(Radio Iowa) – The harvest remains ahead of schedule in Iowa despite rainy weather. The latest U-S-D-A crop report says with all the rain farmers only had about three days last week that were suitable for fieldwork. But the harvest that got started early is still ahead of the normal pace. The report finds 11 percent of the corn is harvested — that’s five days ahead of average. Fifteen percent of the soybean crop has been pulled from the fields — that’s one day ahead of average. Seventy-five percent of the corn condition is rated good to excellent, while 74 percent of the beans are rated in the same condition.

One person was injured during a collision Saturday afternoon, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office said today (Tuesday), that 17-year old Ami Louise Apperson, of Riverton, was transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by Shenandoah Ambulance Service, with unknown injuries. The collision occurred on Highway 2 near the intersection with Highway 59, at around 2:50-p.m., Saturday, when the 2007 Chevy Cobalt Apperson was driving struck the rear of a 2006 BMW X-3 SUV, as the SUV was slowing down for the intersection stop sign. The driver of the SUV, 55-year old Robert James Schechinger, of Treynor, was not hurt. 

Damage from the collision amounted to $12,000 altogether.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two recent arrests and one, non-injury accident. Last Friday, 46-year old Dustin Shawn Fredieu, of Omaha, was arrested at 8th and Chatburn in Harlan, following a traffic stop. Fredieu was charged with OWI, and cited for having an improper rear lamp and improper registration plate lamp. And, on Sept. 26th, 25-year old Kellee Lynn Davis, of Defiance, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 59 and Cyclone Avenue, in Harlan. Davis was charged with OWI, speeding, and having no proof of insurance.

An accident took place Monday in Harlan. Authorities say a 2015 Peterbilt tractor driven by Daniel Perkins, of Atlantic, was traveling west on Highway 44 and making a wide right turn into an unmanned gas station. He moved into the inside lane to initiate the turn, Noira Guzman, of Denison, did not have time to react. The Peterbilt hit Guzman’s 2015 Chrysler 200 and dragged the vehicle into the parking lot. Most of the damage to the car was caused by the right front wheel and running boards on the semi’s tractor. The report did not indicate if a citation was issued.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — A county supervisor in Iowa is facing opposition to his proposal to allow guns into public areas of the county courthouse. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that about a dozen people attended a Bremer County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday to express concerns about safety if the firearms ban for the courthouse is lifted. Board chairman and District 3 supervisor Dewey Hildebrandt proposed discussing the gun option.

The Iowa Supreme Court issued an order in 2017 that allows county supervisors to seek permission to allow guns in courthouses. The chief judge of the judicial district would approve allowing guns in public areas that aren’t occupied by the court system. Hildebrandt says he was surprised by the response and that he’s uncertain if he’ll move forward with the proposal.

A Pottawattamie County man was arrested and then released on a citation late Monday morning, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports 55-year old Roger Duane Arbuckle, Jr., of Walnut, was arrested and then released, following a disturbance at 215 Antique City Drive. The incident was reported at around 10:10-a.m., when a caller to Pott. County Communications said that her father in law was following her husband on the interstate, and was now at a business and causing a verbal disturbance.

A man from Nebraska was arrested late Monday evening after he came to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office to turn himself in on a warrant.  43-year old Steven D. Carroll, of Omaha, was wanted on a warrant for Violation of a Protective Order/Contempt of Court. The bond on that offense was set at $2,500. Carroll was also taken into custody on an outstanding warrant out of Sanders County, NE., for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held without bond on the NE warrant, in the Pott. County Jail.

A woman from Council Bluffs was cited for Criminal Trespass and then released, Monday night, after she entered a Hy-Vee Store in Council Bluffs where she was banned from the property. After receiving her citation, 38-year old Laura L. Lemus left the property as ordered.  And, 23-year old Justin Michael Kinart, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following an investigation into an injury accident that took place at around 2:35-a.m. today (Tuesday), in the 16-thousand block of State Orchard Road, in Pott. County. Kinart was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

The Atlantic City Council will hear a presentation during their meeting Wednesday evening from representatives with CADCO (The Cass-Atlantic Development Corp.), with regard to a likely decision by the Iowa DOT to move the District 4 Construction Office from Atlantic, to Council Bluffs. The letter from CADCO to State leaders and DOT Committee members, says any such move “Will be wasteful,” and any commute between the two offices would create a hardship among the employees. The City Council’s meeting begins 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Many area governmental organizations have already sent letters of support to keep the offices here in Atlantic, because of it’s centralized location to the 13 county district. The letter says the possible move “Was not mandated nor even reviewed by the Department of Transporation’s Commission, the Governor’s Office nor the State Legislature,” and that the only benefit, “has been to reduce the district engineer’s commute from his home in Nebraska, to his office in Iowa.”

In other business, the Council will act on the third and final reading of ordinances pertaining to zoning regulations with regard to fencing in Light Industrial and Commercial Zones, and the first reading of an amended ordinance with regard to Speed Regulations on Sunnyside Lane from 10th to 22nd Streets. The current version stipulates a speed limit of 25-miles per hour from 10th Street south, two-thousand feet, before it becomes 35-mph for the remaining 1,650-feet to 22nd Street.

The Council will also hold the first reading of an amended ordinance that repeals and replaces a Chapter pertaining to trees and responsibilities within the Right-of-Way. The changes include, among other things: Shifting the position of City Forester from the Parks & Rec Director to the Street Superintendent; Clarifying the authority of the Forester when it extends to trees on private property; States “decision making on all tree removals are the sole authority of the forester and not subject to appeals; and adds the requirement to remove tree stumps following the removal of trees.

There’s also a resolution on an amended ordinance with regard to changes to the City’s Personnel Policy, as proposed by the Personnel and Finance Committee. The changes deal with areas that include: accrual language for part-time employees; mileage reimbursement claims; language with regard to CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) reimbursement; Accrual on Administrative Leave; and clarification on Sick leave policy, among others. The final order of business is the first reading of an amended ordinance with regard to Urban Deer Population control. The change reflects the Police Chief’s sole authority to determine the limits on the number of deer harvested within the City Limits of Atlantic, and the number of hunters authorized to hunt, during specified dates and times.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet 8-a.m. Wednesday at the courthouse in Greenfield. The meeting kicks-off with a possible closed session with regard to discussion with legal counsel, about matters where litigation is imminent. Later during their session, the Board will hear from Dennis Kellenberg with regard to a VA Office lease, and they’ll discuss the hiring of outside counsel for Open Records matters, with possible action on the subject.

And, the Adair County Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing at around 9:30-a.m. Wednesday, along with the third reading of Ordinance 31A – An amendement to Ordinance 31 – pertaining to Wind Energy Conversion Property. That will be followed by discussion and possible action of approving Ordinance 31A. The amended ordinance sets a 2,000-foot setback from non-participating residences near Wind Turbines, and an 800-foot setback for participating property owners associated with two Mid-American Energy wind farms.

Construction on nearly 500 wind turbines at two separate sites in the County began last summer, but they’ve been with a public backlash over noise, visual pollution and bird safety concerns.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Union County woman was arrested on drug charges, Sept. 23rd. 40-year old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, was pulled over at around 12:43-a.m. in Stuart, because she had a suspended driver’s license. During his investigation, the deputy noticed Whitney was “acting very nervous,” and that she had made some quick movements toward the vehicles’ floorboard. After some questioning, and a consent search of her vehicle, the deputy located a baggy of pills identified as Focalin, 20-milligram doseage. Focalin is a schedule II controlled substance.

Along with the pills, the deputy located several unidentified pills, a pipe used for smoking meth, and two scales. Whitney was placed under arrest on the Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. She was released from the Adair County Jail Sept. 30th, after posting a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

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

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

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