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

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The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will hold their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning, in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m.  During their session at the Courthouse, the Adair County Supervisors will act on: a Grand River Trustee resignation; a Fiscal Year 2016 Audit Representation letter; the awarding of a Farm-to-Market granular surfacing contract, and Conservation correspondence.

County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will present her semi-annual report to the Board, and Teva Dawson will talk about the North- and Middle River watersheds. The Adair County Supervisors will conclude their meeting with a Budget work session.

There are at least two area meetings on tap for this evening you may be interested in. The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall, beginning at 5:15-p.m. And, the Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will meet beginning at 6-p.m., in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building.

During their meeting, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board will act on approving a Little Schoolhouse donation. They’ll also hear updates from Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to the Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee, the Enhance Iowa CAT grant application, and the Sunnyside Ice Rink, along with Park Shelter Reservations. Staashelm will also discuss a Schildberg Recreation Area Campground Board recommendation, and planning for Summer Programs and Projects.

The Exira/E-H-K School Board is expected to discuss tonight: The Teacher Association’s opening proposal; a Budget review; the FFA Feb. 8th competition and possible trip; a request from Salem Lutheran Home for Assistance in the event of an emergency; Facilities assessment; a Review of the refinancing estimate, timeline and term sheet, and building alignment, among other matters.

A man and woman from Nebraska were arrested on drug charges early this (Tuesday) morning, following a traffic stop in Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies conducting an investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine in Sidney, stopped a vehicle occupied by 44-year old Crystal Green-Creek and 47-year old Cal Creek II, both of Nebraska City, NE.

During the traffic stop, the pair were found to be in possession of meth, marijuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and drug currency. They were arrested without incident and transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where they were charged with Delivery of Meth. Bonds for Crystal Green-Creek and Cal Creek II were set at $100,000 each.

Crystal Green-Creek

Cal Creek II

Governor Terry Branstad’s plan for erasing the anticipated red ink in the current year’s state budget may be overhauled by legislators.  “We’ve been warning that the level of spending was culminating to a point where this kind of crisis was going to occur and we’re prepared to fix it.” That’s Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock. While there’s not as much tax revenue as originally predicted, Dix says the state is still collecting more taxes this year.

“We only have so much money,” Dix says. “…I would suggest that should be plenty for us to find a way to accomplish a balanced budget that treats the state budget like a family budget.” Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about the depth of Branstad’s proposed cuts to the agencies that run the state’s prisons and put troopers on the highways. Others have suggested the governor’s proposed cut to the judicial branch is too steep.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, isn’t ready to share details, but she does confirm legislators will adjust Branstad’s plan. “We’ve got a couple of different ideas than the governor, so we’ll have those conversations and by early in the week we’ll be able to hopefully file a bill and get it moving through committee and get it done,” Upmeyer says. Other issues are on hold, so legislators can make this budget decision first.

Upmeyer says the longer legislators wait, the worse the current year’s budget dilemma will be.”It’s tough. We know that, so we want to make sure we get it done and we get it done as quick as we can.” Branstad has proposed 110-million dollars in cuts to the current year’s state budget.

Republicans will match that. Some Republicans are even hoping to award MORE tax cuts to small business and farmers for the depreciation of equipment. The governor did not include that tax adjustment in his budget outline.

(Radio Iowa)

Slick sidewalks, parking lots and roadways could remain a problem this morning (Tuesday) as temperatures across the state hover around the freezing point. A slight warmup is expected to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday), but National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Small says that could bring another danger along rivers — ice jams.

“So, as all of this ice that’s accumulated on the grass thaws and releases into the streams and we get a little more melting…the potential for those ice jams will increase,” Small says. There’s little that can be done to prevent ice jams from happening and they can quickly lead to flash flooding.

“The ice just bottles-up, blocks up the flow, and anywhere upstream of that potentially could see flash flooding…you could get water and/or even ice chunks in your yard,” Small says. “You’re pretty much at the mercy of the river.” High temperatures on Wednesday are expected in the upper 30s to near 50. Highs on Thursday are forecast to reach the 40s to low 50s.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CST

WALNUT, Iowa (AP) — Residents hope streetscape work and building renovations will help return their small town of Walnut to its former glory. The Pottawattamie County community of around 775 residents has long been known as the Antique City for its many antique shops. Mayor Gene Larsen told The Daily Nonpareil that the project is part of the community’s effort “to maintain the vitality of the antique trade.”

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled to begin Feb. 14 for the last of three people accused of kidnapping an Ottumwa woman. Court records say Joel Herrarte Jr. has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. Two others convicted already have been sentenced.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have listed an inmate as escaped from the state work release facility in Waterloo. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a news release Monday that Shawn Washington didn’t return Sunday from a furlough. Washington was convicted in Black Hawk County of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, ongoing criminal conduct and with prohibited acts.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A driver has died at a hospital after his vehicle was hit by a train in Marshalltown. The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that the accident occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday. . Authorities say Kyle Quick was driving across tracks when his vehicle was struck. Authorities say he died Sunday at a Des Moines hospital.

A federal report finds the problem with pregnant women abusing opioids and other prescription drugs is worse in rural farm states like Iowa than in more populous urban states. U-S Surgeon General Doctor Vivek Murthy says the problem is only continuing to grow as more babies are born with symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

“This is a real tragedy,” Doctor Murthy says. “I’ve visited hospitals and heard from neonatal ICU nurses and doctors and about how heartbreaking it has been to see children who are withdrawing from opioids in the first hours and days of their lives.” A new report found five out of every one-thousand births in urban areas involve babies suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms due to the mother’s abuse, while in rural areas, the figure rises to eight in every thousand.

He says women with addictions owe it to their unborn babies to seek help immediately. Murthy says, “Treatment can help pregnant women who are dealing with addiction to opioids and it can reduce the liklihood their children will have adverse affects when they’re born.” The trouble is, rural areas may offer few treatment facilities, if any. Murthy says the first step is for the mothers to admit they have a problem.

(Radio Iowa w/thanks to Karla James in Omaha)

Police in Council Bluffs say a man walking around naked late this (Monday) morning around Big Lake Park, was treated for exposure and then committed to a local hospital for psychological evaluation. A caller reported to police at around 11:15-a.m., that they asked the unidentified male subject if he needed help, but the man refused to answer and continued to walk toward the park.

Officers checking the area were unable to locate the man. The Council Bluffs Fire Department responded with their hovercraft and thermo imaging equipment. After approximately 2 ½ hours of searching, the man was located in the wooded area along Monument Road just north of Council Bluffs.

He was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a single vehicle accident occurred Monday just outside of Elliott.  Deputies were called to the accident at 9:25am  in the 2300 block of 110th Street. A white 2016 Freightliner Semi-Tractor and Trailer owned by Ryder Truck Rental Inc. of Des Moines and operated by 44-year-old Steven S. Couchman of Norwalk crashed due to the icy conditions. Couchman was traveling west on 110th Street when the vehicle lost control  on the ice covered road and went into the north ditch. The semi and trailer came to rest on its right side.

No injuries were reported and damage to the semi and trailer was estimated at $4,000.