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Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, March 16th 2017

News

March 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is on trial over claims by hundreds of farmers and business owners that its flawed stewardship of the Missouri River has contributed to devastating floods in five states. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims trial in Kansas City, Missouri, involves a 2014 lawsuit alleging the Corps has deemphasized Missouri River flood control and put more emphasis on habitat restoration. The U.S. government says authorities never promised to stop all Missouri River flooding.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park have recovered the body of an Iowa man who reportedly fell from the rim of the canyon west of Mather Point. Park rangers say they received a call around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday about a park visitor falling off the rim. A helicopter crew was able to locate the body about 280 feet below the rim. But due to the time of day, rangers suspended the operation until Wednesday morning when they recovered the body via a helicopter long line.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans argue a bill to reduce how much workers are compensated for on-the-job injuries will fix a system that unfairly burdens businesses, but others question whether the current policy needs big changes and counter that the overhaul may not address underlying problems. Balancing Iowa’s workers’ compensation law between business and employee interests rests at the heart of debate over the legislation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a person has died in a house fire in Des Moines. A news release from the city of Des Moines says firefighters were called to the house around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for a fire and were told that an occupant was missing. Arriving firefighters found the home’s attached garage fully engulfed in flames. After dousing the fire, crews found a body in the garage.

Red Oak man arrested on drug & other charges Wednesday

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday, arrested 57-year old Thomas Oscar Anderson, of Red Oak, on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Before he could be transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, though, Anderson allegedly resisted Officers’ attempts to take him into custody. His actions resulted in additional charges of Interference with Official Acts, Assault on a Peace Officer, and unlawful possession of prescription drugs. His bond was set at $1,000.

Sac County man wanted on child endangerment & drug charges

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in locating a man wanted by authorities on three counts of Child Endangerment and drug-related charges. 43-year old Stephen (Steve) Ray Campbell is wanted in connection with a March 7th search warrant served at Campbell’s house at 600 West 6th Street, in Odebolt.

Anyone with information on Campbell’s whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement or call the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at 71-662-7127.

Steve Ray Campbell

Atlantic Boys’ Swim Team recognized during School Board meeting

News, Sports

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Trojan Boys’ Swim Team was recognized Wednesday evening by the School Board for their outstanding season. Athletic Director Matt Alexander introduced Coach Dean Junker, Assistant Volunteer Coach Jennifer Miller, and the Nishna Valley YMCA’s Jackie Sampson, who he said does a lot of behind the scenes work, including the organizational details.

Coach Junker introduced some of the swim team members who were able to make it to the meeting. Those same members were honored earlier in the evening at the Atlantic City Council meeting, including Nik Landuis, from Clarinda, Cody McCreedy, Tyson Parker, Cole Sampson, Jake Redler, Damon Miller and Avery Anderson. Coach Junker said the boys team ended up 16th in the State Swimming Meet, with several better, individual performances.

Some members of the Atlantic Boys Swim Team and Coach Dean Junker (Far right).

Junker said when Atlantic first began showing up at the meets, no one knew who they were or why they were even there. He said “But once ya thump ‘em a little bit, they wake up real fast.” They competed against much larger schools and made a name for themselves in winning three State records. The coach said he’s very proud of the boys and how their success and has inspired much younger kids.

There’s an 8 (years old) and Under Boys Relay team as well, which the Coach says he’s never had before. This year, they were lucky to have six participants, only four of which may compete in the relay event. He says the boys won the title of State Champions in the 8 and Under category, and they were thrilled.

Jackie Sampson says the YMCA’s “Feeder program” for the High School Swim Team had 67 swimmers this past year, or, the “Sharks” program. 66 swam in the sectional meet and 40 made it to State. She said “These kids come to swim for Dean and for their teammates.” She said kids are coming from all over southwest Iowa just to swim and train with Coach Junker.

Iowa GOP seeks workers’ comp overhaul some say isn’t needed

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans argue a bill to revamp how workers are compensated for on-the-job injuries will fix a system that unfairly burdens businesses, but others question whether the current policy needs big changes.

The state House and Senate are considering identical bills intended to lower business costs by reducing coverage for some workers’ injuries, minimizing late fees for employers and allowing pre-existing conditions to decrease benefits.

Muscatine Republican Rep. Gary Carlson says the bill reflects complaints from some companies of increased workers’ compensation premiums. However, the nonpartisan National Council on Compensation Insurance found that premium costs for Iowa businesses dropped in 2017 by an average of 4.7 percent. The group says when analyzing premiums, loss ratios and lost-time claims, the overall system is fair for employers.

Money adviser gets 20 years in prison for investment scam

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa investment adviser has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for felony theft and must repay more than $330,000 he took from seven people, mostly friends and family acquaintances, who trusted him after he professed to be a main of faith.

David William Johnson convinced clients he had access to a safe high-yielding foreign bank investment that state prosecutors say was a Ponzi scheme. Instead of investing their money, prosecutors say he used it to support his wife and 10 children.

Johnson, who is 57 and living in Texas, was ordered by District Court Judge Kurt Stoebe to repay all the money. Johnson was sentenced Wednesday in Fort Dodge after entering a plea agreement.

Study shows Iowa’s infrastructure is starting to crumble

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A new report finds the quality of roads, bridges and other infrastructure is deteriorating both in the state and nation, hindering opportunities to compete in the global economy. Greg DiLoreto, with the American Society of Civil Engineers, says it’s vital to ensure Iowa’s infrastructure will be improved and restored.

“Nine-point-two percent of your bridges are structurally deficient,” DiLoreto says. “That doesn’t mean they’re going to fall down, it just means they need more maintenance and more inspections. That compares with 9.1% of bridges structurally deficient nationwide, so, you’re right there on the nation’s average with respect to your bridges.”

To the state’s benefit, he says Iowa spent 633-million dollars on bridges in recent years, more by percentage than many other states. DiLoreto says reversing the trajectory after decades of underinvestment in infrastructure requires transformative action. “Your roads in Iowa, you have about 114,000 miles of roads with 18% in poor condition,” DiLoreto says. “That’s about the national average, which is 20%. The bad news is, your citizens are spending about $500 per motorist, per year, in costs from driving on those roads that need repair.”

Those costs to motorists cover a host of things like vehicle repairs, wasted gasoline and time spent in traffic. Iowa earned a C-minus on the Infrastructure Report Card, while the nation was given a D-plus, the same grade as on the last report card four years ago.

“We need to make a greater investment in our infrastructure and we need our elected officials to step up and do the things they need to do to put those investments to work and enact the legislation to make it happen,” Diloreto says. “We have to design facilities that are more resilient that will cost us less in the long run.”

Our infrastructure challenges are significant but solvable, he says, through strategic, sustained investment, bold leadership, comprehensive planning, and careful preparation for the needs of the future.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic man arrested on Pott. County warrant

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says an Atlantic man wanted on a warrant for two counts of Serious injury by vehicle, has turned himself-in. 20-year old Jacob Dale Johnson was taken into custody at around 11-a.m., Tuesday. The charges were the result of a Sept. 15th 2016 accident in Pott. County that resulted in critical injuries to Johnson and his passengers, Adam Bolton and Dacoda Schwarte, both of whom were 20 years old at the time, and from Atlantic.

Authorities had said he accident involving a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Johnson happened at around 12:20-a.m., Sept. 15th in the area of 510th Street and Sumac Road.  An investigation determined the pickup was traveling northbound on 510th Street when Johnson failed to negotiate the curve at Sumac Road.  The pickup traveled into the ditch and struck an embankment. Adam Bolton was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said afterward, alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the crash

Two Oakland men were arrested Tuesday on active warrants.  18-year old Tristan Michael Herrera, and, 18-year old Shane Elam Rouse II were arrested on warrants for Theft in the 5th Degree.

And, a Council Bluffs woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon for Harassment by Communication. 18-year old Masson Hunter Anderson allegedly harassed a 16-year old female via social media. The postings were said to have “Threatened, intimidated and alarmed the victim.” Anderson and the 16-year old are both students at the Underwood High School. Authorities say Anderson was released at the scene and cited into court.

CCHS Healthy U March 23rd focuses on Athletic Training

News, Sports

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

March is National Athletic Training Month, and Athletic Trainer Andrew Niemann will be presenting at the next session of Healthy U at noon on March 23rd, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic.  Nieman who joined CCHS last fall, says “What we do as athletic trainers really extends beyond the sidelines.”  He’ll talk about the role of athletic trainers, both in sports and a clinic, as well as information on exercising and aging.

Healthy U is a free educational lunch series at Cass County Health System held monthly in CCMH Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as lunch is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

Andrew Niemann (Photo submitted)

Cass County Board of Supervisors set date for Budget Amendment

News

March 15th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have set April 12th as the date for an amendment to the current, Fiscal Year 2017 County Budget. County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the amendment is necessary because of matters pertaining to the Elite Octane, LLC Ethanol plant.

The Board then heard from Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm, with regard to the Glacier Road Paving project for the ethanol plant. He said they plan to have the preliminary plans and specs to the County Engineer by this Friday, for County review. The next step is to begin work on Right-of-Way plats as needed, for acquisition of property for the roadway expansion, and they hope to have bid letting by the first part of May. He said a cost estimate should be available to the Board by their meeting next week. In other business, the Board approved the appointments of David Newman, of Griswold, as Noble Township Trustee to fill a vacancy term through 2018 due to a resignation, and James Hickman, of Atlantic, and Julie Goeser, of Harlan, to the Cass County Food Policy Council. Hickman will represent the County Ministerial Association, while Goeser is a Food Safety Specialist at Western Iowa Regional Inspections.

Also, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reported to the Board the City of Atlantic will be testing its Tornado sirens in preparation for the severe weather season. Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa is March 27th through the 31st. That includes the Statewide Tornado Drill March 29th, between 10-and 11-a.m.