Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are opening up state land for haying and grazing to help farmers impacted by severe weather conditions. The state Department of Natural Resources announced yesterday that available land is primarily the upland grassland areas, although there will be some availability for “flash grazing” in northeast Iowa and other land not being leased to farmers. Officials say haying and grazing can start after July 15th, when the primary nesting season for upland birds has been completed.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Three banks in eastern Iowa are planning to merge this summer, so they’ll be able to offer customers services at eight locations. The owner of Central State Bank of Muscatine, Freedom Security Bank of Coralville and Kalona and West Chester Savings Bank of Washington announced the merger on Tuesday.

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa doctor cleared of criminal charges that accused him of running an unauthorized methadone clinic has surrendered his medical license. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Doctor Frank Lamp of Grundy Center entered the agreement last week with the Iowa Board of Medicine. The documents were released yesterday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge in Des Moines has ordered for the second time a 3-year-old girl at the center of an international custody dispute between divorced parents to be returned to Sweden. The girl’s mother, Raina Anderung, must fly her daughter to Sweden where the girl’s father, Magnus Anderung lives within two weeks.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public to be aware of a new scam that has come to department’s attention. Officials say victims of the scam receive a call from a person claiming to be from Publisher’s Clearinghouse, and in order to receive money the victims have supposedly won, they are told they need to forward money to another location. Afterward, someone calls the victims and claims to be the County Sheriff verifying that the victims have won money. THIS IS A SCAM.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to NEVER send money to any party claiming that you must send money to receive money back.

A man from Elk Horn was injured during a motorcycle accident this (Wednesday) afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol says 50-year old Terry Lee Robertson was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan by Elk Horn Rescue, after the 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle he was driving crashed after coming upon an animal on the road. Robertson braked and then lost control of the cycle before it entered the north ditch and came to rest. The accident happened at around 12:15-p.m. on County Road F-58, about 2 & 1/2 miles west of Elk Horn.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa county will pay $685,000 in a settlement with a dispatcher who claimed she was groped and sexually harassed by the sheriff and fired after complaining. Madison County Sheriff Craig Busch also provided a letter of recommendation to Kathryn Frank under the settlement. In the letter, Busch says the 15-year employee who he fired in 2009 handled 911 calls with “the utmost expertise” and was praised by officers for her “excellent skills.” The settlement avoids a third trial in Frank’s lawsuit after the first two ended in hung juries. 

Frank claims that Busch harassed her for years before he became sheriff in 2008, leading to an earlier $60,000 settlement. She says Busch retaliated by firing her for bogus reasons. Busch said Wednesday he denies wrongdoing, but declined further comment.

An Atlantic man was arrested Tuesday on a Cass County warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. The Atlantic Police Department reports 26-year old Levi Olsen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Wednesday) announced the first confirmed human case of West Nile virus disease in Iowa of 2013. The case is a male middle-aged adult (41 to 60 years of age) from Linn County, who is recovering. “This case is a reminder that West Nile virus is out there and Iowans should be taking proper precautions to protect against mosquito bites,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Especially going into the holiday weekend when many of us will be spending time outdoors, it’s important to use mosquito repellant and to rid your yards of mosquito breeding areas.”

West Nile virus is transmitted through mosquito bites. The best way to prevent the virus is to eliminate mosquito breeding areas and to use insect repellent when outdoors. Iowans should take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products on children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.

Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.

Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than one percent of people infected become seriously ill and rarely, someone dies.

Since West Nile virus first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in Iowa, either in humans, horses, or birds. In 2012, there were 31 human cases of West Nile virus and no deaths.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/DiseaseIndex.aspx?disease=West Nile Virus.

The City of Harlan will be conducting a traffic study for a mid-block signal at 19th Street and Chatburn Avenue. In a regular city council meeting Tuesday, the board approved the motion to the Iowa Department of Transportation to conduct the study. The motion had originally been brought to the table at a Public Safety Committee meeting on June 20th. City Administrator Terry Cox said the bad news is the study will take approximately 18 months from start to finish. Cox said the city is getting corporation from the Harlan Community School District during the traffic study.

“They are going to review for safety, to have a bus to pick up kids down there. Not to add a bus line but pick up kids. That is up to the school. I know they didn’t talk about it at their last board meeting but that is something talked about this summer. That is two school years because it is 18 months.”

In addition to the traffic study, the city council approved the installment a new 3M crosswalk markings at the mid-block signal at the same intersection, 19th and Chatburn. The council approved adding a 6 inch crosswalk tape along with milling so the tape isn’t affected by weather and adding 24 inch stop bars. The project will cost $5,632.50. Cox said the city is in contact with a company to add LED lights to the intersection on both sides and link those up to the stop light so when someone pushes the crosswalk they will flash to help get traffic stopped. Harlan Municipal Utilities already changed the actual stop lights to LED at the intersection.

In other business, the council approved a Resolution ordering bids for the 2013 Police Department Building Project. The city will open and review bids on July 16th at noon. The council will attempt to approve the building project at their next council meeting, Tuesday, July 16th. The city of Harlan will also replace the recently stolen city owned truck. The truck was stolen from the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday. The new truck will cost $27,240. The city was expecting to finalize the sale today (Wednesday), pending insurance approval.

The city also received two checks totaling $1,650 from the local Girl Scouts Troop 417. The money raised will go towards playground equipment at J.C. Park. In one final item from the Harlan City Council meeting, the city is contact Habitat for Humanity to construct a lot on Hill Street. The property was given from Wells Fargo Bank to the City of Harlan and the organization will build a new home. Cox said the bank paid for the demolition and clean up of the house.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Independence Day holiday means celebrations to mark the event are scheduled to take place around the KJAN listening area Thursday and throughout the weekend.

In Atlantic, the 4th of July begins with the Annual Jaycee Flight Breakfast at the Atlantic Municipal Airport, from 7-until 11-a.m., with pancakes served by the “Pancake Man.” The meal includes pancakes, sausage and drink for $6 per plate. Proceeds from the breakfast are used to support the Jaycees 4th of July Fireworks display, which begins as dusk, with concessions provided beforehand, by the Kiwanis Club.

On display at the airport, will be an A-26 Invader aircraft. The “Lady Liberty” is the only American-built combat aircraft to see action in three conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The plane will be available for walk-on tours from 7-a.m. to 11-a.m., Thursday, and is scheduled to make a mid-morning fly-over.

Other cities celebrating the 4th of July include Dunlap, Exira, Logan, Manilla, Oakland Underwood and Westphalia. For a list of area events taking place on the 4th and throughout the holiday weekend, head to the KJAN website, at www.kjan.com., and click on the “Daily Diary” page.

The city of Harlan will not host an actual 4th of July Celebration, however the American Legion will be shooting off fireworks at J.J. Jensen Park on Thursday evening.

With many people taking to Iowa’s roadways for a July 4th holiday weekend, the Iowa Department of Transportation and the state’s counties and cities want to remind travelers to use extra caution in work zones now in place to improve Iowa’s transportation system.

In Pottawattamie County, that includes:
I-29/I-80 from the Missouri River bridge in Council Bluffs east approximately 3 miles to the Lake Manawa/South Expressway interchange, which is being graded and paved as part of the bridge construction work. Through traffic is maintained. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.
The I-29 from north of Council Bluffs to the Missouri Valley (U.S. 30) interchange is being resurfaced at several locations. Through traffic is maintained in a single lane.
And, the Southbound I-29 from the Mills County line to Iowa 92 interchange is being reconstructed. Traffic is maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the northbound lanes.

In Cass County….
The eastbound I-80 bridge over Indian Creek at milepost 50 (west of the Marne interchange) is being replaced. Traffic is maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the westbound lanes.
Iowa Highway 83 Traffic on the bridge between Wiota and Anita is restricted to one lane using temporary traffic signals for replacement of bridge approaches.

In Harrison County…
A deck overlay project is being performed on the bridge over the Boyer River in Logan on Highway 30. Traffic is maintained in a single lane with temporary traffic signals.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports 900th Street, between Maple and Oak Roads, will be closed from now (July 3rd), through July 7th, for utility work. Persons and emergency crews who normally traverse that section of road should plan to take an alternate route.