TREYNOR, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa schools superintendent has agreed to drop the appeal of his 30-day state license suspension in exchange for a renewed contract from the school board. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Treynor Community School District board last week extended Kevin Elwood’s contract for the next school year but gave him no raise. In return he dropped his appeal.

On Aug. 7 the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners suspended Elwood’s license, saying he should not have let his son work unsupervised as a custodian for the district after the son was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct. Elwood was accused of two violations of Iowa code.

In September 2013 Elwood’s son, Kreighton Elwood, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one of false imprisonment.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State Patrol supervisor fired for misconduct is blaming his actions on an addiction to powerful painkillers. Sgt. Michael Haugen wrote in a letter released late Monday that he became addicted to opioids after battling medical conditions in recent years. He says his addiction “negatively impacted my family, friends, co-workers and others” and that he’s taking responsibility.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety moved to fire Haugen last month for misconduct that it has refused to explain. Haugen declined to appeal his termination by Monday’s deadline, instead submitting the letter resigning his position with the patrol in Mason City. He says he needs to “focus on my health and family.”

Haugen rear-ended another car in March in his state vehicle, but the patrol’s investigation blamed the front driver.

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

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Two people were arrested on drug charges, Monday, in Creston. Creston Police say 43-year old James Kisner, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County Warrant for 3 counts of Possession with Intent to Sell Methamphetamine (under 5 grams). His bond was set at $100,000. And, 37-year old Amanda Atkins, of Creston, was also arrested at the Law Enforcement Center on a Union County Warrant for Possession with Intent to Sell Methamphetamine (Under 5 grams). She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

The Creston P-D reports also, 23-year old Brittony Miller, of Creston, was arrested Monday on a Union County Warrant for Probation Violation. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A Montgomery County man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning on Theft and Criminal Mischief, charges. Red Oak Police say 29-year old Benjamin William Hrabik, of Red Oak, was arrested at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Market Streets, at around 2:35-a.m.   He was charged with Theft in the 5th Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.  Hrabik was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – About 500 Vietnam veterans from Nebraska and western Iowa have returned to their home state with a warm welcome from a large crowd after they spent the day in Washington, D.C. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the veterans returned late Monday to a crowd of at least 4,500 people greeting them at Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

Airport Police Chief Tim Monahan says it surpassed the largest welcome home for military groups by far, including the World War II honor flights. A nonprofit, Patriotic Productions, raised $450,000 through 550 individual and corporate donors to cover the cost of trip.

When the group arrived in the nation’s capital, airport firetrucks saluted the planes with water cannon and the West Point Alumni Glee Club sang. The veterans spent the day touring military memorials.

A man with numerous withdrawals in effect on a suspended driver’s license, was arrested again Monday evening, in Red Oak. Authorities say 47-year old Robby Dale Lukehart, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. Lukehart was taken into custody at around 5-p.m., in the 100 block of S. Broadway Street and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his cash bond was set at $300.

Election officials like Kevin Hall in the Iowa Secretary of State’s office are unsure how many Iowans will participate in today’s (Tuesday’s) Democratic and Republican Primary Elections. “Turn-out is really hard to gauge at this point,” Hall says. “Of course, people are very interested in the political races this year, but it’s not the Caucuses this time. It’s primaries.”

Voters in five OTHER states will be holding PRESIDENTIAL primaries today (Tuesday). The only STATEWIDE race here is among four Iowa Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate. There also are primaries in three of the state’s congressional districts. You must be registered as a Democrat or registered as a Republican to vote today (Tuesday).

“But you can change your registration there at the polling location,” Hall says. “We have same-day voter registration, so if you’re not registered to vote, you can do that at your polling location. You do need to have some sort of photo ID and a proof of residence, like a utility bill.” Independent voters can participate, but they must register to vote as a Democrat or as a Republican in order to cast a ballot in one of the party primaries here.

There has been controversy in other states where the number of polling locations have been reduced, but in Iowa today (Tuesday), there is a voting location open in each Iowa precinct. “There are approximately 1700 precincts in Iowa and the great thing about Iowa is we have one of the longest early-voting periods. We have one of the longest polling hours in the entire nation,” Hall says. “Only New York State has longer polling hours.” The polls open at 7 a.m. and don’t close until 9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).

If you don’t know your polling location, you can find a link to the Secretary of State’s ‘precinct locator’ on the web at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

(Radio Iowa)