SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials are blaming an outbreak of norovirus for an illness that sickened dozens of students at a Sioux City elementary school. The Sioux City Journal reports that Siouxland District Health Department announced Tuesday that lab results show the virus caused more than 40 students and three staff members at Bryant Elementary School to become ill on Thursday. Another 33 students reported being sick Friday.

Norovirus is a common food-borne pathogen with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Health department Deputy Director Tyler Brock says it’s unclear where the illness originated or if it was contracted at the school.

Firefighters from Anita and Wiota responded to the scene of a semi-tractor trailer fire this (Tuesday) afternoon, near the intersection of Highways 148 and 83.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Director.

The call came in at around 12:40-p.m. The truck was reportedly hauling food and or restaurant supplies. No injuries were reported. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon told KJAN News the fire started in the engine compartment of the semi. Crews were still on the scene late into the afternoon,  pumping fuel out of the truck’s tanks and cleaning up the debris, before it could be hauled away.

Additional details are currently not available.

Officials in ShelbyCountyheard from concerned citizens during a regularly scheduled Shelby County Supervisors meeting this (Tuesday) morning. The residents voiced their concerns over the proposed construction of hog confinement facility. Under the proposal by John Arkfeld, of Arkfeld Pork, construction would take place at the intersection of Mulberry and 2400^th Street.CountyOfficials along with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources went through the process by first announcing the proposal through a public notice and then had an on-site inspection last Tuesday. Following the inspection, the DNR andShelbyCounty officials went on to go through the process of the MasterMatrix. There are many items on the MasterMatrix and is scored on a points system. The area of land designated for the construction of the hog confinement was approved with a score of 465. The score to pass is 440. However, neighboring citizens are concerned about water usage for the hogs along with water quality and smell.

Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter received 4 written comments with the first being a petition against the construction. The petition was signed by 10 residents in the area. Tim Graeve, another resident, wrote a letter to the county in favor of the construction, with a few considerations pertaining to an adjustment in where the site was at, and road upgrades. Following the written comments, several people spoke about their concerns over the construction of the hog confinement. 

The proposed hog confinement would hold around 10,000 head of hogs. Other concerns discussed by those in attendance were manure being transported in the area, dust on the roads and more well issues. After the issues from residents at the Supervisors meeting, John Arkfeld, one of the proprietors for the hog confinement being discussed, offered a response to the concerns. He said “One of the concerns is the water and I get that. This is a 9,600 unit but when the pigs are fat there will only be 7,200. With the finished head space they say you use 1 to 1.2 gallons of water a day. Farrowing units use 4 to 9 gallons per head per day. So if you look at the farrowing units and there are 2,000 sows, 4 to 9 gallons, which is almost twice as much water as I will use. I don’t think that should be an issue.” Arkfeld said should have been in better contact with the residents in the area before the notice went to the general public and apologized for that. Supervisor Steve Kenkel was next to speak.  He said he’s talked to the DNR about the role supervisor’s play in the process, and that is to approve the Matrix system based on a points system. The rating, along with comments made will be forwarded to the DNR, who has the final say on approving or not, the permit.

The Supervisors approved the MasterMatrix for Arkfeld Pork, because they said, it met the state required points.  

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Debate in the state House on one-time spending proposals has been postponed until later this week.  Republican Speaker Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha gaveled-in to a sparsely populated House on Tuesday but then quickly adjourned until Wednesday morning. A House staffer says all 99 members won’t be called back to vote until compromises have been reached on education reform, property tax and other outstanding budgets. 
 
The bill that was set for debate today (Tuesday) in the House includes about $91 million in state money to increase funding for the police officer retirement fund.  The Iowa Senate also adjourned until Wednesday morning. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, says he hopes to start voting on key issues on Wednesday.

Forty Shelby County residents recently participated in Shelby County Leadership 2013, a program designed to maximize the strengths and skills of current and future community leaders. Shelby County Leadership 2013 included two sessions focusing on topics that included understanding ourselves and others, dealing with conflict, understanding change, and leading effective meetings. 

The program was sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach –ShelbyCounty, SCOPE, and an Iowa West Foundation grant. Training sessions were taught by Jane Nolan Goeken, ISU Extension and Outreach community and economic development program specialist. 

Shelby County Leadership 2013 participants were: Brenda Loftus, McKenzie Langenfeld, Roger Bissen, Todd Jacobsen, Paul Steenhusen, Glennda Mortenson, Robert           Mortenson, Joel McCall, Denise Barnes, Sue Grummert, Steve Kenkel, Debra Sawyer, Christine Petersen, Sheri Tyrrel, Kathy Gau, Tammy Bladt, Holly Rihner, Debbie Pennington, Kathy Goede, Amy Sievers, Tracee Gettys, Jeff Johnson, Paul Wilwerding, Dave Murphy, Tim  Miller, Julie Klein, John Doonan, Jennifer Kelly, Dan Nowatzke, Gina Hoffmann, Mallory Meyer, Paige Larsen, Angie  Newland, Rich Fuhs, Gaylene Shea, Todd Madsen, Dustin Nordby, and Melanie Olsen. 

Shelby County Leadership 2013 planning committee members included Kevin Campbell, Angela Ahrenholtz, Kelli Klaassen, Ann Schwieso, Shilo Bladt, Jane Nielsen, Terry Cox, Bambi Ineson, Terry Torneten, Vicki Gillespie, and Al Hjelle.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) – Police say a man they believe abducted two girls from a bus stop in central Iowa has been found dead, and one of the girls remains missing.  Authorities say the body of 42-year-old Michael Klunder was found Monday night at a rural property northeast of Dayton. His cause of death has not been released.
 
Police continue to search Tuesday for 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard.

Kathlynn Shepard

She and a 12-year-old girl were taken from a Dayton bus stop Monday. Police say they believe Klunder lured the girls into his truck under false pretenses.  The 12-year-old later escaped and was found when she walked out of woods near a farmhouse in Boone County.
 
Federal, state and local law enforcement as well as volunteers are now searching for the 15-year-old.

Two motorcyclists were injured during separate accidents late last week, in Mills County. Sheriff’s Officials say Scott Rodgers, of Hastings, was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center Friday night by Malvern Rescue, after the 1998 Harley Davidson cycle he was driving at a high rate of speed, went out of control as it approached a curve on Merrill Road, about 5-miles southwest of Hastings.  And, Saturday evening, Jeffrey Fink, of Silver City was flown by Life Flight to Creighton Medical Center after the 1979 Harley Davidson he was driving went out of control after he left a bar in Pacific Junction. Fink’s cycle slid on its side into the rear of a parked vehicle, pinning him under the vehicle. The accident happened at around 8:40-p.m., Saturday.

And, on Monday, Loren Mayer, of Tabor, was transported by Tabor Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, after the 1997 Chevy he was driving entered a ditch and rolled onto its side at around 10:35-a.m.  The accident happened on Rains Avenue, about 5-miles northeast of Tabor, after Mayer swerved to miss a dog on the road.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday, of 20-year old James Dale Ahrens, Jr., of Council Bluffs. Ahrens, Jr. was charged with Trespassing, and, he was wanted on warrants out of Fremont County for Failure to Appear and in Council Bluffs, for Felony Vehicle Theft. Ahrens, Jr. was taken into custody at aroun 2:45-p.m. and held on $10,300 bond. Early that same morning,  23-year old Johnathan Charles Christie, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County on a charge of Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 9-p.m. Monday of an Exira man. 38-year old Jesse Lee Archibald was taken into custody on charges of eluding, driving while suspended and Open Container, following a traffic stop on Highway 71. Archibald was brought to the Audubon County Jail and released, after appearing before a magistrate.

w/ Ric Hanson

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