DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials are preparing a convenience store in rural Simpsonville, South Carolina for an onslaught of attention after revealing that the winning Mega Millions ticket worth more than $1.5 billion was sold there. State lottery officials plan a news conference at the town’s KC Mart today (Wednesday), to celebrate the lucky sale. The share of the winnings that goes to retailers in South Carolina is capped at $50,000.

The state doesn’t require lottery winners to identify themselves. For now, lottery officials are publicly urging the winner to sign the back of the ticket, put it in a safe location, seek financial or legal advice from a trusted source. They’re also urging the winner to call the Lottery. Winners have up to 180 days to come forward to claim their money.

Iowa Lottery officials say early details show that Iowa Lottery players won more than 106,000 prizes in Monday night’s world-record Mega Millions jackpot drawing and ticket sales in the game set a daily record in the lead-up to the drawing. The winning numbers in the drawing were: 5-28-62-65-70 and Mega Ball 5. The Megaplier number was 3. A total of 106,564 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes ranging from $2 up to $1 million. Four tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of the jackpot. One of those tickets won a $1 million prize by matching the first five numbers but missing the Mega Ball. The other three tickets matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball to win prizes of $10,000 each.

Highway 71 south of Atlantic is expected to open soon. During a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning, County Engineer Charles Bechtold said the Highway just south G-35/Lansing Road, which was closed in late April for bridge construction work, should be open before Halloween. Supervisors Board Chair Gaylord Schelling told Bechtold the road should be open by today or tomorrow. The barricades were still up this (Wednesday) morning, though.

The Board received an Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association today (Wednesday), also. Afterward, the Association requested an increase in funding for the six libraries in Cass County. County Auditor Dale Sunderman said the current funding is $79,800 altogether, per year. The funds are divided among the six-libraries according to population. Last year, the Library Association requested a $2,000 increase, but the Board allocated $1,000 more after the budgeting process was finalized. The Association is requesting a $2,000 increase this year as well. The communities in which the libraries are located also contribute to the operational costs of their respective libraries.

Lisa Metheny, Director of the Lewis and Griswold Public Libraries, said they have also applied for a grant to receive a reading-type grant for mobile users, that, if awarded, would be used for all the County libraries. They’re able to get a volume discount on purchasing the app because all the libraries would be combined on the grant app. The Supervisors told members of the Association that they would take the request under advisement.

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Abigail Bintner as Cass County Treasurer’s Assistant, to fill a vacancy. Bintner started her position on Monday, with pay to be retroactive to that date. The Board also approved a final partial payment to Crow River Construction of New London, MN, for work on the gray water transmission line to the ethanol plant. The payment was $46,046.50. The Board began their meeting with a moment of silence in honor of long-time Board member Duane McFadden, who passed away on Monday. McFadden had served on the Board of Supervisors for about 12-years.

Funeral Services for Earling Chief Tom Henrich have been set for Saturday October 27^th at 11-a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. The Earling Fire Department and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency is asking all residents from Earling to please clear the town streets on Friday evening of all vehicles, in order to accommodate the funeral attendees.

For any fire department that is planning on attending, please visit the Shelby County Emergency Management website at shelbycountyema.com and fill out the Registration Form on the front page so that the department can plan for parking.  On the day of the funeral, Shelby County Road-M16 will be closed from Highway 37 to 2100^th from 10:00 AM to around 1:00 PM to accommodate the attending fire departments.

It is also requested that any person bringing their private vehicle to the Internment please use 4^th Ave in Earling to access the back entrance of the cemetery.   For updates please refer to the Shelby County Emergency Management website.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Lawyers have clashed in court over whether Black Hawk County had the power to approve a 35-turbine wind farm project on agricultural land. The county Board of Adjustment voted April 24 to give Washburn Wind Energy a special permit for the 70-megawatt project south of Waterloo. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that a lawyer for a farmer who sued the Board of Adjustment said in court Tuesday that Iowa law prevents the county from regulating what happens on land historically used for farming purposes.

The board’s lawyer, Brent Hinders, says the county can, however, regulate ag land when the owner wants to use it for non-farming purposes such as wind turbines. The judge will issue a decision later on farmer Harold Youngblut’s request that the judge rule the board’s action was invalid.

Police in Council Bluffs have identified a woman who was struck by a car late Tuesday morning. Authorities say 50-year old Denise Webster, of Council Bluffs, was struck by a vehicle driven by 19-year old Kathryn Anderson, of Council Bluffs, at around 10:30-a.m., Tuesday. The accident happened at the intersection of Main and Kanesville Boulevard. Webster suffered critical head injuries during the collision, when she hit the car’s windshield. The accident remains under investigation.

Police said Tuesday, their investigation determined Webster was northbound on the sidewalk at the intersection. North and southbound traffic had a green light. Anderson was straveling outhbound from West Washington and turning east onto Kanesville Blvd.

As Anderson made her turn, she failed to see Webster and her bike crossing the roadway before hitting her. Webster was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. A report on her current condition was not available. No charges have been filed at this time.

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

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man shot during a struggle with a sheriff’s deputy in Davenport has died. Police say 27-year-old Davenport resident Robert Mitchell died at a hospital Tuesday night.
The shooting occurred around 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, just south of Interstate 80 on the north side of Davenport. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane says Deputy Greg Hill pulled over Mitchell’s vehicle there, and an altercation occurred that led to Hill shooting Mitchell. A chase ensued. A female passenger got out nearby, and the chase ended when Mitchell’s vehicle stopped at a convenience store.

Investigators have not said whether Mitchell had a weapon or why Hill had pulled over his vehicle. Hill suffered minor injuries. He’s been placed on administrative leave in line with department policy.

Police in Creston say there were two arrests, Tuesday night. At around 11:30-p.m., 19-year old Erika Alexander, of Lucas, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on 5th Degree Theft charge. She was subsequently released on a $300 bond. And, 50-year old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, was arrested at around 9-p.m. Tuesday, for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on a $300 bond, also.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – State health officials are issuing a call to action for lead poisoning prevention awareness to decrease childhood exposure. Kevin Officer, community health consultant at the Iowa Department of Public Health, says 60- to 70-thousand Iowa kids are tested for lead every year and as many as ten-percent are found to have high lead levels in their bodies. Officer says old houses are part of the problem. “If you live in a home that was built prior to 1950, then there should be an assumption that the paint in that home is lead paint,” Officer says. “Take a look. Is that paint chipping, is it peeling, is it somehow in bad condition and does it need to be repaired?”

In many parts of the U-S, lead in the water due to old pipes is a problem, but here in Iowa, old house paint is usually the prevalent culprit. Iowa is among the top states for pre-1950 housing and many contain lead paint. “Working with parents on hygiene, keeping kids hands clean and keeping the home clean,” Officer says. “Home cleanliness is one way to minimize and reduce that exposure in kids.”

This is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week which highlights ways parents can reduce children’s exposure to lead in their home environment and prevent serious health effects and learning disabilities. “One of the areas we want to focus on the most is testing kids at the earliest ages, which is 12 months,” Officer says. “One-year-olds, two-year-olds and three-year-olds, at the point where they’re really beginning to develop to catch it early.”

The three themes of this year’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week are: Get The Facts, Get Your Home Tested, and Get Your Child Tested.