ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — A 7-week-old baby is being treated for skull fractures and brain bleeds after she was hit in the head by a softball while watching her father play in northeastern Iowa. Authorities say the overthrown softball struck McKenna Hovenga and her mom, Kassy, as they watched the game Wednesday in Shell Rock, some 95 miles northeast of Des Moines. McKenna’s father, Lee Hovenga, was in the game.
McKenna was taken to a local hospital then flown to St. Mary’s Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page said that after 48 hours without a seizure, doctors have started to wean McKenna off her seizure medication. A neurologist told the family that McKenna’s brain activity is calming down.

Police in Creston report the arrest on a Theft charge, Monday afternoon, of 22-year old Fransisco Martinez, of Creston. He was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree, and later released on a $1,000 bond.

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

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AMES, Iowa  (May 8, 2018) — Landus Cooperative today (Tuesday) announced it has signed an asset purchase agreement with ADM to acquire ADM’s grain facility in Manilla, Iowa. Under the purchase agreement, Landus Cooperative gains more than 2.3 million bushels of grain capacity for its first wholly-owned Crawford County, Iowa location including

·         775,000 bushels of upright storage

·         More than 1.5 million bushels of bunker storage

·         32,000 bushel per hour receiving capacity

Pending final documentation, Landus Cooperative is slated to take possession June 1, 2018. Milan Kucerak, chief executive officer for Ames, Iowa- based Landus Cooperative said in a news release, “This Manilla, Iowa site is a strategic purchase for Landus Cooperative and farmers in western Iowa,” explained . “While this grain asset has been well cared for, we expect to improve efficiency on behalf of the customer utilizing best practices from our nearly 60 grain locations in Iowa. Our domestic and international grain end-users continue to demand high-quality corn and soybeans, and we know Crawford County, Iowa farmers can help meet that demand.”

Under terms of the purchase agreement, ADM and Landus Cooperative plan to honor all outstanding grain contracts. Landus Cooperative also plans to host a grower meeting shortly after final documents are signed, and the facility changes ownership. According to the North American Grain & Milling Annual ranking of the largest grain companies in North America based on storage, ADM ranks 2nd and Landus Cooperative ranks 6th.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University officials say they’re making changes in how the university responds to reports of sexual violence. The university has been hit with sexual assault lawsuits alleging that the university mishandled the cases, including one settled Monday for $47,500. The woman’s attorney, Tom Newkirk, told The Des Moines Register the settlement might have been higher if he and his client had not been satisfied the university is taking action.

Officials say changes include an overhaul of the sexual misconduct policy, the start of a sexual misconduct prevention initiative, and new training for all employees. The university also has scheduled a public forum Wednesday concerning a recent “campus climate” survey. Among the findings: 11 percent of respondents indicated they had experienced unwanted sexual contact or conduct while at the university.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a man who had just left his eye doctor, and had dilated eyes, was involved in a two-vehicle collision at around 3:30-p.m. Monday, just north of Red Oak. A 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 62-year old Rodney Sowers, of Red Oak, whose eyes were dilated, was northbound on Highway 48, when his vehicle crossed the center line of the road and struck a southbound 2016 Chevy Silverado owned by Schildberg Construction, and driven by 39-year old Jerry Funke, of Menlo. Damage from the collision amounted to $28,000. No injuries were reported. Sowers was cited for Failure to Yield half of the road.

Red Oak Police, Monday evening, arrested 28-year old Bruce Anthony Kaimann, Jr., of Red Oak. Kaimann, Jr. was taken into custody in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street at around 7:35-p.m., for Disorderly Conduct and Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report the arrest at around 6:35-p.m. Monday, of 48-year old Dodie Lyn Shaffer, of Knoxville. Shaffer was arrested following a traffic stop on one of two vehicles that were reportedly all over the road on Highway 34, and not letting vehicles pass. After Deputies stopped a white Buick at Highway 34 and Walnut Avenue, the owner gave permission to search the car. Located inside the trunk inside an eyeglass case, was a meth pipe and a syringe. Shaffer was subsequently arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $300.

Numerous out buildings were lost to fire Monday evening in rural Guthrie Center. According to reports, the blaze, which destroyed a barn and other buildings on a farm south of Guthrie Center, at 2471 270th Street, was reported at around 7-p.m.

The resident of the farmstead, who reportedly has lived on the property her entire life, said she woke up from a nap to find the buildings on fire. Her residence, however, was not damaged, and there were no injuries. Also, no livestock were lost.

Firefighters from Guthrie Center, Menlo and Stuart, along with the woman’s neighbors, responded to help put out the flames. Officials say the fire was started by wind rekindling sticks in a burn barrel that were ignited earlier in the day, Monday.

Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet during a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the Middle School Media Center. The meeting begins with a Public Hearing with regard to the 2017-18 Amended Certified Budget, which, as presented does not call for an increase in taxes paid in the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2018. Instead, the change in estimates of expenditures will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted or considered in the current budget.

One of the action items on their agenda concerns the 2018 Master Contract Agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff (teachers, etc.). During the meeting, Superintendent Steve Barber is expected to recommend the Board approve the tentative agreement as presented.

The agreement, as proposed, calls for a $480 increase on the base, with no step movement. The total package increase is 1.90%, for a total cost to the District of $139,367. In other business, the Board will act on the resignations of High School Para-educator Brian Thompson, and Middle School ELA Teacher Jennifer Hartwig.

The Board will also act on approving bids for Milk, bread and trash collection, along with 70/30 Sharing Agreement for Atlantic’s Business Manager, with the CAM School District CAM receiving the services of Atlantic School District Business Manager Sarah Sheeder 30% of the time. In return, CAM will provide 30% of the cost associated with the shared position. Since the business manager position is one that fits under the Operational Sharing legislation, each district will receive additional revenue.