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Iowa to explore facial recognition technology

News

January 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A top Iowa Department of Public Safety administrator says the agency is exploring how it might use facial recognition technology to fight crime. Chari Paulson said Monday that Iowa hasn’t adopted the technology yet, but is interested in developing the capability. Paulson was the director of the Division of Criminal Investigation for the last year. On Monday, she confirmed that she has been reassigned to be director of the DPS administrative support and technology services bureau.

In that role, she says she’ll look at adopting innovative technologies and said that developing facial recognition capabilities is one on the agenda. She wasn’t specific, but some police agencies are using the technology to run photos of offenders through databases to track down information about them.

Privacy advocates worry about the technology.

New Veterans lottery ticket includes a chance to win a special motorcycle

News

January 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa artist known for painting patriotic pictures on a boulder in Adair County has painted a much smaller and more mobile object to help raise funds for veterans. Iowa Lottery C-E-O Terry Rich announced Monday a motorcycle built in Spirit Lake and painted by Ray “Bubba” Sorenson will be raffled off in conjunction with a new Iowa Veterans Fund lottery ticket. “All the non-winning tickets can then be submitted for this special edition of the Victory motorcycle,” Rich says.

Ray Sorensen III (Left) and Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich unveil a motorcycle to be raffled-off.

Ray Sorensen III (Left) and Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich unveil a motorcycle to be raffled-off.

The special veterans scratch-off tickets were created in 2008 and just over 14-million dollars from their sale has already gone into the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. Rich says the tickets will still have their normal prizes, and if you can’t win one of them, you can have a second chance with the motorcycle. “You are able to go to www-I-A-Lottery-dot-com and actually register your ticket,” Rich explains. The Iowa Lottery will then set up a drawing of all the tickets that have been registered to draw for the winner of the motorcycle.

Sorenson has painted what’s known as “The Freedom Rock” for several years and says he wasn’t quite if he was the right artist for the motorcycle project. “I paint boulders and I’m a brush painter and I told them that this is going to be artwork that’s brush painted, there’s gonna be layers and you’re going to be able to see some of the brush strokes. And the more we talked about it, we thought that will make it unique,” Sorenson says. “This is my first time doing something like this. I think it turned out great and I hope you guys like it.” Sorenson kept with the patriotic theme on this project.

“My favorite colors are red, white and blue. One of my favorite animals is the eagle and so you might be able see a couple of those things on this,” Sorenson says. He says once the initial sketches for the design were completed it only took five days to paint the motorcycle. “When I took on the project I was done with the Freedom Rock tour for the summer and I wanted to completely concentrate on it, so I kind of locked myself in my studio for five days and completed the artwork,” Sorenson says.

Sorenson currently has an effort underway to create a Freedom Rock in all of Iowa’s 99 counties, but he’s not sure he’ll do any more motorcycle painting. “I don’t know, I think I might just keep this one as the unique one in Iowa — I don’t know,” Sorenson says. “I had fun doing it, but I think my specialty is on boulders.” You can see photos of the motorcycle at RadioIowa.com. TheIowa Lottery says the motorcycle is valued at around 31-thousand dollars.

The “Ride to Riches” tickets will be on sale through March 26, with the drawing for the motorcycle held sometime after that.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News headlines: Tue., Jan. 7th 2014

News

January 7th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the extreme cold has added ice to Saylorville Lake but also has created some instability. The corps says the cold has reduced inflows to the reservoir northwest of Des Moines, so the water level below the ice can drop up to 2 inches a day. Visitors should contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656 for more information.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Corrections says an inmate who escaped from a work-release facility in Fort Dodge has been apprehended in Minnesota. Department spokesman Fred Scaletta says 21-year-old Austin Runnells was taken into custody Sunday in Jackson County in southern Minnesota. Additional information was not released yesterday.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa hospital says it’s reviewing its security policy after a person committed suicide in one of its restrooms. Officials at Cherokee Regional Medical Center say the incident happened Sunday evening. Additional information has not been released. Cherokee Regional CEO John Comstock tells the Sioux City Journal that the person was not a patient and did not have contact with staff or other patients.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State remains the only school in the country with undefeated men’s and women’s basketball teams. Each squad is 13-0 and off to the best start in school history. Coach Fred Hoiberg’s men’s team is ranked ninth heading into today’s home game with Number 7 Baylor.

Wind Chill Warnings and/or advisories continue across the area

News, Weather

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A Wind Chill Warning remains in effect until Noon Tuesday for most counties in the KJAN listening area. The exceptions are Mills and Shelby Counties, where the Warning will be replaced at 3-p.m. today by a Wind Chill Advisory, which will be in effect until Midnight.  A Wind Chill Advisory also replaces the Wind Chill Warning for Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page Counties. That advisory will also be in effect until Midnight.

Wind Chills near -30 can be expected across western and southwest Iowa through this afternoon, with wind chills of 20- to 25-degrees below zero through about midnight, as the winds begin to die down.

Frost bite and hypothermia are still possible with prolonged exposure to the bitterly cold conditions. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves if you must venture outside.

State Patrol keeping a watch for stranded motorists

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa State Patrol is keeping an eye out today for motorists who might be having some trouble on the roadways. Trooper Vince Kurtz says most of their focus will be on assisting motorists.  “With the cold and the windchill the way it is, our troopers are out looking for those cars that are stranded on the side of the road and providing that service of making a call to a tow company, getting them out of a cold vehicle into a warm vehicle, assisting in changing a tire,” Kurtz says.

He says people often forget that helping motorists is a big part of what the I-S-P does. “It’s these days that really remind us that we are out here doing more than just writing tickets,” Kurtz says. If you have to be out in this weather Kurtz says you should plan ahead and have an emergency kit that includes several items. He says you need to have something to keep you warm, something to keep you hydrated, some food to eat, and a charged cellphone. Kurtz says a shovel and kitty litter to use for traction are also things you should have.

If you have trouble, he says you should wait in the car for help. “If your vehicle would happen to break down you need to stay with you vehicle, and hopefully you’ve got that winter survival kit, a cellphone that you can make a call to get someone out to help you ” Kurtz says. “But above all, stay with your vehicle.”

The Iowa State Patrol is using an airplane at times during bad weather to look for vehicles that may’ve broken down along the state highways.

(Radio Iowa)

1 injured during Audubon County accident Saturday morning

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Audubon County say a passenger in an SUV was injured during a crash Saturday morning near Hamlin. The Sheriff’s Department reports a 2010 GMC Yukon driven by 38-year old Steve Frank Klocke, of Carroll, and a 1999 Dodge driven by 19-year old Cody Drake Uren, of Grimes, collided at the intersection of Highways 71 & 44 at around 7:30-a.m.

Officials say the accident happened when Uren, who was traveling west on Highway 44, slowed when he came to the intersection, but rolled through. He stopped near the middle of the intersection and was hit when Klocke, who was traveling south on Highway 71. Klocke was unable to stop in-time due to slush on the roadway. Following the collision, Uren’s Dodge became engulfed in flames and was a total loss.

Carter Drake, a passenger in the Klocke vehicle, was injured and transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Klocke’s SUV sustained $5,000 damage in the crash. Deputies cited Uren for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Attempt to thaw pipes results in Cass County house fire

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 1-p.m.)

An attempt by a rural Cass County resident to keep their pipes from freezing resulted in the loss of a two-story home this (Monday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. Atlantic Fire Department 1st Assistant Chief Russell Peck told KJAN News a resident of the home t 54924 650th Street was using a space heater in his basement when the fire started just before 8-a.m. and quickly spread to the rest of the structure.

Looking south from Troublesome Creek Road (Ric Hanson/photo)

Looking south from Troublesome Creek Road (Ric Hanson/photo)

Looking north from Fayette Road. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Looking north from Fayette Road. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Peck said the space heater was used in the corner of a crawl space near where the pipes were located. Once the fire started, it quickly spread up the walls and into the attic. The homeowner tried to put the fire out, but was not successful. Firefighters had to pull out from the home because the floor above the crawl space was about to collapse.

Both residents and their dog escaped without injury.  Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon told KJAN the house was almost fully engulfed in fire when the first crews arrived, and they “Never could get a handle” on it. The temperature at the time of the blaze was nearly 15 degrees below zero, with a wind chill of around 30 below. Kennon said the conditions “Were brutal. It’s terribly cold. We’re on top of a hill and catching a lot of wind, so the wind chill factor is just incredible.” He said the conditions make it hard for firefighters to catch their breath, and exposed skin “just burns” because of the freezing conditions.”

Firefighters’ gloves became coated with ice and were rendered unusable after a short while, prompting calls for replacement gloves and other equipment. Peck said there was just no way to keep warm on the scene. Fortunately, a local seed dealer offered the opportunity for shelter and refreshments for the firefighters…a place they could rotate in and out-of with other fire fighting personnel. He said a dozen or so firefighters at a time were transported to Wickman Chemical just up the road, where they could get warmed-up and drink some coffee.

The Atlantic Hy-Vee provided hot coffee, donuts and sandwiches for the firefighters. Crews from Atlantic and Marne, with assistance from Anita and Wiota battled the blaze most of the morning. Smoke could be seen for miles. No injuries were reported. Peck told KJAN the house had completely collapsed as of Noon.

Numerous fire departments respond to fire nw of Menlo, Sunday

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from six area departments responded to a log cabin fire about 6-miles northwest of Menlo, Sunday. Stuart Rescue EMS Director of Operations and Paramedic Jeff Howard told KJAN News firefighters from Menlo, Casey, Stuart, Adair, Guthrie Center and Panora were called to the scene of the blaze at 3067 Oleander Trail in rural Casey, at around 7:16-p.m. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol also assisted at the scene.

Howard said the weather and location of the 3,800-square foot home made it difficult to get to and fight the fire. The home he said was located about 200-feet off the road. He said the home was fully involved when crews arrived.

The residents were home but had gotten out safely. One fire fighter was treated at the scene for a medical condition but there were no injuries. Firefighters dealt with sub-freezing temperatures as the fought the blaze, and wind chill temperatures dipping to around -25 degrees. Howard said those types of conditions take their toll on personnel and equipment.

He said when they arrived on scene it was 6 degrees below zero. When they left, it was 14 below. That causes the lines freeze up, gloves to become caked with ice, and the firefighters get cold and need rehab breaks. He said “It’s just awful.” The Red Cross was activated to provide the family with necessities. Howard said they were staying with other family members in the area.

2 arrests and an accident in Atlantic

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports two arrests on Saturday. 29-year old Adam Morris,  and 31-year old Brea Roark, both of Atlantic, were arrested on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault. Both were brought to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Sunday morning at 22nd and Olive Streets, in Atlantic. Officials say a vehicle driven by Haley Pottebaum, of Griswold, was traveling west in the 600 block of East 22nd Street when her vehicle hit the left rear bumper of a legally parked vehicle registered to Jason Redler, of Atlantic. Damage from the accident amounted to $4,000. Pottebaum was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The accident happened at around 3:20-a.m.

3 arrests in Fremont County

News

January 6th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports three separate arrests last week. On Friday, 39-year old Kara Marcine Lorimor, of Sidney, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd degree, and Contempt of Court, and, 22-year old Alexandra Brooke Odell, of Hamburg, was arrested for Carrying a Weapon, Harassment in the 3rd degree, and Trespassing.

And on Wednesday, 23-year old Christopher Allen Richter, of Sidney, was arrested on three counts of burglary.