The Cass County Health System in Atlantic reports the facility is currently experiencing a phone outage, and is unable to receive incoming phone calls. CCHS is working with local utilities to fix this problem as soon as possible. Until the problem is resolved, you’re asked to please use 712-779-3626 to reach the CCHS Switchboard, who will then route your call to the appropriate clinic or department. As always, in an emergency, call 911.

The Iowa State Patrol has released information about a fatal crash that occurred at around 8:45-p.m. Monday, in northwest Iowa’s Plymouth County. Authorities say 2009 Nissan Rogue, driven by 38-year old Mohamed Abdullahi-Mohamud, of Sioux City, was traveling south on Highway 75, when, for reasons unknown, the SUV left the road, went out of control while re-entering the roadway and crossed into the northbound lanes, where it struck a 2008 Dodge Dakota pickup, nearly head-on.  Six-year old Ayaan Ibrahn, of Sioux City, who was wearing a child restraint belt, died from injuries suffered in the crash.

The driver of the pickup, 33-year old Sarah C. Landsness, of Le Mars, along with Mohamed Abdullah-Mohamud, and his passengers, 34-year old Hawo Arab and Rayan Arab, both of Sioux City, were injured in the crash. Rayan Arab was transported by Le Mars Ambulance to Sanford Children’s Hospital, in South Falls, SD. Landsness was transported to Iowa Lutheran by Hinton Ambulance. The other crash victims were transported by ambulance to the Floyd Valley Hospital, in LeMars.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Hinton Ambulance, the LeMars Police Department, LeMars Fire and Rescue, and the Merrill Ambulance service.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Library trustees have rejected a proposal to let a genealogy group keep its material at the Mason City Public Library. The trustees voted Tuesday against letting the North Central Iowa Genealogical Society’s more than 5,000 items remain at the library. The trustees also voted to give the society until Oct. 31 to vacate its space. The deadline had been Sept. 30. Discussion on a compromise is expected to continue between the society board and trustees.

The society has been housed in the library since 1979. A letter to the society from library director Mary Markwalter cited “changing space utilization needs of the library” in asking the society to leave.

A traffic stop on a vehicle in Pottawattamie County at around 9:45-p.m. Tuesday, in the 37000 block of Highway 6, resulted in the arrest of a passenger in the vehicle. 23-year old Shawn Richard Ellis, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order, with regard to a woman from Oakland, and for Providing False Information. Ellis was being held without bond in the Pott. County Jail on the No Contact charge. And, a Deputy called to a residence in Carson, Tuesday night check for a wanted male, made contact with the subject, 38-year old David Aaron Hazel, of Glenwood. Dispatch confirmed the man had two active warrants for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and 3rd Degree Harassment. Hazel was transported to the Pott. County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) — This is the last week of summer and forecasters at the National Climate Center are raising the odds of an El Nino weather pattern impacting our region soon. Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says we may see a shift within a few months. “We get into El Nino conditions maybe by late fall but probably by mid-winter,” Todey says. “The probability is around 65 to 70% chance right now.”

Forecasting models indicate a weak El Nino is most likely, Todey says, but that’s just at the moment. “This one will probably not be a particularly strong one,” he says, “so, therefore, what we expect out of this, we can’t assume as much out of it this time. Typically, we talk about El Nino winters as higher likelihood of being warmer than average throughout most of the Northern Plains, the northern Midwest. That’s still the thinking.”

Todey says it’s a safer bet the impacts of the weather pattern will be felt more next year than this fall. “The other thing, when we have El Ninos, we expect a better chance of precipitation as you get into springtime,” Todey says. “The indications for fall aren’t as strong and we’re really not being impacted by El Nino right now, so, we can’t say too much about the fall as being too much different from average right now.”

Forecasts for the last three months of the year show near-normal temperatures and precipitation are likely for the region.

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

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of driving onto and damaging the eastern Iowa baseball field made famous by the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” has changed his plea to guilty. Dubuque County court records say 21-year-old Austin Pape, of Dyersville, entered the plea Monday, the day his trial was to begin on a felony charge of criminal mischief. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Investigators say Pape acknowledged driving onto the field Jan. 22. Court records say the owner estimated the damage at more than $5,500. The vehicle left deep gashes in the field and damaged sprinklers.

The field sits just outside Dyersville, which is 140 miles northeast of Des Moines. Thousands of people visit the property every year, running around the bases and walking to the surrounding cornfields.

Police in Creston, Tuesday night, arrested a local man on assault and other charges. 28-year old Alex Cunningham, of Creston, was taken into custody at a residence in the 800 block of W. Taylor Street, at around 11:40-p.m.  Cunningham was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Interference with Official Acts, Criminal Mischief 4th, Assault – by Bodily Fluids/Secretions, Assault on Police Officer without Injury, and Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd offense. He was being held in Union County Jail on a $9,600 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect from a pursuit that occurred near Lenox, Tuesday evening. If you know who this is, please contact the Taylor County Law Enforcement Center at 712-523-2153.

Pursuit suspect