DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch has chosen a Cedar Rapids city councilwoman as his running mate as he seeks to unseat Gov. Terry Branstad in November. Hatch is announcing in Cedar Rapids that Monica Vernon is his choice to run alongside him for lieutenant governor.  A biography posted Tuesday on his campaign website says she is serving her second four-year term on the city council.

She is founder of Vernon Research Group, a market research firm. She has also worked as a community relations director for Mount Mercy University and was previously a reporter for the Gazette.  Vernon, who is 56, ran for Iowa’s U.S. House 1st District seat coming in second behind Iowa Rep. Pat Murphy.

She is married to an attorney, Bill Vernon, and has three adult daughters.

The Iowa Board of Social Work, last week, acted to suspend the license of a Creston man. The Board ruled on June 10th that Master Social Work practitioner Kenneth Hayes had repeatedly violated the terms of his “Impaired Practitioner Recovery Contract,” as established by the seven-member Impaired Practitioner Review Committee.

Hayes is said to have repeatedly consumed alcohol which was proven through the results of three separate tests. He also ceased participating in a chemical screening program, and was discharged from a treatment aftercare Program facilitated by Zion Recovery Services, for lack of compliance and lack of progress in rehabilitation.

Hayes’ is required to stop practicing social work and pay a total of $130 in fees associated with the proceedings in his case. Hayes has 30 days to appeal his suspension to a district court, with the cost of the appeal his sole responsibility.

Monday’s night’s meeting of the CAM School Board was the last such meeting for Superintendent Steve Pelzer.  Pelzer told KJAN News he officially retired and handed in his letter of resignation, so the district can move forward with its Superintendent sharing agreement with Nodaway Valley. His last day will be June 30th. When asked what he would do in his retirement, Pelzer joked “I think going to be a radio announcer.”

In addition to approving Pelzer’s retirement and resignation, the CAM School Board took action on a few other contracts. He says they had a resignation from Kyle Williams – Head of Maintenance, resignations from various coaching positions because of a moves to different positions, 1st grade teacher Alisha Lindquist resigned to accept a position with the Atlantic School District, and, a contract was issued to new Athletic Director, Joe Wollum.

Pelzer said also, the Board signed a sharing agreement with Nodaway Valley for a part-time counselor. He said that individual will serve the CAM District in the south Elementary and Middle School for about 40% of the contract, two days per week

And, the CAM School Board finalized an agreement with Nodaway Valley for the sharing of their Superintendent, Casey Berlau, effective July 1st.

(9-a.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities report a large power outage caused by last night’s storms is effecting several AMU customers. The utility says crews are working on restoring service at this time.  As of 7:40-a.m., AMU officials said with the exception of about 20 customers, most have had their power restored. Those who remain should see the lights come back on within the hour.

The affected AMU customers weren’t the only ones who started off their day without “juice.” Tens of thousands of other Iowa residents were without power early this morning after severe storms packing high winds and heavy rain crossed the state. The Des Moines Register reports MidAmerican Energy had more than 27,000 customers without power early Tuesday morning due to the severe weather. Alliant Energy reported nearly 12,000 Iowa customers without power, including about 6,000 in the Cedar Rapids area.

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives showed nearly 800 customers without power, with the most in Franklin County.The storms were part of a large system that walloped parts of other Midwest states, including Nebraska.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Director Roger Herring reports the Atlantic Swimming Pool, which has been open since May 24th, has been very, very busy.  He says attendance is way up, with anywhere from 75-to 100 people using the pool each day since it opened. Herring told the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening that there’ve been no equipment problems, the facility was used for two private parties, and there’s been one special theme day, with another, family-friendly, kid-focused event in the works for July 4th.

He says for example, there’ll be a coin toss for a number of age groups, where kids jump in to retrieve coins they can keep, and a gold fish chase. There will also be trinkets from the Oriental Trading Company given away. More details about the events planned for July 4th will be released as the date approaches. Speaking of swimming, Herring reports 60 students are registered for the Swim Team, a number of whom are also registered in the Nishna Valley YMCA program. Herring says the team is doing well in competition. The team has competed two away events thus far, and placed second at both events.

In other business, Roger Herring said grading on the Senior Activity area site at Sunnyside Park has been delayed due to the weather, but work will begin as soon as possible. And, he says the number of people using the walking trails at the Schildberg Recreation Area have continued to grow. Herring said counters keeping track of users for the purpose of obtaining a Vision Iowa grant, have indicated 100-people per day are taking advantage of the outdoor walking paths to get their exercise and fresh air.

He says the counters have been taking their numerical survey for 40-days. So far, on the north side, nearly 4,000 “clicks” have been recorded. A click on the counter represents a person who is observed walking the longest portion of the trail. The inside trail is getting nearly as much use.

A two-vehicle collision in Red Oak Monday afternoon resulted in one of the vehicle ending up in a 10-foot deep hole, and both drivers being taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Red Oak Police says officers responded to the crash at the corner of east Reed and north 3rd Streets, at around 4:50-p.m.  When officers arrived, a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup was found to be in a hole where an abandoned building used to be. The front end of the pickup was in the dirt, while the rear was resting on rocks and cement.  The other vehicle, a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, came to a stop in the middle of the intersection.

An investigation revealed the pickup, driven by 83-year old Donovan Johnson, of Red Oak, had stopped at the intersection on north 3rd Street and left the sign too soon. The truck was struck by the PT Cruiser, driven by 28-year old Ronald Dolph, of Red Oak, as he was headed east on east Reed Street. After the collision, Johnson stopped on the road as if he was going to park, but his vehicle then took off and ended up in the hole, where it became stuck.  It’s believed Johnson mistakenly stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

Damage from the accident amounted to $9,200. No citations were issued.

An investigation into an explosion that injured six people March 27th in Pottawattamie County has resulted in a Council Bluffs man being cited for Possessing an Incendiary Device. The Omaha World-Herald, citing court records, reports 50-year old Erik Moore was cited for the incident that injured six people attending a Boy Scouts meeting at a home in Council Bluffs.  Moore is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court, on Wednesday.

Fire Chief Justin James told the paper the scouts and fathers at the meeting had been conducting an experiment that involved gunpowder and powdered coffee creamer, when something sparked an explosion.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

STATE/REGION  – Thousands of people are without power this morning as storms pummel the Midwest. 1 fatality 19 injuries reported in Nebraska as the result of tornadoes.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Six teams competed in dragon boat races in the Cedar River in Waterloo as part of an annual event. The 20-person teams competed in the Sunday races, which were part of My Waterloo Days events. Rowers struggled to work together as they paddled the 40-foot boats with a dragon’s head and spiky tail.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A San Diego man charged with enticing a minor while posing as an actor from the “Twilight” movie series has pleaded not guilty. Thirty-three-year-old David LaVera entered a written plea of not guilty Monday. LaVera was arrested June 10 and charged with enticing a minor, carrying weapons and failure to have a valid driver’s license. A criminal complaint says he told a 14-year-old girl from Baxter he was an actor from the movie series. He touched her inappropriately and took her to his vehicle.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Relatives say an Iowa City man who drowned over the weekend at Coralville Lake was a fun-loving man dedicated to his family and young son. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that 36-year-old Somphaeng Syvixay drowned Saturday while swimming in Coralville Lake. His cousin, Connie Phommaly, says he was an outgoing, happy man who was “big on family.” He had a 2-year-old son.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police used ground radar to search the basement of a Des Moines house in connection with a woman who went missing more than 50 years ago. Officers were checking the south-side home Monday after