With severe weather season upon us, more schools across the state are using federal grants to create safe rooms where children can take shelter during dangerous storms. Mark Schouten directs the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He says when Iowa receives disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, it includes bonus funds to prevent damage and loss of life from future storms.

“Whatever the amount is, an additional 20 percent is paid to the state to be use for mitigation purposes,” Scouten says. “We have used a lot of that money for saferoom creation throughout the state.”

Since 1992, FEMA has paid for 72 safe room projects across Iowa, including 42 million dollars for schools. Twenty more schools are waiting in line for FEMA grants for projects worth another 31 million dollars. “We have stacked projects right now waiting for more hazard mitigation dollars and a number of schools are seeking to do just that: add safe rooms to their facilities,” Scouten says.

Interest in “safe room” shelters grew after a 2013 tornado hit an elementary school in Moore, Oklahoma — killing seven children.

(Radio Iowa)

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy on routine patrol Thursday night, stopped a vehicle for having a headlight out, and ended-up arrested the driver. 25-year old Mallory Paige Rock, of Oakland, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources are asking for your help in tracking down the activities of a man whose body was found in the lake at Lake Anita State Park, Thursday. Capt. Brian Smith with the DNR says 63-year old Roland “Rollie” Henderson, of Wiota, died from an apparent drowning during an accident involving a kayak, but it’s not clear when the man died.

He says that’s because there’s confusion as to when he actually entered the water.

(Smith says some witnesses saw him with the kayak Wednesday evening, but he wasn’t in the water at that time. He says it’s possible the man went into the lake Wednesday evening or earlier that afternoon.)

Anyone who might have seen Henderson enter the water is asked to call Brian Hayes at 712-254-0550.  The man’s overturned kayak was discovered by a passer by who reported it to the Park Manager at around 3-p.m., Thursday. Not longer afterward, Park Manager Josh Peach found the Kayak’s paddle. A little further down the shoreline, authorities discovered Henderson’s body.

An autopsy will be performed at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. Investigators did not find a personal floatation device at the scene.
DNR law enforcement will continue to investigate. Brian Smith says that Henderson’s death at Lake Anita was the first he’s heard of since the Lake opened 52-years ago.  He says outdoor enthusiasts need to take the proper precautions when they’re around large bodies of water.

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

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DETROIT (AP) – Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 1.2 million cars and SUVs because the engines can fail and stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers the Korean automakers’ most popular models including 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs and Sonata midsize cars. Also covered are Kia Optima midsize cars from 2011 through 2014, Kia Sportage SUVs from 2011 through 2013 and Kia Sorento SUVs from 2012 through 2014.

The companies say that debris left from manufacturing can restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings. That can increase temperatures and cause the bearings to wear and fail. Hyundai and Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the engines. They’ll replace the block if needed at no cost. The recall is scheduled to start on May 19th.

Police in Creston say a woman residing in the 500 block of W. Mills Street, reported Thursday, that sometime between 7-p.m. Wednesday and 9-a.m. Thursday, someone stolen from her residence a purple, 10-speed bicycle. The loss was estimated at $100.

(7-a.m. News)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Plains farm aid nonprofit that has steadily grown since being launched in North Dakota a dozen years ago is expanding into its sixth state. Farm Rescue will provide free haying and hay-hauling help to Nebraska farmers in need this year, as it continues providing services to farmers in both Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa.

In those states, the organization has provided crop planting and harvesting assistance and hay help for more than 400 farm families since 2005. Farm Rescue doesn’t dole out cash. It has about 1,100 volunteers from around the country who do the actual physical work for farmers who have suffered a major injury, illness or natural disaster. The organization is currently taking applications for spring assistance in all of the states in which it works.

A Red Oak man was arrested for Driving While Suspended, Thursday evening. Police say 38-year old Kale Alan Wenberg was taken into custody at around 7-p.m. and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst — a combat veteran — is praising President Trump’s decision to launch air strikes in Syria. Senator Joni Ernst says Trump “followed through with the red line drawn by the Obama Administration.” Ernst called Syria’s president a “war criminal” for using chemical weapons against civilians and she blasted Russia for backing the Assad regime.

Syria’s civil war “has gone on far too long,” according to Ernst. Ernst says Trump “is showing global leadership.” She adds, though, it’s time to “find an end to the root causes of this crisis.”

(Radio Iowa)