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FIRE WEATHER WATCH Thu. for parts of western/sw IA (3/12)

News, Weather

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-Counties
329 AM CDT THU MAR 12 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* WINDS…SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

RED FLAG WARNING for parts of the KJAN listening area 3/12/15

News, Weather

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-MONONA COUNTIES

350 AM CDT THU MAR 12 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WIND…INCREASING TO SOUTH 25 TO 30 MPH BY AFTERNOON

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 25 TO 35 PERCENT IN THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…FUELS ARE VERY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED ACROSS THE REGION.

* TIMING…WINDS WILL INCREASE AFTER NOON WITH PEAK WINDS BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL ALSO BE AT ITS LOWEST DURING THIS TIME.

* FUEL…FINE FUELS SUCH AS GRASSES AND BRUSH ARE VERY DRY AND WILL BURN EASILY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

AP Source: Chiefs agreed with OL Fanaika on 3-year deal

Sports

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and offensive guard Paul Fanaika have agreed to terms on a three-year deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the Chiefs have not announced the deal. Fanaika still must pass a physical for it to be complete.

The Chiefs were looking for help on the offensive line after losing three starters to free agency last offseason, and then watching starting center Rodney Hudson sign a five-year, $44.5 million deal with AFC West rival Oakland this week. Fanaika was a seventh-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2009, when Chiefs coach Andy Reid was in charge. He’s come into his own in Arizona, starting all 30 games he played in over the past two seasons.

Boys State Basketball Scores/Schedule

Sports

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Wednesday Games

Class 4-A Quarterfinals:

  • Des Moines Hoover 38, Ames 29
  • Iowa City West 69, Sioux City North 60
  • North Scott 63, Waukee 54
  • Pleasant Valley 58, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 51

Thursday Games

Class 1-A Semifinals:

  • Gladbrook-Reinbeck 60, Earlham 45
  • Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 59, Danville 57

Class 2-A Semifinals:

  • Treynor 74, Aplington-Parkersburg 70 (OT) – All five Treynor starters scored in double figures and both Trey Robinson (16 pts/13 reb) and Jacob Flathers (12 pts/13 reb) had double-doubles to lead the Cardinals to the title game.
  • 3:45 pm –  Pella Christian (17-7) vs. Iowa City Regina (21-4)

Class 3-A Semifinals:

  • 6:35 pm – Williamsburg (24-1) vs. LeMars (21-4)
  • 8:15 pm – Dubuque Wahlert Catholic  (16-9) vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier (17-8)

Chiefs announce signing of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin

Sports

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Jeremy Maclin to a five-year deal, adding the down-the-field threat that their wide receiver group was sorely lacking last season. The contract is worth up to $55 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those details were not announced.

Maclin started all 16 games for the Eagles last season. He set career highs with 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, and showed no lingering effects from the torn ACL that caused him to miss the entire 2013 season. His addition could mean the end of Dwayne Bowe’s tenure in Kansas City. The veteran wide receiver is due to count $14 million against the salary cap.

 

NWS weather forecast for Cass & surrounding counties in IA, 3/12/15

Weather

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

330 AM CDT THU MAR 12 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO NORTH 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S.

SUNDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., March 12th 2015

News

March 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed a bill that would go against Governor Terry’s Branstad’s plans to close two state mental health facilities in Iowa. The Senate voted 29-19 yesterday y to pass a bill that would require the state Department of Human Services to develop a comprehensive plan before it can close the state mental health facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Archdiocese of Dubuque is investigating a sexual abuse claim against a former Iowa pastor 30 years after the alleged abuse occurred. The Telegraph Herald reports that the claim, made last year against a former Dubuque pastor, alleges the man sexually abused a minor in 1985. Efforts by the Telegraph Herald to reach the man for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful. The former pastor, now working at a Florida parish, has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has appointed a student from the University of Northern Iowa to the state Board of Regents. UNI on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rachael Johnson as the regents’ student member. Johnson, a freshman education major from Sioux City, will serve as the voice of students attending the state’s three public universities.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State says that athletic director Jamie Pollard had successful open heart bypass surgery on Tuesday at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Pollard suffered a heart attack on Monday while watching his daughters at a track meet in northeast Iowa.

Senate OKs bills to keep mental health facilities open

News

March 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed a bill that would go against Gov. Terry’s Branstad’s plans to close two state mental health facilities in Iowa. The Senate voted 29-19 Wednesday to pass a bill that would require the state Department of Human Services to develop a comprehensive plan before it can close the state mental health facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. The Senate also voted 32-18 on another bill that would ensure the facilities remain open through the end of June.

There’s some Republican support for the bills, but it’s unclear if it’s enough to get them passed in both chambers. Branstad’s budget proposal removes funding for two of the four state mental health facilities in Iowa. Branstad calls the facilities outdated and says patients could receive more efficient treatment elsewhere.

Fire Weather Watch Thursday afternoon across parts of western IA

News, Weather

March 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-MONONA

432 PM CDT WED MAR 11 2015

Counties in Peach color are included in the Fire Weather Watch

Counties in Peach color are included in the Fire Weather Watch

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS…WHICH IS IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR PARTS OF WESTERN/NW IA AND NORTHEAST NEBRASKA. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON THROUGH 7-PM FOR MOST COUNTIES AFFECTED.

* WIND…SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…20 TO 35 PERCENT

* IMPACTS…FUELS ARE VERY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

Detour of IA Hwy196 traffic in Sac County begins at 9 a.m. March 16

News

March 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports the reconstruction of Iowa 196 in Sac County requires detouring traffic beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, March 16th, until Wednesday, Nov. 25th, weather permitting. Traffic will be routed around the road construction project area using U.S. 71, Sac County Road M-54, and U.S. 20.

Peterson Contractors Inc., of Reinbeck, and Godbersen-Smith Construction Co., of Ida Grove, were awarded this $25.3 million roadway reconstruction project.