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Bluffs residents told to prepare for minor Mo. River flooding

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Mayor of Council Bluffs is advising residents to prepare for minor flooding near the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. The Daily NonPareil, citing information from the National Weather Service, says   an increase in Missouri River water levels, caused by heavy rains near Sioux City and Sioux Falls, S.D., could raise the river to flood stage of 30 feet by this weekend or earlier.

During a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wednesday afternoon, Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said officials told him water levels will peak today (Thursday) and would recede starting Sunday. Walsh said it is unlikely the Missouri River will reach the same level as the Flood of 2011. However, that could change depending on additional precipitation that could fall throughout the week. The river is expected to rise to 32-feet, just 2 feet below flood stage.

Doug Reed, emergency management director for Pottawattamie County, said in a press release, that the river is expected to fall below flood stage by Tuesday morning. Earlier this week, the National Weather Service issued a river flood advisory for areas along the Missouri River. The potentially affected areas in Iowa include the cities Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley and elsewhere in Pottawattamie and Harrison counties. Affected Nebraska areas include Omaha and Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties.

Jody Farhat, who oversees dam releases for the corps, said the flooding would be the second- or third-highest stages officials have seen from Sioux City to Omaha. Pott. County Emergency Management officials say City and county officials will inform residents in flood-prone areas near the river to closely monitor water levels and be keeping a close eye on roads that could be affected by high water.,

Officials say the Narrows Rivers Park will be closed to public access, beginning Friday morning. The Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge north of Council Bluffs closed Wednesday due to high water levels on the refuge’s auto tour road. The DeSoto and Boyer Chute national wildlife refuges are located north of Omaha on U.S. Highway 30 between Missouri Valley and U.S. Highway 75 near Fort Calhoun, Neb. DeSoto currently remains open.

A flood information hotline – (712) 242-1104 – will be available to Pottawattamie County residents Today (Thursday) and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

New senior inspector at Nebraska nuclear plant

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – Federal regulators have appointed a new senior inspector at the Nebraska nuclear power plant that recently reopened after nearly three years offline. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday that Max Schneider will be the new senior resident inspector at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant just across the Missouri River from Iowa.

Fort Calhoun resumed generating power in December after a prolonged outage to address regulators’ safety concerns and make sure flood damage was repaired. Fort Calhoun is owned by the Omaha Public Power District.

The NRC keeps at least two inspectors at every nuclear power plant. Schneider will join resident inspector Jacob Wingebach at Fort Calhoun.

Medical condition causes minor-injury accident near Stanton Wed.

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

No serious injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident between Red Oak and Stanton Wednesday evening. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Pamela A. Sandell was driving a 2001 Buick Park Avenue east on Highway 34 at around 5:45-p.m., when she suffered from an apparent medical issue and briefly lost consciousness.

Her car crossed the westbound lane of travel and entered the north ditch, where the vehicle hit a residential driveway at 2365 State Highway 34, before vaulting into the air over the driveway and crashed down into the east side of a drainage ditch. The impact caused the car’s airbags to deploy.

Sandell suffered only minor abrasions and bruises during the accident. Officials say she refused medical treatment at the scene. Her car sustained $7,000 damage, and was considered a total loss. No citations were issued.

Semi and Ag equipment collide Wed. in Montgomery County

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported following a collision Wednesday morning between a semi and Ag equipment, southeast of Stanton. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of a tractor, James A. Herzberg, of Villisca, was cited for Driving Left of Center following the crash just east of Q Avenue on 250th Street, at around 9:15-a.m., Wednesday.

Authorities say Herzberg was operating a John Deere 4040 tractor pulling a Rhino 12 high capacity hay rake, and had observed a semi driven by Marvin G. Reents, of Clarinda, approaching from the rear. Herzberg moved the tractor and rake north, into the westbound lane in anticipation of an upcoming turn, and to allow the semi to pass him on the right because the road ahead was clear.

Herzberg noticed the semi was pulling into the left lane as if to pass tractor, so he tried to return to the eastbound lane, when the hay rack and tractor were struck by the right front side of the semi. The semi, owned by Reents, sustained $8,500 damage. The rake and tractor sustained a combined $16,000 damage.

Red Oak man arrested overnight

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the overnight arrest of 23-year old Nicholas Allen Philby, of Red Oak. Philby was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked on an original charge of OWI. He was arrested following a traffic stop at 250th Street and L Avenue, southwest of Stanton. Philby was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Thursday morning in $1,000 bond.

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Thu., 6/19/2014

Weather

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today – Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. High near 85. South southwest wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight – Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Low around 66. West southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Friday Night – Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Saturday – A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Saturday Night – A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday – A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Wednesday High School Softball Results

Sports

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Hawkeye 10:

  • Kuemper Catholic 10, Carroll 4
  • Shenandoah 7, Sidney 4
  • Lewis Central 16-12, Red Oak 1-0
  • St. Albert 3, Tri-Center 2

Western Iowa:

  • IKM-Manning 11, Riverside 1
  • Treynor 6, Missouri Valley 0
  • Logan-Magnolia 12, Underwood 0
  • Griswold 11, Audubon 7

Rolling Valley:

  • CAM 7, Adair-Casey 2
  • Charter Oak-Ute 6, West Harrison 0
  • Exira/EHK 4, Ar-We-Va 0

Others:

  • Lenox 3, Grandview Park Baptist 2
  • Nodaway Valley 8, Mormon Trail 2
  • Sergeant Bluff-Luton 13, CB Thomas Jefferson 0

Five new foods for $3 at Iowa State Fair

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

One of the big draws for people who attend the Iowa State Fair each year is the food and fairgoers will get to sample several new item this year. Fair spokesperson Lori Chappel says five of the new foods will be involved in a contest. “They’re all quite decadent,” Chappel says. The contestants include the Three Buck Bowl, which features two crispy potato skins filled with scrambled eggs, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese. Another offering is Funnel Cake Sticks, which are made with vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry funnel cake batter, served on-a-stick and topped with icing.

Another sweet treat in the contest is The Brownie Blitz. “It’s cream cheese brownie bites, with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and coconut. It comes in a bowl,” Chappel says. There’s also Smoked Brisket and Bacon Mac N Cheese. “It’s macaroni with smoked brisket chunks and apple wood smoked bacon in a creamy three cheese sauce,” Chappel says. The fifth entry is a healthier offering – Caprese Salad On-a-Stick. It’s a skewer of cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

All five of the food items in the contest will be sold for $3. Fairgoers who sample the foods can vote for their favorite, with the winner to be announced on August 12. The 2014 Iowa State Fair runs from August 7-17 in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

Chiefs QB Murray roots on bro on ‘Bachelorette’

Sports

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — While his buddies were bunking down to watch Jack Bauer on “24,” or cruising through channels in search of a ballgame, Aaron Murray was settling in for another episode of “The Bachelorette.” Yep, ABC’s reality dating show is must-see TV for the Chiefs’ rookie quarterback.

Murray isn’t your everyday fan. He has a rooting interest in bachelorette Andi Dorfman’s pursuit of love because his brother, former minor league baseball player Josh Murray, is one of the eight beaus still in the mix.

Aaron Murray says Monday nights are crazy as he and friends and family track his brother’s fortunes.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., June 19th 2014

News

June 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Ames say emergency responders have recovered the body of a man reported missing in the Skunk River. The body was recovered yesterday evening, about four hours after reports that a man became separated from an inner tube while floating on the river with a group near Carr Park.

SOLON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been arrested on suspicion of placing audio and video recording devices inside a portable restroom. Donald Born of Solon faces two trespassing charges. Authorities say the devices were found June 3rd at a baseball field near a high school in Cascade.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The head of a group proposing to build an athletic complex at the Field of Dreams site is complaining that an opponent of the effort is making false claims about her. Denise Stillman addressed the Dyersville City Council earlier this week to criticize David Blanchard, who has created a Facebook page called Save the Field of Dreams.

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) — Residents in southeast Iowa will have two years to raise money for a new bicycle trail along the Great River Road. A funding agreement between the Louisa County Board of Supervisors and state transportation department extends a $1.3 million federal grant awarded in 2012. The county will need to provide a 20 percent local match.