The News broadcast at 7:07-a.m. from News Director Ric Hanson

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(Radio Iowa) – While temperatures are forecast to climb back into the 60s for much of Iowa in the coming weekend, the National Weather Service is reminding us of — the inevitable. Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says today (Thursday) is Winter Weather Awareness Day and Iowans need to take note and start stocking up on supplies. “Whenever we have a winter storm that comes, we don’t want to be scrambling last-minute to make sure we have the things we need,” Hagenhoff says. “This is an opportunity for us to make sure Iowans are prepared for the winter weather that’s coming. Living in Iowa, we know that sooner or later we’re going to get that big winter storm that’s going to cause problems.”

Hagenhoff says much of the weather across the continent is being influenced by the current La Nina pattern, which may have a minor impact on Iowa. “There could be a chance for some slightly warmer-than-average temperatures and maybe slightly wetter-than-average precipitation amounts across Iowa,” Hagenhoff says. “It’s a pretty weak signal in Iowa. The best thing Iowans can do is just be prepared for whatever winter throws at us.”

She warns that does NOT mean we will entirely avoid extreme cold snaps or significant snowfalls. Hagenhoff directs Iowans to the National Weather Service website for the Des Moines area office to learn more about winter weather safety. “We have materials up there for people to start taking those actions like creating winter preparedness kits to keep in the car, things to stay warm, maybe some food in case you’re stranded,” she says, “and ways to prepare your home as well so you’re ready whenever those conditions arise.”

(That website is weather.gov/dmx.)

A traffic stop at around 1:50-a.m. today (Thursday), in Montgomery County at 140th Street and Highway 148, resulted in the discovery of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 58-year-old Elton Dean Chandler, of Denison, for Possession of: Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and unlawful possession of prescription medication. Chandler was also charged with Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Chandler

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday evening, arrested a man at the intersection of 1st Avenue and W. 4th Street. Authorities say 42-year-old Kim Jack Douglas Trost, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:40-p.m., for Public Intoxication, and Domestic Abuse Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Trost was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Trost

Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI —The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 104 additional COVID-19 deaths. The additional deaths happened between Aug. 29 and Oct. 30. That brings the statewide total to 7,069 since the start of the pandemic. The number of Positive tests have also increased over the last week. IDPH reports 6,816 positive tests, up from 6,652 at last report on Monday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate is up from 8.1% on Monday to 8.2% on Wednesday.

The number of patients hospitalized in Iowa is also on the rise once again after declining for several weeks. There are 483 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 467 on Monday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 74.8% are unvaccinated, while 82% of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

There have been 3,771,944 vaccine doses administered in Iowa, with 68% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated and 70.5% of those 12 and older with at least one dose.

(Urbandale, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Polk County, Wednesday, said a man from southern Iowa’s Ringgold County has been charged with first-degree murder in the death and disappearance of woman from southwestern Wisconsin. Deputies 30-year-old Rachel Reuter, of Cassville, Wisconsin, was reported missing by her father to the Urbandale Police Department on June 16th.

In a News Release, authorities said “The Urbandale Police Department requested assistance from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, and both agencies worked conjointly to investigate the reported missing person. Evidence in the case eventually lead investigators to a residence in Bondurant, IA. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and began to assist with the case,” deputies said through a news release. “Information and evidence gathered shifted this incident from a missing person investigation to a homicide investigation.”

Investigators believe 46-year-old James Shiloh Klever, of Mount Ayr, killed Reuter at the Bondurant residence on June 13. Deputies said her remains have not been located. Klever is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance. He’s currently being held in the Polk County Jail in lieu of a $1 million cash bond.

Authorities say the case remains an ongoing and active investigation that is being conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 515-286-3334.

Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first flu death this year, Wednesday. IDPH stated the Central Iowa woman who died was 81 years old and had underlying conditions. According to the state, the flu season began on Oct. 3. While flu cases remain low in Iowa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people six months and older to receive the flu vaccine.

Two weeks after receiving the vaccine, participants will fully benefit from the vaccine’s protection. The first flu death also comes on the heels of the CDC recommending the Pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 years and older.

IDPH is asking Iowans to get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa toy company that makes flexible two-lane racetracks is struggling with supply chain troubles, along with many other businesses, as we approach the busy holiday season. Randy Belding, president and co-founder of Blu Track, says they don’t have the necessary supplies to meet current orders, let alone create a large special order they’d hoped to donate to the Toys for Tots program. “We need extruder PVC,” Belding says, “and unfortunately, we only have one source for it and they’re not even giving us a date anymore of when we can expect our next shipment.”

The company’s Anamosa plant, which employs about ten workers, planned to create 500 track kits — an entire shift’s work — to donate to the popular holiday charity for kids, but Belding says they need about 17-hundred pounds of the P-V-C resin. “What we’re really looking for is some company that would have some extruder PVC resin that they’d be willing to either donate or discount and then we’ll do the rest,” Belding says. “We have volunteers in Anamosa that are willing to come in and help us assemble, we’ll build it all and then we’ll get the product to Toys for Tots.”

Belding says the Blu Track kits allow kids to race two cars at once, side-by-side, while the dual tracks are also being used in school science and physics labs for basic force and motion lessons and even complex coaster designs. Blu Track, which was founded in Pella more than 20 years ago, has long used a Pennsylvania supplier for its P-V-C, but everything has ground to a halt.  “We don’t know what the delay is on their end. They’ve just said they don’t have the raw materials that they need. It could be a lot of things,” Belding says. “From my standpoint, the part that’s kind of scary is that they aren’t giving us a date anymore. That doesn’t make me feel very comfortable that we’re going to get it on time to do much of anything for this Christmas season.”

Time is tight, he says, and they need the resin by November 22nd in order to make the Toys for Tots donation.

(Radio Iowa) – Deere and Company says the second contract offer just rejected by union workers is the company’s last and final offer and representatives of Deere will not return to the negotiating table. Jennifer Hartmann, a spokesman for the company, says Deere listened to production and maintenance employees after the first tentative agreement was overwhelmingly rejected a month ago. “What is in this agreement now meets those concerns and issues that were brought to our attention,” Hartmann says.

Ninety percent of union workers rejected Deere’s first contract offer. The second offer, which included immediate 10 percent raises and a bonus of 85-hundred dollars, was rejected by 55 percent of U-A-W members. “We’re encouraged by the fact that seven out of the 11 units voted to ratify the contract,” Hartmann says.

According to social media posts, a majority of the U-A-W members at Deere plants in Ankeny, Davenport and Ottumwa voted to approve the deal, but it was rejected by workers at plants in Dubuque and Waterloo as well as two Deere facilities in Illinois. The tallies at other union locals out of state have not been made public. According to a statement from Deere, the company’s contract offer would provide workers with an additional three-and-a-half billion dollars over the next six years. The U-A-W issued a brief statement after the tentative agreement was voted down, saying the strike against Deere would continue as the union discusses next steps with the company.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday, Atlantic Rising, in partnership with Hy-Vee, will continue to lead the Christmas Box Program this holiday season. The program was originally started by West Central Community Action over 20 years ago. The Jaycees took the program over soon after it started and then passed the program to Atlantic Rising in 2018.

“This program helps families and individuals in need of a Christmas dinner,”  Beschorner said. “Atlantic Rising members, along with volunteers, delivered boxes to 165 individuals and families last year. With the continued challenges of COVID-19, we are expecting to see yet another increase in nominations this year,” she added.

Kelsey said also, “Trivia Night was the organization’s main fundraising event, and all participants had a fun night in October. With the projected numbers of families served, we will be reaching out to businesses and community members asking for donations and volunteers to help serve as many families as possible. Any time our community needs us, we are there to put in the work.”

On December 16th, members of Atlantic Rising will help fill and deliver boxes of food items to families and individuals who can then use them to cook Christmas dinner. Beschorner said “Atlantic Rising is proud to carry on this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee and give back to the community in such a great way.”

To nominate a family or individual, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Atlantic Rising at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.