nothing is off the table.

He said people can organize a quilting bee, a thresher’s show, a baseball game or anything you want, and the Committee will help to coordinate those events to the benefit of the visitors and citizens. There’s no shortage of ideas, according to Barrick, Livengood and Mayor Jones, just the means to pull off the event with volunteers.

Mayor Jones said there’s a lot of talk, a lot of chatter, about the Sesquicentennial Celebration what’s not happening, what’s going to happen. And for those things, groups of people can get together…and make it happen. It’s YOUR Sesquicentennial. Jones was asked why the Chamber isn’t involved in the Sesquicentennial. Their Board, he said, told him they have too much going on, with AtlanticFest. They said “We’ll support you all you want, but we’re going to do AtlanticFest. You do what you want.” He asked the Board if they can’t tie in the Sesquicentennial…the short answer was “no.”

A meeting of the Sesquicentennial Committee will take place 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Bring your PLAN…not your idea…and how you or your group will pull it off. No matter how big or small your plan is. And that doesn’t mean that if your group or organization has something planned for later in the year, that it can’t be done. The main focus now, is having events going on all day, or at least most of the day, on OCTOBER 13th.

For a list of current events taking place this year, go to the following website: http://www.atlanticiowa.com/atlantic/ and look for the Sesquicentennial Celebration link on the front page, which will take you to a PDF calendar that is updated as events or activities are made known. There’s also information on the Atlantic Sesquicentennial Facebook page.

This Friday, Governor Kim K. Reynolds and the State of Iowa will honor six officers killed in the line of duty, including two from Pottawattamie County.  Each of the men died while serving to protect and keep Iowa communities safe.  You’re invited to attend the ceremony on Friday, May 11th, to honor the fallen peace officers, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the years.

Those set to be honored 10-a.m. Friday at the Peace Officer Memorial located near the Oran State Office Building in Des Moines (215 E. 7th St.), include:

• Special Officer Timothy O’Brien – Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, E.O.W. (End Of Watch) October 2, 1893
• Special Officer Charles E. Crill – Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, E.O.W. March 17, 1917
• Deputy William A. Maxwell – Plymouth Co. Sheriff’s Office, E.O.W. November 16, 1919
• Deputy Robert McKinley – Pottawattamie Co. Sheriff’s Office, E.O.W. March 13, 1947
• Officer William E. Hickman – Indianola Police Department, E.O.W. December 6, 1957
• Deputy Mark Burbridge – Pottawattamie Co. Sheriff’s Office, E.O.W. May 1, 2017

In the event of rain, the ceremony will take place in the State Capital Rotunda. If you are unable to attend this year’s ceremony, there are many ways you can observe National Police Week, during May 13-19, 2018. Please take time and thank current and retired peace officers for protecting and serving your community and the great State of Iowa.