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.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is pressing state officials to create a new grant program to help elderly and disabled Iowans renovate their homes. Dan Endreson is a public policy manager for the organization’s upper Midwest chapter. “That goal is that by creating homes that are safe, they can either delay or forego the need to move into long-term care,” he says.

Endreson and others met privately with Governor Branstad in August to discuss the concept. Endreson made the case in public last week at a budget hearing, asking Branstad to set aside 600-thousand dollars in state money for a Home Modification Assistance Program. “The purpose is to provide grants to Iowans who are elderly or living with the disability to modify their homes, to increase accessibility and safety,” Endreson says.

Endreson argues the investment ultimately would save the state money, keeping more Iowans living independently at home rather than moving into costly long-term care facilities. Traditional health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid typically do not cover modifications like grab bars in the shower that make a home more accessible and safe for an elderly or disabled resident. Several other states offer mortgage assistance or grant programs to help finance those kind of upgrades.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:23 a.m. CST

CASCADE, Iowa (AP) — A 61-year-old man has died in an eastern Iowa rollover crash. The Dubuque County sheriff’s office says the man was traveling south on U.S. Highway 151 shortly before 7 a.m. Monday when he lost control and rolled his Chevy Tracker into the median. The crash happened near Cascade. Authorities say the man was not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected from the sports utility vehicle.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities charged a former Iowa judge with insurance fraud days after she appeared in court to challenge her two-year-old firing over the same allegation. Former Administrative Law Judge Susan Ackerman joined her union Dec. 16 in asking a judge to throw out an arbitration decision that upheld her termination. Days later, Ackerman was charged with a felony for allegedly falsely certifying that her daughter was single so that she could qualify for state insurance.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A preliminary hearing has been scheduled Jan. 6 for a Bettendorf woman accused of stealing more than $434,000 from her employer. Court records say Joan Maureen Smith is charged with felony theft. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press. Smith is accused of stealing from Chest and Vascular Surgery in Davenport.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Utilities have restored power to most of their Iowa and Nebraska customers following the high winds and heavy rains on Christmas. The National Weather Service says 70 mph gusts were recorded Sunday at Nebraska airports in Norfolk and Wayne. Gusts topping 60 mph knocked out power to more than 4,300 customers in the Sioux City, Iowa, area. MidAmerican Energy says fewer than 200 Iowa customers were still without power.

Advocates in the “Y” movement are asking state officials to extend a program that’s financing improvements to Y-M-C-A facilities in some Iowa cities. There are currently 26 “Y-M-C-A” organizations in Iowa, operating buildings at 54 different sites. Craig Hanken is director of the Iowa Alliance of Y-M-C-As.

“In Iowa communities, YMCA facilities serve many important roles. We are the the community center, the day care, the camp, the health care facility, the youth development center and, yes, a fitness facility,” Hanken says. “Iowa YMCAs have been well-loved and well-used and many are in need of support to maintain their aging facilities.”

In 2015, the Rural Y-M-C-A Facility Improvement program was launched. Lawmakers set aside half a million dollars in state tax money for the program. The “Y” getting the money comes up with at least half as much in matching funds. “These funds were designated to assist YMCAs in the renovation or the maintenance of facilities in Iowa’s small communities, so populations of 28,000 or fewer folks,” Hanken says. “This allocation of $500,000, plus $250,000 of match money from YMCAs across the state, brings the total investment in Iowa YMCA facilities to three-quarters-of-a-million dollars.”

Another 600-thousand dollars was handed out a few weeks ago. “Rural YMCA Facility Improvement Grants have assisted and continue to assist YMCAs in meeting critical community needs by creating a safe environment with updated boilers, leak-free roofs, parking access, renovated gyms, classrooms and more and recently we’ve begun to address energy efficiency improvements, just to name a few of the projects that are underway.”

Hanken says the state grants have made a “small, but welcome dent” in necessary facility improvements, but he says there’s another 30 million dollars worth of projects yet to go. Hanken spoke at last week’s budget hearing in the governor’s office. He asked Governor Branstad to include more money for the Y-M-C-As in the state budget plan Branstad will present lawmakers next month. The very first Young Men’s Christian Association was formed in London — in 1844. There have been Y-M-C-As in Iowa for more than a century.

(Radio Iowa)

About one in three Iowans is obese and it’s no coincidence more of our pets are also getting hefty. A new report says the number of dogs with diabetes has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Veterinarian Courtney Campbell says with pets, just like with people, there are two primary keys to avoid the ailment. “One of the principles of managing diabetes is good food and good exercise,” Doctor Campbell says. “As long as we’re not overfeeding our pets and we’re making sure they’re well exercised and keeping them slim and trim, we can definitely lower the risk factors for seeing this increased incidence of diabetes diagnosis.”

He says there are a few important symptoms of diabetes in our pets for which owners should be watchful. “Is your pet drinking more water than usual? I’m talking about how you can’t even keep the water bowl full,” Campbell says. “He’s just constantly drinking and drinking and sometimes drinking out of odd places, like the toilet bowl or even a glass of water that you’re holding, or something like that.”

Other symptoms include frequent urination as well as a huge appetite but no weight gain. If you notice these symptoms, make an appointment with your veterinarian. If your pet is found to be diabetic, it may require regular treatment. “Insulin by far is the most common mainstay of therapy, but diet and exercise can go a long way,” Courtney says. “In dogs, we can actually see a decrease in the amount of insulin they need if we get them slim and trim, lose some weight and have a good diet and exercise.”

Some cats that lose weight and become healthier may go into diabetic remission, where no insulin is needed at all. In the past ten years, diabetes diagnosis in dogs is up 80-percent and 20-percent in cats.

(Radio Iowa)