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West Union man sentenced for selling meth

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa man who sexually assaulted a woman after giving her methamphetamine will spend more than sixteen years in federal prison. Fifty-six-year-old Herman Lee Ronnfeldt from West Union pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Court information showed a search of Ronnfeldt’s apartment in West Union in late 2018 turned up more than 80 grams of meth.

Witnesses testified at sentencing that Ronnfeldt regularly distributed methamphetamine to people at his apartment — and in one case Ronnfeldt distributed meth to a woman that caused her to feel ill. He then sexually assaulted her. He was sentenced to 224 months in prison.

Man from Coin arrested on burglary & drug charges

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year-old Grant Alan Bruckner, of Coin, was arrested at around 11:10-p.m., Friday, in the vicinity of Highway 34 and Highway 59. He faces charges that include Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $3,300. And, at around 1:36-a.m. today (Tue., June 29), 46-year-old Tracey Elizabeth Farlin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and No Valid Driver’s License. Bond on those offenses was set at $300. Farlin was also taken into custody on a warrant out of Page County for Larceny. Bond on that offense was set at $1,000.

The Glenwood P-D says also, no injuries were reported following a collision Monday afternoon at 195th Street and Highway 34. Officials say a 2015 Jeep driven by Roger Beem, of Pacific Junction, was traveling south on 195th Street at around 4:15-p.m., and approaching the intersection with Highway 34. Torrential rains prevented the SUV from coming to a complete stop, and the vehicle began to hydroplane.

A 2007 Audi driven by 76-year-old Thomas Millikan, also of Pacific Junction, was traveling west on Highway 34. Officials say Beem tried to accelerate through the intersection to avoid a collision, but the front of the Audi collided with the rear of the Jeep. Authorities say heavy rain at the time, made it nearly impossible for either driver to see each other.

First African-American woman elected mayor in Iowa has died

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s first African-American woman mayor has died. LaMetta Wynn was elected mayor of Clinton in 1995. LaMetta Wynn died recently at the age of 87. Wynn served a dozen years on the Clinton School Board. After that, she was elected as the Clinton Mayor in three consecutive elections. As mayor, Wynn was recognized in Iowa and across the nation and attracted interviews for her place in Iowa history. Three Iowa governors also appointed Wynn to various state commissions. She also worked as a nurse at the local hospital for many years.

Wynn’s funeral will be held Friday at the Church of the Open Door in Clinton.

Benefit concert to raise money for Xavior Harrelson reward fund

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There’s a benefit concert in Grinnell tonight (Tue., June 29) to raise money for the reward fund for information about a missing 11-year-old boy. Xavior Harrelson of Montezuma was reported missing in late May. The benefit concert at the Poweshiek County Fairgrounds starts at 7 p.m. “We just want to bring Xavior home,” says Tina Goff, part of the “Finding Xavior Harrelson” Faeebook group..

Goff says country singer Adam Whitehead of Marshalltown was instrumental in putting the concert together. “Adam had mentioned that he was interested in helping us in the effort to find Xavior Harrelson,” Goff says, “and we thought the best way to do that was to put together this reward benefit.” There’s a silent auction as well as music from Whitehead and Hunter Mason, a singer and piano player from Ottumwa. Organizers are asking concert-goers to wear orange tonight. “Xavior’s favorite color is orange,” Goff says, “so we really want just to show Xavior we care and are coming out for him, to bring him home.”

All the proceeds from the concert will go to the reward fund for information on Xavior’s whereabouts. The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office says the reward fund has now reached more than $22,000.

Linn County Auditor considering run for Secretary of State

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Linn County Auditor, Joel Miller, says he is considering a run for Iowa Secretary of State. Miller is a Democrat and says he is collecting signatures for a possible run against incumbent Republican Paul Pate. Miller talked about a potential run while in Sioux City last week for a conference of county auditors. “I’m exploring, I’m not committed because I want to gather data and I don’t have a lot of data and information from western Iowa. I’ve been in eastern Iowa pretty much my whole life — that’s where I was born and raised — and I’ve held the office of Linn County Auditor for 14 plus years.”

Joel Miller

Miller says he was disappointed by the election law bill passed by the legislature controlled by Republicans after record voting numbers in the primary and presidential elections. “The legislature decided to drop a 40-page election bill with lots of changes — primarily targeted at vote by mail, but also in-person early voting — with very little impact to people who vote on election day,” Miller says. “So it appears that the legislature majority Republican wanted to pick who they wanted to vote, versus the voters picking the legislators.”

Miller says the changes make it more inconvenient for some people to cast their votes. He says he believes the job of Secretary of State is to promote democracy. “The other part of that is to oppose anything that is anti-democratic,” Millers says, “and this election bill in my view is anti-democratic.”

Miller says his goal is to have every Iowan involved in our elections. Miller was one of the county auditors in Iowa sued by the Trump Administration for sending out absentee ballot request forms that had voter information on them before the last election. The judge sided with the administration and ruled absentee ballots sent out by Miller and other auditors were invalid.

Demonstrations again interrupt Des Moines City Council meeting

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Protesters calling for the defunding of the police department disrupted the Des Moines City Council meeting last (Monday) night for the second week in a row. Demonstrators demanded attention to issues like racial profiling and marijuana enforcement. Laural Clinton is part of the racial justice team with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Clinton says, “It’s not always pretty when you complain, but it’s also not pretty when you’re not heard.”

Several people were removed from the council chambers for interrupting the meeting to oppose a contract for police de-escalation training. One person was later arrested. The protesters repeated demands that Police Chief Dana Wingert and City Manager Scott Sanders be fired. Mayor Frank Cownie confronted the protesters, one of whom stood on her chair and held up a sign.
The council passed a resolution praising the city manager and police chief’s work to reduce racial bias in policing and city services. According to the resolution, the council has no intention of firing either man. Council member Joe Gatto supports the measure which passed unanimously. Gatto says, “It’s high time in the Des Moines Police Department and other, zoning officers and everyone else that works for the city, it’s high time that we stepped up as a council and be supportive of what they’re trying to do.”

The resolution also points to equity policies and police training as signs of progress. Since returning in-person, the city council has adopted stricter rules of conduct.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

Grassley backs call to drop mask requirement on planes, buses

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for months are still required to wear masks on public transportation, including on planes, trains and buses. Some Republicans in the U-S Senate are calling on the C-D-C to drop that mask requirement, which extends to airports, train stations and bus stations. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wasn’t part of the initial group but says he agrees with their reasoning. Grassley says, “When you get 70% of the people having one shot and things are slowing down dramatically, I think it’s reached the point where it’s kind of ridiculous to be wearing masks.”

Grassley, who tested positive for COVID late last year but was not afflicted with symptoms, says he’s fully vaccinated and he will continue to comply with the federal guidelines. “As long as they have the rule, I’m going to wear a mask,” Grassley says. “I’m not going to fight with the airlines or the airports so I wear my mask and I’m going to do what I can to make sure things are civil in the process.”

The state health department says 45-percent of Iowans are fully vaccinated for coronavirus, while 64-percent of Iowans have gotten at least one shot. The C-D-C reports about 42-percent of all Americans are fully vaccinated and 54-percent have had at least one shot. It’s very unlikely President Biden’s goal of 70-percent vaccinated by July 4th will be reached.

(Podcast) KJAN 8:05-a.m. News, 6/29/21

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

With Ric Hanson.

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National Night Out to be celebrated in Red Oak Aug. 3rd

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June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports Red Oak/Montgomery County First Responders “and all of our friends in SW IA, will be joining forces on Aug. 3rd along with 38 million others in celebrating National Night Out.” Rhamy says “This is the 38th year of the National event (the 5th year in Red Oak), and there will be more than 10 other Iowa cities officially registered for the event.” It takes place at Fountain Square Park in Red Oak, August 3rd, from 6-until 8-p.m.

The Chief says “Red Oak/Montgomery Co. is proud to state that the theme of the evening is Public Safety-Safety of the Public.” First Responders who have confirmed their plans to be on hand include those from:

  • The Red Oak P-D
  • Red Oak Fire Department
  • Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
  • Montgomery County Communications/Corrections
  • Montgomery County EMA
  • Villisca Fire & Rescue
  • Elliott First Responders
  • Grant Fire
  • The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement
  • Secret Service
  • The IA National Guard
  • BNSF (Railroad) Police
  • Iowa DNR
  • Montgomery County Conservation
  • and LifeNet.

Surrounding counties/cities have been contacted, according to Rhamy, and first responder invites have been extended. He says “We always have a great showing of cooperation and support from our neighbors, as we all truly work together.” The Safety of the Public aspect, will focus on:

  • Fire Safety (Local FD, Elks)
  • Farm Safety (AgriVision, IA Corn Growers)
  • Health related (MCMH, MOCO Public Health, Zion, Boystown, MOCO Child Abuse Council, Blank Children’s Hosp, Kiwanis, State Farm, Red Oak Comm Schools, Tracy Vannausdle Driver Ed), and others.

LifeNet will land. The Prescott Car Club will be there also. Throughout the Park and around the square, there will be FREE food (Elks, Rainbow, Eagles, Walnut Creek Acres, HyVee, Fareway, United Group, Rotary, Grand Theater, and others), info booths and handouts, displays, games, SuperHeroes, vintage police and fire vehicles, (Prescott car club, racecars, photo booth, tribute vehicles and displays, and monster trucks. To date we have over 96 total partners helping with food/displays/ vehicles/ exhibits/events/and other participating factors and many more expected by August.

There will be a funnel cake trailer, a balloon artist, an Iowa State Patrol K9 presentation is in the works, and it’s possible a small auction will be held for similar events to be held in the future. There will be a Treasure Hunt Event ongoing that evening sponsored by the Red Oak Express. The Chief invites you to please join them at beautiful Fountain Square Park for a FUN and FREEEEEEEEE, evening. A Reminder to residents of Red Oak: The Square area and one block in each direction will be shut down at 4:00 pm August 3rd, to allow for set up and all of the partners to get prepared for the night. As a sign of support please turn your porchlight on for the evening. The National theme is to take back the night, take back our neighborhoods and communities.

(Podcast) KJAN News at 7:07-a.m., 6/29/21

News, Podcasts

June 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

With Ric Hanson.

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