Investigators with the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Unit are looking into a suspicious death in Union County. Authorities say a hunter last Wednesday found the decomposed body of a female in her 30’s in a farm pond off of Redwood Avenue near the Union County and Madison County line.

The body was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, where an autopsy was performed. Currently, the cause and manner of death are not being released because this is an on-going investigation by the Iowa DCI and the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials say no further information will be released at this time.

A traffic stop Sunday in Cass County resulted in the arrest of two north central Iowa residents on drug charges. Sheriff’s officials say 32-year old Johna Christine Dolph, of Fort Dodge, was arrested on charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine/1st Offense , OWI 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, while 34-year old Paul Earl Lemburg,  of Fort Dodge, was arrested for Possession of Meth 3rd or Subsequent Offense (a Class-D Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Dolph and Lemburg were taken to the Cass County Jail, where Dolph remained held today (Monday) on $2,300 bond, and Lemburg remained held on $5,300 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 43-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, was arrested Saturday, on two counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail where was released the following day on $600 bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer says two people were arrested last week. On Dec. 1st, 31-year old Jonathan Terry Datz, of Audubon, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. He was released on a promise to appear later, in court.

And, on Dec. 3rd, 27-year old Jessica Lynn Pedrin, of Audubon, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Pedrin was being held in the Audubon County Jail pending an appearance before a magistrate.

Afton Police Chief John Coulter reports his office is asking for your help in solving a burglary. A resident located along S. Douglas Street, in Afton, reported to police on Nov. 30th that someone entered his home and took several handguns, long guns and ammunition. If you have  any information about the theft call the Afton Police Dept. at 641-347-5255.

Chief Coulter is also warning area residents about a consumer fraud scam, where by someone purporting to be a person’s grandson called, saying they had been arrested and needed money to bond out of jail. In both cases, however, the potential victims of the scam knew where their grandchild was, and hung up on the caller. If you receive this type of phone call, report it to your local law enforcement agency. Coulter advises you to NOT send any money.

More area, and State news from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A man who was cited for allegedly hunting deer without a license was subsequently arrested late Saturday morning near Bridgewater, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says 59-year old Galen Vern Walters, of Anita, was originally cited by Iowa DNR officer Brian Smith for hunting without a license. A check of his record, however, revealed Walters was a convicted felon. An Adair County deputy met with Smith and seized the shotgun and ammunition Walters had in his possession. Walters was later released on bond.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 34-year old Raymond Scott Davis, of Creston, was arrested Nov. 30th in Union County, for Failure to Appear/Contempt of Court. Davis’ bond was set at $2,000. That same day, 26-year old Adam James Magill, of Casey, was arrested in Adair, for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked/OWI related. Magill was later released on $1,000 bond.

And, 36-year old Christopher Lee Breece, of Bridgewater, was cited by an Adair County Deputy Dec. 2nd, for Driving Under Suspension. Breece was released after receiving his citation.

Dense fog was blamed for an accident that took place Sunday night in Montgomery County that sent one person to the hospital. Sheriff’s officials say 25-year old Matthew Rasmussen, of Red Oak, suffered minor injuries when the pickup he was driving ran through a stop sign, crashed through a barrier and came to rest against a tree. The accident happened at around 8:15-p.m. at the intersection of H Avenue and 110th Street.

Authorities says Rasmussen was southbound on H Avenue and didn’t see the stop sign, due to thick fog in the area. Damage to his 2005 Ford F-350 was estimated at $10,000, while a guardrail owned by the Montgomery County Secondary Roads Dept. sustained $5,000 damage.

Officials say charges are pending in connection with the crash. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire and Rescue, Elliott First Responders and the Elliott Fire Dept.

Enrollment is now open for those looking to sign up for insurance or change or renew their policies under the federal plan known as the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the federal agency overseeing the sing ups and spokesman Nick Clasen says it impacts thousands of Iowans. “There’s about 39-thousand consumers in Iowa enrolled in the Marketplace right now. There’s still about 188-thousand uninsured individuals in Iowa,” Clasen says. “Whether you are enrolled or not, you should go on before December 15th, look at your options, update any information if you are a current enrollee, that way you have coverage by January first.” He says you can sign up on the internet.

“If you are uninsured you can go to Healthcare.gov. You can apply for a premium tax credit which helps lower you monthly premiums, and then you can enroll in a plan,” Clasen says. He says you can call 1-800-318-5296 to get help over the phone, and he says there is plenty of in-person help to guide you through all the insurance issues.

“Across Iowa we have the Enroll Iowa Coalition. Health centers, hospitals and other community agencies have partnered together and people can go in and sit down with somebody and that person will walk them through the application process and also explain what deductibles are, what co-pays are, what the plans might cover that somebody is looking at,” according to Clasen. He says if you are worried about the cost of insurance, that is why there’s a tax credit.

He says if you qualify for a premium tax credit — 88 percent of qualifiers are paying less than 100 dollars each month. Clasen says enrollment ends on January 31st, but he encourages you to not procrastinate. “We have had a little bit of I’d say a surge towards the deadlines, and December 15th even though it’s not the end of enrollment, a lot of people want to enroll by December 15th so they have coverage by January 1st,” Clasen says. Clasen says you can face a penalty of up to 700 dollars if you haven’t enrolled for insurance by the end of 2016.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CLARION, Iowa (AP) — The first trial related to allegations of hazing at a northern Iowa high school has been scheduled for February. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports an 18-year-old accused of hazing freshmen on the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football team recently pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse charges. Two other students are also charged in the case.

MAURICE, Iowa (AP) — Officials in northwest Iowa hope a new airport that’s under construction in Sioux County will boost business. The Journal reports the $28 million project that has been in the works for more than a decade is expected to be done in 2018. It will replace airports in in nearby Orange City and Sioux Center that lack room to expand.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 57-year-old woman and her 17-year-old grandson are facing charges after a coupon dispute at a Family Dollar store in Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports officers were called to the store Saturday afternoon after the woman became upset she couldn’t use a coupon for soda. The 17-year-old fought with two officers, and wound up being arrested as well.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified the man killed during a home invasion in Des Moines this weekend. Police say 31-year-old Travis Williams of Earlham died after an altercation with two people who lived at the home. The altercation was reported around 2 a.m. Saturday at 2020 East 14th Street. Investigators believe Williams broke into the home before the confrontation. An autopsy will be performed.