Organizers with the Community jazz band “Popcorn Button” have announced an evening of dancing and music will take place Sunday, December 20th, at the Atlantic Elks Lodge. Popcorn Button’s sixteen musicians will bring the swing, featuring polka, two step, waltz, and swing tunes from the big band era. Founded in 2010, the volunteer band aims to promote community arts, big band music, and dancing. To help support local student musicians, the band offers a scholarship for music lessons, band camps, and honor bands.

Details are at popcornbutton.org/scholarship. Beginning dancers are invited to take their first steps at Holiday Ball with the help of Jake and Pam Auerbach, Popcorn Button’s veteran dance instructors. With a few minutes of their guidance, you can learn the basics of swing and get out on the dance floor.

The band is typically composed of local musicians, but takes an international turn this month, as Santa Claus joins the trumpet line. The Holiday Ball will be held on Sunday, December 20th at the Atlantic Elks Lodge, 501 Poplar Street, from 7 to 10 pm. Admission is free, and a free will donation is accepted to cover the band’s expenses. Listeners and dancers of all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit popcornbutton.org or email info@popcornbutton.org.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say two hunters were injured by gunshot wounds in separate incidents while deer hunting, Sunday. 47-year old Walter Freeman, of Winfield, was struck in the abdomen by a deer slug believed to have been fired by another member of his hunting party shortly after 2 p.m. northeast of Winfield. He was transported by helicopter to University of Iowa hospitals where he was undergoing surgery Sunday evening for internal injuries.

28-year old Travis E. Myers, of Dundee, was in a group of 11 hunters pushing deer on private property approximately one mile northeast of Backbone State Park in Delaware County when he was struck a deer slug in the upper right shoulder by shot fired from another member of the hunting party shortly after 8 a.m. He was transported to Manchester Regional Medical Center in Manchester where he was expected to be treated and released for a flesh wound.

Both incidents remain under investigation by conservation officers for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Megan Wisecup who coordinates hunter safety programs for the DNR, said both of the incidents Sunday occurred when shots were being taken at moving deer. “It is especially important from a safety standpoint while party hunting for deer that people plan their hunt and hunt their plan so everyone is where they should be at all times,” said Wisecup.

She said also, “Hunters should also be sure to identify the target and what is beyond it and avoid target fixation and shooting at running deer. Wait until you have a clear shot with a safe backstop before pulling the trigger. Know where members of your hunting party are at, at all times.”

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 Alan Williams of Earlham, Iowa, died after an altercation with two people who lived at the home. The incident was reported around 2 a.m. Saturday at 2020 E. 14th Street.

Investigators believe Williams broke into the home before the confrontation. An autopsy will be performed. The two residents of the home were identified as 19-year-old Ali Cano and 18-year-old Whitney Campbell. Police say all the evidence will be presented to prosecutors once the investigation is complete to determine if any charges are warranted.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, tweeted out her congratulations to the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes for winning the Big Ten championship Saturday night moments after they blew a late lead and lost 16-13 to Number 5 Michigan State.

Iowa lost in the title game after allowing a late, 22-play touchdown drive that ended in L.J. Scott reaching for a go-ahead scoring run at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Congrats @hawkeyefootball on the big win! #big10 #B1GFCG #iowa,” Ernst tweeted.

The tweet was removed moments after it hit the Internet, but had received at least 675 retweets by that time.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has ordered flags lowered to half-staff next week in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The gubernatorial order would have flags lowered from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol and on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — It’s been a year since the Coralville Police Department first outfitted its officers with body cameras, and now the department is struggling with how to store the vast amount of video footage. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the Coralville City Council recently authorized more than $18,000 for the police department to upgrade its computer servers and purchase additional digital storage space for its body and dash camera data.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — L.J. Scott kept lunging forward, stretching the ball over the goal line for a touchdown with 27 seconds and Number 5 Michigan State all but locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff, edging 4th ranked Iowa 16-13 Saturday in the Big Ten championship game. Iowa lost for the first time this season — and just barely.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, deleted her tweeted congratulating the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes for winning the Big Ten championship Saturday night moments after they blew a late lead and lost 16-13 to Number 5 Michigan State. Iowa lost at Lucas Oil Stadium after allowing a late, 22-play touchdown drive.

Two Council Bluffs Police Officers were injured Saturday afternoon while attempting to arrest a juvenile following a disturbance at a local business. The officers were called at around 3:35-p.m. to the Family Dollar store located at 2801 West Broadway. When they arrived and located an adult female and 17-year old male. The two subjects were upset over the business not accepting a coupon for a soft drink product. When officers asked the subjects for their ID’s, the 17-year old male became aggressive and refused to comply with the officer’s order.

Officer’s decided to arrest 57-year old Suzanne Elizabeth Fredette for Disorderly Conduct, after a citizen told the officers that he was offended by the profanity yelled by the subjects. When officers attempted to arrest Fredette, her 17-year old male grandson interfered. The officers turned their attention to the juvenile and decided to arrest him, as well. The teen fought with the officers and resisted arrest. Officer were able to take the male to the ground and place handcuffs on him.  Fredette was arrested without further incident.

The primary Officer on the scene suffered a dislocated finger, while the back-up Officer suffered a fractured hand during the arrest. Fredette was transported to corrections and booked. The teenager was taken Mercy Hospital to be checked out, due to his being in an altercation with officers. The officers were also treated at Mercy and then released.

After the teen was released from the hospital, he was transported to the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, and booked-in on charges that include 2 counts each of: Disorderly Conduct; Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer; and Interference with Official Acts.

Police in Council Bluffs report a woman was shot in the leg Saturday evening by an unknown female assailant. Officers were called at around 6:40-pm to the north side of Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs for a shooting that had just occurred. When officers arrived they found 40-year old Shanna E. Golyar, of Council Bluffs (Also known as “Liz” Golyar), near a red Toyota car with a gunshot wound to the left upper thigh of the left leg. The woman said her assailant, a white female, 5-feet 7-inches tall, with dark hair and unknown clothing, was last seen running east bound in the park.

The area was cordoned off by uniform officers. The Omaha Police Department Helicopter was also requested to search the area for the suspect, however the suspect was not located. Golyar was transported to Mercy Hospital for treatment of  non-life threatening injuries.

The Criminal Investigation Division was called to the scene and their preliminary investigation revealed Golyar drove to the park around 6-pm and parked her vehicle on the northwest parking lot near the walking trail. She said that she had walked for a short distance and decided to sit on a bench nearby. It was while she was sitting there she heard a female voice order her to lie down on the ground. The voice also made a vulgar comment to Golyar. The suspect did not demand any valuables and made no further statements to the woman.

Golyar said that she was then shot with an unknown weapon, and she was unable to provide any additional description of the suspect. Authorities say while their investigation is continuing into the incident, at this time they believe it is an isolated event only. Anyone that may have witnessed the shooting or have any information can call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

An accident late Friday night in Council Bluffs resulted in two people hurt and the driver of the vehicle arrested for OWI. Bluffs Police said 19-year old Jacob Willey was driving a black 2004 Dodge Ram pickup southbound on Valley View Drive at around 11:54-p.m., when the truck went onto the southbound shoulder. Willey overcorrected, causing the vehicle to leave the northbound shoulder of Valley View. The truck then slid into the ditch and overturned several times before coming to rest.

Neither Willey, nor his passengers, 20-year old’s Ryan D. Higginbotham and Megan E. Wolff, were wearing seat belts. All of the crash victims are from Council Bluffs. Wolff reported to authorities that she was ejected during the crash. She suffered broken bones and abrasions. Higginbotham also suffered from abrasions. Both were transported to UNMC for treatment.

None of the injuries are considered life threatening. Willey was arrested and processed for Operating While Intoxicated First Offense and Failure to Maintain Control of a Motor Vehicle. He was turned over to Pottawattamie County Corrections staff. Authorities remind you…”Don’t drink and drive, designate a driver.”

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on Friday at 4:51pm in Red Oak. Officers arrested 33-year-old Bobbie Jo Bruce on East Summit Street for Possession of Stolen Property which is an aggravated misdemeanor.  She was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $2,000 cash bond.  The arrest stems from a prior case that was investigated by the Red Oak Police Department.