05/23/2013 - Tomorrow (Fri. May 24), U.S. Representative Bruce Braley will bring his campaign for the U.S. Senate to the KLMJ/KQCR Broadcast area for a series of "meet and greet" events.  Representative Braley will be in Hampton at 11:45 am for a meet and greet at El Paisita Family Restaurant and will meet with constituents at 1:30 in Clarion at Grounded on Main Street.  Braley will then go to Humboldt and Webster City and return to the area at 6pm tomorrow (Fri) night at the Coffee Attic on Washington Avenue in Iowa Falls.  Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo announced in February that he would be seeking the U.S. Senate Seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Harkin in 2014. 

05/23/2013 - The American Legion's in Franklin County are looking for someone who will be going to Alabama in the near future to bring back a piece of military hardware recently donated to the group.  The U.S. Army has donated the 105 milimeter Howitzer medium size military cannon to the Legion's in Franklin County.  Plans are for the piece to be placed near the Rolling Prairie Trailhead at Coulter.  Latimer's Legion Commander, Tom Teggatz tells KLMJ News the cannon is coming out of the Army's retired stock, but there is no history on the cannon or who it was assigned to.  Again, anyone trucking to Alabama or knows of someone who will be in that area and would be willing to pick up the cannon, give Tom Teggatz a call - 641-425-06-41.

05/23/2013 - Last month, KLMJ/KQCR helped collect baseball equipment for underprivileged children in Nicaragua.  The collection was part of a U-N-I Business College service project with the items delievered to the children in the rural mountain community of Siares earlier this month by the U-N-I Business Students and their Instructor, Chris Schrage of Parkersburg.  Included in the donations was 16 bats, over 100 baseballs/softballs, 15 gloves, catcher and umpire equipment.  Chris Schrage took this picture of the children and their new equipment.  Thanks again to all who donated to the cause. 

05/23/2013 - George Wyth State Park will remain closed through the holiday weekend due to flooding from the Cedar River.  Earlier this week, D-N-R officials anticipated the Park would reopen on Saturday, but today (Thu) announced the campground will now be closed until at least Wednesday next week to allow floodwater to recede and electrical boxes be checked over.  All reservations for the days affected will be offered full refunds.  The George Wyth Park area may possibly reopen as early as Monday if there is no additional rainfall in the Cedar River watershed.  Status updates on George Wyth State Park, located in Black Hawk County can be heard on the park phone system at 319-232-5505.

05/23/2013 - Hampton Dumont will again be offering a summer food program.  Meals will be available for all children free of charge weekdays June 6th through June 28th at the Hampton Dumont High School Cafeteria and weekdays from July 1st through August 2nd at South Side Elementary in Hampton.  Breakfast will be served 7:30 until 9am with lunch to run 11:30 until 12:30 week days only.  No meals will be served July 4th or 5th due to the Independence Day Holiday.  The Summer Food Program at Hampton Dumont is sponsored by the U.S.D.A.

05/23/2013 - Franklin County is getting close to hiring a new Emergency Management Coordinator.  Larry Richtsmeier, Chair of the Franklin County Emergency Management Commission tells KLMJ News 12 applications were initially received for the position with the Review Committee to interview 3 of those candidates next week.  The Committee consisting of Supervisor Mike Nolte, Latimer Mayor Kent Morton, Hampton Mayor Shawn Dietz, Current Coordinator Steve O'Neil and Sheriff Larry Richtsmeier will interview the top three candidates this Tuesday and then make a recommendation to the full Commission.  Franklin County is hiring a new full-time Emergency Management Coordinator to replace Steve O'Neil who has served as shared Coordinator with Cerro Gordo County for the past several years.  That sharing agreement ends June 30th at which time O'Neil will become full-time for Cerro Gordo County.

05/23/2013 - A Hampton Dumont Driver's Education vehicle was involved in a two-vehicle accident at around 6:30 this (Thu) morning at the intersection of Olive and 190th Street, northwest of Hampton.  According to the accident report the Driver's Ed vehicle, operated by 14 year old Morgan Sietsema of Hampton was northbound on Olive, approaching a stop sign.  When the instructor advised Sietsema to use the brake, she hit the accelerator instead.  An Eastbound pickup operated by 51 year old Scott Heilskov of Latimer realizing the car was not going to stop, swearved to get out of the way, with the Driver's Ed car hitting the rear wheel of the pickup causing it to slide sideways into the ditch, rolling twice.  Scott Heilskov was taken to Franklin General Hospital by private vehicle for possible injuries.  Morgan Sietsema, the instructor and one other student in the Driver's Ed vehicle were not injured.  The accident was investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.  Charges are pending.

05/23/2013 - The Mason City Police Department reports that a missing 59-year-old Mason City man has been located.  Norman Erlacher was reported as missing after he was last seen this past Monday evening.  Today (Thu.) Mason City Police say in a press release that Erlacher was located somewhere in the state of Iowa.  He is fine and his immediate family and friends have been contacted.

05/23/2013 - Charges against an Iowa Falls Business Owner charged with 8 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia have been dismissed.  In May 2012, Hampton Police executed a drug search warrant at 202 -3rd Avenue Northeast, the residence of Donald and Billie Wentzel.  Both Wentzel's were charged with drug related offenses at that time.  With evidence seized during the Hampton search, officers were able to obtain a 2nd search warrant at the Wentzel's business in Iowa Falls, the Weasel's Den.  During that search, officers seized approximately 450 pipes commonly used to smoke illegal substances along with numerous items promoting drug use.  All Hardin County charges against the Wentzel's were dismissed May 15th.  On the Hampton charges, court records show that Don Wentzel plead guilty to possession of marijuana - 3rd or subsequent offense and was given a two year suspended prison sentence, 2 years probation and had his driver's license revoked for 180 days.  Additional drug related charges against Don and Billie Wentzel were dismissed. 

05/23/2013 - Yesterday (Wed.) morning the Iowa Falls Police Department took an accident report about a Hardin County owned truck that backed up and struck a pole at the Ellsworth Community College Equine Center in the 700 block of Ellsworth Avenue.  No injuries reported.  There was over 15-hundred dollars in damage.