Officials with the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, say they have several unique events planned to celebrate the longest day of the year and one of their temporary exhibits.

Each year, Danes mark the summer solstice with a celebration known as Sankt Hans Aften, or “St. John’s Eve.”

Museum of Danish America celebrating Sank Han Aften,

Before Christianity came to Denmark, Scandinavian peoples celebrated the longest day as a supernatural struggle between light and dark, heat and cold. Since the feast day of Saint John the Baptist occurred on June 23rd, near the date of the annual summer solstice, the Christian Church emphasized this celebration in Scandinavia. Today, the celebration typically involves bonfires late into the night and singing of traditional songs.

The museum’s main exhibit at the moment is Skål! Scandinavian Spirits, which tells of the history and traditions of drinking culture in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Programs have been planned that will join Midsummer and the exhibit’s topic into a fun series of events:

On Thursday, June 25 a free, public Brown Bag Lunch presentation will be given by Lexi, owner of Old Ballard Liquor Company in Seattle, Washington. Lexi lent her expertise on Scandinavian aquavit [Aqua-Veet] (a flavored spirit) to the exhibit and will share some of that knowledge with program attendees from noon to 1 p.m.

Aquavit

Then, on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27th, Lexi and Deb Christensen Larsen, Development Manager at the museum and an aquavit do-it-yourself expert, will hold two aquavit workshops. From 2- 5 p.m., workshop participants will learn about the history, production, and traditions of Scandinavian aquavit and also learn how to flavor their own. For registration and other details for the workshops, contact Tova Brandt at 712-764-7001 [or tova.brandt@danishmuseum.org.]

Finally, a Sankt Hans Aften Celebration sponsored by Shelby County State Bank and Hy-Vee will be held from 6 – 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 27th. Activities for the celebration include a fire-roasted hot dog supper beginning at 6 p.m., live old-time country music from 7-9 p.m., bicycle jousting for kids and adults from 7-9 p.m., and a showing of a family-friendly Danish film “Antboy” at 7 p.m.

“Antboy”

The film centers around 12-year-old Pelle, who accidentally gets bitten by an ant and develops unimaginable superpowers. The film is in Danish with English subtitles and is 77 minutes long. It will be shown in the Bro Dining Room. The traditional lighting of the Sankt Hans Aften bonfire will be held at sunset – approximately 9 p.m. All Sankt Hans Aften activities are free will donation and are open to the public. Scandinavian heritage is not required to have a good time!

For more information about these activities, visit danishmuseum.org or call (712) 764-7001.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The former bookkeeper of a western Iowa farming cooperative is admitting she embezzled roughly $1.4 million over six years. Kathy Joan Cullen, who worked 27 years for the 21st Century Cooperative in Cass County, pleaded guilty Wednesday to filing a false tax return.

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, she admitted that she wrote nearly $1.4 million in checks to herself from 2008 to 2013 and deposited the funds in her personal bank account. The plea agreement says the state and federal government lost $553,000 in tax revenues as a result. In 2009 alone, she embezzled $300,000 from the cooperative, which she didn’t report as income.

The agreement calls for her to pay restitution to the cooperative. Cullen was released after Wednesday’s hearing in Des Moines. Sentencing is Oct. 1st.  Filing a false tax return carries a maximum term of three years imprisonment, up to a $100,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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

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Three people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, in Creston. Authorities say 37-year old Lindsey Frey, of Creston, was arrested on OWI/3rd offense and Driving While Suspended, charges. She was later released on $5,000 bond. 21-year old Evin Scadden, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Scadden was being held at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, while awaiting a bond hearing. And, 28-year old Christopher Colburn, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. He was also being held in the Union County LEC while awaiting a bond hearing.

The Creston P-D said also, a Mitchellville woman reported on Tuesday, that sometime between 1-and 2:30-p.m., Tuesday, someone stole her purse containing cash and jewelry. The items were taken from a vehicle in the Creston McDonald’s parking lot. The loss was estimated at $300.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa – A legal challenge has been mounted against the U.S. Department of Transportation, claiming proposed new agency rules don’t do enough to protect Iowans and others across the country who live along oil train routes. The environmental lawfirm Earthjustice is representing the groups that filed the administrative appeal.

Attorney Kristen Boyles says a problem is the recently-announced standards for tank cars have a phase-in time which the organizations believe extends too far into the future. “This allows inadequate, explosive oil trains to stay on the rails for another 10 years,” says Boyles. “That’s a huge problem for anybody who lives anywhere near a railroad, or has a town where rail lines go through.”

Boyles says another reason for the challenge is the organizations aren’t convinced the proposed rules do enough to ensure emergency responders know when trains are coming through their area – or what’s on them. “We believe there should be more information, not less, so people can be prepared for what looks like the inevitability of more explosions and oil spills,” she says.

Rail companies have said releasing more route and cargo details could compromise national security, and let competitors know too much about their business. As of this spring, it’s estimated between 20 and 30 oil trains cross Iowa state each week, each carrying at least one million gallons of volatile crude oil.

(Iowa News Service)

Two people were arrested overnight Wednesday into early this (Thursday) morning, in Red Oak. Authorities say 46-year old Darrell Lee Walter, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9:30-p.m., on a Mills County warrant for Harassment in the 1st degree, and 24-year old Jeffrey Davis Matthews, of Corning, was arrested with assistance from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies at around 4-a.m., for Operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Bonds for both men were set at $2,000 each.

“It’s not the heat, but the humidity!” And then it’s the storms. The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports Saturday will be hot and humid, with the potential for severe weather.With High temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90’s Saturday, and Dewpoint values in the low to mid-70’s, the Heat index (or, how it feels) will be in the mid- to upper 90’s, with a few places reaching 100 degrees.

The heat and humidity will be most prevalent along and south of Interstate 80, with the warmest temperatures off to the south. There is also a threat of severe weather Saturday, with a “marginal” risk for strong storms weather over much of the KJAN listening area, and a slight risk of severe storms over parts of central Iowa, and most of the eastern half of the State. The primary threats Saturday afternoon and evening include large hail, damaging winds, and the possibility of tornadoes.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, authorized Mayor Dave Jones to enter into a Marketing Agreement with Utility Service Partners, Inc., for a Service Line Warranty Program. City Administrator John Lund checked into the program since it was introduced to the Council on May 6th. Lund has contacted three other communities in Iowa to get their opinion on the value of the service USP provides. He found no complaints have been received from the citizens of those communities, but two of the three Public Works officials contacted strongly suggested an informational media campaign be conducted to make the public aware of the optional warranty service.

Jones said the City Council has stipulated the company should use local contractors for any repairs or warrant work, as much as possible. USP he says, have strict requirements of their own when it comes to contractors contacting the customer and performing the work in a timely manner.

The warranty program, which is completely optional and voluntary, is endorsed by the City, gives residents an affordable utility line repair solution, while at the same time educating homeowners about their water/sewer line responsibilities. Jones said newer houses aren’t as likely to be at risk for water or sewer line failure, but houses that are more than 40-years old, are at risk, and the warranty program he says, would be greatly beneficial to those property owners.

The company will be sending out letters to residents of Atlantic on stationary with the City logo, explaining the program, which would cost a property owner $7.75 per month for the sewer line leading up to the home, $6.75 per month for the water line leading to the home, and $6.99 per month for in-home plumbing coverage. A property owner may elect to pay for all three warranties, or they can choose from any of the three warranties for service and repairs.

The agreement would pay the City an annual royalty of 50-cents per month, per paid warranty contract with residential customers.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of making a bomb threat at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids has been taken to a hospital for evaluation and will be charged. A police spokesman says the OnStar vehicle communication service contacted police about 3 a.m. Wednesday to report that a man had just called, saying he was on an airport road and intended to blow up the airport. The man was seen driving away from the airport and soon was pulled over. No explosives were found in the car or on airport property.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Senator Chuck Grassley says a federal prosecutor should consider whether to investigate a shooting in which an Iowa officer accidentally killed a woman. Grassley has forwarded to U.S. Attorney Nick Klinefeldt a complaint by Gina Colbert, the mother of Autumn Steele.

SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa camp for those with special needs has opened despite a fire last month that caused extensive damage to a main building. The Telegraph Herald reports that 55 campers spent Tuesday participating in a variety of activities, including swimming and playing volleyball, at Camp Albrecht Acres in Sherrill.

JESUP, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the carcass of a young black bear that was struck by a vehicle has been found in northeast Iowa. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was notified about the animal carcass around 10:15 p.m. Sunday. It was found alongside U.S. Highway 20, near Jesup.