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2 arrests, 1 vandalism report in Creston

News

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Creston Police say two people were arrested Sunday, and one incident of vandalism was reported, Saturday. Authorities say 41-year old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, was arrested just before Noon, SUnday, on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court on a Driving While Barred, charge. And, at around 1:25-p.m., 43-year old Amy Louise Kay Smith, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an outside agency warrant for Probation Violation, on an original Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, charge.

Whitney and Smith were being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail, where Whitney’s cash-only bond was set at $4,000, and Smith was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, a woman residing in the 500 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Creston, reported Saturday evening, that sometime between 10:30-p.m. Friday and 4:40-p.m. Saturday, someone broke out the back window of her 1986 Olds Delta 88, that was parked across the street from her home.

(used in the 7-a.m. News report)

Authorities recapture jail inmate who fled in northwest Iowa

News

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say officers have captured an inmate who assaulted a jailer before fleeing custody in northwest Iowa. The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office says the 19-year-old attacked the jailer around 7:20 p.m. Friday and then fled out a door the jailer had just opened at the jail in Estherville. The inmate was apprehended 45 minutes later by an Estherville officer and a K-9.

The inmate has been identified as Divine Watkins. He’s been charged with escape and assaulting the jailer. He’d been jailed while awaiting prosecution on burglary and other charges.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, Feb. 4, 2019

News, Podcasts

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Play

Senator says ‘open enrollment’ creates ‘taxation without representation’

News

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A state senator from southeast Iowa wants to adjust the financing for students who attend school outside the district in which they live. It’s called “open enrollment.” For 30 years, Iowa parents have been able to enroll their kids in public school districts outside the one in which they live. Senator Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington, says it’s “a real financial issue” for districts that are losing students.”I think open enrollment is here to stay,” Greene says. “It’s not going to change and I understand that, but what I want to do is change the funding mechanism.” Greene is proposing that the home district — where the student lives — keep of 12 percent of the “per pupil” spending for each student who “open enrolls” into another district.

Green says that means all the state and federal tax dollars would follow a student to the other school, but the taxes paid by local property owners would stay put. Green says sending property tax dollars to another district is “taxation without representation.” “The Burlington School District totally surrounds the West Burlington School District. The West Burlington School District has 800 and 900 students; 53 percent of those students reside outside the boundaries of the West Burlington School District,” Greene says. “A huge amount of money comes into the West Burlington School District from outside, but those taxpayers have no say in how that money is spent. That’s my biggest concern.”

Before his election to the state senate, Greene was a member of the Burlington School Board and served as its president.

Only in Iowa can we see a 120-degree weather flip in a matter of a few days

News, Weather

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are used to wild weather extremes in the wintertime but going from balmy highs in the 60s to wind chills of minus-60 in the course of several days is radical, even for the Hawkeye State. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the month of January started out quite warm and stayed that way -almost- through the end.  “Up until the 27th of January, the state was above average temperature-wise,” Glisan says, “and then we got that polar plunge the last few days that really tipped the averages.”

It was almost like somebody roused a dozing Mother Nature from her slumber last Sunday and reminded her it’s supposed to be winter in Iowa — and she overreacted a bit.  “You look at the first week of January, we were actually way above average, between 15 to 25-degrees above average. Some parts of the state had temperatures in the 50s and 60s,” Glisan says. “You flip that, the last week of the month, we’re getting temperatures down into negative-30 and negative-40.”

Overall, the statewide average temperature for January was 18-point-five degrees, about one-degree below normal. Glisan says it appears February will remain colder than normal. “We’re looking to trend below-average for the month,” Glisan says. “We’re getting into the later part of wintertime so we’re warming up, but as of now, the outlooks have below-average temperatures. As for precipitation, it looks like we’re a tad bit above average for rainfall/snowfall across the state.”

Precipitation for January statewide averaged one-point-32 inches, which is four-tenths of an inch above normal. He notes, January is typically the driest month of the year.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4th

Trading Post

February 4th, 2019 by Jim Field

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Man hospitalized after Ottumwa house blaze

News

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was injured in a fire that heavily damaged a house in Ottumwa. Firefighters report finding the man just outside the house’s front door when they arrived Sunday afternoon. He was taken to an Ottumwa hospital before being transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. His name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated. The house is considered a total loss.

BRYAN “Barney” L. BAIER, 61, of Audubon (Celebration of Life 2/10/19)

Obituaries

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

BRYAN “Barney” L. BAIER, 61, of Audubon, died Jan. 17th, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center, in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for BRYAN “BARNEY” BAIER will be held from 1-until 4-p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10th, at St. Patrick’s Parish Center, in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery south of Audubon, at a later date.

BRYAN “BARNEY” BAIER is survived by:

Kristy Bills, of Audubon, her children – Matt Petersen, Megan Petersen and friend Spencer Heuton, Ben Peterson, and her grandson.

His brothers – Terry (Dorene) Baier, and Kent (Carol) Baier, all of Audubon.

His sister – Jodene (Doug) Hansen, of Indianola.

other relatives, and many friends.

Skyscan forecast for Atlantic & the area: Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

Weather

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: (Beware icy roads this morning) Mostly cloudy w/flurries this morning; Partly Cloudy this afternoon. Temps falling into the teens this morning before rebounding to around 24 this afternoon. NW @ 15-30 mph.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 8. N/NE @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: Mo. Cldy w/light snow. High 24. E @ 10.

Wednesday: Cldy w/a mix of light snow-rain-freezing rain. High 34.

Thursday: Cloudy w/snow. High 15.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 53. Our Low this morning was 14. Last year on this date our High was 15 and the Low was -1. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 62 in 1938. The Record Low was -30 in 1905.

 

Midwest Sports Headlines: 2/4/2019

Sports

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP) — Megan Gustafson had 30 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for her 20th double-double this season, and 75th of career, and No. 13 Iowa beat Penn State 81-61. Gustafson was named the Big Ten player of the week on Monday for the ninth time this season, tying the conference record for weekly awards in a career with 19.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Zach Jackson scored 22 points, JT Gibson added 20 and Omaha weather a big run before pulling away to defeat North Dakota 90-72. Jackson scored seven points as the Mavericks went on a 15-0 run midway through the first half and led 49-33 at the break.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 11 Kansas may need another big push to clinch its 15th straight Big 12 title. The Jayhawks are among five teams within a game of the conference lead heading into the final month of the regular season. Kansas made a late run last season to win its 14th consecutive conference title. In the ACC, No. 23 North Carolina State could be headed for an exit from the AP Top 25 after having an epically bad offensive day against No. 12 Virginia Tech, losing 47-24. It also lost to No. 3 Virginia.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Martin Krampelj matched his career high with 23 points and Creighton defeated Xavier 76-54, giving coach Greg McDermott his 200th win with the Blue Jays. Krampelj was 8-of-11 shooting, made all seven of his free throws and grabbed a game-high six rebounds for the Blue Jays (13-9, 4-5 Big East), who have won three of their last four games.