DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman who played Mrs. Claus on yearly holiday rounds with her husband as Santa has been killed in a traffic accident on an icy road.
The Des Moines Register reports 79-year-old Joyce Daniels was killed and her husband, 79-year-old Jack Daniels, was injured in the Saturday morning accident.
The St. Charles couple was heading home after playing Santa and Mrs. Claus at a bank in the town of Winterset. Authorities say the vehicle hit ice on the road and rolled over once before landing upside-down in a ditch.

Jack’s brother, Larry Daniels, tells the newspaper Jack remains hospitalized with broken bones and other injuries. He says the couple had been playing the holiday roles for at least 15 years.

Police in Red Oak say a woman who held authorities at bay for about 90-minutes Monday afternoon was arrested on numerous charges. 50-year old Christine Courtney Ryan, of Red Oak, was taken into custody by the Red Oak K9 unit after officers broke down a door and entered a residence where she was holed-up with multiple weapons in a bedroom. Ryan was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, assault on a peace officer and/or health care worker, and interference with official acts.

The incident began when the Montgomery County’s Communication Center received a 911 call from 510 West Washington Avenue with regard to a domestic disturbance. A man said his significant other had fired a gun at him and chased him from the residence. Red Oak Police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to scene, where  they met with the caller and established a perimeter around the residence. Authorities learned from the male subject that Ryan was inside the home, armed with several firearms and heavily intoxicated. Residents in the area were evacuated while authorities tried to negotiate with Ryan.

After she was apprehended, Ryan was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital where she was treated for a bite from the K9. During treatment, Ryan allegedly assaulted three nurses by kicking them. She was subsequently transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where she was being held on $10,000 bond.

Assisting authorities at the scene was Red Oak Fire and Rescue, Montgomery County Emergency Management, Montgomery County Secondary Roads crews and Deputies with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 8:30-a.m. Wednesday in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. During the session, they’ll discuss a Contribution to Cass County Agricultural and Education Association, an Amendment of Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area plan by adding Elite Octane property to area, and act on a Resolution setting date for public hearing on urban renewal plan amendment, as well as approving Professional Services Agreements with regard to the Gray Water Transmission Project, and the Glacier Road, Buck Creek Road and Echo Road Paving Projects.

During a special meeting Monday morning, the Board approved a Resolution providing for the initial authorization of an Agreement for Private Development with Elite Octane. The Resolution states that the board has adopted an ordinance providing for the division of taxes levied on taxable property in the Urban Renewal Area. The portion of taxes may be irrevocably pledged by the County for the payment of the principal and interest on indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance in whole or in part projects in the Urban Renewal Area.

The County would agree to provide incremental tax payments to the Developer in a total amount not exceeding $8.5-million, and the installation of certain public infrastructure improvements. Additional action on setting up the Urban Renewal Area and TIF agreement will not take place until a meeting in February, 2017.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Iowa State Patrol, Monday afternoon, identified the victims of a fatal crash in eastern Iowa’s Jones County, as being from Monticello. The accident happened at around 2:10-p.m., Sunday. The dead and injured were all from the same family, who were in an SUV that  skidded through a stop sign and was struck by a semi.

Six-year old Donald Hunter and 8-year old Diamond Hunter died at the hospital. Injured in the crash was 13-year old Hope Hunter, 32-year old Brandon James Hunter, and 31-year old Molli J. Hunter, all of Monticello. The driver of the semi, 41-year old Ryan Daniel Powers, of Horicon, WI., was not hurt.

The Patrol says the 2016 Kenworth semi was traveling south on Highway 151. The 2007 Hyundai Veracruz driven by Brandon Hunter, was traveling east on 215^th Avenue, when it skidded on the slippery road and into the intersection with Highway 151, where the collision occurred.

The accident remains under investigation.

Two Adair County men were arrested early this (Tuesday) morning on drug charges, in Creston. Creston Police say 34-year old Jason Herbal and 23-year old Steven Patterson, Jr., both of Greenfield, were taken into custody at around 3:20-a.m. at 806 Laurel Street in Creston. Both men were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, with Patterson’s charge being a 2nd offense. Herbal and Patterson, Jr. were being held in the Union County on $1,000 bond, each.

And, 35-year old Christopher Bell, of Creston, was arrested Monday evening in Creston. Bell was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was subsequently released on a Promise to Appear later, in court.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

TYNDALL, S.D. (AP) – An Iowa man accused of intentionally injuring a South Dakota police officer in a hit-and-run incident has been arrested after more than four months on the run.

The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reports 35-year-old Travis McPeek, of Sioux City, Iowa, was arrested Thursday in Mesa, Arizona, by federal marshals.
McPeek had been wanted on a warrant for felony aggravated assault against law enforcement since the Aug. 6 traffic stop.

Authorities allege he struck Tyndall Police Officer Kelly Young with his truck in a convenience store parking lot and fled. Young was treated at a hospital for broken ribs, a cut on a leg, an injured ankle, and other cuts and bruises.

Join Cass County Conservation Staff at Atlantic’s  Schildberg Recreation Area- Lake 4 on Saturday, January 7th 2017.  Staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m.  There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions.

Hot chocolate, cookies, grilled hotdogs, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care). The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, Lake 4 is on the north side of Highway 83. 

IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be held at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available. This event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

(Cass Co. Conservation Dept. News Release)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa men will serve shorter prison terms after President Barack Obama commuted their sentences. The names of Anthony Dodd, of Davenport, and Aaron Rees, of Pleasantville, were on a list of those who received the commutations Monday. Both men’s life sentences were shortened to 20 years.

The Des Moines Register reports Rees was sentenced in 2005 following his convictions on conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and using a minor to manufacture meth. Dodd was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and received his sentence in 2006.

White House officials say Obama has shortened the sentences of 1,176 people during his presidency, including 395 serving life sentences.