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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening approved an order to amend an 18-year old agreement between the City and the Cass County Public Safety Communications Commission. Cass County 9-1-1 Center/Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon explained to the Council, that the amended agreement added the description “28-E” and the word “Communications.” The original agreement in the 1970’s was updated in Oct. 1999 and hasn’t been changed until now. Councilman Gerald Brink asked why Griswold and Anita weren’t included in the agreement. Kennon said at one point in time, when they updated the agreement, Griswold and Anita had their own Police Officers and therefore didn’t feel the need for representation on the Board. Kennon disagreed with that assessment.

Only the City of Atlantic and Cass County are currently included in the agreement. Atlantic pays 23-percent of the cost. The County Board of Supervisors adopted changes to the agreement during their meeting last Wednesday. Mayor Dave Jones said years ago, the Board talked about upping Atlantic’s rate of contribution because of it’s population, but Jones said he won’t allow the rate to be updated anytime soon…and then not until the other cities start contributing.

In other business, the Council approved a cleaning contract with Melissa Johnson for the remainder of FY 2018, at an annual cost of $23,400. Johnson’s bid for the services was the lowest of three received by the City, for cleaning of the Library, City Hall and Police Department. A cleaning service was made necessary, after the Facility Maintenance Manager’s position was eliminated. City Administrator John Lund says going with a private company for the service, will save the City $38,407 per year.

The Council also approved the FY 2017 Urban Renewal Report, which is a standard, annual formality. The report is sent to the Iowa’s Department of Management. And, Police Chief Dave Erickson presented his first Department Head report since becoming Police Chief in January. The Mayor praised Erickson for how well an incident at the High School was handled Monday morning. Erickson said law enforcement and the school cooperated well, and as expected. Prior to adjourning for the night, the Council entered into a closed session to discuss with Legal Counsel, matters related to the Atlantic Municipal Airport.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic announced today (Thursday), the facility has received a 2017 Performance Leadership Award, from The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics, and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH), for overall excellence in two categories, Quality and Outcomes. The award recognizes that CCMH has performed among the top quartile of all rural hospitals in the nation. The awards were announced in conjunction with National Rural Health Day, which is celebrated every year on the third Thursday in November. CEO Brett Altman said “We are very pleased to receive this recognition of being in the top 25% of over 2200 rural hospitals across the country. This is a direct result of the outstanding team we have who make these quality and outcome measures a top priority with every patient, every time.”

The rankings are determined each year using iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Analytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indicators relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEX captures performance metrics for all rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Leveraging data from public data sources, INDEX aggregates data from more than 50 individual metrics into three major categories and eight pillars to derive a single strength overall rating for each facility.

Michael Topchik, National Leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health, stated that “On this important day, as we celebrate the power of rural, it’s great to recognize these top performers who are excelling in managing risk, achieving higher quality, securing better outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, or operating at a lower cost than their peers. These leaders serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities as they strive to achieve similar results and provide a blueprint for how to successfully run a hospital and serve their communities amidst today’s uncertainty and mounting pressures.”

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating an armed robbery that took place at around 1-a.m. today (Thursday). Officers were sent to the Kwik Shop at 3632 Ave G. Soon after they arrived on the scene, Police spoke to the clerk and a victim that entered the store during the robbery. The clerk said a 30-to 35-year old black male produced a handgun and demanded money, and alcohol. The second suspect, a 20-to 25-year old black male, went behind the counter and grabbed cigarettes.

Armed suspect

A second victim was ordered into the store by the armed suspect, and was told not to move. Both offenders fled west out of the store on foot. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. The suspects fled the store with an undetermined amount of money, two bottles of alcohol and an undetermined amount of cigarettes. The first suspect was wearing a tan jacket with a red hood. The second suspect was wearing all black.

2nd suspect

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728 or Crime-stoppers at 712-328-7867 (STOP).  The Council Bluffs Police Department wants to remind citizens to call the police if they see suspicious individuals hanging around any businesses especially at night or early morning hours.

Red Oak Police report two separate arrests took place Wednesday. At around 8:20-p.m., 51-year old Barbara Darlene Wilson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 600 block of Sunset, for Disorderly Conduct. Wilson was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. And, at around 3:47-p.m., 33-year old David Ray Sturgis, of Maryville, MO., was arrested in the 600 block of E. Reed Street, in Red Oak. Sturgis was taken into custody on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violating a No Contact Order. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was also set at $300..

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of lawmakers tasked with evaluating Iowa’s response to the opioid epidemic will miss a deadline for completing a report offering findings and recommendations. The Opioid Epidemic Evaluation Study Committee was supposed to deliver an opioids report to Gov. Kim Reynolds and lawmakers by Nov. 15, but the report wasn’t available Wednesday. An official with the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency blamed the delay on staffing limitations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An animal rights group is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require more humane treatment for turkeys, chickens and other poultry as the birds are sent to slaughter. California-based Mercy For Animals filed the petition Wednesday, about a week before Thanksgiving. The petition asks that poultry be covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958. A spokeswoman for the National Chicken Council says including poultry in the law is unnecessary.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Indian Gaming Commission has again approved the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s plan to build a casino near Omaha, but after a decade of court hearings, the project’s future remains uncertain. The commission’s ruling this week came nearly 10 years after it first approved the proposed casino in Carter Lake, Iowa.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for former “Bachelor” contestant Chris Soules say he performed CPR on an Iowa farmer who died after Soules rear-ended his tractor in April. The attorneys filed a motion Monday seeking the dismissal of the charge against Soules _ leaving the scene of a fatal accident. They say Soules performed CPR on 66-year-old Kenneth Moser until it became clear it was futile. Investigators say Soules fled the scene after killing Moser. He was later arrested at his home about 10 miles away.

Officials with the Adair-Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday evening, that “Due to the water main break Adair is now under a boil advisory until further notice.” Citizens should boil their water before consumption or brushing their teeth. and then letting it cool.

A Senior District Court Judge, Monday, denied a request for a change of venue in the case of a man charged with Voluntary Manslaughter. Fourth District Judge Timothy O’Grady ruled the trial for 39-year old Kevin Duane Staley, of Red Oak, will be held in Red Oak, on January 9th, 2018.  Staley had requested a change of venue due to extensive media coverage.

Staley entered a written plea of Not Guilty to the charge, on Monday. He’s accused of shooting 27-year old Devin Alexander Davis, of Villisca, during the early morning hours of Oct. 11th, in Red Oak.

Red Oak Police have said Davis suffered from a single gunshot wound to the chest.  Investigators determined that Staley and Davis “had been in a confrontation” earlier that morning, which resulted in Staley shooting Davis.

Police arrested Staley in his Red Oak home after executing a search warrant there on the afternoon of Oct. 11th. He remains in custody on a $100,000 bond.

The State Board of Education has approved new fine arts standards for all students in the state’s public schools. The new standards for music, theater, dance and other forms of artistic expression in Iowa public schools mirror standards used in 22 other states. Iowa school districts, however, have the option of ignoring these recommendations.

The standards, which focus on promoting the creativity and presentation skills of students from preschool through 12th grade. Advocates say these fine arts standards will promote a lifelong “appreciation for the arts.”

While schools may opt out of these new fine arts standards, the state’s ACADEMIC academic standards are NOT optional.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Coins, photos and newspaper articles are among the contents of a century-old time capsule that has been removed from the cornerstone of the Woodbury County Courthouse. The Sioux City Journal reports that the time capsule was removed Tuesday in preparation for the landmark building’s centennial next year.

The iron box had to be drilled out of granite. The box, set in July 1916, contains foreign and U.S. coins, photos of then-President Woodrow Wilson and city street scenes and the results of an October 1875 local election. It also holds a souvenir from the 1916 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego and many articles from the Sioux City Journal in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The box will be opened Tuesday at the courthouse.