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Firefighters attempting rescue find person had already died

News

March 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say firefighters who entered a smoke-filled Des Moines house to rescue an occupant found the person already had died. Police officers were the first to arrive at the house Monday afternoon. They were told someone was still in a back bedroom, so they employed a garden hose in an effort to extinguish the blaze. The heavy smoke kept them from entering the home, which firefighters did when they arrived around 2:30 p.m.

Fire Lt. Rick Thomas says they found the person was already dead. He’s been identified as the homeowner, Emmitt Johnson. An autopsy has been ordered. The fire cause is being investigated. Thomas says it started in the bedroom.

Man arrested in Red Oak on Polk County warrant

News

March 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say a man was arrested Monday evening on an active warrant out of Polk County. 33-year old Kyle William Chase, of Red Oak, was arrested on the warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $4,000 bond.

3 arrested on drug charges in Adams County Monday night

News

March 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 34 and Orange Avenue, in Adams County, resulted in three arrests, Monday night. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports Evan Skelton and James Cox, both of Corning, along with Jeremy Daye, of Bedford, were placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

16-year old female arrested in connection w/threats toward the Audubon High School

News

March 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports a teenager is in custody on a felony charge after allegedly making a threat toward the Audubon High School, Monday. Starmer says the Audubon Police Department was notified a little after 4-p.m., about an incident in which a female juvenile made threats towards the safety of students and staff at the Audubon Community High School.  The Audubon Police Department conducted an immediate investigation, verified the witness statements and deemed them as a serious threat.

Based on the investigation, Starmer says a 16-year old former student was arrested and charged with Threats of Terrorism, which is a Class D Felony.  The teen was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs where she will be held until her court appearance.

The Audubon Police Department and the Audubon Community School wants to reassure the public, the students and the staff, that this is an isolated incident and there is no longer a threat to their safety.  There will be a police presence at the Audubon High School this (Tuesday) morning if students, parents or staff have questions or concerns.

The Audubon Police Department and the Audubon Community School greatly appreciates the witnesses for speaking up when the threat was made.  The Audubon Police Department takes any threat to the safety of our students, staff, and public very seriously.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 13th 2018

News

March 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a federal rule that would have required organic meat and egg producers to abide by stricter animal welfare standards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it has withdrawn the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule published in January 2017 by former President Barack Obama’s administration.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican majority leader of the Iowa Senate resigned Monday after a website published video showing the married lawmaker kissing a statehouse lobbyist. Sen. Bill Dix submitted a one-sentence resignation letter several hours after the liberal website Iowa Starting Line published its report about the Shell Rock Republican. Dix did not comment on the circumstances surrounding his resignation as majority leader and as state senator.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say about 40 jobs will be lost with the closing of a Goldman Sachs call center in Cedar Rapids. Station KCRG reports that Goldman Sachs spokesman Andrew Williams confirmed the company is consolidating the work at its Salt Lake City operation. He also says the Cedar Rapids workers will be able to transfer to the Utah office.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state says Iowa’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.9 percent in January. Iowa Workforce Development said in a news release Monday that the December rate of 2.9 percent was revised upward from the preliminary rate of 2.8 percent reported Jan. 23. Iowa’s unemployment rate compares to a 4.1 percent national rate. The department says Iowa gained 900 jobs in January.

Cooking program for people with intellectual disabilities launched by Iowan

News

March 12th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A central Iowa woman is launching an internet-based program called “Look, Cook and Eat.” “It is an online digital resource designed to help people with intellectual disabilities learn to cook and be more independent in the kitchen,” according to Sue Hoss, of Des Moines.

For 30-dollars a year, subscribers can access dozens of recipes with very detailed, visual instructions geared especially for people with intellectual disabilities. “They’re very good at computers and I’ve found a lot of them to be visual learners,” Hoss says. “Because of its visual components, photographs, videos and voiceovers, there are a lot of things they can grab onto really fast.”

Hoss’ sister was born with an intellectual disability and Hoss helped to launch a church coffee shop in Des Moines that employs and empowers people with disabilities. Being able to prepare a meal is an important ingredient for living independently and Hoss says the step-by-step program makes healthy meal preparation fun and easy.

“They have access right away to over 150 recipes,” Hoss says. “Each recipe has images of all of the foods that you need to make the dish. No more than nine ingredients in any recipe to keep things really simple.”

Each recipe includes up to three short videos and a complete list of all tools and utensils required, also, no more than nine. The new program is already drawing interest from across the state and around the globe, with users as far away as Great Britain, Australia and Israel. Hoss has plans to continue expanding Look, Cook and Eat, adding new recipes monthly.

“We would like to build the company itself so we can hire people with disabilities to actually be the people that do that work behind the scenes or in front of the camera,” she says.

Eventual goals include broadening the service beyond cooking to include more lifestyle lessons in topics like exercise and wellness, etiquette, artwork and gardening. (On the web at www.lookcookandeat.com )

(Radio Iowa)

Mills County Sheriff’s report

News

March 12th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, said three people were arrested over the past few days. At around 12:09-a.m. Monday (March 12th), 37-year old John Oliver Knight, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred after being pulled over on Interstate 29. Bond was set at $1,000.

Sunday afternoon, 28-year old Jonathan James Pleake, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bond.

And, Friday afternoon, 39-year old Jerry Joseph Richardson, of Hastings, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was also being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

House fire in Lewis Monday evening

News

March 12th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Lewis and Atlantic responded to a structure fire Monday evening, in Lewis. Griswold Rescue and Lewis 1st Responders were on stand-by. The call about a residential fire with visible smoke at 406 California Street, at around 5:22-p.m.  Lewis Assistant Fire Chief Tim Pope told KJAN News, that when the first crews arrived on the scene, flames were visible upon arrival on the outside of the home on the outside, near the back porch, and it was unknown if anyone was inside.

Eventually they learned the occupants were safely out of the home. No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters. Pope said the cause appeared to have been carelessly discarded smoking materials.

He said the flames spread up the wall into the attic of the home. The structure sustained extensive water damage, probably in the area of $20,000. The occupants were being assisted by the American Red Cross. Firefighters were on the scene for about two-hours.

Get ready for grilling & help the Atlantic Trojan Swim Team!

News, Sports

March 12th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

With warmer temperatures on the horizon, you may be getting anxious to fire up the outdoor grill. If your grill runs on gas, Pelgas in Atlantic has a deal you can’t pass up, and, it benefits the Atlantic Swim Team – a win-win for everyone. Barb Barrick, Dave and Kristy York, Jennifer Miller from Brymon’s Home Furnishings, and Jackie Sampson, with the Nishna Valley YMCA, sat down with the media, Monday evening at the Y, to talk about the 2nd Annual Atlantic Trojan Swim Team Fundraiser, working in conjunction with Pelgas.

Left to right: Barb Barrick, Dave York, Kristy York and Jennifer Miller. (Not shown in this photo, Jackie Sampson) – Ric Hanson photo (Click to enlarge)

Barb Barrick explained that last year, Todd Pellet, with Peglas, offered to fill propane tanks for $32.50, with $25 of that going toward private fundraising being used for the Atlantic High School Swim Team. She said even though it was short notice that first year, they filled over 67 tanks that first Saturday in three-hours, and raised a little over $2,500 for the Swim Team. This year, Pellett approached team organizers again, and asked if they would like to run the tank program again.

Dave York said there are two options when it comes to filling your tank. There’s a pick up option for Wed., April, 4th from 2-p.m. to 5-p.m., and Wed., April 11th, from 4-until 7-p.m. Persons who have expressed an desire to have their tanks filled will need to uninstall their tank from their grill or wherever, and set in a place where it is easily accessible. The swimmers will come to your site, place a tag on your tank so it can be identified and returned to the rightful owner once its filled.

Pelgas will fill the tanks and work with students to see the tanks are returned. York said you don’t have to be home for your tank to be picked up or dropped-off. There is also a private shuttle option, where you can purchase your fill and receive a tag, and when you are ready, take the tank to Pelgas and get it filled. Kristy York said Pelgas will honor those tags through early this Summer, so even if your tank is still full, you can refill it if you are a heavy outdoor griller. She added that if you do have more than one tank to fill, each additional tank is only $25. 100 percent of that, she said, will go back to the swim team.

Kristy York explained why the funds are needed. She says nearly five-years ago, they decided to have their own High School Swim Team. After the first season, the school was considering budget cuts, with the swim program on the chopping block. A group of parents got together and persuaded the School Board to cut the funding, but not the program itself. Up until last Spring, the program was funded mostly with donations from parents, and generous contributions from Atlantic residents and businesses. The Pelgas program was their first fundraiser.

She said “For three-years now, we’ve been able to fund each season of the swim team with donations.” For the 2017-18 School Year, the School District did agree to take care of the transportation costs, but beyond that, the program is still 100-percent donation funded. The cost to run the program, according to York, is a little more than $11,000 per year, split into two seasons because the boys and girls seasons don’t run concurrently to each other. Jennifer Miller said “It’s the only varsity sport in the District that is self-funded.” She said they’re only looking for funding to carry the program, not the equipment. Each team member is responsible for their swim suit, goggles and related gear.

To receive a propane tank fill request form and/or purchase your tag, check with any Atlantic High School Swim Team member, stop by the YMCA, Brymon’s, J&J Graphics, contact Barb Barrick at City Hall, or Jackie Sampson at 712-250-0025, or download the form from the Atlantic Flying Shark Swim Team’s Facebook page. Even if you don’t have a tank to fill, you’re more than welcome to donate to the team.

Juvenile male arrested in Page County on Burglary, Trespassing & intent to commit sexual abuse charges

News

March 12th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that on March 1st, 2018, the Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an alleged Burglary and attempted Sexual Assault that had taken place at a residence in College Springs.   An investigation ensued.  A Juvenile female said the incident occurred on February 26th, 2018 between 7:15 AM and 8:00 AM at her residence in College Spring.  The victim knew who the alleged male Juvenile offender was.

Today (March 12th), the alleged juvenile offender male was taken into custody on a Juvenile court order and transported the Southwest Iowa Juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs.  Charges on the Juvenile male are Burglary 2nd degree, Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, and Trespassing.  More charges are possible.

The names of the Juvenile victim and alleged Juvenile offender are not being released at this time.