A West Central Valley Community School District bus sustained minor damage, but no students were injured during a collision at around 4:05-p.m., Friday. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2012 Thomas School Bus with 15 students on-board, driven by 52-year old Christine Damstrom, of Dexter, was traveling north in the 3300 block of Wagon Road, just outside the northern city limits of Stuart, and stopped to make a legal discharge of a student at a driveway. The stop lights were activated, and stop sign arm engaged in the extended position. Once the student cleared the bus, the vehicle proceeded to the next stop a short distance away,

A 1994 Ford Ranger pickup was behind the bus. The driver, 24-year old Ryan Gross, of Linden, saw the first student being dropped off, and stopped. When he failed to see the bus stopped for the next student, the pickup struck the rear of the bus, causing a total of $4,000 damage. Gross told authorities he didn’t see the bus brake lights due to sun glare. He also admitted he was traveling too close behind the bus to see the flashing stop lights illuminated.

Gross was cited for Following too close.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Monday, said they received great news last week, that all individuals working with the district’s children will be eligible for vaccinations in the 1b Phase rollout, which begins on February 1, 2021.  “In Atlantic schools,” Barber said, “we are fortunate to have four health service providers who were eligible in the 1a rollout phase and some employees who are also volunteer firefighters and paramedics that have had the chance at being one of the first groups to get vaccinated.”

Mr. Barber added, “Obviously, this will add to our already effective mitigation  efforts and get us one step closer to the new normal. Throughout the holiday break we keep our weekly COVID numbers.  Our number of positive cases are down along with the number we require to quarantine.  The last few days our County has seen lower positivity rates and I hope that continues as we continue to fight COVID in our community.”

The following are the numbers from the past month:

Barber concluded by saysing “It is my hope that we continue to see small numbers affecting staff and students and that they all experience a fast recovery!”

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the past few days. Late Sunday night, 28-year old Ryan D. Edward Todd, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail on two valid warrants. Todd was brought-in to the facility by several bondsmen. He booked-into the jail on warrants for Possession of a controlled substance/marijuana-1st offense, and Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $1,000. That same night, 22-year old Elijah Emmanuel Bennett was arrested near Crescent, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.

Sunday evening, 43-year old Kaylynn Lynn Hirsh, of Omaha, was arrested for Theft in the 1st Degree/Possession of Stolen Property. Her bond was set at $10,000. Hirsh was taken into custody after deputies were advised a stolen vehicle was traveling east on I-680 from 34th Street, in Council Bluffs. The vehicle was located on I-29. And, Friday evening, 63-year old James W. Creason was arrested near Carson following a single vehicle, property damage accident in the vicinity of Highway 92 and 350th Street.  Creason was charged with OWI/1st offense.

(Radio Iowa) – Experts say the approaching snowstorm has the potential to be the worst to hit Iowa in nearly a decade and forecasters say we need to prepare for very heavy snowfall. Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says a Winter Storm Warning is posted for the southern two-thirds of the state today (Monday) and into tomorrow morning, adding, the snow may fall at the rate of two inches per hour. “Expect conditions to quickly deteriorate. Overall snowfall amounts are forecast anywhere from eight to 13 inches across a large portion of central and southern Iowa,” Donavon says. “It will taper off towards the Highway 20 corridor where we could have anywhere from four to seven inches, and much lighter amounts to the north of that.”

Iowa’s most populous city could get the worst of the snowfall, as the forecast for Des Moines calls for up to nine inches of snow this afternoon and up to seven more inches tonight. That’s the potential for 16 inches of snow. “We’re right in line where that heavier snow band will be developing across the I-80 corridor,” Donavon says. “We’re expecting more, lighter amounts to continue into Tuesday which will add on to those totals.” Iowans who have to drive are advised to consult the Iowa D-O-T’s Traveler Information website, 5-1-1-i-a-dot-org, before heading out, and be flexible as you may need to stay in since snow plows might not be able to keep up with this heavy snow.

“Travel is going to be quite difficult to near-impossible at times as we have those heavier snowfall rates,” Donavon says. “In addition, we are expecting a fair amount of blowing and drifting snow as we have northeast winds, increase to 15 to 25 miles an hour, gusting over 30 at times.” He says the looming storm could easily be the worst yet this winter — and the worst in several winters. “Certainly, it’s one of the biggest snowfalls, especially this widespread, too, across this large portion of the area,” Donavon says. “Certainly, for this season, certainly, for the past several years. Really, for this widespread of a heavy snowfall, you’d need to go back to 2012.”

The forecast is being updated frequently as the storm approaches.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officers with the Creston Police Department arrested four individuals over the weekend. Sunday night, 26-year old Matt Hamm, of Creston, was arrested on a simple misdemeanor charge of Domestic Assault and Interference with Official Acts. Hamm was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing. At around 2:30-a.m. Sunday, 29-year old James Hamill, of Lubbock, TX, was arrested in Creston for Reckless Driving. Hamill was cited and released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Summons to Appear.

Saturday evening, 19-year old Jessie Martin, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Paraphernalia. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1300 bond. And, at around 2:40-a.m. Saturday, Cedric Sanders, of Rockford, IL, was arrested in Creston on a simple misdemeanor charge of Domestic Assault. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Shenandoah Police Department reports two people from Nebraska face weapons charges following their arrest during a traffic stop in Shenandoah early today (Monday). A vehicle was pulled over at around 12:30 a.m. For having no license plates. The K-9 “Remmi” was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics.

As the result of an investigation, officers arrested 25-year-old Michael Reis on a charge of possession of a weapon by a felon. A passenger in the vehicle — 20-year-old Aaliyah Vaughan-McGee — was charged with carrying weapons.  Both suspects are from Omaha. They were taken to the Page County Jail., where Reis was being held on $5,000 bond, and Vaughan-McGee’s bond was set at $2,000. Authorities say additional charges are pending in the case.

Officials with the National Weather Service in Des Moines say a major winter storm will impact much of central and southern Iowa today and tonight. Snow will increase from south to north through the day, though parts of northern Iowa may have little to no snow today. Very heavy snowfall is expected across much of Iowa along and south of Highway 30 where totals may reach 12 inches or more! The Weather Service predicts 9-to 14-inches around Atlantic, with 10-to 14-inches to the east, over parts of Adair, Dallas, Guthrie and Madison Counties.

The greatest uncertainty is north of a Fort Dodge to Waterloo line and is why there are large ranges of snowfall expected in those areas. Snow amounts in Mason City, Algona and Estherville areas will likely be on the lower side of the ranges. The snow will be accompanied by brisk winds and blowing snow producing low visibilities in open areas. Travel will be difficult to near impossible on unplowed roads in the heavy snow areas, even not taking into account low visibilities and at times, whiteout conditions. This evening’s commute will be greatly impacted. Light snow will linger Tuesday morning and breezy winds will linger and will prolong the recovery time for this event.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. If you must head out, the latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1, and on the web (in Iowa), at 511ia.org.