United Group Insurance

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

(Update) 14-year old from Neola dies in Monday evening crash

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims of a fatal rollover accident that took place Monday evening, near Neola. Authorities say 14-year old Gage Williams, of Neola, died from his injuries at Mercy CHI Hospital. The driver of the vehicle, 18-year old Kael Karagianis, of Neola, and a passenger, 16-year old Jordan Macias, also Neola, both suffered non-incapacitating injuries, and were also transported to Mercy CHI. 16-year old Kaden Karagianis, (the brother of Kael), was transported to Jennie Edmundson in Council Bluffs for treatment of incapacitating injuries.

An investigation determined that at around 5:40-p.m. a 1998 Ford F‐150 pickup that had been south bound on Rail Road Highway, went out of control. The driver over-corrected, causing the vehicle to cross the centerline of the road and strike a field entrance in a ditch. The pickup rolled at least one time coming to rest on its top, in a farm field.  All of the victims were transported to the hospitals by Neola Fire and Rescue. Authorities have said the teens had just left track practice at Tri-Center High School when the accident occurred

The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. No citations have been issued at this time. Crisis response and grief counselors are being made available for students of the Tri-Center School District, today, as they process the death of a classmate and the injury of three others.

Monday’s crash was eerily reminiscent of a similar accident that took place a little more than six-years ago a few miles north of the Tri-Center/Neola High School campus. During the March 17th, 2010 crash, 14-year old Katie Dyer, of Honey Creek, died. That accident, which involved a car that rolled over numerous times, also resulted in injuries to the driver, 15-year old Samantha Reid, who was from Honey Creek, and her 16-year old passengers Cari Wilson and Chelsea Birtwell, both of whom at the time, were from Persia. In that crash, two of the girls, including Dyer, were wearing seat belts, the other two were not. All four were ejected from the vehicle. Reid was driving with a school license, which allowed students who are 14 ½ years of age or older, to drive to-and-from school.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 3/22/2016

News, Podcasts

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

3 arrested on drug charges in Creston

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Creston report three people have been arrested on drug charges. Early this (Tuesday) morning, 25-year old Matthew Thomas, of Creston, was arrested on a Possession of a Controlled Substance, charge. Monday evening, 20-year old’s Shandi Brown and Kenneth Killen, both of Creston, were arrested at their residence for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. All three suspects were later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.

And, a Creston woman was arrested Monday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 44-year old Paula Shimer was taken into custody on an Adams County warrant for Contempt of Court. She was later released on $500 bond.

(Podcast) KJAN News & funeral report, 3/22/16

News, Podcasts

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m. report from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Griswold School Board accepts Superintendent & H.S. Principal’s resignations

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Griswold School District’s Board of Education, Monday night, accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dana Kunze and High School/Middle School Principal T-J Dunphy. Both men will finish-out their positions through the end of June.

The 41-year old Dunphy, who was arrested March 13th in Creston for OWI/2nd offense and Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated, will not be allowed to attend school functions, based on the school’s Code of Conduct policy. Dunphy will receive three month’s severance pay based on his current salary and health insurance through the remainder of the 2016 calendar year, unless he secures insurance by other employment.

Villisca enters the dark side when street lights are shot out

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Some streets in Villisca were dark over the weekend, but not because of a power outage. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said personnel with the Villisca Municipal Power Plant reported that, sometime over the weekend, someone had shot out 17 different street lights, with the repair cost estimated at $3,400. The damage occurred sometime between Friday and Sunday in an area primarily on the south and southeast sides of Villisca.

Anyone with information about the crime was asked to call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 22nd, 2016

News

March 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEOLA, Iowa – One male teenager died, three others were injured when a pickup rolled over Monday evening, near the Tri-Center High School, in Neola. The crash happened at around 5:40-p.m. The names of the victims have not been released. Grief counselors will be on hand at the school today to assist students and staff.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — A Dayton man has been charged in connection with a car crash that killed two people. Twenty-year-old Colten Bills faces two counts of vehicular homicide in the May 2015 deaths of 85-year-old Velma Castenson and her son, 56-year-old David Castenson. The crash occurred on Iowa Highway 175 in Dayton. A criminal complaint says Bills, who was driving a pickup truck, failed to stop at an intersection and struck a car carrying Velma and David Castenson. Both vehicles ended up in a ditch and the Castensons died as a result of their injuries. The complaint alleges Bills was texting before the crash.

FROSTBURG, Md. (AP) — Maryland State Police say an Iowa woman was driving drunk when she crashed into a state police cruiser parked on the shoulder of a highway with its emergency lights flashing. Thirty-five-year-old Karen Keister of Des Moines, Iowa, was charged Saturday night after the collision on U.S. 40 near state Route 36 in Frostburg.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he won’t question Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley’s decision to not hold nomination hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy. Branstad says he supports Grassley and won’t “second guess or criticize” the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee holds confirmation hearings and votes on federal court appointments.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An off-duty Iowa State Patrol trooper tried to get out of a drunken-driving arrest by repeatedly refusing to cooperate and then berating the arresting officer. Audio and video from the arresting officer’s body camera and car show Patrick Steinbach acting belligerently during the Dec. 20 arrest, which prompted his resignation from the patrol and the removal of a booking officer who gave him special treatment at the Iowa County jail.

Tri-Center School District mourns the loss of student killed in a Monday evening crash

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A little more than six-years after a crash claimed the life of a female Tri-Center teenager and injured three others, tragedy has once again struck the school district. Crisis response and grief counselors will be available for students of the Tri-Center School District, Tuesday, as they process the death of a classmate and the injury of three others in a crash that happened Monday evening. According to KETV in Omaha, a pickup truck carrying four male high school students crashed and rolled over at around 5:45-p.m. near Neola.

Two of the teens suffered serious injuries in the crash when the truck rolled off the highway northeast of Neola, on Railroad Highway. All four were taken to hospitals in Council Bluffs, where one of the teens died from his injuries. No names have been released.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said the teens had just left track practice at Tri-Center High School when the single-vehicle crash happened. Additional details were not available as of 10:45-p.m. (Check back later for updates)

A message posted on the Tri-Center Trojans Facebook page late Monday evening said:

“Dear Trojan family, Tonight our family has suffered a terrible tragedy. 4 students have been involved in a tragic crash. It’s heartbreaking as one didn’t survive. These kids are great students, friends, brothers, sons of great families and we send these families our most deepest, sincere, whole-hearted condolences, sympathies, and prayers to the families involved. As well as to the students, the teachers, and the whole TC community as we mourn this awful tragedy. We pray for healing for one another during this time of hardship. God Bless these students, the families, and this great community.”

Some patrons of the district may remember a crash a few miles north of the Tri-Center/Neola High School campus on March 17th, 2010 that claimed the life of 14-year old Katie Dyer, of Honey Creek. That accident, which involved a car that rolled over numerous times, also resulted in injuries to the driver, 15-year old Samantha Reid, who was from Honey Creek, and her 16-year old passengers Cari Wilson and Chelsea Birtwell, both of whom at the time, were from Persia. In that crash, two of the girls, including Dyer, were wearing seat belts, the other two were not. All four were ejected from the vehicle. Reid was driving with a school license, which allowed students who are 14 ½ years of age or older, to drive to-and-from school.

Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park may be open by the end of May

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Seth Stasshelm, Monday, said work is continuing on renovations for the Kiddie Korral Shelter house at Sunnyside Park. Staashelm said so far this Spring, grass seed has been placed on the ground, and brick has been ordered from Sioux City Brick for placement around the roof support columns. What’s still left to do is install the water fountain, and work on the fire pit. The Atlantic Kiwanis will come out and help clean-up the playground equipment. Some of the toys are also being replace. Until then, that area will be cordoned-off.  He says they will hopefully have it open by mid-May.

A date for the newly renovated facility has not yet been set, but it’s hoped that will be sometime in May. Reservations will not be accepted for use of the shelter until the end of May. Staashelm said also, work on the East Shelter renovation at Sunnyside Park is their next objective. The roof, he said, needs to be replaced, and the skirting is twisted, something that’s out of the scope of his and Parks Director Roger Herring’s area of expertise. To that end, they contracted with Iron Specialties for the installation of a new, red, tin roof. Their bid amounted to $7,700.

A separate local contractor will handle painting of the columns and rafters, for a total project price of just under $12,000, which is what had been budgeted for using the Local Option Sales Tax Funds. The Parks and Rec Board approved the contracts for work on the Kiddie Korral. Other activities taking place at parks in Atlantic, includes the grading of land near the Dog Park at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The land will be used for a one-way entry/exit, 20 stall parking spaces for the Dog Park. Currently, there are flags in-place, marking where the grading will take place by a tiling company.

And, the East Nishnabotna River Boat Ramp near the Wastewater Treatment Plant is almost finished. Roger Herring said they need to removal piles of rip-rap and dirt for the building of a berm. The earthen berm will be covered with grass cloth and river rock, to dress it up. A drive will pass by the Waterworks berm, and a parking area near the upper end of the boat ramp.

In other business, Herring and Staashelm are awaiting Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, to determine if their request for $40,000 in support of a Vision Iowa CAT grant application, will be approved. If it isn’t, or if the amount requested is less than received, Herring said that would have a big impact on the application. The Atlantic City Council has committed $100,000 in support of the $360,000 grant request for improvements to the Schildberg Rec Area campground site, and there is $40,000 for in-kind services that have been pledged. The grant requires a 50-percent local match (including 25% for in-kind services), or $180,000 altogether.

Iowa man resentenced to prison in 1977 shooting death

News

March 21st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man who was previously sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed in Nebraska when he was teenager has been resentenced. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Douglas County District Judge Mark Ashford on Monday sentenced 53-year-old Kelvin Anderson, of Waterloo, Iowa, to 82 to 100 years in prison for the 1977 killing of Robert McGinnis. Anderson will be eligible for parole in three years.

Anderson, who was 15 at the time, shot and killed McGinnis during a robbery in Omaha. The new sentence was prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says judges must have the ability to sentence juveniles to something other than an automatic life term.