Do you help take care of an older family member or friend? If so, you are not alone. Over 65 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or on an intermittent basis.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide tools you need to take care of yourself. If you take good care of yourself, you will be better prepared to take good care of your loved one. As a participant you will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in Villisca beginning in late August. This program has been tested and evaluated through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Local supporters include: Good Samaritan Society, Red Oak & Villisca and Iowa State University/Montgomery County Extension.

Classes consist of six, 90 minute sessions held once a week. Two experienced leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life. Sessions are scheduled every Monday (except for Labor Day) for six weeks and begin on August 24th. Classes will be held at Good Samaritan Society from 6:00 – 8:30 PM. Good Samaritan Society had a special grant to defray costs for this program.

For more information or to register, contact Montgomery County Extension at 712-623-2592 by August 19th.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Members of the Page and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments teamed-up Thursday to arrest a man wanted on numerous felony warrants. 38-year old Ricky Dean Peterson was taken into custody at 1389 O Avenue in Page County, on valid Page County Warrants for felony charges that include Burglary 1st degree and Dominion / control of firearm / offensive weapon by domestic abuse offender. Peterson also faces misdemeanor charges of Criminal mischief 3rd degree, Domestic Abuse Assault – injury or mental illness, and Contempt of Court – Violation of no contact / protective order. His bond on those charges was set at $32,000.

During the arrest, Peterson was also charged with another of Contempt of Court – Violation of no contact / protective order, due to where he was arrested. No bond will be set on the additional charge until Peterson is seen by a Magistrate.

Ricky Dean Peterson

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Thursday afternoon on Domestic Abuse Assault and Obstruction of Emergency Communications, charges. 38-year old Danny Samuel Skaggs, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 800 block of N. 6th Street at around 12:50-p.m., and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

A traffic stop early this (Friday) morning, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a man on drug and other charges. Red Oak Police say 26-year old Jimmie Fred Hockett II, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. for Driving While Suspended and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hockett was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(In an update to our posting Thu. night) Search and Rescue crews recovered the body of a man from the West Nodaway River early this (Friday) morning, near Clarinda. According to Iowa State Patrol Trooper Aaron Nordyke, authorities were notified at around 9:05-p.m. Thursday, that a male who was last seen in the river near the Washington Street Bridge, and struggling to stay above water. The man was identified as 23-year old Trent Lee Hayden, of the Clarinda area.

Members of the Midwest Regional Dive team were called to assist in the search, along with the Council Bluffs Fire Department’s Hover 5 airboat. The airboat crew located Hayden’s body in the middle of the river south of the Washington Street bridge, just after 2:15-a.m. today (Friday). The same area of river claimed the life four-years ago, of an 11-year old boy from Chicago.

Agencies assisting in last night’s search and rescue efforts included: The Midwest Regional Dive Team, which consists of personnel from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Clarinda Fire Dept., Ringgold County Water Emergency Team (WET), Adams County EMS, the Montgomery and Page County Emergency Management Agencies, as well as the Clarinda and Red Oak Fire and Rescue Departments, Clarinda Police, the Iowa DNR and Iowa State Patrol.

(Updated 6:37-a.m.)

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in a motorcycle accident that took place early this (Friday) morning in Council Bluffs. The crash resulted in what were described as serious, but non-life threatening injuries to a Nebraska man. Council Bluffs Police say 59-year old Michael Sowl, of Kearney, Nebraska, was thrown from the motorcycle he was driving after the machine went out of control in the area of S. 35th Street and Nebraska Avenue. The accident happened at around 2:37-a.m.

Authorities say Sowl was traveling south on S. 35th Street when his cycle hit the median. After being thrown from the machine, Sowl landed on the traveled portion of the road. He was taken by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to Creighton University Hospital, for treatment.

Officials say charges in the crash are currently pending.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Virginia say two Iowa residents set for sentencing in a sex trafficking case tortured their victim. Aldair Hodza and Laura Sorensen will be sentenced today (Friday) in U.S. District Court in Richmond. The Clive, Iowa, residents previously pleaded guilty to sex and transporting a person across state lines for prostitution.

Court records show Sorensen and Hodza held a 20-year-old woman captive on a trip to Virginia and forced her to have sex with men who answered online ads. Prosecutors say Hodza and Sorensen burned the woman with lit cigarettes and other heated objects, drove nails into her feet and poured bleach into her wounds.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors are recommending prison terms of 35 years — 11 more than the top end of the sentencing guideline range.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CLARINDA – Members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team from Cass and area Counties, were searching the West Nodaway River on the east side of Clarinda late Thursday night for a possible drowning victim. The team was searching in an area near a dam north of the E, Washington Street Bridge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton has snagged a big endorsement as she brings her presidential campaign to the Iowa State Fair. Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is endorsing Clinton’s bid for the Democratic nomination, writing in the Des Moines Register that Clinton is “a fighter who has a record of getting things done.”

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A broken sewer pipe under a street in on the east edge of Dubuque has caused a release of untreated wastewater into a storm sewer. City public works officials say they discovered the wastewater leak Thursday afternoon. Crews are working to identify the exact location of the broken pipe.

PILOT MOUND, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa district court judge says a man is obligated to let a company survey his land as part of a proposal for an oil pipeline. The Messenger reports Judge John Haney says in a ruling filed this month that Dakota Access LLC has the right to temporarily enter Laverne Johnson’s property in Boone County to examine the land, which is in the path of the proposed pipeline. Haney says the move does not interfere with fundamental property rights.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A 38-year-old man in an Iowa jail has been accused of setting fire to a car outside the Texas Capitol on August 7th. A Texas Department of Public Safety statement issued Thursday says Iowa resident Michael Patrick Wagner was arrested in Marion, Iowa on an unrelated charge.

(Update 9:40-p.m. No injuries reported)

Anita and Wiota Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of an accident Thursday, at around 9:30-p.m. According to dispatch reports, a semi struck a bridge on Interstate 80 westbound at the 72 mile marker. Following the crash the truck entered the north ditch and remained upright.

Additional details are not currently available. Please check back later.