Severe winds Wednesday blew a motorcycle off the road, injured the driver. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says David Barrett, of Glenwood,was transported by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Authorities say Barrett was traveling north on 195th Street, north of Paddock Avenue, when his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was hit by a strong southerly gust of wind as Barrett was trying to round a curve, causing the cycle to leave the road. The accident happened at around 4-p.m.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man reported Tuesday, someone had taken numerous items from his shed located off of Redwood Avenue. The theft occurred sometime over the past weekend, and included: Gas cans and chain oil, chain saw, and several miscellaneous tools. The loss was estimated at $1,672.

An Exira man wanted on an Audubon County warrant for 3rd Degree Theft, has turned himself-in. Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports 30-year old Randy Cole Pasquale was arrested in connection with a theft that took place March 5th, in the 1600 block of 190th Street, where he allegedly stole two new security systems from a shed, and attempted to sell the property.

Pasquale was seen by the magistrate this (Thursday) morning, and then released. His preliminary hearing was set for April 20th.

Shelby County Emergency Management Director Bob Seivert says the County’s “Fire Danger” index will be “Moderate,” from now through Monday, April 6th. Residents are asked to call in and report your outdoor burning projects to Shelby County dispatch at 712-755-2124, and notify your local Fire Chief.

Timing for burns should be morning, or evening hours and extinguished by dark unless authorized by Fire Chief due to possible impacts to roads and health from smoke. Burns must be monitored at all times.

A man from western Iowa was arrested recently on drug charges, in northern Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County.

Barrett booking photo

KIMT-TV in Mason City reports 59-year old Cleo Ray Barrett, of Audubon, was found to be in possession of drugs, during a routine traffic stop Monday morning. Barrett was pulled over  near the interchange of I-35 and Highway 18 for a seat belt violation. A Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol learned Barrett’s license was suspended, and called for a tow truck.

During an inventory of the vehicle, the patrolman says he detected the odor of marijuana. After a search of the vehicle, Barrett was found in possession of $3,200, a scale, a large amount of marijuana, as well as two small baggies of methamphetamine. When asked whether he had documentation for the money, Barrett said he didn’t have any and chose to remain silent on where the money came from.

Barrett is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, failure to affix a tax stamp, and a controlled substance violation.

With Ric Hanson.

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The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The KJAN listening area received some much needed rain overnight, in light of numerous, recent grass and field fires and the dry, windy conditions western Iowa has been dealing with for the past few weeks. Here at the KJAN studios – your official National Weather Service reporting station for Atlantic – we received 1.05 inches of rain. Massena reports .79″.

Other, unofficial reports from various spotters and media include:

1.28″ in Council Bluffs; 1.1″ just south of Avoca; 1.06″ in Irwin; 1.02″ in Harlan; 1 inch in Oakland; .94″ in Audubon; .8″ in Shenandoah; .77″ in Clarinda; .63″ in Red Oak; .49″ in Creston and .28″ in Denison.

COON RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A west-central Iowa man has offered $500 to help catch whoever vandalized a memorial to his son who was slain in Afghanistan while serving with the U.S. Army.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports that hollowed-out egg shells filled with pink paint were thrown at the memorial over the weekend. The memorial sits just a few steps from the Coon Rapids shop of Dave Muhr (moor), who built the memorial to honor his youngest son, Shawn. The soldier was killed in January 2011 by a roadside bomb.

Shawn Muhr graduated Coon Rapids-Bayard High School in 2003 and joined the Army in 2005. Police say they found several street signs vandalized in a similar manner with pink paint, so they don’t believe the vandal or vandals specifically targeted the memorial.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office reports two people were arrested Wednesday on separate charges. Just before 10-p.m., 31-year old Marcus John Josephson, of Red Oak, was arrested on charges stemming from an accident that took place March 18th, in Red Oak. Josephson faces a charge of OWI/Drugged-1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, at around 9:30-p.m., 37-year old Justin James Smith, of Villisca, was arrested on a Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault charge, following an investigation into an incident that took place in the 100 block of North 4th Avenue in Villisca. Smith was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.