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Death threat and fire under investigation in Pottawattamie County

November 23, 2009 By

A alleged death threat and an arson fire are under investigation in southwest Iowa’s Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker says the fire occurred Saturday outside Council Bluffs at 13502 Bluebird Lane.

Danker says deputies were dispatched to the fire just before 4:00 A.M., but while enroute the dispatcher advised that the fire had been put out, yet the reporting party still wanted officers to respond to the residence for an “unknown problem.”

A female from the residence advised officers that a man allegedly lit her house on fire and “tried” killing her and her mother. The alleged suspect was not at the scene. No arrests have been made in the case as it is still under investigation.

Contributed by Kristan Gray, KMA, Shenandoah

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

First Lady delivers Thanksgiving meals to shelters

November 23, 2009 By
First Lady Mari Culver delivering turkeys to a Des Moines youth shelter.

First Lady Mari Culver delivering turkeys to a Des Moines youth shelter.

Iowa’s First Lady Mari  Culver is delivering turkey, ham and other items for  Thanksgiving meals to various shelters around the state today. It’s been a tradition since Governor Culver took office and the First Lady says they hope it raises awareness of the need across the state.

“It’s a perfect opportunity for people as they gather with their family and friends this week for Thanksgiving and give thanks, to remind people to think about others who are less fortunate than them, and to remind them to share their blessings with others,” Culver says.

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Filed Under: Human Interest, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Trapping remains popular in Iowa

November 23, 2009 By
Bobcat

Bobcat

Trapping is still a popular outdoor sport in Iowa, compared to neighboring states. State officials say about 1,500 Iowans hold licenses to capture “furbearing” animals like bobcats and otters. Ron Andrews of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says there are half that many trappers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“Generally, there’s a nice distribution of fur harvesters statewide,” Andrews says. The current hunting season for bobcats and river otters is nearing an end. So far, Iowa hunters have trapped or shot 132 bobcats. “This is actually the third year of the bobcat harvest season,” Andrews says. Bobcat hunting is allowed in the two tiers of Iowa counties which border Missouri, as well as in the counties in western Iowa which border the Missouri River.

A license-holder may “harvest” just one bobcat. Andrews says the bobcat’s fur isn’t as valuable as it once was. “Right now the fur market on most pelts is pretty sluggish, I guess, like the general economy I would say and consequently the value on any of the pelts is down substantially,” Andrews says.

“It does fluctuate from year to year, depending on the fashion trend in the European markets. They’re the ones that turn these pelts into various fashions and they kind of end up sort of dictating what the market will be by the trends and by what people like to wear.” State officials set a “quota” of 200 bobcats, so when hunters report they’ve caught 200 bobcats, the season will be suspended.

The hunting season for river otters is nearly over, too. The state quota for otters is 500, and by mid-Friday hunters had captured about 300.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With: ,

Vander Plaats: Branstad bears some blame for Democrats’ weekend victory

November 23, 2009 By

Republican candidate Bob Vander Plaats says former Governor Terry Branstad, a rival for the G.O.P.’s 2010 nomination for governor, bears some responsibility for a Democratic victory in Washington over the weekend.

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson joined his Democratic colleagues on a proceedural vote on health care reform that was a defeat for Republicans.  

“I remember back in 2000 when I learned that Terry Branstad endorsed Ben Nelson in a very tight U.S. senate race over in Nebraska. I was quite upset at that point. I remember going to the state (Republican Party) convention in 2000 in Des Moines and how the delegates were very upset with Terry Branstad over that endorsement,” Vander Plaats says.  “I think what bears out now, several years later, is that elections do have consequences.” 

Nelson served two terms as Nebraska’s governor and lost a 1996 race for the U.S. Senate before winning a Nebraska senate seat in 2000. Vander Plaats says Branstad’s endorsement of Nelson helped the Democrat narrowly defeat a Republican in 2000.

“I think what bears out now, several years later, that elections definitely have consequences,” Vander Plaats says.  “You now have Ben Nelson siding with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and walking completely out of step with conservative values and principles as it relates to our health care and (Nelson) makes the deciding vote on Saturday to push this agenda forward.” 

Branstad donated to Nelson’s 2000 campaign and publicly endorsed Nelson at a news conference.  

“(Branstad) went out of his way to say, ‘I’m going to endorse the Democrats’ agenda and I want to put Ben Nelson out there in front,’ versus a Republican with conservative principles who would have been voting along the lines of Senator Chuck Grassley,” Vander Plaats says. 

Vander Plaats has endorsed an Independent candidate who’s running for a seat in the Iowa House.  Vander Plaats says there’s no Republican candidate in the district and the Independent he endorsed is a “conservative” who has a good shot at defeating the Democratic incumbent in the district.

A spokesman for Branstad suggests Vander Plaats should refrain from attacking a fellow Republican and direct his fire solely at Democrats.

“Governor Branstad does not favor the health care reform bill being considered by the Senate. It spends too much money we don’t have and does nothing to create the jobs we so desperately need,” Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Branstad, said in a written statement.  “Bob would do well to keep the focus on that and not violate Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment.”

(This story was updated at 12:54 p.m.)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Man dies after bar fight in Washington

November 23, 2009 By

A man was killed in over the weekend during a bar fight in Washington. The Washington County Communications Center says officers were called to the 4th Avenue Bar and Grill at about 1:30 Sunday morning.

Eyewitness reports indicate a man was found unconscious in an area were several people were involved in an altercation. The man was taken to Washington County Hospital, and later airlifted to University of Iowa Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of family. The incident remains under investigation by the Washington Police Department.

Contributed by Nick Wilkens, KCII, Washington

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Illinois man charged in Sabula shooting

November 23, 2009 By

Jackson County authorities have charged and Illinois man with attempted murder following a shooting in Sabula. Police were called out on the report of a shooting around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They found 46-year-old Sheldon Woodhurst of Sabula, suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach. Woodhurst was taken to the Clinton hospital and then transferred to University Hospitals in Iowa City.

Police also found 46-year-old David Zabransky of Palatine, Illinois in the same area of Sabula. Zabransky was taken to the Clinton hospital, then transferred to Iowa City. He was later released from the hospital and charged with attempted murder and taken to the Jackson County jail where he is being held on 25-thousand dollar bond.

Contributed by Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Protesters march outside Cedar Valley Humane Society

November 23, 2009 By

As many as 80 protesters chanted, marched and waved signs on Sunday outside the Cedar Valley Humane Society in Cedar Rapids. In recent months, the organization’s board has fired multiple employees, sparking rumors and accusations about euthanasia practices. Cathy Boyes, one of the fired former employees, says the protest involved people with a passion for animals and a distrust of the humane society’s leadership.

“It’s our way to be the voice of those that had no choice,” Boyes says. “They are euthanizing healthy and adoptable animals.” Board members insist they’re caring for the animals and have presented statistics showing the number of animals euthanized has declined over the past few months. Long-time donor Julie Ridge says she doesn’t like what she’s hearing about the facility and the euthanizations.

Ridge says: “The board has to be accountable and the board has to do something about this and stop it because it does not need to be happening.” Protesters allege the shelter does not act as a resource or safe haven for animals in need of homes. Animal advocates believe this public outcry proves the community wants and demands a response. Humane Society Board President Bernie Lettington maintains they take excellent care of the dogs and cats at the shelter.

Lettington says, “I think there’s just a lot of people that don’t have all the facts and are jumping to some conclusions and a lot of speculation and it’s needless.” The board’s executive director Zach Melton agrees with Lettington.

Melton says, “I really don’t know where the accusations are coming from, where the heightened sense of worry is coming from.” He adds, “If they feel that passionate and feel they need to be out there raising that level of awareness around those issues, we can’t stop them.” Despite their dislike of the humane society board, protesters say they hope people continue to adopt animals from the shelter.

By Mark Geary, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids

Filed Under: Human Interest
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