A Union County man was arrested Thursday evening on drug charges. Police in Creston report 41-year old Luke Johnson, of Creston, was arrested at around 6:45-p.m. for Possession with the Intent to Sell/Marijuana, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Johnson was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, 51-year old Timothy Fector, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:30-p.m. Thursday at Vine and Carpenter Streets, on charges that include Disorderly Conduct, Attempted Burglary in the 2nd Degree, and Interference with Official Acts. Fector was later released on $5,000 bond.

With a third avian flu outbreak confirmed in Iowa, turkey hunters are being urged to take special care to halt the spread and not to shoot a bird that might be sick. Kevin Baskins, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says turkey hunters need to help minimize the risk of spreading the disease, which has already forced the euthanizing of tens of thousands of turkeys and millions of chickens in the state.

“We’re advising turkey hunters to avoid any commercial types of flocks like chickens or turkeys,” Baskins says. “Once that virus gets into a confinement situation, it will spread very rapidly and probably throughout the entire operation.” Hunters need to be vigilant for any birds that have died in the field or that appear sick. Signs include: ruffled feathers, swollen wattles, discoloration of the feet and impaired balance.

Baskins says if a dead or sick bird is spotted, hunters should mark the spot using G-P-S if possible and notify the D-N-R right away. They should not touch or try to move the birds. The avian flu is believed to be spread by migrating flocks of wild waterfowl, specifically, ducks and geese.  “We don’t expect to see a lot of avian flu in turkeys,” Baskins says. “Turkeys tend to be more solitary. They move around in smaller groups. If there is an outbreak, it’ll be fairly isolated. It’s not like a confinement situation where we have commercial flocks and once it gets into a building, it spreads from bird to bird very rapidly.”

Between the shotgun and archery seasons, turkey hunting will be underway in Iowa through May 17th. Baskins says turkey hunters should follow some common sense precautions, like washing their hands with soap and water immediately after handling game — or if they’re in the field, use alcohol wipes. “We advise that you dress your game birds in the field whenever you can,” Baskins says. “Make sure you’re using the same tools, whether in the field or at home and that you don’t use those tools around other poultry or pet birds. Make sure you double-bag the internal organs and feathers so once you dispose of those, any virus that might be in there is contained.”

For more tips, visit the website: www.iowadnr.gov. There is no food safety concern, according to Baskins. Game meat should be thoroughly cooked, he says. Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill disease organisms and parasites.

(Radio Iowa)

Chamber Ambassadors in Atlantic met recently with local Masons, while visiting Atlantic’s Masonic Lodge. The lodge is a beautiful building located in historic downtown Atlantic and recently available for event rental. There are two rooms, a smaller and a larger room. The lodge has a kitchen, stage, tables and chairs.

For rental inquiries, please contact Donnie Drennan at United Group Insurance.

Pictured: Sharon Guffey-Lewis, Steve Lewis, Randy Dill, Gary Warwick, Donnie Drennan, John Bricker, Joe Mewhirter, Russ McNeese, John Schroeder, Dr. Mitch Peerbolte, Bill Saluk, Keith Leonard D.V.M., Lucas Mosier, Melanie Petty, Dan Mehmen, Chrystal Christensen, Russ Joyce, Kate Olsen, Rich Perry, Nedra Perry, Sue Muri, Jolene Roecker, Arlene Drennan, Carol Schuler, Lana Westphalen, Dianne Gipple and Pat McCurdy.

Police in Glenwood arrested a local man Thursday. Officials say 20-year old Dalton Sacca, of Glenwood, was arrested on a charge of Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $566.

(9-a.m. News)

A man from Madison County was sentenced Thursday to more than six-years in prison in connection with an incident at the Madison County Courthouse last year. U-S District Court Judge James Gritzner sentenced 30-year old Cory Lee Daugherty, of Earlham, 77 months in federal prison for possession of firearms in the Madison county courthouse.

Cory Lee Daugherty

Daugherty will also be required to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. His sentence will run consecutively with his ten years prison sentence in State court for possession of controlled substances, and concurrently with his five year State sentence for escape.

In a written plea agreement filed January 20th, 2015, Daugherty admitted that on March 24th 2014, he entered the Madison county courthouse to be sentenced in State court for a drug-related felony, and that after he was sentenced, a Madison county deputy attempted to take him into custody at which time he struggled with the deputy sheriff in the court room. Daugherty pulled a firearm from the deputy sheriff during the struggle and was able to escape from the Madison county courthouse while deputies pursued.

A short time later, Daugherty was taken into custody. At the time of his sentencing in State court, Daugherty was a prohibited person who could not possess firearms. The investigation was conducted by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

(9-a.m. News)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The U.S. Senate Thursday, approved Loretta Lynch to be the new U.S. Attorney General despite “no” votes from both of Iowa’s Senators. Republican Joni Ernst spoke with Iowa reporters by phone from Washington shortly before the vote on Lynch’s confirmation. “After closely reviewing her testimony, I am not confident Ms. Lynch will act independently from President Obama when the role requires and therefore could not vote to confirm her as attorney general,” Ernst said.

Lynch, currently the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn, was confirmed on a vote of 56 to 43 — with 10 Republicans voting for President Obama’s pick to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder. Iowa’s senior Senator, Chuck Grassley, voted against Lynch. Ernst said she has “serious concerns” about Lynch’s decision to defend President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

“She agreed that it was O-K for him to use executive amnesty in the manner that he did and because of that, I don’t see that she is operating independently. She is being influenced by the political decisions of the White House rather than relying on current law,” Ernst said. Lynch will become the first African-American woman to hold the position of U.S. Attorney General.

(Radio Iowa)

Frost and freezing conditions hit the state the last couple of nights and that has grape growers hoping they don’t see another drop in production like the one brought on by the cold last season. State Viticulture Specialist Mike White says he had not had any reports of damage following Wednesday’s freeze warning. “For the most part things look pretty good in Iowa. There might have been a vineyard or two in southern Iowa in a low area that might have had some frost, but I think right now we’re looking pretty good,” White says.

White says however, grapevines do have some built in insurance against frost damage. He says each plant has three buds inside with the first being 100 percent fruitful. “Now if it gets out there with one or two leaves and let’s say its April 27th and you get a frost, well the secondary bud inside there will bust open, and it has the ability to produce maybe 30 to 50 percent of a crop,” according to White.

White says the third layer will not produce fruit but it will sustain the plant through the season. He says wineries last year took a hit from a cold and wet spring and a late summer thunderstorm in western Iowa. Yields were cut by as much as 40 percent. Iowa has more than 100 wineries across the state.

(Radio Iowa)