Low water levels brought on by the ongoing drought are starting cause problems for some boaters on the Iowa Great Lakes. Captain Greg Harson is a supervisor in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau.

“When the water goes down, boat ramps are not made for the length of (boat) trailers that we are currently having these days,” Harson says, “and when people put their boats on the trailer, they power their boat on and that prop wash will blow out a hole behind the cement of the boat ramp.” Harson says boaters need to be aware their trailers can fall into that hole. If that happens, Harson has some advice for avoiding major damage.

“(If the) trailer’s loaded and you try to pull that boat trailer back out, that axle has a better than fair chance of coming off the trailer or wrecking your tires or rims or any of those combinations,” he says, “so I would get the weight off of your trailer and either have somebody lift up the trailer and pull the trailer out or at least get it back up on the ramp in some way before you put the boat back onto that trailer.” Similar problems are being reported at other lakes and rivers around the state where water levels are below normal levels. Officials say there’s been a statewide increase in boat registrations during the pandemic.

Forecasters say heavy showers are likely this (Friday) afternoon and evening for western and central Iowa, but it would take many more rains to make a dent in the long-running — and worsening — drought. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the new drought maps released late this week show drought conditions widening and getting more severe, especially across Iowa’s northern half.
“We’ve had drought expand across the state, especially the D-3 category, which is extreme drought,” Glisan says. “Looking at the previous maps, this is the largest extent that we’ve seen across northern Iowa since the early part of April in 2013.” The new climate outlook was issued for the region on Thursday and Glisan says it holds no obvious signs for what’s to come in the long-term.
“We have an equal chance of above, below or near-average temperature and precipitation behavior in the month of September,” Glisan says. “Then looking at meteorological fall — September, October, November — we do see elevated chances of warmer temperatures but again no clear signal for the precipitation side.” Fall will arrive in about a month, September 22nd, and Glisan says it’s a toss-up as to what the season ahead may hold.
“We do have a pretty good chance of moving back into a La Nina phase of the El Nino southern oscillation which impacts the jetstream over the United States,” Glisan says. “If we look at analog years in which La Nina has returned to the state, we don’t get a clear signal on precipitation behavior.” The map shows at least parts of 22 Iowa counties are now in extreme drought, which covers more than ten percent of the state, up from around seven-percent last week. Fifty-five percent of the state is now in some level of drought, while almost 79-percent of Iowa ranges from abnormally dry to extreme drought. Only a few counties in southwest Iowa and most of the southern two tiers of counties are untouched by the dry weather.

An Iowa Falls man who was an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan is one step closer to being granted political asylum. Zalmay Niazy (ZALL-may nee-AH-zee) says his lawyer called yesterday (Thursday) with news that accusations he’d supported a terrorist organization as a child will be dropped. Niazy says it’s hard to be happy for himself, though, when people in Afghanistan are struggling. He’s ready to go back and again serve as an interpreter for U.S. forces.

“Please give me a chance to go and be with them and prove to them that we will not leave anybody behind because that is a slap on our face,” he says. “…It is very frustrating.” Niazy’s (nee-AH-zee’s) asylum hearing is scheduled for October 4th in Omaha.

(Atlantic, Iowa) A total of three people were transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, Friday, following a collision that occurred at around 2:25-p.m. at S.W. 7th and W. 14th Streets. According to reports, the accident happened as a northeast bound Ford Expedition was slowing to turn into the EOC (Educational Opportunity Center). The vehicle was struck from behind by a Jeep.

The driver of the Jeep was transported to the hospital by Cass EMS to be checked for possible/unknown injuries. The driver and a passenger in the Expedition were taken by private vehicle to the hospital, also to be checked out.

Photo Courtesy Cass County EMA Coordinator Mike Kennon

Atlantic Police Department were assisted at the scene by Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, Atlantic Fire Department, Cass EMS, and the Iowa State Patrol.

(Radio Iowa) – Low water levels brought on by the ongoing drought are starting cause problems for some boaters on the Iowa Great Lakes. Captain Greg Harson is a supervisor in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau. “When the water goes down, boat ramps are not made for the length of (boat) trailers that we are currently having these days,” Harson says, “and when people put their boats on the trailer, they power their boat on and that prop wash will blow out a hole behind the cement of the boat ramp.”

Harson says boaters need to be aware their trailers can fall into that hole. If that happens, Harson has some advice for avoiding major damage. “(If the) trailer’s loaded and you try to pull that boat trailer back out, that axle has a better than fair chance of coming off the trailer or wrecking your tires or rims or any of those combinations,” he says, “so I would get the weight off of your trailer and either have somebody lift up the trailer and pull the trailer out or at least get it back up on the ramp in some way before you put the boat back onto that trailer.”

Similar problems are being reported at other lakes and rivers around the state where water levels are below normal levels. Officials say there’s been a statewide increase in boat registrations during the pandemic.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – A western Iowa man was sentenced Thursday to 150 months in prison, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to Drug Trafficking. Authorities say the term of imprisonment for 36-year-old Dale Lee Waldroupe will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Waldroupe pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine and firearm offenses in March of 2021.

In November 2020, Waldroupe was involved in a car accident in Council Bluffs and prior to law enforcement’s arrival he fled the scene. Waldroupe was located by law enforcement a short distance from the accident and officers discovered Waldroupe possessed fifty grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and a stolen firearm.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case

Ames police said Friday (Today), a man has been charged with first-degree murder after a female was found dead in an apartment Thursday. According to police, officers conducted a welfare check at an apartment at 5308 Mortensen Road at 6:10 p.m. Thursday. Officers found the body of the woman inside.

“Based on the initial investigation, it appeared the deceased died as a result of a homicide. The deceased was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family,” police said in a news release.

Ames police investigators and officers with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation identified the suspect as 26-year-old Oscar Chavez, of Ames. Ames police said Chaves was stopped more than 80 miles away by Sac County Sheriff’s deputies near Auburn, Iowa at 11:55 p.m. Thursday. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5133 or the anonymous tip line at 515-239-5533. You may also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400. Online anonymous tips may be submitted to www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.co