Iowans who need to travel somewhere this holiday weekend are being reminded to prepare for the extremely cold temperatures. Iowa State Patrol Trooper John Farley says any trip in these conditions should start with a full tank of gas and an emergency kit.

“Make sure you’re packing some warm blankets, heavier jackets and warm weather gear,” Farley says. “Throw in some energy bars, bottled water, energy drinks…that’s always helpful if you do become disabled or your vehicle does end up in the median or ditch along the interstate.” Law enforcement officers often warn motorists about the dangers of texting while driving, but Farley says a cell phone can be a lifesaver if you’re involved in an accident.

“Make sure you have your cell phone and you have a charger with you, so your battery is fully charged in case you do become stranded, you’re able to call emergency services,” Farley says. And if you do become stranded this weekend, Farley suggests you stay with your vehicle and wait for help.

“Never try and go walk out on to the interstate or highway thinking that farmhouse is close. During those severe cold, below zero temperatures, nothing is ever as close as you think it is,” Farley said. “Never take that chance, always stay with your vehicle.”

Last weekend, an 83-year-old woman died from exposure to the cold after crashing her car in eastern South Dakota. Police say she left her car and her body was found the following day, not far away, in a ditch. Overnight temperatures in the area fell as low as 2 degrees.

(Radio Iowa)

(Update) Firefighters from Adair, Anita and Wiota were called to the 73 mile marker of Interstate 80 eastbound Friday night, where a semi trailer hauling cars caught fire near Adair. The incident was reported at around 6:53-p.m.

According to dispatch reports and firefighters at the scene, the flames were spreading quickly to the vehicles being transported on the carrier, and several were fully engulfed in flames by the time the first crews arrived on the scene.

No injuries were reported, and no other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency will release a report early next year designed to start measuring the impact of a new state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The Iowa Department of Human Services plans to release program data on Jan. 8.

The report will include information on patient enrollment and program utilization, as well as details about health care providers and payments for services and pharmacy. The data will cover the first quarter of the budget year that began in July and will include information about a period before the new program was implemented.

The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature agreed last spring to give up millions in federal dollars to launch a $3 million state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providing organizations, although no state or federal dollars go to abortions in Iowa.

Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  For more information or to make an appointment call on or after January 8th to 712-755-3104.  Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000.  Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Slayer software to complete returns.  Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required.  Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed.  The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses.   A professional tax preparer should be consulted for these services.

In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Shelby County Extension and Outreach and The Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services.  For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Friday morning in their chambers at the courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board opened and reviewed a single application for Cass County Attorney. The deadline for applications was December 27th. The application they received and reviewed, was from Michael Hooper, of Atlantic.  Appointment of a Cass County Attorney is scheduled for January 2, 2018.

The Board also voted unanimously to abate the tax, penalties and interest collectible  on a parcel of land owned by The City of Atlantic, and ordered the Treasurer to strike the amount due from the County system.

And, beginning January 1st, 2018 the county is adding the option to participate in a Flexible Spending Account Plan to the county’s ISAC Group Health program. The move to approve the 2018 Cass County Flexible Benefits Plan Administrative Services Agreement by and between Cass County and TRISTAR Benefit Administrators, was carried unanimously.

With temperatures predicted to dip well below zero, the Iowa DNR has decided to cancel First Day Hikes at 27 state parks scheduled for New Year’s Day. Todd Coffelt, State Parks Bureau Chief, said Friday “While it’s a great disappointment to us to cancel this event, the safety of park visitors comes first. We know that frost bite can set in fairly quickly at those cold temperatures, so we are using caution in making this decision.”

First Day Hikes are part of a national initiative to encourage people to spend time outdoors. Last year in Iowa, more than 1,200 people participated in hikes across the state. Coffelt said “We definitely will plan on hosting hikes again next year, and anyone can visit state parks during the winter and enjoy the beautiful scenery that’s unique to this time of year.”

First Day Hikes were scheduled to take place at the following parks in western and southwest Iowa:

• Lewis and Clark State Park
• Prairie Rose State Park
• Springbrook State Park
• Green Valley State Park
• Lake Anita State Park
• Viking Lake State Park
• Waubonsie State Park
• Wilson Island State Recreation Area

Two people were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital this (Friday) morning, after the car they were in crashed into the Atlantic Food Pantry. According to the Atlantic Police Department, a vehicle driven by Dorothy Oliphant, of Atlantic, was legally parked in the 400 block of Poplar Street, when the car pulled away and began to drive north on Poplar. Once in the 300 block of Poplar, Oliphant, for reasons unknown – possibly medical – proceeded to backup south on Poplar Street. The car didn’t stop until it hit the north side wall of 402 Poplar Street. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m.

Oliphant, and her passenger were injured in the crash. They were transported to CCMH by Medivac Ambulance. Officials say the rear end of the car sustained about $10,000 damage. A dollar of amount of damage to the Food Pantry Building, owned by Tim Kreifels, was not immediately available. A citation is currently pending for Dorothy Oliphant, depending on the outcome of an evaluation.

An Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer conducted a traffic stop late Thursday night in Atlantic, which resulted in a foot pursuit. Capt. Dan Gohlinghorst, with the Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, told KJAN News Officer Brian Rink pulled over a pickup for failure to dim headlights, at around 10:30-p.m., near 10^th and Oak Streets. As Rink, and the driver of the vehicle were walking back to Rinks Patrol SUV, the driver of the pickup– identified as 29-year old Justin Patton, of Atlantic, took off on foot.

Cass County Deputy Tyler Shiels was dispatched to assist in the chase. He and his K9 partner were deployed and located Patton, who was taken into custody and brought to the Cass County Jail. Patton was charged with Driving While Suspended and Interference with Official Acts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California man charged with setting up fake businesses in Iowa and two other states to obtain more than $355,000 in unemployment benefits for nonexistent workers has pleaded guilty in federal court and will be sentenced next month. Court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa say Nikolai Monastyrski has pleaded guilty to all charges contained in a 14-count indictment alleging wire fraud and mail fraud.

A November 2016 complaint says Monastyrski defrauded Iowa Workforce Development of more than $114,000, collected $230,000 from Illinois and $11,300 from Pennsylvania. Prosecutors say Monastyrski, who requires a Russian interpreter in court, ran the scheme from his Folsom, California, apartment. Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger on Thursday set his sentencing date for Jan. 8 in Davenport. She had accepted his guilty plea in September.

Cass County Public Health is teaming up with Live Healthy Iowa to improve the health of the county’s residents and improve its overall ranking in the newly released Active Index. Since 1988, the obesity rate in Iowa has increased from 14 percent to 32 percent. Iowa’s less than desirable national rankings for obesity and inactivity have contributed to the overall health of the state’s residents, which led to development of the Active Index. Currently, out of the 99 counties in Iowa, Cass County ranks 76th in the Active Index, with a participation rate of 3.01%. Live Healthy Iowa’s Active Index provides a measurement of where each county ranks across Iowa. Rankings in the Active Index are based on county members’ participation in select Live Healthy Iowa and Iowa Sports Foundation challenges and events, including the 10 Week Wellness Challenge, Live Healthy Iowa 5K, The Next Step Challenge, Kid’s Fall Fitness Day/Healthiest State Walk, Summer Iowa Games and Winter Iowa Games.

Beth Olsen, Director of Public Health for Cass County, says “Like other counties in Iowa, we know that the obesity rate and overall health statistics of Cass County are something that we need to address. Thirty-five percent of our adults are obese and 26% are physically inactive, both surpassing the average in Iowa. Forging a closer partnership with Live Healthy Iowa by working to achieve a better Active Index ranking will provide us with a roadmap for improvement and help us to engage our residents – of all ages and activity levels – to participate in healthy and active opportunities to improve their health.”

If you would like to be part of the discussion, join Cass County Public Health for a meeting on Friday, January 12th, from 1:00-until 2:30pm, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital Conference Room #2. County members will meet with Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson, director of Live Healthy Iowa and Chuck Long, CEO and executive director of the Iowa Sports Foundation and former NFL and University of Iowa football star to discuss Cass County’s health rankings and develop a plan for improvement.

There is no charge for counties to be part of the Active Index; there are only minimal participation fees in the annual challenges. If you plan to attend the event on Friday, January 12 from 1:00-2:30pm at the Cass County Memorial Hospital Conference Room #2, please RSVP to Beth Olsen at (712) 243-7552 or at olsea@casshealth.org.