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Villisca man arrested on a drug charge

News

May 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop Monday night in Adams County resulted in an arrest. 19-year old Justice Guy Myers, of Villisca, was arrested at around 9:35-p.m., and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Myers was brought to the Adams County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

2 from PA injured in Pott. County accident, Monday

News

May 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A trailer being pulled by a pickup truck fish-tailed Monday evening, causing a rollover accident in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says the 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup was traveling west on Interstate 80 near Neola at around 7:15-p.m., when the trailer began to sway, possibly due to the wind. The driver, 66-year old Louis David Damico, of Saegertown, PA, tried to correct the vehicles’ path, but the truck and trailer crossed both lanes of traffic.

The truck rolled onto its top and came to rest in the north ditch, while the trailer came to rest on its side in traveled portion of the roadway. Damico, and a passenger in the truck, 66-year old Almeda M. Damico, also of Saegertown, PA, were transported by Neola Rescue to Mercy Hospital. The couple was wearing their seat belts.

2 hurt in Mills County accident, Monday

News

May 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Two people from southwest Iowa were injured in a collision Monday evening, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2011 GMC SUV driven by 42-year old Dawn Marie Hale, of Red Oak, and a 2010 KIA Forte driven by 22-year old Ashley Ann Greedy, of Henderson, collided as one of the vehicles was preparing to the turn north onto County Road M-16 from Highway 34. The accident happened at around 5:30-p.m.

Both women were transported by rescue crews from Red Oak and Malvern respectively, to area hospitals. Hale went to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, while Greedy was transported to Jennie Edmundson in Council Bluffs.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tuesday, May 16th 2017

News

May 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — An 88-year-old sex offender whose attack on an elderly woman led to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling last month has died at a mental health institute. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 88-year-old William Russell Cubbage died Friday at the Independence Mental Health Institute. His death followed a supreme court ruling that the state had no legal responsibility to safeguard a 95-year-old woman who was sexually assaulted by Cubbage. He’d been released from custody and sent to her nursing home.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A special election has been scheduled to fill the Iowa House seat left open by the death of Rep. Greg Forristall. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a proclamation Monday directing a special election on June 27 for House District 22. The district covers Pottawattamie County in southwest Iowa. Forristall, a Republican from Macedonia, died earlier this month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state of Iowa has been billed more than $20,000 so far to fight a second lawsuit challenging a new collective bargaining law. An invoice provided Monday to The Associated Press shows the Belin McCormick law firm in Des Moines is seeking the money for its work in April involving a lawsuit filed by the Iowa State Education Association. Four attorneys collectively worked about 63 hours. One attorney who completed more than 45 of those hours is being paid an hourly rate of $345.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group has taken out a billboard ad down the block from Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Des Moines offices calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman to allow an independent investigation of the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia. Jim Arkedis, a former Defense Department intelligence analysist who heads the 4DPAC, says the group took out the ad because it wants Grassley to know his constituents really care about the issu

Atlantic Parks and Rec Board News

News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director presented a proposal to the Parks Board, Monday, for a Sports Complex Master Plan where the Little League Park and Soccer practice fields currently are of the east side of North Olive Street, across from the KJAN Studios. The concept plan would be created by Snyder and Associates Engineers, at a cost of $13,000. A steering committee comprised of various organizations who currently help to maintain and furnish the complex would be formed that would give those persons the resources and tools they need to begin fundraising efforts for improvements.

Staashelm says a cohesive plan guided by the committee would allow them to pursue grant opportunities that they might not otherwise been able to accomplish on their own. The funds for the plan would come from the FY 2018 Parks and Rec Budget. A steering committee will be formed within the next couple of weeks.

In other business, Staashelm said the Sunnyside Park Block Party is set for Friday, June 2nd. Plans call for live music, free hot dogs, drinks. popcorn and snowcones, courtesy the Kiwanis. There’ll be inflatable playground equipment, lawn games. The Lions Club will open up the old School House at Sunnyside and offer ice cream inside.

The Atlantic Animal Shelter will be on-hand with pets up for adoption, and a chance for kids to walk the dogs possible, with the signing of a waiver. In addition, Atlantic Public Library staff will be on-hand to offer some programs and fun activities. Booths will be available to show visitors the plans for the Schildberg Recreation Area and Sunnyside Pool renovations, and much more.

Another way for the family to have fun, is Movies in the Park (At Sunnyside), beginning June 23rd with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” McCurdy Pumpkin Patch will help sponsor the events and provide popcorn. The last movie will be shown August 11th.

And, Staashelm says the City Pool in Atlantic is set to open 1-p.m. May 27th. For more information on all the activities, follow the Atlantic Parks and Rec Department on their Facebook page, or at atlanticiowa.com on the web.

Branstad, Reynolds caution drivers to be careful during planting & road construction seasons

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s governor and lieutenant governor are urging drivers on Iowa roads to be on the look-out because it’s planting season. “This means an increase in slow-moving vehicles and farm machinery on the roads,” Branstad says. “And these vehicles are out not only from sunrise to sunset, but oftentimes after dark on our country roads which can be narrow and hilly and that can make passing very difficult.”

In 2016, there were 199 accidents in Iowa involving farm vehicles. So far this year, there have been 27 crashes and one person was killed when a pick-up crashed into a tractor. That wreck has been in the national news. Chris Soules, a recent star on A-B-C’s “The Bachelor” reality T-V series, has been charged with felony hit and run for the accident that killed a neighboring farmer. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says neither she nor Branstad are commenting on the case. Reynolds is urging Iowans to take care while driving in construction zones.

“Ninety-four percent of crashes are due to human behavior and that means there is a huge opportunity to change those statistics,” Reynolds says. “Many of the safety tips for driving around farm machinery translate here, too. Avoid distractions. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you and slow down. After all, fines in work zones are doubled.”

Reynolds says during the 2017 construction season, there will be about 500 work zones on state-maintained interstates and highways, plus hundreds more on county roads.

(Radio Iowa)

Farm rents decline for third straight year

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A survey of the amount of money Iowa producers pay to rent an acre farmland shows a decrease for the third straight year. Iowa State University Extension Program specialist Ann Johanns says she and others who conduct the annual report were not surprised by the results. “The statewide peak from our survey was 270 dollars and that was in 2013,” Johanns says. “Since then in the last four years, it has been an accumulated 18-point-nine percent decline.”

The annual report by Iowa State University found the highest rents in the Northeast part of the state with the lowest in the southern three tiers of counties. Johanns says falling crop prices often signal the same for cash rent.. “When we see grain prices come down, it’s very typical that you would see cash rents come down — but maybe not as quickly or with the same trend lines — but they do track together,” Johanns says.

She says prices for corn and soybeans have dropped more than 57 percent. She says a new agriculture secretary and renegotiation of trade deals are likely to have an impact down the road. The 2017 I-S-U cash rent survey included nearly 15-hundred responses from farmers, land owners, ag lenders and realtors.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approves Sunnyside park entryway project

News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board, Monday, heard a proposal from Atlantic Girl Scouts Troop 40116, with regard to the entryway to Sunnyside Park near the Fairgrounds. The girls want to fix the two pillars by power washing them, filling cracks and chips with mortar, and painting the pillars white, as they are now. They also wanted to add a mural.

Girl Scout Troop 40116 presents their idea for cleaning up and reviving the Sunnyside Park entryway.

The mural, designed by the girls and painted by Bill Casteel, would represent the various uses for and activities at, the Park, and serve as a sort of map to the park. The Girl Scout Troop also wants to add landscaping around the pillars, and a decorative iron fixture across the entryway. Something similar was in-place years ago, but only the pillars stand today. Central Western Fabricators, in Atlantic, is providing the two metal tube cross-members. The girls will pay for the lettering.

Parks and Rec Member Charlene Beane wasn’t receptive to the idea of a mural on each pillar. Beane said she’s in favor of giving the entryway a “Tune-up,” but she’s not keen on the mural part. She prefers just plain white pillars. Her reason for being opposed was that the murals would have to be pretty small, and they would not read clearly as motorists pass under the arch and between the pillars. She said “Unless it’s really well done, it’s going to look like graffiti.”

Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm gave the girls credit for their creativity with regard to the mural, and suggested if they aren’t painted on the pillars, they can be used elsewhere nearby. Charlene Beane agreed. He suggested a kiosk near the entrance with their art work would be much better.

The Board gave its approval for the girls to begin the project as soon as they are ready.

Special election set following Iowa lawmaker’s death

News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A special election has been scheduled to fill the Iowa House seat left open by the death of Rep. Greg Forristall. Gov. Terry Branstad signed a proclamation Monday directing a special election on June 27 for House District 22. The district covers Pottawattamie County in southwest Iowa.

Forristall, a Republican from Macedonia, died earlier this month during his sixth term as a lawmaker. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said the 67-year-old Forristall had been battling cancer. The elected individual will finish the remainder of Forristall’s term, serving through 2019.

The Republican-majority House had 59 GOP lawmakers this session and 41 Democrats. The Senate is also controlled by Republicans.

Orient man arrested on drug charges, bond $150,000

News

May 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a man from Orient was being held in the Adair County Jail on $150,000 bond, following his arrest on drug charges Thursday night. 20-year old Garrett Allan Herrmann was arrested by Greenfield Police on charges that include Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp while possessing 42.5-grams of marijuana.

Sheriff Vandewater said also, 31-year old Amanda Leigh Mohr, of West Des Moines, was charged with OWI/2nd offense, Thursday, after her car was observed speeding on Interstate 80 eastbound near the 83 mile marker. Her car was clocked by and Iowa State Patrol Trooper doing 84 mph. When the Trooper got behind her car and pulled her over, her vehicle entered the median and nearly hit a culvert. Mohr was cited for open container and speeding. Her Breath Alcohol Content tested at .183% according to the report. She was brought to the Adair County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

21-year old Cody Allen VanOtterloo, of Stuart, was arrested Saturday night by Greenfield Police, and charged with Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Prescription drugs. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 28-year old Brian Keith Cunningham, of Greenfield, was arrested Saturday evening in Greenfield, for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense (Allegedly Shoving his girlfriend to the ground), 5th Degree Criminal Mischief (for alleged intentional damage of a pair of handcuffs during the booking process) and Contempt of Court/Violation of a No Contact Order. He released the following day on his Own Recognizance.