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Package Theft in Creston

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November 19th, 2014 by admin

A Creston Woman reported the theft of a FedEx package from her home at 601 E. Page Street on November 13th sometime between 11:55am and 5:32pm that day. The package contained an Ipod Nano and the loss was estimated at $140. The Creston Police Department took the report at 5:20pm Tuesday, November 18th.

(Podcast) 8-a.m. KJAN News, 11/19/2014

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With Ric Hanson.

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Doing Better, but Progress Slow to Reduce Preterm Births in Iowa

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Progress is being made in reducing the number of preterm births in Iowa, as the state earned a grade of “B” in this year’s report card from the March of Dimes. The report shows the national preterm birth rate is now at 11.4 percent. In Iowa, it’s a little lower at 11.1 percent, although Michelle Gogerty, state director of programs and advocacy with the state chapter of the March of Dimes says, “We have a long way to go. Our goal is for every baby to get a healthy start in life,” says Gogerty. “We won’t stop until we eliminate this problem and certainly, we’re striving for an “A” on the report card.”

Gogerty says the goal is to reduce the preterm birth rate to 9.6 percent or lower by 2020. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive often face the risk of serious and sometimes lifelong health issues. Gogerty notes they often also spend the first weeks or months of their lives hospitalized in intensive care.

“We have some babies that are March-of-Dimes families that have had medical bills over a million dollars,” says Gogerty. “So, it’s huge in comparison to a normal, healthy birth.” Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn’t clear, but factors that may increase the risk include smoking, some infections and chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

(Iowa News Service)

School board officials from across Iowa meet in Des Moines for convention

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

More than 12-hundred people representing most of Iowa’s 340-some school districts will be gathering in Des Moines today (Wednesday) for the Iowa Association of School Boards convention. Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will attend the convention Thursday, from 7:30-a.m. to 9-p.m.

Association spokeswoman Tracy Bainter says this 69th annual convention will center on how the internet and various computer advances have changed the modern classroom.Bainter says, “We’re going to be focusing on all of the changes in technology and the opportunities that unlocks for students, staff and education leaders like school board members.”

Bainter says technology continues to evolve and so does the way students learn.  “We’re looking at being able to connect with students in their homes,” Bainter says. “For their homework, they’re able to connect with schools all around the country. If they’re doing a report on European history, they can connect with a museum in Europe to learn first-hand from historians.”

One of the convention speakers is a “futurist” who will be talking about a re-imagining of the entire concept of school, while there will be a range of workshops during the three-day event.  “We’re going to have some on technology, we’re going to have some on school finance, which is always an important issue for school board members,” Bainter says. “We’ll have a few on legislative issues that are coming up. We’re going to talk with working with a variety of personalities and creating a cohesive team on a school board.”

The convention runs through Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Learn more at www.ia-sb.org.

(Radio Iowa)

(Podcast) 7:07-a.m. KJAN News & funeral report, Wed. 11/19/14

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Villisca man & a man from Grant arrested on drug charges

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Two Montgomery County men were arrested Tuesday, on drug charges. The Sheriff’s Department says 51-year old Scott Timothy Brown, of Grant, was arrested at around 9:20-p.m., when deputies followed-up on an incident at 108 Adams Street, in Grant. Brown was subsequently taken into custody for Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 cash bond.

And, at around 6:30-p.m. Tuesday, deputies in Montgomery County arrested 36-year old Damyn Carl Stacy, of Villisca, following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 34 and Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Stacy faces a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and later released on a citation.

Red Oak man arrested on drug and other charges

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Red Oak man arrested Tuesday evening by Red Oak Police acting on an active warrant, faces additional charges. 24-year old Eric Alan Vannausdale, who is no stranger to local police, was taken into custody at 4:30-p.m. on a warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent.

While being placed under arrest, officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Vannausdale’s possession. The man was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to Montgomery County Corrections and held on a total of $3,000 cash bond.

Iowa pharmacy board may weigh in on marijuana laws

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Pharmacy will consider again recommending changing state law to reclassify marijuana so it could be used to treat medical conditions. The board is set to meet Wednesday. Members heard testimony on the issue Monday.

Currently, marijuana is classified under state law as both a Schedule I drug, meaning it is has no medical use, and as a Schedule II drug, which has medicinal value. Advocates want the drug to be moved only to the Schedule II category.

The board recommended that the Legislature make such a change to state law in 2010, but no action was taken. Lawmakers this year approved legislation that allows the use of oil derived from marijuana to treat chronic epilepsy.

Opening arguments today in State vs. Robert A. Reynolds

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A longer-than-usual jury selection process Tuesday, forced opening statements in the trial of an Oakland man charged with the murder of a rural Cass County woman, to be pushed back to today (Wednesday). The Daily NonPareil reports a little more than 100 potential jurors from east Pottawattamie County arrived for jury selection Tuesday, initially filling out a questionnaire.

The Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office estimated more than half knew about the case against 63-year old Robert A. Reynolds, which led to one-on-one interviews between the potential jurors and attorneys for the defense and prosecution as the two sides worked to pare down the list to a panel of 12 jurors and two alternates. Reynolds is charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in the shooting death of 64-year-old Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey on April 8th at Reynolds’ home in Oakland.

By late Tuesday evening, the attorneys had selected a jury, and the trial is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. today at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. Reynolds has pleaded not guilty.

Tackling dummy fire prompts brief school evacuation

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November 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A small fire briefly disrupted activities Tuesday afternoon at Abraham Lincoln High School. The Daily NonPareil reports at around 12:15 p.m., an person or persons unknown set fire to a football tackling dummy on a balcony in the school fieldhouse. Council Bluffs Fire Marshal Larry Wohlers told the paper  smoke and flames from the fire activated a sprinkler head about 20 feet above the fire, which distributed water to extinguish the blaze. Wohlers said the fire would have reached a temperature of about 150 degrees to activate the sprinkler.

Firefighters arrived shortly after the activation, advised the school to turn off the sprinkler and began assisting with smoke ventilation. Officials with the school district said the fire occurred on the balcony on the “Home” side of the fieldhouse. Most of the damage caused by the fire affected the tackling dummy. There was also water damage on the balcony and in the music wing at the school, according to the district.

All students at the school were evacuated for about 10 minutes as the fire department handled the incident.Wohlers said the fire was intentionally set, and an arrest in the case is likely.