The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested on Valentine’s Day. 24-year old Jacob Alan Shinn, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County LEC for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. Shinn was released on a promise to appear in court. And, 42-year old Shawn Jason Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested at his home for Theft in the 4th Degree. Parmenter was later released on a $1,000 bond.

A Creston woman reported to Police Thursday, that sometime overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, someone stole an HP laptop computer and book from her vehicle. The loss was estimated at $210.

(Radio Iowa) — New requirements for welfare recipients in Iowa are being considered — and some are being shelved — in the Iowa Senate. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, has sponsored four bills on the subject. “I hear constantly from constituents who are frustrated,” Schultz says. “They feel that they’re going to work every day, paying taxes, these taxes are going to people who are not going to work and could.”  One bill eligible for committee action would stop food stamp benefits for some adults who are currently exempt from work requirements. Bill backers say it’s aimed at parents with school-aged children. The other proposal would require welfare recipients to report their income every three months to confirm they’re still eligible for benefits. Karla Fultz McHenry is lobbying for a Florida-based non-profit called the Opportunity Solutions Project.

“This is our bill. We brought this forward because we believe strongly that welfare fraud does exist,” she said. “…Ten other states have passed this legislation and found that there were significant people that were fraudulently on the rolls.” Charlie Wishman of the Iowa Federation of Labor suggests there’s a better approach to moving people off welfare. “If the state of Iowa is serious about addressing its workforce issues, the way to do it is not by punching down at people who need help,” Wishman said. “Maybe we can look at raising the minimum wage.”

Jack Reardon of Des Moines is a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a group that opposes these bills. He told lawmakers his family is on the brink of financial collapse. “My mom’s car broke down and it’s going to cost $600 to fix it,” he said. “…To see people like you come in here and introduce a bill that will take money from my family makes me physically sick.” Two other welfare-related proposals in the Iowa Senate have been tabled. One attempted to require food stamp recipients to show some sort of photo identification at the store. The other would have imposed new work requirements on adult Medicaid recipients who live above the poverty line — but state officials can’t say how many of the 170-thousand that would have been affected aren’t already working.

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

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BRITT, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa teacher has again been accused of driving while intoxicated. Hancock County court records say 27-year-old Raylea Hepker is charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense.  Britt police say Hepker was taken into custody after an officer stopped her on Jan. 28. Police had received a complaint about a vehicle with its license plate covered was being driven on the wrong side of a road.

Police say a breath test later showed a blood alcohol level of more than three times the legal limit. The West Hancock Community School District website lists her as an English language teacher.

(Radio Iowa) — Thousands of Iowa F-F-A members will be celebrating National F-F-A Week, starting Saturday and all next week. Scott Johnson, executive director of the Iowa F-F-A Association, says these young people are tomorrow’s leaders of America’s number-one industry, agriculture. Drive Your Tractor to School Day remains one of the organization’s most popular events in Iowa — and one of the most visible. “I remember from my experiences teaching, it was always weather-pending,” Johnson says. “If FFA Week happened to be colder, Drive Your Tractor to School Day would almost always occur but sometimes it didn’t occur during FFA Week. You had to wait for it to be warmer for those old diesel engines to be able to fire up and survive a day in the open parking lot.”

F-F-A membership in Iowa hit an all-time high last year with more than 15-thousand-400 students wearing the familiar blue jackets. Johnson says membership has continued to grow over the past several years. “We’ve experienced about a 20% growth in membership,” Johnson says. “When I started in this position in 2012, we were right around 12,000 to 12,300. Now, we’re at 15,000.” The number of chapters statewide last year hit 242, which was also a record, one Johnson hopes to again surpass this year. The Iowa F-F-A Association provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education, what he says is a growing field. “We see a few schools that are adding a second ag instructor,” Johnson says. “We continue to see schools adding new programs. We look forward to the opportunity to bring on-board a number of chapters for the 2019-2020 school year.”

The week gives members an opportunity to educate the public about agriculture through events including: service activities, appreciation breakfasts, dress-up days and Agricultural Olympics.

(on the web at IowaFFA.com)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of killing his former girlfriend in a Sioux City hotel room and setting it aflame has pleaded not guilty. Woodbury County court records say 29-year-old Jordan Henry entered the pleas Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder and arson. His trial is scheduled to begin July 9. Police say an autopsy showed 40-year-old Elizabeth Bockholt, of Hinton, was strangled. Firefighters found her unresponsive Jan. 24 in a Wingate Hotel room, and she was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

A criminal complaint says Henry is a transient living in Sioux City. The complaint says he was identified on surveillance video and by witnesses who saw him leaving the area just after the room fire was discovered.

One person died following an accident at around 6-p.m. Thursday, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say a 21-year old female was driving southbound on East Manawa Drive, when she lost control of her vehicle as it was traversing a curve. The vehicle slid sideways and into on-coming traffic, where it was hit by a northbound SUV. The woman – whose name was being withheld pending notification of family – was critically injured. Council Bluffs Police provided first-aid and used a defibrillator. She was transported to a local hospital where efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries in the crash. Both vehicles were a total loss.

Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, late Wednesday night, responded to a reported assault in progress, in Hamburg. Authorities said Thursday, that upon their arrival, the victim advised that 25-year old Christian Hoefling, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, who had been staying at the residence, assaulted him, threatened him with a knife, and then left the scene prior to law enforcement arrival. Hoefling was located walking in Hamburg and taken into custody without incident.

Christian Hoefling (Photo courtesy Fremont County S/O

He was charged with Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Theft 5th. Hoefling was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $2,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:55 a.m. CST

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University says a former state government official who was fired for sexual harassment will no longer work for a security contractor at its athletic events. Iowa State University spokesman John McCarroll says the school has been informed by the Contemporary Services Corporation that Dave Jamison will no longer be assigned to Cyclones games. Jamison had been working at those games despite the state’s recent decision to pay $4.15 million to two women who were sexually harassed by him.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Democratic senators have proposed a bill that would return thousands of Iowans living with severe and permanent disabilities back to a state-managed Medicaid program and make other changes to the program privatized three years ago. Republicans have shown no interest in reversing course on privatization of the health program for disabled and poor Iowans so Democrats say they’ll propose ideas to fix some of the most common problems.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Finance Authority says $4.1 million the organization is spending to settle a sexual harassment dispute will not reduce funds for rural Iowa housing programs. The agency last week agreed to spend the money to settle complaints filed by former IFA employees, who claimed former director Dave Jamison sexually harassed them. In response to a question, Director Debi Durham guaranteed the payout won’t reduce money for housing projects.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two men convicted in the death of a Davenport man in 2017 have each been sentenced to life in prison. The Quad-City Times reports that 22-year-old Tristin Alderman and 21-year-old D’marithe Culbreath were sentenced Thursday in Scott County District Court. A jury found the pair guilty in December of first-degree murder and other felony counts in the death of 20-year-old Brady Tumlinson.

Atlantic, IA – The February session of Healthy U will be held Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Cass County Health System. The program, Dizziness: An Inner Ear Perspective, will be presented by Ryan Legg, DPT, CLT.

Ryan Legg, DPT, CLT

Ryan is a doctor of physical therapy and certified lymphedema therapist who joined CCHS in 2008. In his role as the Director of Rehabilitation Services, he specializes in dizziness and spine dysfunctions.

Healthy U will be offered at noon on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees.

Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.