In an update to our report Sunday morning, the Page County Sheriff’s Office says a Blanchard man has died as the result of injuries he suffered during a fishing accident Saturday afternoon. 69-year old Joseph Bruce Hines had gone to a bridge just west of Blanchard on 320th Street to fish Tarkio Creek, when he slipped on the edge of the bank and suffered life-threatening injuries before he fell into the water. The accident happened at around 3-p.m., Saturday. Witnesses to the accident did not have a phone at the scene and went back to a residence in Blanchard to call for assistance.

Page County Deputies, Coin Fire and Rescue, Clarinda Rescue, and Shenandoah Rescue responded to the scene. Hines was transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce have partnered with the Cass County Health System, to sponsor the Annual Angel(s) of Christmas. The Angel of Christmas is a tradition in Atlantic recognizing and thanking area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long – putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet.

In 2016, Sherri Lebeck was named the Angel of Christmas, demonstrating the true meaning of the season by spending her time giving extra care to people who are ill in their homes, doing personal shopping for those who are unable to themselves, bringing food to those who need it and visiting and comforting widow and widowers.

Nominate the Christmas Angel you know to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce by November 29th at noon. This year’s angel will be announced at the Holiday Concert, sponsored by Bonnesen’s Five & Ten Store, on December 4th at 3pm. Nominate by submitting a nomination form to the Atlantic Area Chamber of  Commerce. Nomination forms are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of  Commerce or online at christmasinatlantic.com.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reminds persons wanting to cast an Absentee ballot in advance of tomorrow’s General Election, may do so at the Office of the Cass County Auditor, until 5-p.m. today (Monday).  The polls will be open Tuesday from 7-a.m. until 9-p.m. for persons wishing to vote on Election Day.

If you have any questions about voter registration, where to vote on Tuesday, or anything else related to the election, contact your local County Auditor’s Office. In Cass County, the phone number is 712-243-4570.

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

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In an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa State Patrol says a young man from Taylor County died Sunday morning during a crash on Interstate 80 east of Marne, in Cass County. 19-year old Devon Wheeler, of Gravity, died at the scene of the crash that happened at around 7:15-a.m., about a half-mile east of the Marne exit. The driver of the car, 19-year old Benjamin Hill, of Bedford, was flown from the scene by Midwest MedAir to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Both men were ejected from the vehicle. Neither man was wearing a seat belt.

Officials say Hill was driving a 2007 Ford Focus eastbound on I-80 when the car drifted onto the north shoulder. Hill overcorrected, causing the car to cross both lanes of I-80 and enter a ditch before rolling over and coming to rest in a harvested corn field.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic, and Marne Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.

(8-a.m. News)

The Iowa State Patrol has released additional information about a crash that happened Saturday afternoon on Interstate 80, west of Adair. Officials say a 2004 Buick LeSabre driven by 68-year old Linda Weston, of Audubon, was traveling west on I-80 at around 1:30-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the car drifted to right. Weston over-corrected, sending the vehicle across the westbound lane and into the median, where it rolled multiple times before coming to rest upside down and bursting into flames. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Weston, and her passenger, 96-year old Clarence Pfundheller, of Audubon, who were wearing their seatbelts, were injured. Weston was transported by Anita Rescue to the Cass County Hospital and then by Midwest Medair helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Pfundheller was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to Methodist.

Deputies with the Adair and Cass County Sheriff’s Offices, and crews from Anita and Adair Fire and Rescue Departments assisted at the scene.

The Creston Police Department reports three people were arrested over the weekend. Saturday evening, 34-year old Krystal Smith, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Smith was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $300 bond. Early Saturday morning, Creston Police arrested 21-year old Mason Wagaman, of Creston, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and 21-year old Godofredo Rodriguez (Address unknown), for Public Intoxication. Both men were later released on bond from the Union County Jail .

And, last Thursday morning, a Creston resident reported to police that his debit card was used without permission, to make numerous transactions at various retailers. The card was used between Nov. 2nd and 3rd. The loss was estimated at $1,250.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The National Weather Service along with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division have declared Thursday, November 10th as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Nebraska and Iowa.

Winter Weather Forecast Terms: The following are some of the winter weather forecast terms you will hear. Know what these terms mean and how you should prepare and respond to each situation…..

A WINTER STORM WATCH is an advance forecast notice that hazardous weather such as a blizzard, heavy snow, or an ice storm may develop. You should not become unduly alarmed, however be aware the threat exists and monitor forecasts and statements.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING is the forecast of snowfall of 6 inches or more in 12 hours or 8 inches or more in 24 hours.

An ICE STORM WARNING is the forecast of life threatening and damaging accumulations of ice, when rain freezes on contact with surfaces. Driving and walking can be extremely hazardous.

Winter weather advisories are issued for less serious winter weather conditions that cause significant inconvenience and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that might threaten lift or property. Winter weather advisories may be issued for such events as snow, blowing snow, freezing rain, and freezing drizzle.

There’s an urgent call for Iowa families to open their homes to take in foster children and to adopt. Bambi Schrader, recruitment supervisor for Iowa KidsNet, says there’s a critical need for families to shelter sibling groups, teenagers and children who are older than eight-years-old. “We have about 4,000 children in the foster care system,” Schrader says. “In 2015, there were 2,560 children referred into foster care. Unfortunately, we only have about 2,100 foster homes across our state right now so we’re in desperate need.”

There’s a continual waiting list for children in Iowa seeking “forever homes.” “A lot of times children are waiting longer in shelters or residential treatments or unsafe situations or there are being multiple children placed into a home where they might’ve only taken one or two children, now they have three or four,” Schrader says. “We want to make sure each child has their own unique home that meets their needs.”

For many children in foster care, it could take three years to be adopted. She says there’s a need for every type of family as kids come in all types. “We need everything from two-parent households to single-parent households, same-sex couples,” Schrader says. “We need some older couples that maybe aren’t looking to adopt but would take an infant that we want to reunify.”

Private adoptions may take several years and tens of thousands of dollars, but she says state adoptions through Iowa KidsNet are essentially free. The adoption process may take six months and it includes a home study, 30-hours of classwork and a background check. “Having lots of money or having a nice, fancy home is not what the kids need,” Schrader says. “They need people who care about them. They need people who love them. They need people to be there after school and people who will say, ‘No, you’re wearing that to school. Go change your clothes,’ or put discipline into their lives. A lot of our kids don’t have that or when they do have it, it was done in a harmful way.”

More than 23,000 children age out of the foster care system nationwide every year. Last year in Iowa, 39 children aged out with no family or permanent home. Learn more at www.IowaKidsNet.com or by calling 800-243-0756.

(Radio Iowa)