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Police ID body found on riverbank in southern Des Moines

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified the remains of a body found on a riverbank in southern Des Moines. Police said Tuesday that the body was that of 61-year-old Thomas Francis Hoye III, of Des Moines.

Police say the Polk County Medical Examiners Office is continuing its investigation into the cause of Hoye’s death. A pedestrian reported around noon Sunday that he’d spotted the body below a bridge over the Raccoon River. Police had said the body appeared to have been at the spot for some time and showed no obvious signs of injury.

Council Bluffs man arrested on Burglary charge

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs today (Tuesday) arrested 18-year old Daniel Page, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Police responded at around 12:35-p.m. to the area of 1100 block of 5th Avenue, for a possible burglary to a vacant residence.

The suspect (Page) had fled from the residence when confronted by a neighbor. Officers searched the area and located the man hiding in a backyard. He was taken into custody and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Shambaugh man wanted on a warrant hides in an attic

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County executed a search warrant at around 1:40-p.m. today (Tuesday), at 510 2nd Street, in Shambaugh. The warrant was for 29-year old Joseph Cody Foster, of Shambaugh, who wanted on Page County District court warrants for Harassment 1st degree, Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, and Failure to Appear for a Revocation of Probation hearing on charges of Harassment 2nd degree and Violation of probation.

Joseph Cody Foster

Foster was also wanted under the authority of warrants out of Adams County, for Failure to appear on violation of probation with an original charge of Burglary 3rd degree and possession of burglary tools and Failure to appear on an original charge of Interference with Official Acts. His total bond was set at $3,000, but bonds for the some of the charges were not set until he appears before a magistrate.

Foster was found hiding in the attic of the residence in order to avoid arrest. He was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held without bond until seen by Magistrates of Page and Adams Counties.

Bluffs man arrested Tue. morning after stand-off at an apartment

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say a man was arrested after a brief stand-off this (Tuesday) morning. Just before 9-a.m., officers were dispatched to 649 Parkwild Drive in reference to a male refusing to leave an apartment. Upon arrival officers made contact with the caller and was informed 22-year old Devon Anderson, of Council Bluffs, had taken her car without permission and abandoned it. Anderson was refusing to leave the apartment. When officers made contact with Anderson he grabbed a knife and locked himself in the bathroom. Police negotiators were brought to the scene and were able to get Anderson to turn the knife over to officers and a short time later Anderson exited the bathroom.

Devon Anderson

He was taken into custody and was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges of Operation without owners consent, and Obedience to Peace officer.

Drake to host USATF outdoor meet in 2019

Sports

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, will host the USA Track and Field outdoor championships in 2019. Catch Des Moines, the city’s chamber of commerce, announced on Tuesday that the city has added the event to next year’s calendar. Drake is hosting the national outdoor championships in June for the third time since 2010. USATF also announced the schedule for this year’s four-day meet, which will conclude with the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Sunday, June 24.

Volunteers invited to state park spring clean-up events

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Several Iowa state parks are hosting spring clean-up events to get ready for the summer season this April and May. Events will be tailored to each park’s needs and could include activities such as litter and branch pick-up, painting, trail work, and clipping back limbs and plants. Todd Coffelt, State Parks bureau chief, says “We greatly appreciate the time and energy our volunteers provide to help take care of Iowa’s parks. Even if you haven’t visited one of these parks, we invite you to come out for an event and spend time outdoors lending a hand.”

Here are some of the (local) state park volunteer events for April and May:

  • Lake Anita State Park, Cass County – April 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join a DNR naturalist on an earth hike to pick up litter. Participants can also make plant pots from recycled newspaper to plant milkweed seeds and take home. Meet in the campground near the popcorn stand. Contact Anne Riordan at (641) 747-8383.
  • Springbrook State Park, Guthrie County – April 21, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Help remove weeds and a newly established pollinator plot. Activities that day will also celebrate Earth Day week, including art projects and family activities. Meet at the campground gazebo. Contact Anne Riordan at (641) 747-8383.

Man gets 250 days for manslaughter; parole revoked

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 250 days in jail over the fatal stabbing of another man. The Sioux City Journal reports that 44-year-old Jeremy Lillich pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Friday and was credited with 250 days already served in custody. He was on parole from a 10-year prison sentence for drugs when the stabbing occurred. His parole has been revoked and he’s been returned to prison.

A grand jury indicted Lillich in November for the June 3 slaying of 21-year-old James Purcell, of Sioux City. Police have said they think the stabbing started as a fight over a theft.

April 7th | Kellerton Wildlife Area | Prairie-chickens at Dawn!

Ag/Outdoor

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Kellerton, Iowa – The first rhythmic and haunting cooing begins as the night sky fades and sunrise begins. The short grass prairie booming grounds prepares for a display found nowhere else in Iowa. This is prairie chicken country and on April 7, it will be the 15th Annual Prairie Chicken Day at the Kellerton Wildlife Management Area, in Ringgold County. Activities originate from the viewing platform on 300th Avenue, southwest of Kellerton. The annual ritual begins as early as mid-March and lasts through April. Male prairie chickens meet at the booming grounds every morning to display, spar and fight with other males trying to catch the eye of the females watching nearby.

“They will be out there until 8 or so, when they begin to slow down,” said Stephanie Shepherd, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Diversity Program. She said there are typically 20-40 birds that use the lek at Kellerton, and they will display each morning regardless of the weather. The area has an elevated viewing platform to help see all the action. “Some mornings you can hear them and some you can’t. They are out there every day, but are less active if it’s raining or really cloudy,” she said.  While there will be some spotting scopes available to use, attendees are encouraged to bring their own or a set of binoculars.

The prairie chicken population at Kellerton has benefited from a collaboration between the states of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, and the Nature Conservancy, Blank Park Zoo and the Ringgold County Conservation Board. The collaboration extended to area producers who help to manage 30 percent of the grasslands through grazing. Some of the partners captured and relocated prairie chickens from Nebraska to the Kellerton area and the Dunn Ranch in northern Missouri to increase bird numbers and introduce new genetics to the population. While others worked to reestablish the rolling grasslands in the area.

“There has been a lot of collaboration to improve the landscape across the state line to recreate 160,000 acres of rolling hills of grass with few trees,” Shepherd said. “This partnership benefits not only the prairie chicken, but other grassland species as well.” One grassland species in particular, the Henslow’s sparrow, has benefited from this partnership. The Henslow’s sparrow is listed as a state threatened species in Iowa but the population at Kellerton is so large the area has been recognized as globally important for this species.

Audubon School Board approves Teacher transfers and resignations

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon School Board met this (Tuesday) morning and acted on approving Teacher transfers, contracts and resignations. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the Board approved the hiring of Tyler Christensen, of Atlantic, for 4th Grade Teacher.Christensen will also do some coaching for the District. Other moves include:

  • Megan Kjergaard, who currently teaches Special Ed, will move into a 5th grade Teacher’s position;
  • Rachael Andersen, who currently teaches 2nd grade, will also become a 5th grade teacher;
  • Sean Birks, will move from 4th grade teacher to Middle School Social Studies. He replaces Molly Lange, who has accepted a position in Carroll;
  • Heather Griffith who is currently a Kindergarten teacher, will be moving up to teach 1st grade.
  • The Board also accepted the resignation of Dustin Christensen, who has accepted a position with the North Polk School District.)

Christensen had been making a long commute from Huxley to teach 1st grade in Audubon. Gibbs said finding good teachers is a difficult task, because they’re aren’t a lot of people entering the field. He said they still need to fill a Spanish, Special Ed, Kindergarten and 2nd grade positions, and they’ll be working to do that this Spring.

Next up for the Audubon School Board: A Budget Hearing on April 11th.

Drug Take Back Day returns April 28th

News

April 3rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Consumers will have the opportunity to dispose of unneeded or unwanted medications during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018. From 10 AM to 2 PM, consumers may safely dispose of unwanted medications at one of thousands of collection sites coordinated by DEA and provided by law enforcement agencies and community organizations in all 54 United States and jurisdictions. Those who cannot participate in the event can find a list of permanent, year-round drug disposal sites by using the AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program’s Drug Disposal Locator Tool. ( https://nabp.pharmacy/initiatives/awarxe/drug-disposal-locator/ ). NABP’s AWARXE Program provides the public with information and resources for safe prescription medication use, abuse prevention, and disposal.

DEA Drug Take Back Day is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. Sites will accept tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of unwanted medication. Personal information should be blacked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events.

National take back days create an opportunity for consumers to safely and legally dispose of unneeded medications, including prescription controlled substances, such as certain pain medications. In October 2017, over 5,300 collection sites were set up and over 912,300 pounds (456 tons) of unused medications were collected during the 14th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. DEA’s Take Back Day website has more resources about the upcoming opportunity