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Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, March 29 2021

News

March 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CDT

ANITA (KJAN) – Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County was completely blocked this morning at mile marker 71, due to a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident with minor injuries. The crash happened at around 2:35-a.m. Traffic was being diverted to Adair. Additional details were not immediately available.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — One Iowa State University student died and another was missing after members of the school’s crew club had an accident on a lake north of Ames. The university says the students were practicing Sunday morning at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County when their boat capsized. Three were rescued and a dive team recovered the body of one student later in the day. The search for the fifth student was called off Sunday night and will resume Monday morning. The three students who were rescued were treated at an Ames hospital and released. The names of the students were not released Sunday. The students were part of the Iowa State Crew Club, a recognized student organization. Little Wall Lake is about 15 miles north of Ames.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Only days after a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, prompted renewed discussions about the nation’s gun laws, Gov. Kim Reynolds is considering a bill that would make handgun carry permits and background checks on unlicensed sales optional in Iowa. The bill was approved in the Senate with only Republican support after clearing the House with the backing of only one Democrat. Reynolds, a Republican, has made statements in the past in support of the state’s current background checks and permits to carry handguns. However she has rarely vetoed measures supported by her GOP colleagues. When asked last week if she had changed her mind on such gun rules, she suggested an openness to the bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa residents in the 515 and 319 area codes will soon have to get used to dialing all 10 digits of a phone number when making calls. The Federal Communications Commission is requiring Iowa callers to start dialing both the area code and phone number when making a call starting Oct. 24. The reason for the change is that officials are preparing to add a new three-digit number, 988, for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The Iowa area codes that include Des Moines and Cedar Rapids must make the change because some of their local phone numbers use 988 as the prefix for some seven-digit phone numbers.

TRAFFIC ALERT: I-80 westbound blocked at mm 71 (3/29/21)

News

March 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATE: Interstate re-opened around 3:35-a.m.) Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County was completely blocked for about an hour east of Anita this (Monday) morning due to a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident with minor injuries.

Photo submitted to KJAN News

The driver was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Anita Rescue, to be checked out. The crash happened at around 2:35-a.m. near mile marker 71. Traffic was diverted to Adair until the rig could be removed from the lanes of traffic.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Mike Kennon with Cass County EMA were on the scene. Additional information will be released later from the Iowa State Patrol.

Wind Advisory & Red Flag Warning in effect 12pm until 8-pm Monday (3/29)

Weather

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold Counties: WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT MONDAY, and from Noon until 7-p.m. Monday for Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties.

* WHAT…South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to around 50 mph expected. Strongest wind gusts expected mid to late afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving along east west oriented roadways, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold Counties: A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT MONDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. Any fires that start Monday afternoon may spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Prairie grasses and any lingering crop debris will dry out quickly in these conditions and may be able to burn easily.

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties: Red Flag Warning in effect from Noon until 9-p.m. Monday

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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Reynolds considers gun bill, days after Boulder shooting

News

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Only days after a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, prompted renewed discussions about the nation’s gun laws, Gov. Kim Reynolds is considering a bill that would make handgun carry permits and background checks on unlicensed sales optional in Iowa. The bill was approved in the Senate with only Republican support after clearing the House with the backing of only one Democrat.

Reynolds, a Republican, has made statements in the past in support of the state’s current background checks and permits to carry handguns. However she has rarely vetoed measures supported by her GOP colleagues. When asked last week if she had changed her mind on such gun rules, she suggested an openness to the bill.

 

Iowa callers must start using area codes and phone numbers

News

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa residents in the 515 and 319 area codes will soon have to get used to dialing all 10 digits of a phone number when making calls. The Federal Communications Commission is requiring Iowa callers to start dialing both the area code and phone number when making a call starting Oct. 24. The reason for the change is that officials are preparing to add a new three-digit number, 988, for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

The Iowa area codes that include Des Moines and Cedar Rapids must make the change because some of their local phone numbers use 988 as the prefix for some seven-digit phone numbers.

 

Iowa COVID-19 update for 3/29/21: 2 additional deaths; nearly 500 additional cases

News

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus dashboard, Sunday (today) reported 499 additional positive test results for COVID returned from the labs, for a total of 377,896, and two additional deaths, for a pandemic total of 5,718.  Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 2,231 of the total number of deaths across the state. A day earlier, the health department reported 377,397 total positive tests and 5,716 total deaths.

There remain two COVID-19 outbreak at a Long-Term Care facilities across the State, with 12 positive cases among residents and staff within those facilities. Health officials say 192 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID (down from 201 previously); 42 people are in an ICU; 35 people were admitted to a hospital across the state, and 12 patients are on a ventilator.

RMCC Region 4 hospitals (those in western/southwest Iowa) show: There are 12 hospitalized with COVID; 10 COVID patients are in an ICU; Two people were admitted w/symptoms of COVID, and there remain three people with COVID on a ventilator.

The 14-day positivity rate is up slightly, to 4.4%, and the seven day rate went from 4.6% to 4.7%. State data shows 1,439,027 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 566,498 individuals completing the vaccination series.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,399 cases; {+2}; 52 deaths
  • Adair, 956; {+1}; 31
  • Adams, 327 {+0}; 4
  • Audubon, 499 {+0}; 9
  • Guthrie, 1,215 {+0}; 28
  • Harrison County, 1,838; {+4}; 71
  • Madison County, 1,634; {+2; 19
  • Mills County, 1,704; {+3}; 20
  • Montgomery, 1,056 {+4}; 36
  • Pottawattamie County, 11,264; {+29}; 152
  • Shelby County, 1,286 {+1}; 34
  • Union County,  1,297; {+2}; 31

Northwest Iowa woman arrested in Red Oak Sunday morning

News

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Sunday morning, arrested a woman from northwest Iowa’s Plymouth County. 18-year old Aayla Ann Jo Larson, of Hinton, was taken into custody at around 12:25-a.m., for OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

GARY HOWEY, 83, of Audubon (Svcs. 3/30/21)

Obituaries

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

GARY HOWEY, 83, of Audubon, died Saturday, March 27th, at home. Funeral services for GARY HOWEY will be held 10:30-a.m. Tuesday, March 30th, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will meet with friends from 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, until the time of service.

Burial is in the Union Township Cemetery in rural Guthrie County.

GARY HOWEY is survived by:

His daughter – Teresa (Jim) Eddy, of Audubon.

His sons – Michael Howey (& friend Kelly Halfpop) of Belmond, and Pat (Carol) Howey, of Stuart.

His sister – Charlene (Pete) Brady, of West Des Moines.

7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, in-laws, other relatives and friends.

MICHAEL ELSBERRY, 48, of Atlantic (Svcs. 3/31/21)

Obituaries

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

MICHAEL ELSBERRY, 48, of Atlantic, died Friday, March 26th, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. Funeral services for MICHAEL ELSBERRY will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., March 31st, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

An open visitation will take place at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 30th from 10:00am to 7:00 pm, with family present 5-until 7-p.m.; online condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to some of his favorite organizations and hobbies.

MICHAEL ELSBERRY is survived by:

His father – Merle (Leah Peters) Elsberry, of Atlantic.

His sisters – Marjorie (Todd) Young, of Atlantic, and Marie (Jeff) Nelson, of Elk Horn.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 3/28/21

Weather

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & breezy. High near 55. Northwest wind 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 41. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Sunny & windy, with a high near 73. SW @ 15-30 w/gusts to around 45. FIRE WEATHER WATCH in effect for critical fire conditions.
Monday Night: Increasing clouds w/a 20% chance of showers after midnight. Low around 37. S/SW winds 10-40 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy & breezy. High near 49. NW @ 15-25.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Wednesday: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 46.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 54. Our Low this morning, 32. Last year on this date, the High was 69 and the Low was 37. The Record High was 84 in 1910 & 1986. The Record Low was 11 in 1898.