712 Digital Group - top

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

$52 million Awarded to Iowa Communities including Council Bluffs & Mo. Valley

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Awards totaling $52 million were announced today for 19 communities across the state, including Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 26 multi-family new production projects. The federally funded awards will assist communities to recover housing lost during the catastrophic flooding event of 2008.

In Council Bluffs, the Pottawattamie County Development Corporation received a little more than $2.35-million for the new construction of 36 housing units at 125 West Broadway. And, in Missouri Valley, Longview Townhomes, LLC, received $1.625-million for the construction of 10 new units.

The IEDA received 67 applications for these funds, totaling more than $112.2 million in funding requests. The grants are awarded based on the potential impact of the project, benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, and commitment of developer and local resources to moving the project forward in a timely manner. The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds for disaster recovery.

Panic reaction causes rollover accident

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident Friday afternoon, northwest of Shenandoah. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says 20-year old Jennifer Lane, of Shenandoah, was traveling south on A Avenue near 170th Street at around 1:10-p.m.  As her 2004 Chevy pickup topped a hill, Lane noticed a legally parked semi truck at the bottom of the hill. The woman panicked, slammed on the brakes, and caused the pickup to skid off the east side of the road and into a ditch, where it rolled over. The vehicle sustained $15,000 damage and was declared a total loss. No citations were issued.

College Springs man arrested Friday for violating a judges’ order

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Friday of 37-year old Kevin Long. Long, who is from College Springs, was taken into custody for allegedly violating a Protective Order, while the protected parties were at a residence on Galesburg Street, in College Springs. Long was brought to the Page County Jail and held until making an appearance before a magistrate.

Red Oak pair arrested for bringing drugs into a jail

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested Saturday following an investigation into contraband at a jail facility. According to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, an employee of the jail and Sheriff’s Office interrupted an attempt to introduce contraband into the facility. 30-year old Jason Latham, of Red Oak, an inmate at the jail, was charged with felony Possession of contraband. He remains in the jail on the drug charge, and original charges of Burglary in the 3rd degree and Theft in the 1st degree. Bond was set at $15,000.

A warrant was subsequently issued for 37-year old Rachel Hadden, of Red Oak, who was later arrested by Red Oak Police on a felony charge of Furnishing a controlled substance to an inmate. Hadden was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond.

4 alcohol-related arrests in Cass County

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four people have been arrested on alcohol-related charges. 44-year old Rhonda Annette Loghry, of Atlantic, was arrested today (Monday), on a charge of OWI 3rd Offense and Driving Under Suspension. Loghry was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was being held on $6000 bond.

Two people were arrested Saturday, on OWI charges. 34-year old Joseph Allen Hoegh, of Atlantic, and 51-year old Douglas Kent Borkowski, of Elliott, were both arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Both men were brought to the Cass County Jail and released later that same day on their own recognizance.

And on July 4th, 44-year old Jeffrey Lyn Neighbors, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. Neighbors was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty before the magistrate and was released the following day.

New health co-op announces plan details

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new health care cooperative says it will offer Iowans two insurance plans that rely on a specific hospital network. CoOportunity Health says Monday that they have partnered with the University of Iowa Health Alliance to create the plans. The plans will be available to state residents shopping on the new online insurance exchanges, as well as those seeking insurance through other channels.

The Alliance includes over 50 hospitals and more than 160 clinics across the state. CoOportunity will market these two plans in more than 75 percent of the state’s counties. CoOportunity Health is a nonprofit established with federal loan money to provide health care in Iowa and Nebraska. CoOportunity CEO David Lyons says the cooperative will also offer other plans with wider coverage options.

Former Iowa Sen. Staci Appel to run for Congress

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former state Sen. Staci Appel is running for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat. The Des Moines Register reports Appel, a Democrat from Ackworth, filed papers last week with the Federal Election Commission. The filing is a shift from April, when Appel said she wasn’t running for the job and cited family obligations.  Appel served in the state Senate for a single term but lost in 2010. Her husband, Brent Appel, sits on the Iowa Supreme Court.

The 3rd Congressional District stretches from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. It is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Latham.

Western Iowa man dies in ATV accident

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DELOIT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 70-year-old western Iowa man has died in an all-terrain vehicle accident. The Sioux City Journal reports a Crawford County sheriff’s deputy found Daniel Teckenburg on Saturday evening near his home in Deloit. Teckenburg was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The sheriff’s office says the ATV apparently rolled on top of Teckenburg while he was spraying weeds.

Intestinal illness found in 9 Iowa counties, including Mills

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An intestinal illness that causes diarrhea lasting an average of nearly two months has been identified in nine Iowa counties, including Mills, in southwest Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health says it has identified 22 cases of cyclospora infections. People are infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected human feces. Illness is caused by a parasite. Watery diarrhea, severe tiredness, and nausea are common symptoms and usually begin within a week. Most of those now ill began to notice symptoms in June.

Linn County has the most cases with 10. Others are reported in Benton, Des Moines, Fayette, Mills, O’Brien, Polk, Van Buren, and Webster counties. Other Midwest states also have cases including Nebraska. Health officials recommend washing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly although no specific source has been identified yet.

Lineville man sentenced in connection with fatal Aud. Co. crash

News

July 8th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A judge in Audubon County has sentenced a southern Iowa man to 25-years in prison for his role in a 2011 crash that claimed the life of a Hamlin teen. Judge James Richardson handed down the sentence late this (Monday) morning against 57-year old Kendall L. Ware, of Lineville, despite a request from Ware’s attorney for a new trial, because, he said “No reasonable jury could have determined based on the evidence presented, that (Ware) was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence,” and that his “Being under the influence caused the death,” of 17-year old Kristopher George Crawley, and seriously injured Jason Rattenborg, of Audubon.  He also said the court did not submit to the jury the defense’ instructions based on foundation.

This past May, a jury found Ware guilty of Vehicular Homicide/OWI, and Serious Injury by Vehicle. The judge today (Monday) denied the request for a new trial. Ware had faced up to 30-years in prison on two combined felony charges, and fines amounting to $7,500, but the Judge ordered Ware to serve 25-years on the first charge and 5-years for the second, with the sentences to be served concurrently, or, at the same time. The Judge also ordered Ware to pay $150,000 to Crawley’s family, and to pay Rattenborg’s medical and personal loss costs. He must also pay a $1,500 fine associated with the second charge. Ware’s license was revoked for 6-years. He will be required to live at the Iowa Classification Center in Oakdale for the duration of his sentence.

Ware was the driver of a pickup that collided with an SUV occupied by Crawley and Rattenborg. The accident happened during the late night hours of October 19th, 2011 on Highway 71, north of Brayton. Ware’s passenger, Mark Anthony Piearson, of Leon, was also injured. Ware had a blood-alcohol content of .205, following the crash, or more than 2½ times the legal limit. During the months following an investigation into the crash, Ware fled the area. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, in North Dakota.

In a statement to the family of the victims, Ware issued a tearful, choked-up apology, and asked for their forgiveness, and said he has lived with the nightmare of his actions ever since the crash happened. The mother of George Crawley also issued a statement, saying her life has been forever changed as well, and that forgiveness was not something that would happen any time soon. She also said she had been dealing with depression since the loss of her son.

Crawley’s father showed a picture of his son to Ware. He told him Ware stole his son from him, and the man he could have become. Rattenborg’s mother also spoke, and said both she and Jason were devastated by the incident. She said he wants the memory of that night to go away, and wishes he could have died too, with his best friend.