The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports one arrest over the past week. 26-year old Colleen Nicole Denton, of Greenfield, was arrested April 10th for Serious Domestic Abuse Assault. She was released later that same day on $1,000 bond. According to charging documents, Denton and 31-year old Cole John Daughenbaugh, also of Greenfield, were in an argument, when she allegedly struck Daughenbaugh several times in the face, causing injury.

Both parties allegedly assaulted each other, but neither claimed responsibility for their actions, according to the documents. As we reported last week, Daughenbaugh was also arrested in connection with the incident. He too was charged with Serious Domestic Assault, and later released.

In other news from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year old Clinton James Henry Hansen, of Atlantic, and 26-year old Shelli Dawn Moffitt, of Osceola, were cited last week for Driving Under Suspension. Both were released from the scene of their citations. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater said he and his deputies conducted more traffic stops than ever before last week, at least since he began keeping records over the past couple of years.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon, north of Essex. Officials say 20-year old Harley Collier, of Omaha, was traveling north on Avenue D at around 2:35-p.m., about two-miles north of Essex, near the intersection with 130th Street, when she ran into the rear of a trailer hauling a boat. The trailer was being pulled by a 2012 Ford F-150 pickup.

The driver of the pickup was identified as 64-year old Michael Dean Hecker, of Silver City. Authorities say due to the dust from Hecker’s vehicle Collier was unable to see his vehicle and trailer.  Damage to the outboard engine on the boat was estimated at $1500.

Collier was cited for Failure to maintain control and Failure to prove security against liability.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Public Information Board is scheduled to decide whether to take action against a county hospital for not releasing the names of its volunteers. Denison resident Richard Knowles has been seeking the volunteer driver records from Crawford County Memorial Hospital so he can learn whether any of the people have criminal histories.

The Des Moines Register reports the hospital and its foundation say the information shouldn’t be considered a public record because the volunteer workers are not paid. Iowa’s open record law mandates the release of the name and compensation of government employees.

The information board deputy director has recommended the board find “probable cause” in the case. If the board agrees in its vote Thursday, the next step could be a hearing before an administrative law judge.

The Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Tuesday evening (April 19th) with regard to a possible superintendent sharing agreement and discussion pertaining to a superintendent vacancy in the Griswold District. During the 6:30-p.m. meeting in the Central Office at the High School/Middle School building, the Board will meet with Dr. Greg Cruickshank, Superintendent of the South Page & Sidney School Districts.

The public is invited to provide input and ask questions about a possible sharing arrangement between the Griswold, South Page and Sidney Districts.

Today (Monday) is the deadline to file federal income tax returns, but you still have another two weeks to file your Iowa income taxes. Iowa Department of Revenue spokesperson, Victoria Daniels, advises you to file electronically. “That is best thing you can do for yourself. Number one, if you are going to get a refund, you will get it much quicker,” Daniels says. “Number two, a lot of the software programs, they actually do the calculations for you. And so you are less likely to have mistakes.”

Filing electronically also saves the state money. While it take less than one dollar for the Department of Revenue to process an e-filing, Daniels says it takes more than two dollars to process a paper return. Unlike the federal government, Iowa doesn’t allow people to ask for additional time to file their taxes. “If you don’t file on time and you don’t pay on time, then you’re going to be hit with a 10 percent penalty. And then also, if there is an amount due, that will earn interest at five percent a year,” Daniels says.

But, as long as you pay 90 percent of want you owe the state by May 2nd, you won’t suffer an additional penalty. Daniels says more than 90 percent of Iowans will get their tax refunds within two weeks of filing electronically.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – City Council members on Monday are scheduled to consider a proposal to penalize property owners an extra 25 percent on unpaid city fees for removing snow from sidewalks. The Sioux City Journal reports that the penalties would be levied on the unpaid fees added to the parcels’ property taxes.

City code requires owners to clear sidewalks within 12 hours after snow or ice has stopped falling. Noncompliance can result in a civil citation. If a sidewalk isn’t cleared after a 24-hour shovel notice is posted, a city contractor clears the sidewalk and the city bills the property owner for those costs.

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

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The Creston Police Department says two thefts were reported over the past few days. Friday afternoon, a business owner told police someone took a chainsaw from his business (J&J Plumbing & Heating), at 211 S. Elm Street. The 20″ Jonsered chainsaw, which was taken sometime between 3:15-p.m. and 3:35-p.m. Friday, was valued at $503. And, Saturday evening, a resident in Creston reported sometime between March 16th and April 15th, someone took a fire ladder from an apartment at 301 W. Montgomery Street. The loss was estimated at $200.

Creston Police said also, 21-year old Todd Michael Murray, of Creston, was arrested over the weekend, on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Murray was later released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

The Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF), in accordance with grant
money received through Federal Home Loan Bank, says it is seeking applications from low to moderate income homeowners in the City of Red Oak for housing repairs.

SWIHTF currently has no waiting list for Red Oak, and seeks to find nine homeowners to participate in the program. The FHLB repair program can assist owner occupied households to eliminate health and safety hazards and to conserve energy in their homes. Examples of assistance include electrical, heating, plumbing, handicap accessibility, windows, etc. The assistance is in the form of a five year forgivable loan with a maximum of $5,000 per home in repairs.

Applicants must be the owner of record, reside in the home, and meet income guidelines. The condition of the home must be suitable for repair. Interested applicants should contact SWIHTF at 712-243-4196 for more information.