The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a WIND ADVISORY for Harrison County from 10-a.m. Thursday until 7-p.m., and from 10-a.m. Thursday until 10-p.m., for Monona County. Winds are expected to be out of the northwest from 30-to as much as 50-mph during the Advisory time frames.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a FREEZE WATCH for Shelby and Harrison Counties, from 5-a.m. Friday to 9-a.m., and from 1-a.m until 10-a.m. Saturday; a FREEZE WATCH is also in effect from 1-a.m. Saturday until 10-a.m. for Pottawattamie, Mills-Montgomery-Fremont and Page Counties.

* TEMPERATURE…Around freezing Friday morning, then in the mid-20s Saturday morning.

* IMPACTS…Cold temperatures will result in a killing freeze ending the growing season this year.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state official says about 30 union locals will dismantle following elections required by Iowa’s new collective bargaining law. Mike Cormack, chairman of the Public Employment Relations Board, based his estimate Wednesday on preliminary results from recertification elections held over two weeks ending Tuesday. He says nearly 430 union units secured enough votes to continue, while 31 units did not. Almost 40 units remain to be counted, which means the tally can change.

More periodic recertification elections were required under a law approved this year by the Republican-majority Legislature that eliminated most collective bargaining rights for public workers.

Cormack says more than 28,400 employees voted, with more than 23,000 supporting retaining their unions and a little over 530 supporting decertification. Those who don’t participate are counted as “no” votes.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated snacks to the Griswold Public Library for their kids reading program. Lisa Metheny with the Griswold Public Library told members of the Foundation, that they have up to 16 kids come to the library after school to read for at least 20 minutes.

Like all kids after school they are hungry so the library gives them a treat once their reading is completed. Trevor’s mom, and Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty, said in a press release, that “Since Trevor was such a big reader we felt this was a good fit for us to help out.”

Pictured: Sue Petersen Assistant Librarian and Faith Beebe Student Volunteer. (Photo submitted)

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund also purchased a large amount of used children’s books while they were there and donated them to the Cass County Creators 4H Group. The Cass County Creators have been collecting books for a service project for the last couple weeks to hand out during the Washington Elementary conferences this week in Atlantic.

All the books collected will be given out to children in grades Jr. Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. Petty says “Any time you can get a book or two in a child’s hands it’s a WIN!”

You can keep up on the Funds’ activity their Facebook Page.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested Tuesday evening following an accident that caused a woman to be transported to the hospital. 38-year old Robert Matthew Justice was arrested for Driving Under Suspension and cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. His bond was set at $300.

Authorities say 29-year old Krista Frazee, of Malvern, was traveling east on Highway 34 just before 5-p.m., and approaching a construction zone. As she slowed for a yellow light near 305th Street, her 2016 Jeep was struck from behind by a 1993 Chevy driven by Robert Justice.

Frazee was transported by Malvern Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports a bridge beam replacement operation on Interstate 29, 2 miles south of Salix, in Woodbury County, will require closures of southbound I-29 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 25, weather permitting.

Traffic will be stopped for 20-minute intervals. Motorists approaching this area should drive with caution and be prepared to stop for traffic backups beyond the limits of the work zone.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson said in his latest report, there were two arrests this past week, and one non-injury accident. Taken into custody Oct. 18th was 23-year old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic. Renner was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Driving While License Suspended. And, on Oct. 22nd, 39-year old Leann Harris, of Lewis, was arrested in Atlantic for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and Providing False Information. Both subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Tuesday afternoon at 7th Street and Hospital Drive, in Atlantic. Chief Erickson says a vehicle driven by Marie Olson, of Atlantic, was traveling east on 7th Street at around 1:30-p.m. and in the turning lane to make a left hand turn into the Hy-Vee shopping plaza entrance. A vehicle driven by Nathan Brown, of Atlantic, was westbound on 7th Street. When Olson attempted to make the left turn, her vehicle was struck by Brown’s vehicle on the left front side. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000. Olson was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn.

A northwest Iowa woman has been charged with assaulting employees inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Estherville on Sunday. Employees told police a woman ordered at the drive-through, waved a knife at the employee at the pick-up window, came into the restaurant and assaulted a male and a female employee, then threatened another female employee with the knife. Police later arrested 31-year-old Nora Caraveo of Estherville. She’s been charged with going armed with intent, aggravated assault and two counts of assault causing bodily injury. Caraveo also faces charges of assault on a peace officer and fifth degree criminal mischief, charges related to her arrest at a home in Estherville.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced that 22 Iowa communities with current State Revolving Fund loans for water quality projects will save a total of $1.6 million in interest over the remaining life of their loans as a result of the their interest rate being reduced from 3% to 1.75%. The change affects the communities of Defiance, Emerson, Manning and Shenandoah, and results in an interest rate saving cost ranging from $5,313 in Manning, to $101, 450 for Shenandoah.(Defiance will save $9,275 and Emerson $83,088)

The State Revolving Fund is one of Iowa’s primary sources for financing projects designed to improve Iowa’s water quality. Two funds, one for drinking water and one for wastewater and pollution control, have provided low-cost financing to projects in 600 Iowa communities as well as to farmers, watershed groups and others for water quality projects. The program is jointly administered by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison said “The State Revolving Fund offers communities low-cost financing, longer repayment cycles and exceptional savings. We’re able to reduce the interest rate for loans that are more than ten years old due to the success of the program and excellent financial management. Lowering interest rates on existing loans has kept nearly $18 million in local economies throughout the state.”  Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp said “The State Revolving Fund is a win-win for Iowa communities.This program is a successful partnership between state and local governments and we are proud to play a role in not only assisting communities in completing water quality projects, but also helping them realize substantial savings.”

Besides offering the low interest rates to finance water infrastructure projects, the State Revolving Fund offers other benefits to Iowa communities, such as lower up-front costs and no reserve requirement. For more information on the State Revolving Loan Fund, go to IowaSRF.com

he Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), received an update from two local men with regard to the use of Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV’s) on County roads. Dennis Murphy from Nishna Valley Cycle had appeared before the Board in May, 11, 2016, and at that time, asked the board to consider moving forward with enacting an ordinance to allow any licensed driver to operate registered (with the county recorder) and insured all-terrain and off-road utility vehicles on Cass County secondary roadways for recreational use. The ordinance would not restrict eligible ‘farm’ use. Goal is to make it legal for said vehicles to be driven on county roadways. The Board had taken the request under advisement, and asked for more research.

During today’s meeting, Murphy, and Rob Thornton, also from NVC, came back with Ordinance samples from various counties, including Carroll, Crawford, Buchanon and Iowa Counties, in northwest Iowa. He said some county ordinances specify which roads UTV can be ridden on, others are more simple. They cannot be ridden on Highways. Murphy said some counties require a current DNR registration sticker on the vehicle, some have minimum age limits, and some require insurance, etc. Those annual stickers, he said, cost $75. Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold told the Board the same subject was covered at a recent ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties) meeting in accordance with many different agencies.

He said as far as his office is concerned, safety is an issue, and that “politically,” he’s opposed to the use of UTV’s on county roads, but personally, he’s open to it, primarily because the machines are already being used on those roads. He likes the idea that operators of the machines have insurance, so that if there’s a collision between a County vehicle and a UTV, it’s covered and dependent upon who’s at fault.

UTV operators would have to obey the rules of the road, just like motorists. To that end, the Supervisors and Murphy agreed that the machines should have certain safety features if not already equipped, such as headlights, taillights. They could also require them to be outfitted with marker flags, turn signals, mirrors, etc. The main thing Murphy would like to see, is that the ordinance specify the machines be registered and have clearly visible tags for identification in the event they are operating illegally or irresponsibly.

Auditor Dale Sunderman says Delaware County has an ordinance that passed in May, 2016, which is thorough and a good place from where to start Cass County’s Ordinance. Dennis Murphy said he and Thornton would come back in a couple of weeks or so with a draft ordinance, incorporating some of the better ideas in the ordinances mentioned during today’s (Wednesday’s) discussion.