The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests this week, with three of those persons having been arrested on drug-related charges, following a traffic stop. Authorities say on Wednesday, 29-year old Clayton Dean Strucker, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession, with the Intent to Deliver, more than five-grams of methamphetamine. He was taken into custody at around 8-p.m. near 307th Street and Epperson Avenue. Bond was set at $100,000. At the same time and place, Mills County Deputies arrested 45-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, for being a Felon in Possession of firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, and Possession w/the intent to deliver, 5-grams of meth. His bond was set at $110,000. Also arrested at the same location, was 29-year old Terry Eugene Lunsford, of Council Bluffs. Lunsford was charged with Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $600.

On Tuesday, 34-year old Keith Henry Day, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Escape from Custody. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, at around 7:20-this (Friday) morning, 40-year old Janet Lynn Hernandez, of Malvern, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Her bond was set at $2,000.

Influenza levels continue to build in Iowa and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is confirming an additional eight flu-related deaths. Five of the deaths occurred in Central Iowa and included two female older adults (61 to 80 years of age); two elderly females (81+ years of age); and one elderly male. Two of the deaths occurred in Southwest Iowa (both were elderly females) and one death, an elderly male, occurred in Eastern Iowa. Five of the eight individuals had an underlying health condition.

Since October 1, 2017, 14 influenza-related deaths have been reported. The deaths have occurred in all regions of the state and the average age was 85. The predominant flu strain this season is AH3N2, which typically causes serious illnesses, hospitalizations and even death, particularly for those who are very young or old and those with weakened immune systems. Health officials urge residents to get a flu shot, as the viruses will likely be around for months.

It’s important to contact your health care provider as soon as possible after flu symptoms begin, especially if you are at high risk of complications and serious disease. If you start on anti-viral medications within a day or two of when your symptoms start, your risk of serious disease, hospitalization and even death can be significantly reduced. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. It comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days.

For more information on influenza, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/influenza/faq

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying one of the suspects involved in a December 30th carjacking, in which a 53 year old Nebraska man was shot. The unknown male subject, who may possibly use the nickname “KJ”, is a white male, 5’10, 200 lbs., late 40’s to early 50’s in age. He should be considered armed and dangerous.  Anyone with information regarding his identity is urged to contact CBPD Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

Suspect KJ at Horseshoe Casino

Suspect in carjacking

The incident occurred at around 4:45-a.m., December 30th, 2017. Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the Horseshoe Casino on that date, for a report of a male party laying in the parking lot who had been shot. It was discovered the male party had been the victim of a robbery / car-jacking in the parking lot. The victim was shot by a suspect as the victim attempted to flee on foot from the vehicle. The suspect fled from the scene with the victim’s vehicle, a gray 2006 Ford F-150 Super-Crew.

The victim was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The victim’s vehicle was recovered by the Omaha Police Department in the area of the 2000 blk of So 45th St. It had been burned.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports a woman in Creston reported that on Tuesday (Jan. 9th), someone stole a two-banded, white gold, marquise cut wedding ring from her grooming shop at 400 S. Chestnut Street.  The ring was valued at $6,500.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 37-year-old man has been accused of putting the Nora Springs police chief in a chokehold at a Mason City hospital. Court records say Chief David Jesse Dugan had taken Mason City resident Daniel Tyree to Mercy Medical Center on Wednesday but didn’t say why. The criminal complaint says Tyree put his forearms around Dugan’s throat from behind while at the hospital.

Mason City Police Capt. Mike McKelvey says someone intervened to free Dugan, who did not suffer serious injuries. The records say Tyree was put on probation Jan. 2 for burglary. The new charge against Tyree is assault on persons in certain occupations. His next court date is Jan. 19.

A coalition of conservation, recreation and ag groups released a new poll Thursday, showing support for an increase in the state sales tax to fund water quality projects through the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation president, Joe McGovern, says support has been strong since the fund was created by a constitutional amendment in 2010. “But this last polling of 69 percent — and that’s 69 percent saying they support the trust fund by raising the sales tax — those are strong numbers,” McGovern says.

The proposal is to raise the sales tax by three-eights of a cent, and the amendment requires the increase to go into the fund. McGovern says two-thirds of that increase would go to water quality projects. “Right now we estimate that would put 187 million into the trust fund,” McGovern says, “over two-thirds would go directly to water quality measures to help the nutrient reduction strategies.”

The sales tax hasn’t been increased, so the there hasn’t been money put into the fund. He says tax increases are not something anyone wants — but he says Iowans have shown they support one if the money goes to a specific source. McGovern says the recent increase in the gas tax is an example. “You know when you think about the gas tax, we all knew there were needs. We knew that we had failing bridges, we knew that we had roads that needed repair. so, when those taxes are used for what they say they are going to be used for, people understand that, Iowans expect that,” McGovern says. “That’s why we went the route of the constitutional amendment. So that when this fund was created, it would be protected.”

McGovern is hopeful Iowa lawmakers will see the poll and support and approve a sales tax increase. “We know we have budget issues, we know we have tax reforms being talked about. So, if this can be part of a larger conversation, if this can be something that’s comprehensive, we know there’s some water quality needs out there. We’re thinking much bigger,” according to McGovern.

The poll was commissioned by Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy (IWILL) Coalition. The coalition executive council is comprised of leaders from the American Heart Association, Ducks Unlimited, Iowa’s County Conservation Boards, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Iowa Soybean Association, Pheasants Forever and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Fewer Iowans bought new vehicles in 2017 compared to the previous year. Bruce Anderson is president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association. “Sales dipped in Iowa last year, but only by 299 cars,” Anderson said. “It was almost an identical year to 2016.”

Iowans purchased 137,702 new vehicles last year. The most popular vehicle in Iowa remains the Chevy Silverado. “And it’s neck-and-neck with the Ford F-150,” Anderson said. “Iowans just love their trucks.” Of the new vehicles sold in Iowa last year, 34,345 were cars and 103,357 were trucks and SUVs. “That’s a national trend that Iowa is following or maybe even leading – the conversion from driving passenger cars to driving trucks and SUVs,” Anderson said.

While overall sales dipped a bit compared to 2016, the Iowans who did buy new vehicles last year tended to purchase more expensive vehicles. “I think that’s true,” Anderson said. “Prices are competitive and dealers have great deals right now, but credit has eased a bit and you’re seeing banks and funding sources are lending…that has loosened up somewhat, so people are getting qualified and more into the cars they want and need, rather than just the ones they can afford.”

For example, luxury brands like Audi and Jaguar enjoyed a sales boom in Iowa last year. “Jaguar nearly doubled their new sale footprint. There were 84 new Jags sold in Iowa in 2016 and 163 in ’17,” Anderson said. Audi also nearly doubled its sales in Iowa. According to the records kept by Anderson’s group, Iowans bought 44 different brands of vehicles in 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says efforts to cut sexual assault in the military have been successful and similar efforts are needed for civilians. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is a retired Iowa National Guard soldier who has focused on efforts to end sexual harassment in the military since taking office. She says there have been more reports by soldiers while overall cases are down. “What that is saying is that more and more men and women serving in the military have greater confidence in the reporting process. They have greater confidence in their commanders that they will be protected when they come forward with allegations of any sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Ernst says. She says reporting assaults is key to addressing the issue. “That is really important because then it gives that command structure the opportunity to investigate that as well as prosecute if that is what the victim or survivor wants to do. So, I do believe it is working,” according to Ernst.

She still isn’t satisfied enough has been done. “I can’t say that it is ever enough,” Ernst says, “I think we have to keep moving forward. I think greater education of our young people when they are coming into the military is extremely important. So,even before they are sworn in they need to understand that this is not acceptable behavior.” The issue has taken center stage outside the military in recent weeks. “When we look on the outside of the military in our civilian population — there are problems there as well — as we have witnessed not just here in the United States Congress, in the political arena….but we see it in all the talk that has been in Hollywood and elsewhere.”

Ernst says the efforts to prevent sexual assault should be the same whether in or our of the military. “We have to keep working on this. Is this something that will be solved overnight, probably not,” Ernst says. “But I do think that it is important that our public is aware that again, it’s never okay to sexually harass someone. It is never okay to assault someone in any circumstance. We’ve got to start teaching this from a very young age, just the respect and dignity of all people.” Ernst says everyone has to take a role in making changes. “We all have a lot of work to do, not just Congress in making laws, or the administration in writing rules. We all have a responsibility in our communities to make sure we are raising people to understand that every life has dignity and we need to respect that,” Ernst says.

Ernst made her comments during a conference call with reporters.

(Radio Iowa)