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Tama County authorities investigate violent death

News

June 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) TRAER, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report, on Friday, June 18th, at approximately 4:35 a.m., the Tama County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an occupant of the Ryan Cooper residence located at 1846 K Avenue Traer, Iowa.  Upon arrival, law enforcement found Ryan Cooper deceased.

The State Medical Examiner says that it was a homicide by gunshot wound. Authorities said there is no threat to the community at this time. The Tama County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Division of Criminal Investigation with the investigation.

Iowa COVID-19 update for 6/19/21: No additional deaths; 98 additional cases; Positivity rate falls to 1.9%

News

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus Dashboard, Saturday, indicated there were 91 additional, positive cases of COVID-19 over the previous 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 403, 732, and no additional deaths, leaving the statewide total at 6,109. Deaths at Iowa’s Long-Term Care facilities since the start of the pandemic, stand at 2,372.

There remain three Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks in Iowa, with a total of 29 positive cases among patients and staff, and four persons who have recovered. Iowa’s 14-day and seven-day positivity rates are each at 1.9%.

There are a total of 68 Iowans hospitalized with COVID. Health officials report 17 patients are in an ICU; 13 COVID patients were admitted to a hospital, and 10 patients are on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western & southwest Iowa), there is one person hospitalized with COVID-19, one person was in an ICU. No one was admitted over the previous 24-hours, and once again there were no COVID patients on a ventilator.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County (since the beginning of the pandemic) and the total number of deaths (Since the beginning of the pandemic) in each county to date:
Cass, 1,476 cases; 55 deaths
Adair, 993; 32
Adams, 354; 4
Audubon, 553; 11
Guthrie, 1,317; 32
Harrison County, 1,935; 73
Madison County, 1,788 19
Mills County, 1,806; 24
Montgomery, 1,117; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,361;174
Shelby County, 1,378; 37
Union County, 1,382; 35

(Podcast) KJAN News, 6/19/21

News, Podcasts

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The broadcast News at 8:06-a.m. from Ric Hanson.

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(Podcast) KJAN Saturday News, 6/19/21

News, Podcasts

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The latest area news (at 7:05-a.m.) from Ric Hanson.

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New Miss Iowa talks about her goals

News

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The new Miss Iowa was recently crowned at the pageant in Davenport and says she is still getting used to the title. Twenty-two-year-old Grace Keller is a native of Illinois, who just graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. She says she fell in love with Iowa when searching for a college. “I always say that I was born and raised in Illinois and that was great to have that be my home. But, Iowa was the home that I got to choose. And I really got to see a lot of places and settled on Iowa because of that Iowa nice and the sense of community that we have here,” Keller says. Keller says she had been involved in pageants several years ago but had taken a break to be a college student. She decided to compete again, in part, because the Miss America program is a large scholarship program and she was low on funds.

She says she really wanted to just go and have fun and perform her talent, which is dance, with the hope of winning some scholarship money. Keller’s Social Impact initiative is to promote literacy in kindergarten thru third grade. She says she is passionate to promote the cause.  “I want to be that person for those people all across Iowa who are just looking for a mentor or an inspire to really push them into that love, so that they can reach those benchmarks and set themselves up for success later in their education,” she says. The new Miss Iowa is still getting used to the idea of the title — and says she still was not anticipating earning the title even after she was in the final two on the stage.

Miss Iowa

She says she was proud to even get first-runnerup. “And then they announced me as the winner. And I think in that moment I was like are they sure, is this actually happening? And then the Miss Iowa who was passing on her title came over and gave me a hug and that’s when I realized oh my gosh this actually happened, they called me up the winner,” Keller says. Keller had taken a position with a start-up podcast company and will go back to that. She says she’s excited to represent the state and meet people across Iowa.

Severe storms with hail pound southwest Iowa

News, Weather

June 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Several areas of Cass County received hail Friday night into early Saturday morning. The hail ranged in size from dimes to larger than golf balls. In Atlantic, hail fell at the KJAN Studios at around 11:30-p.m. Power was lost in the Massena area and south for a brief time. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Deputies noticed utility crews out and about during and after the storm.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency posted pictures of the hail on their Facebook page. The National Weather Service in Des Moines began posting Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for parts of Union and Madison Counties at around 10-p.m.

Crop damage in Montgomery County (Via the Montgomery EMA’s Facebook page)

The storm cells began to back fill and pop-up to the west, into Cass, Adams, Mills, Montgomery and Pottawattamie Counties, and then pushed eastward at speeds of 30-to 40-mph.

Montgomery County EMA photo

The National Weather Service in Des Moines and Valley Nebraska, shared social media images of three-inch diameter hail that fell in Lorimor in Union County at around 10:40-p.m., Friday. Irregular hail up to four-inches in diameter fell in and around Bridgewater. Golf-ball size hail was reported near Orient in Adair County, at around 10:05-p.m.

NWS social media shared post of hail near Lorimor

Other reports include:

  • At around 11:35-p.m., hail as large as tennis balls (2.5″ diameter) fell near Carson, in Pottawattamie County.
  • Ping-pong to golf ball sized hail was reported 4 miles west of Grant, in Montgomery County, with some hail stones larger than golf balls.
  • 1 3/4″ hail fell in Oakland.
  • Thunderstorm wind damage in Templeton (Carroll County), where  a large tree fell on a house and garage, several power lines fell, and a flag pole was knocked over. Some of the fallen trees had limbs ranging from two-to-six inches in diameter.
  • Near Manilla, a tree fell and blocked Highway 141 for a time, east of Highway 59.

    Hail that fell near Oakland and Carson (NWS/Omaha photo)

  • In Sac County, numerous 3-to-6 inch diameter trees fell down across Schaller, and a 12-inch diameter tree was snapped off and just missed a home. Dime to quarter-size hail was also reported.
  • 60 mph winds were recorded at a personal weather station six-miles southwest of Gray, in Audubon County.
  • 62 mph winds were noted by a person with a personal weather station2-miles south of Willey, in Carroll County.

Atlantic Police report, 6/18/21

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police, Friday afternoon, released a report detailing numerous arrests that have taken place since May 31st. In order from newest to oldest arrest dates:

  • 06/17/2021 – 21-year old Kyle Confere, of Atlantic, was arrested for Extortion and Violation of a No Contact Order.
  • 06/13/2021 – 23-year-old Levi Reining, of Remsen, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts.
  • 06/10/21 – 21-year-old Gaven Fell-Nichols, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Reckless Driving.; And, 27-year-old Benser Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
  • 06/07/21 – 52-year-old Edward Davenport, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft 1st.
  • 06/02/21 – 26-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.
  • May 31st – 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

All seven subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail. As of Friday afternoon, Confere remained in the jail, while the rest were released after appearing before a magistrate.

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 6/18/21: Multiple Injury accident; 3 arrests

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests and a multiple injury accident. Authorities say the accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, June 15th. An investigation determined a 2020 Chevrolet driven by 53-year-old Amy Miller, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 34, when a 2007 GMC driven by 81-year-old Eduardo Mujica, of Omaha, pulled away from a stop sign on Levi Road. Authorities say he saw the approaching Chevy, but misjudged the distance.

The Chevy struck the driver’s side of the GMC, causing both driver’s side doors to be pushed into the cabin area. Following the collision, the Chevy came to rest in the median. The GMC continued across the east and westbound lanes before coming to rest in the north ditch of the westbound lanes. Mujica and a juvenile in the GMC were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital. Two passengers in the Chevy, 79-year-old Kenneth and 80-year-old Lois Debaere, of Shenandoah, were also transported to Mercy by Glenwood Rescue.

Separately, those arrested over the past few days, include:

  • On Thursday, June 17th, Samson Aregawi Alem – of Issaquah, WA – was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 4:50-a.m., for Carrying a Weapon and Theft in the 4th Degree – Bond: $3,000.
  • On Friday, June 18th, at around 12:13-a.m., two people were arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County: 37-year-old Gwen Marie Vanderhoof, of Clarinda, and 32-year-old Stuart Duane Haley, of Villisca, were both arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

Lane closures on Iowa 44 between Iowa 4 and Iowa 25 in Guthrie County begin June 23

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – June 18, 2021 – A bridge deck overlay project on Iowa 44 between Iowa 4 in Panora and Iowa 25 in Guthrie Center will require lane closures beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, until Thursday, Sept. 30, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Crews working on a bridge deck overlay project.

During this project, traffic will be controlled with temporary traffic lights. A 15-foot height limit and 15-foot width limit will also be in place.

2 men arrested in Page County, Thursday

News

June 18th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Two men were arrested Thursday on separate charges, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office reports Matthew Sherman Olson was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the Fifth Degree. The charge stems from an incident that happened in the Page County Jail. And, Page County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Damion James Sadler on an active Page County Warrant. Sadler was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. His cash/surety bond was set at $5,000.

Sadler

Olson