This is Character Counts Week in Iowa, which celebrates the six pillars of character including Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility and Trustworthiness.  Amy Smit is with the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University in Des Moines. “We try to think of something different to do every year with it and this year we don’t have to look very far to find news stories that are kind of sad or might make us fearful or angry. You can’t ignore the negative,  that’s part of the human experience and I think sometimes that can move us to change the world around us. For Character Counts Week  we really want to be inspired by the good things that are happening out there,” Smit says.

She says they are asking people to share their good stories. “We know that there’s tons and tons of great people doing great things and those stories don’t always get the platform they deserve,” Smith says. “We’re asking everyone to find those great stories that they might stumble upon through their social media feeds or that they hear about — and we want to fill the world with those great positive stories.”

Representatives from the program went to Waterloo Monday to formally present  their School of Character award to Poyner Elementary in Waterloo so that everyone there could share in the moment. She says the often present the Character Awards in August and only a few administrators or staff get to attend that event.

You may find out more about Character Counts at www.drake.edu/raycenter.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department is reporting three arrests. Early this (Tuesday) morning, 40-year old Shane Sanden, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $300 bond. Monday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 21-year old Dakota Rosch, of Creston, for Driving While Revoked. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. And, 34-year old Elizabeth Nelson, of Creston, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense. She was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

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

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A single-vehicle accident Monday evening in rural Montgomery County resulted in the driver of the vehicle being arrested on alcohol-related, and other charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year old Trevor Kyle Benge, of Stanton, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense and Driving While Suspended. Benge was also cited for failure to have insurance – accident related. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Officials say Benge was traveling west on 270th Street at around 7:55-p.m., when the 2011 Ford Escape he was driving left the road and entered the north ditch. The SUV continued west in the ditch for about 66-yards before it came into contact with a residential drive. It then continued over the drive and northwest into a yard, where it struck a tree.

The SUV proceeded to travel southwest again, before traveling up and over 270th Street and into the south ditch. It finally came to rest after traveling 47-yards in the ditch. The vehicle sustained about $5,000 damage.

Governor Terry Branstad remains opposed to legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Iowa, but Branstad says he’s willing to work with advocates worried about the soon-to-end Iowa law that decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy. “We don’t want people to lose something they think will be helpful or that has been helpful to members of their family,” Branstad says. The law is set to expire July 1st.

“I intend to work with the legislature as well as with the (Governor’s) Office of Drug Control (Policy) as we look at what is the appropriate thing to do,” Branstad says. The group “Iowans for Medical Cannabis” has been lobbying legislators and the governor to EXPAND the law. They want those who suffer from other serious and terminal illnesses to be able to legally use cannabis as treatment for symptoms like nausea and pain. Branstad says he wants to review the experiences of patients as well as the latest medical research about cannabis.

“I’ve always said I have an open mind in looking at what is the best and most effective way to deal with it and do it in a way that’s not going to open up the possibility of abuse by people who want to use marijuana for recreational purposes,” Branstad says.

Advocates for the use of cannabis oil, patches and other products as treatment for a variety of illnesses argue the products should be made and produced in Iowa if the state legalizes possession of it. Branstad says he wants to “carefully review” how grow-and-dispense operations in the neighboring states of Illinois and Minnesota work.

(Radio Iowa)

A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows fatal traffic crashes involving teenage drivers increased 10-percent last year compared to 2014. Rose White, with Triple-A Iowa, says distracted driving is the number one cause of teen driver crashes and teen passengers are the number one distraction for those drivers. “Any passenger should always avoid unnecessary conversations with the driver. That’s a big distraction,” White says. “Also, avoid unnecessary phone use. Always put the cell phone away, but if one must be used, never allow the driver to use it,” White says.

The report claims teen drivers are 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash than adults. White says parents should constantly be reminding their teenage drivers about keeping their focus on the road. “Parents can certainly provide assistance by being a good driver, setting a good example, never using their cell phone, and making sure their teen drivers never do so as well,” White says.

This is National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22).

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University is trying to shield the names of nearly two dozen people who have flown on a school airplane with President Steven Leath, including his best friend, a National Rifle Association Board member and an infamous athletics booster. The university released records detailing dozens of flights Leath took but redacted passengers’ names. The Associated Press obtained passengers’ names from flight billing records that had been on a university website.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say repairs to the Iowa State Capitol’s dome have been delayed. The state legislature approved a nearly $10 million state appropriation for the major restoration project that is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete. The Des Moines Register reports that architects are still working on drawings and specifications to allow competitive bidding on the project, which means repairs won’t start until the spring. Work had been expected to start in August.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Music Man Square in the hometown of “The Music Man” creator Meredith Willson is floundering. The Mason City Foundation Board runs the attraction, which is housed in a large building that includes a 1912 streetscape, meeting rooms, a museum and recording studios. But board members said it’s losing about $60,000 a year. One board member thinks reorganization and restructuring could save it, but another says the upkeep costs don’t match the public’s interest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s election isn’t rigged and every vote cast by an eligible voter will be counted, the state’s top elections official said Monday, countering Donald Trump’s assertion that this year’s elections are rigged. Secretary of State Paul Pate, who like Trump is a Republican, was responding to comments from Trump who lashed out at fellow Republicans in an early Monday morning Tweet.

Officials with law enforcement and the Iowa Department of Transportation are warning Iowans about a new scam making the rounds through e-mail. The Creston Police Department posted Monday on its social media page that they have received information that an e-mail which appears to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles warns that you “Owe a fine for a traffic violation.” The e-mail contains links that you can click on to “pay” the fine.

Authorities warn that the City of Creston does NOT conduct traffic citations in that manner, and it is a scam. They advise you should “Block the sender and delete the email.”

Example of a Fake Ticket via e-mail

The Iowa DOT went one step-further, and explained how you can tell the difference between a real citation and a fake one: A real citation would not come from an entity called “The Department of Motor Vehicles“; All Iowa traffic fines would be paid though your local county Courthouse, not by an e-mail link; The Iowa court system does not use “EasyPay“, which the DOT has no knowledge of); and you should always check the email address of the sender…it should indicate the county or state. Not just “City.”

If you have questions or think you have been scammed, please contact local law enforcement right way.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, Monday, heard a request from Deb Smith, with regard to a property she owns at 6th and Oak Streets, that she would like to have turned into a park, if feasible.

Deb Smith presents her proposal to the Parks & Rec Board. (Director Seth Staashelm is on the left)

The land was the former site of the old Hockenberry/Mullen Funeral Home, which was destroyed in an arson fire in May, 2012. Smith wants to sell the slightly more than one-half acre of land to the City for at or a little than less than the amount it costs in taxes, or about $9,968. It’s valued at around $17,900.

The land proposed is in the upper left part of this image. (Click to enlarge)

Smith’s father was the Rev. Chuck Smith, who served as Mayor of Atlantic many years ago, and who died last March. Deb Smith said her father had hoped to turn the land into a park. Deb Smith, who now lives in Panama, said before her dad died she had contacted the Iowa West Foundation and inquired about grant funding for a park. She also spoke recently with Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm.

The land is currently zoned commercial. Staashelm said he would need to contact the City Attorney and then get a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission before the Parks and Rec Board makes its recommendation and presents her offer to the City Council. Staashelm said also, the Parks and Rec Departments funds are currently spoken for about the next two or three years, as part of its five-year plan, but there is an opportunity to apply for grants. Smith said she would be happy to help write any grant applications.

Park and Rec Board Member Charlene Beane suggested the area would be a great spot for another skate board park, but Board member Jolene Smith suggested a splash pad might be an idea, since there is already a water hookup on the property. If the City approves the purchase of the land, Staashelm said the property would need a retaining wall to help with drainage and to solve erosion problems, which the Parks and Rec Department could install, and a new sidewalk, which the Street Department might be able to install.

Staashelm said he would begin to seeking legal advice and P&Z approval, as the next steps in the process.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers have made further progress harvesting corn and soybeans in Iowa and Nebraska but rain in Iowa and heavy dew in Nebraska has slowed the process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa farmers reported waiting for crops to dry in the field before harvesting. Nebraska also saw last week freezing temperatures across a wide area.

About a third of the Iowa corn crop is harvested, about a week behind the five-year average and 62 percent of soybeans are out of the field. The five-year average at this point in the year is 74 percent. In Nebraska 34 percent of corn is harvested, behind the average of 40 percent and 62 percent of soybeans are completed behind the average of 74 percent.