The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports three arrests took place over the past week. At around 12:55-a.m. Sunday, 43-year old Daniel Lee Liddick, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000. At around 9-p.m. on Dec. 21st, 26-year old Patrick Neil Jack, of Malvern, was arrested for Obstruction of Emergency Communication, the bond was which was set at $300, and at around the location and time, 36-year old Helen Elaine Tuper, of Malvern, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

With the arrival of winter weather, Iowans are spending more time indoors so it’s a good time to have your house tested for radon. The odorless, colorless gas can cause cancer. Anthony Salcedo is service manager at Thrasher Basement Systems in Omaha-Council Bluffs and says this region is inundated with radon. “I hear a lot where a homeowner talks to their neighbor and their neighbor’s levels were low so they automatically assume they’re safe,” Salcedo says. “Unfortunately, in our area, it varies from home to home. We’re plagued with it, Iowa, Nebraska, we actually lead the country. It’s in about 70% of all homes.”

Salcedo says radon has nothing to do with the construction of your home or problems with the basement.  “It’s not a foundation issue, it’s basically just what we’re building on,” Salcedo says. “It could be a brand new home, it could be a 50-year-old home. We have a lot of clay soil and there’s no way to stop it on the front end. The soil breaks down, the uranium deposits, the radon gases will eventually make their way into your home and cause those health issues.” Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind only cigarettes. You won’t know if you have the deadly gas lurking in your home until you do a test.

“If you’ve never tested, test as soon as you can,” he says. “The EPA recommends you test every two years for the fact that things can change in the scope of the home.”

Do-it-yourself radon test kits can cost as little as $10 at the hardware store. If there are high levels of radon in your home, specialists can fix the problem or systems are available you can install yourself.

(Radio Iowa/Karla James)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new report says sales of Iowa Lottery tickets spiked in the budget year that ended June 30 and generated the most revenue in the program’s 31-year history. Backed by surging sales of instant-scratch and Powerball tickets, the Lottery brought in $366.9 million in total revenue, a $42 million increase from the prior year.

A state audit released Tuesday says $88 million of that money went to the state’s general fund and to help veteran’s programs, the highest amount for the Lottery since its start in 1985. More than $221 million went toward prize expenses.

Sales of instant-scratch tickets increased by 10.2 percent to a record $233.7 million. Powerball ticket sales surged by 43 percent to nearly $75 million as players were enticed by a new formula that made for larger jackpots.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting Wednesday morning, in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m.  During their session at the courthouse, the Board will receive an Adair County Conservation Board resignation, and hear from Boy Scout Troop 115 with regard to Courtyard flags. They’ll also hear from Snyder and Associates’ Tim Teig, with regard to an Elevator Cost Study.

The meeting will be held in the Adair County Courthouse Courtroom.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says a Greenfield woman was arrested Thursday night by Greenfield Police, on drug and child endangerment charges. 28-year old Toshia Leann Breedlove was arrested on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (the substances believed to be Marijuana and Meth), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a bong, marijuana pipe and paper used to make or inhale illegal drugs), Child Endangerment (for having controlled substances and drug paraphernalia in her home, putting her 2 1/2 month old child at “substantial risk”), and Disorderly Conduct (for taking a swing at another person, causing a fight).  Breedlove was being held in the Adair County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, a Bridgewater man was arrested Thursday on an Adair County warrant for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. 50-year old Duane Allen Funke was also being held in the Adair County Jail on $1,000 bond.

The Sheriff said also, 39-year old Jason Dean Hauf, of Greenfield, was arrested Dec. 18th by Greenfield Police, for Driving While Barred. He released later that same day on $2,000 bond.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Creston Police Department today (Tuesday), released a report on recent arrests and incidents. Officials say 20-year old Ryan Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested late Saturday morning for allegedly violating a Protective Order. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

Parmenter was arrested Friday evening as well, for Simple Domestic Assault and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was released from the jail on a Promise to Appear in Court. Also arrested Friday, was 53-year old Rebecca Pettit, of Creston, who was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. She was also later released on a Promise to Appear in Court. And, 43-year old Anthony Gross, of Creston, was arrested Friday on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Gross was released on a Promise to Appear, and then transferred to the custody of Madison County authorities for other charges there.

Creston Police said also, a resident living in the 1000 block of N. Cherry Street reported Thursday night that someone had stolen a Samsung Galaxy 6 phone from her vehicle that had been parked in front of her residence. The theft occurred sometime between 8-and 10-p.m. Thursday. The phone was valued at $300.

A crash early this (Tuesday) morning in Central Iowa’s Jasper County has resulted in the death of an Illinois man. The Iowa State Patrol says 64-year old Michael Burdell, of West Chester, IL., died in the crash that also resulted in injuries to 21-year old Austin McFadden, of Mingo.

Authorities say a 2007 Dodge Caravan driven by Burdell was traveling west on Interstate 80 at around 2-a.m., when the vehicle crossed onto the shoulder and hit the rear of a 2014 Chevy Silverado driven by McFadden. The Chevy then hit the rear of a tractor trailer driven by 53-year old James Kunsman, of Downers Grove, IL.

Following the impact with the SUV, Burdell’s van crossed over both lanes of travel and spun around before hitting a cable barrier and coming to rest eastbound in the westbound lane of I-80. Burdell later died from his injuries. McFadden, who was not wearing a seat belt, was treated at the scene and released.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Des Moines firefighter has been injured battling a blaze at a tire shop. Des Moines television station KCCI reports the fire was reported around 10 a.m. Monday. Authorities say the fire started while workers were attending to a vehicle on a lift inside Don’s Tire and Auto.

The employees escaped without injury. The injured firefighter was taken to Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines with non-life-threatening injuries.