DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An abundance of ladybugs is creating headaches for Iowa’s wine industry. The Des Moines Register reports that multi-colored Asian lady beetles are burrowing into clusters of grapes destined for wine barrels. The beetles secrete a foul-smelling chemical when crushed, which can ruin large quantities of wine.

Steve Larson, the owner of Trainwreck Winery in Algona, says he plans to ask the federal government for permission to dump 250 gallons of wine after the bugs were found floating in his supply. Had the batch been bottled and sold in stores, it would have been worth nearly $19,000.

Ken Holscher, an associate entomology professor at Iowa State University, says the beetles thrived this year because of a near-record soybean crop that fed them and the absence of a hard freeze.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in a hit and run accident in which two pedestrians were injured. The incident took place just after 3-p.m. Thursday, at 25th and Ave G.

Bluffs Police Sgt. Jason Bailey said 37-year old Sherry Dmyterko-Tramp, of Council Bluffs, and a 5 year old boy were crossing 25th street eastbound. The suspected hit and run vehicle was westbound on Ave G turning south onto 25th street. When the victim realized the vehicle was not going to yield to them, she grabbed the child and turned away from the vehicle. The vehicle struck the victim’s right leg causing visible swelling and bruising. She was treated at Jennie Edmundson hospital and released. The child suffered a minor injury to his knee.

The driver of the vehicle drove a short distance, exited his vehicle, appeared to check for damage and then left the scene without checking on the welfare of the woman and child. The vehicle was described as being a gold or tan colored newer Chevy Colorado, mid-sized pickup. The driver was a white male, possibly in his 20’s. He may have a dragon tattoo on one or both arms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit at 712-328-4948.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and U.S. Department of Agriculture today (Friday) announced that all of the 72 commercial poultry farms that had a confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have had the quarantines on their facilities lifted and they are eligible to restock birds. All sites have completed the cleaning and disinfection process and had negative environmental tests. They also had to undergo a 21 day fallow period following disinfection before the quarantine could be lifted.

Five backyard operations remain under quarantine. Backyard facilities must undergo a 180 day fallow period following depopulation before the quarantines can be lifted and birds brought back to the farm. It is anticipated that these sites will be able to come off of quarantine in the next month.

Now that fall migration of wild waterfowl is underway, bird owners are again reminded to exercise biosecurity to prevent the return of the disease. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a report last month on its planning and preparation for a potential recurrence of the disease. APHIS’ fall plan focuses on four major areas: preventing or reducing future outbreaks; enhanced preparedness; improved and streamlined response capabilities; and preparing for the potential use of AI vaccines.

APHIS’ fall planning report not only discusses planning and preparedness activities but also contains links to updated policies, guidance documents, and background information, including a biosecurity self-assessment for the poultry industry, criteria for using ventilation shutdown as a depopulation method and a plan for how vaccine could potentially be used.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, together with USDA, partner state agencies and industry stakeholders have conducted after-action reviews and preparedness planning. USDA’s Avian Influenza page, which includes a link to the Fall Plan can be found here: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=avian_influenza.html

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday of an Atlantic woman. 32-year old Randi Irene Shafer was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 3rd Degree. Shafer was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $27,000 bond.

And, the Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following an accident that occurred just before 2-p.m., on November 1st. The accident took place on Interstate 80 eastbound about 3-miles west of the Olive Street exit (Exit 57). Officials say a 2004 Volvo truck driven by 49-year old Leonardo Varona-Millet, of Lincoln, NE, lost control and entered the south ditch. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,500.

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

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Police in Creston say officials at the Creston Elementary School reported Thursday night, that someone had vandalized the 3rd and 4th grade girls restroom at the school by means of graffiti. The incident happened sometime between 10:30-a.m. and Noon, Thursday. The damage was estimated at $30.

(Updated 9:20-a.m.)

Authorities in Union County say four men from Creston were arrested on drug charges, Thursday. Creston Police, deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Agents with the Dept. of Narcotics Enforcement, made the arrests during individual traffic stops, illicit narcotics investigations, and resident search warrants. Officials say large amounts of drug paraphernalia, packaging materials, electronic scales, marijuana, and about 50-grams of methamphetamine were seized during the narcotics enforcement effort, in Creston.

Cody Lee Vandel

Lonny Ray Brown

Brian Clair Smith

Anthony Michael Atkins

On Thursday: 34-year old Brian Smith was arrested for Possession with the Intent to Deliver (more than 5 grams of methamphetamine), and Obstruction of Prosecution – Destruction of Evidence, and 28-year old Cory Vandel, also of Creston, was arrested on two counts of Possession with the Intent to Deliver (more than 5 grams of methamphetamine), and Possession with the Intent to Deliver (Marijuana). Both men were being held in the Union County Jail on $100,000 bond, each.

Thursday night, 28-year old Anthony Atkins and 37-year old Lonny Brown, both of Creston, were taken into custody for Possession with the Intent to Deliver (methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Atkins and Brown were being held in the Union County Jail on $10,000 bond, each.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a standoff in northwestern Iowa ended peacefully when a man who barricaded himself inside a home surrendered to police.
The standoff in Cherokee began Thursday around 5 p.m. and ended around 11 p.m. Authorities evacuated homes that were adjacent to the property as a precaution.

Cherokee County Sheriff Dave Scott says the man was the only one in the house, and had been drinking heavily. Authorities say the man had been served divorce papers, and he was believed to be armed. The Iowa State Patrol, Cherokee Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The man, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Four Cass County Health System (CCHS) staff were recognized for their completion of the Iowa Hospital Association’s Leadership Development series recently. Amy Petersen, Inpatient Services Director; Barb Lytle, Diagnostic Imaging Director; Ryan Legg, Rehab Services Director; and James Baker, Food Services Director, all completed the one year leadership program in 2014 – 15.

Four Cass County Health System directors were recognized at the Iowa Hospital Association’s annual meeting for completing the IHA Leadership Series. Pictured with their awards are (left to right) Amy Petersen, Barb Lytle, Ryan Legg and James Baker.

Now in its 15th year, the IHA Health Care Leadership Series exists to develop critical leadership skills and competencies with the overarching objective of increasing retention of committed, quality staff in Iowa hospitals.

CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth says “In the ever changing healthcare environment we live in today, serving in a leadership role is very complex and challenging. Having these individuals engaged in the IHA Leadership Development series better prepares them to face those challenges themselves as well as be a valuable resource for their co-workers at CCHS.”