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Burn Ban issued in Audubon County

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Effective Noon today (Wed., June 23rd), a Burn Ban is in place for all of Audubon County. Audubon Fire Chief Tyler Thygesen, acting on behalf of all fire departments in the County, requested the ban be issued by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The ban prohibits any open burning due to the fact conditions in the County are such that any such activity would constitute a danger to life or property.

No person in Audubon County shall engage in open burning in the County – except as specifically permitted by Iowa Code, until such time as Thygesen notifies the State Fire Marshal that the dangerous conditions no longer exist. Any violation of the Burn Ban is a simple misdemeanor.

Exira-EHK fills open positions; Superintendent addresses teacher shortage concerns

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board, Tuesday evening, completed the hiring of teaching staff for the upcoming school year. The Board approved the hiring of: Emma Bireline – High School English; Heather Sprague – ½ time Title 1 Teacher, and Drew Buckholdt – Asst. Baseball Coach. They also approved the resignation of Dan Spooner – Technology Support/Digital Learning. Exira-EHK Superintendent Trevor Miller echoed comments made by other Superintendents in the area, in saying during his Administrators Report at the Board meeting, about the lack of applicants available to fill teaching positions.

Miller said he in light of the current teacher drought, he hopes the (State) Board of Education/Board of Education Examiners will give districts a little flexibility, in terms of “conditional licenses” and/or “Alternative” licenses.

He says there are persons who want to teach, but they don’t want to have to go back to school and incur the extra expense of a Bachelor’s Degree before they can come back to education.

In other business, Miller said the Board chose to stick with Anderson-Erickson as their milk supplier, and Lightbox Systems out of Harlan for Technology Services.

The Board approved Driver’s Education Contracts for Paul McKay, Jeremy Blake, Dick Casady, and Casey Pelzer. And, they approved a Transportation Director Sharing Agreement with the Harlan Community School District.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 6/23/21

News, Podcasts

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The newscast from 8:06-a.m. with Ric Hanson.

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Johnston Man Arrested in Ankeny Explosives Investigation

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Johnston man was arrested Friday night on criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in the manufacture and possession of an explosive device that was located June 9th in the 1400 block of SE Waywin Drive, in Ankeny. According to court documents, 46-year old Chad Allen Williams, of Johnston, unlawfully manufactured and possessed an unregistered explosive device in violation of federal law.

Allen is charged by criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered explosive device in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), and manufacture of an explosive device in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(f). If convicted, Allen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Ankeny Police Department, State of Iowa Fire Marshall’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.

A Reminder: Test Iowa drive-thru site scheduled to close today (Thursday) in Council Bluffs

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, IA) – A reminder from the Iowa Department of Public Health: Three Test Iowa sites are the first to close this week as the State prepares to end operations of its drive-thru and clinic COVID-19 testing locations by July 16, 2021.

The state-operated drive-thru sites will close when testing concludes at 4 p.m. on the following days:

  • TODAY June 23: 3236 Nebraska Ave., Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County)
  • June 24: Windstar Lines, 5755 Willow Creek Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids (Linn County)
  • June 25: 4121 Alexandra Drive, Waterloo (Black Hawk County)

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and State Hygienic Lab (SHL) are finalizing plans to provide at-home COVID-19 test kits free of charge to Iowa residents following the closure of the Test Iowa sites. More details will be provided in the coming weeks. Additionally, COVID-19 testing will continue at health care providers, pharmacies, and other retail testing sites statewide.

For more information about Test Iowa locations, hours or scheduling a test, visit coronavirus.iowa.gov or testiowa.com.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 6/23/21

News, Podcasts

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The news broadcast from 7:08-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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Audubon School Board to fill vacant Board position by appointment

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A vacancy on the Audubon School Board created by the resignation of Board Member Joni Madsen, will be filled by appointment in July. Madsen has accepted a teaching position within the school district. The person appointed to fill her seat on the Board will be in-place until at least an upcoming school election that takes place later this year. The Board also accepted the resignation of John Roberts as Board Secretary. He’s served in the position for over 30-years. School Business Office Manager Natalie Lange was appointed to replace Roberts.

In other business, the Audubon School Board, Monday, approved Summer Launch contracts, along with a teaching contract for Middle School/High School Art. In addition, the Board approved student fees for FY22. Superintendent Eric Trager has said there were no actual increases in student fees, but substitute pay was increased by $10 per day. They reduced the cost of their adult activities passes (The 10-punch cards) by $10 because the Western Iowa Conference is going to a different fee structure for admissions: $5 per person, regardless of age.

3 vehicle, multiple injury accident in Pott. County, Tuesday afternoon

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Seven people were injured in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County, Tuesday afternoon. According to the State Patrol, a 2021 Toyota RAV4, a 2016 Acura MDX and a 2012 Dodge Durango were all heading west in that order, in the right lane of I-80, at about mile marker 36.75. Due to road construction, the Toyota and Acura were at a near stand still because traffic ahead of those vehicles was backing up.

The Dodge Durango, driven by 21-year-old Colton Demars, of Rawlins, WY., approached the Acura from behind and was unable to stop, before the SUV rear-ended the car. The Acura was driven by 72-year-old Todd Ladrow, of Colorado Springs, CO. The crash happened at around 3-p.m.

The impact from the collision forced the Acura in the rear of the Toyota, driven by 60-year-old Siriyalatha Adikari, of Huntington Beach, CA. All vehicles came to rest in the right lane, blocking the roadway. Colton Demars, 18-year-old Samantha Lloyd, of Rawlins, WY, 44-year-old Renuka Senavirathna and 45-year-old Priyantha Wathelege, both of Woodland Hills, CA, were all transported by ground EMS to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Also injured in the crash, and transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, was 57-year-old Haneef Kitchil, of Canoga Park, CA, 60-year-old Siriyalatha Adikari. Authorities say Avoca Rescue transported 72-year-old Lona Ladrow, of Colorado Springs to Myrtue, as well.

Grassley, Ernst vote to block US Senate debate of election bill

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have joined their fellow Republicans to block debate of a bill that would require automatic voter registration nationwide and at least 15 days of early voting in each election. Democrats have argued their bill is a necessary response to election law changes being made in G-O-P-led state legislatures in Iowa and other states. Ernst, a former county auditor who oversaw Montgomery County elections, calls the bill a D-C power grab.

“I trust the county auditors in Iowa at the local level — Democrats, Republicans and the occasional independent — much more than I trust a bunch of DC politicians and bureaucrats who want to run our local elections,” Ernst said. Grassley says he voted against debating the plan because it would strip states of key election management decisions. All 50 Republicans in the Senate voted against allowing debate, triggering a filibuster since 60 votes are needed before a bill can be debated. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says the bill shows Democrats are desperate about the 2022 election.

“Bottom line is this: this federalizes elections even though the vast majority of Americans and Iowans do not want it,” Kaufmann says. “…This is undoing many things that states have done to make voting more secure.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says the bill would protect the sacred right to vote everywhere and Iowans shouldn’t be fooled by the G-O-P spin. Wilburn says the election bill Governor Reynolds signed this year rigs Iowa’s voting system in Republicans’ favor.

Second person pleads in fatal Sioux City shooting

News

June 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A second person charged in a New Year’s Eve shooting that claimed the life of a Sioux City girl has agreed to a plea bargain in Woodbury County District Court. Twenty-year-old Christopher Morales pleaded guilty Tuesday, to second-degree murder, and three counts of reckless use of a firearm. in the death of 18-year-old Mia Kritis. Morales was originally charged with first-degree murder, and in the plea hearing admitting to firing at the home where Kritis was attending a party.

” I discharged my weapon and I injured a couple of people,” Morales says. He said he fired the weapon nine or ten times. Morales agreed to a 50-year sentence on the second-degree murder charge and another five years on the reckless use of firearms counts to be served consecutively.

He will serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole, with sentencing set for June 30th. Another man, Anthony Bauer, also accepted a plea deal on a second-degree murder charge. Christopher’s brother Carlos Morales, is set to go to trial on August 24th.