The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports a ban on open burning which had been in effect since March 16th, has been lifted.  The ban was rescinded due to the current wet conditions.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – The Onawa City Council has put off a decision on what to do about a St. Bernard that’s called a “gentle giant” by its owner and a potential menace by some other residents of the western Iowa community. Sioux City television station KCAU reports that dozens of people packed the council meeting Tuesday to learn Zhivago’s fate. The 3-year-old, 200-pounder has gotten loose twice but hasn’t bitten anyone. Police say he’s a dangerous animal who should be seized. Owner Billy Parker says Zhivago is a “gentle giant” and a therapy animal who poses no threat.

Council members discussed changing city ordinances so that a tall fence could be installed to help keep the dog in his yard. The members delayed a final decision until their April 14 meeting.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa county supervisor has been accused of drunken driving. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Justin Schultz was arrested early Sunday morning after a deputy pulled him over.  The Daily Nonpareil reports that three tests showed Schultz’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.

At Tuesday’s Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors meeting in Council Bluffs, Schultz declined to comment about the arrest and said he was working with an attorney.

The Creston Police Department reports two recent thefts and one arrest.

On Tuesday officers arrested 16-year-old Kane Farlow at 8:30pm at 1106 West Montgomery Street in Creston.  He was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, Trespass, 5th Degree Criminal Mischief, and Assault on Police Officer with Injury.  He was released to Central Iowa Juvenile Detention.

Also on Tuesday officers received a report of a theft incident at a residence at 310 North Vine Street in Creston.  A resident reported the theft of some towels, 2 HDMI cords, 2 phone chargers, and a broken PS3.  The loss occurred sometime between 10:30am and 12:30pm and was estimated at $175.

On Friday a vehicle theft was reported at the Railroad Depot Parking Lot in Creston sometime between 5:30pm Tuesday and 4:30am Wednesday.  The vehicle is a black 2005 Chevy Tahoe with Iowa plates CAA591.  The loss was estimated at $10,000.

w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A man from Council Bluffs was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, following an alleged assault. According to Bluffs Police, 24-year old Joseph Broich was taken into custody at around 4-a.m., and charged with Serious Assault.

He was arrested after authorities were alerted to the possible assault of a 17-year old male at 1961 Parkwild Drive. Officers located the victim at a separate address and confirmed the incident had taken place. When they went to arrest Broich, the man allegedly became combative. Officers used a Taser to subdue Broich before taking him into custody.

All of the parties involved in the incident were treated by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue medics, but refused further medical attention.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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When weather forecasts predict the possibility of a tornado in your area, it is imperative you and your family have a plan to respond to the threat. The National Weather Service, as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, offers these tips:

Before a Tornado Watch or Warning is issued…
Pick a tornado safe room in your home or place of business. Basements, storms cellars or an interior room with no windows on the lowest floor of a structure offers the best protection.
Make sure all members of your family know where to go.
Store emergency supplies such as a first-aid kit, and flashlights with extra batteries nearby.
Put together a family communications plan. Know where everyone is or will be in the event they are away from home.

During a Tornado Warning…

Immediately go to your Tornado Safe Room. If you are outside, seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
Mobile homes are NEVER safe during a tornado. If you are in a mobile home or a recreational vehicle, head for the nearest storm shelter.
If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter, you should immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and try to drive away from the threat to the nearest sturdy shelter.

After a Tornado…

If you are in an area that was damaged, be careful of debris that may include sharp or dangerous objects, and watch out for downed power lines and broken gas lines.
Use battery powered flashlights when examining buildings. DO NOT USE CANDLES, which can start a fire or cause an explosion.
If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. After everyone is safe, call the gas company or local fire department.
Use your telephone only for emergency calls, so rescue operation lines are not tied-up.
Text your family and friends to let them know you are okay.
If you were outside the area damaged by a tornado, stay off the phone so that emergency calls can get through.
Use text messages and/or social media to let your family and friends know you are okay.
Stay away from areas that are damaged, so you do not hamper rescue operations.
Return to areas that were damaged ONLY when law enforcement gives the all-clear.

A statewide Tornado Drill will take place this morning in Iowa and Nebraska. The drill is part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, and is designed to inform residents on what they should do if a tornado threatens your area.

Here is the schedule for today:

9:50 AM – The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) coordinates with Iowa/Nebraska National Weather Service (NWS) offices about a test tornado watch for Iowa and Nebraska.
10:00 AM – SPC issues Test Tornado Watch for Iowa and Nebraska.  Each Iowa/Nebraska NWS offices will issue test Watch Coordination Notification messages.  Test watch will be toned alerted on NOAA All Hazards Radio.
10:10 AM – NWS Sioux Falls and Omaha issue test tornado warnings for their Iowa counties.
10:15 AM – NWS Des Moines and Quad Cities issue test tornado warnings for their Iowa counties.
10:20 AM – NWS La Crosse issues test tornado warning for their Iowa counties.
10:30-10:35 AM – All Iowa NWS offices issues a Severe Weather Statement to terminate the test warnings.
11:00 AM – Test tornado watch expires.

Iowa farmers have just under a week remaining to decide which federal farm program is best for them. Jeff Davis, the Farm Services Agency director for Plymouth and Sioux counties, says March 31st is the last day farmers can elect between the three farm bill programs. Davis explains the provisions of the ARC-co which is based on county figures. “So, you use your county yields and prices to create a revenue,” Davis says. “If our county doesn’t reach that, you get paid on whatever base you have in that commodity and you can receive the payment no matter whether you plant the commodity or not.”

Davis says farmers may want to inquire about the ARC-ic program which allows farmers to place all farms under one program. “That deals with the revenues for the entire farm, which can mean two or three different farm numbers,” Davis says. “It’s everything that’s in that program. That’s a little more difficult to explain. You’d have to just sit and go through the numbers with that one.”

Farmers have another option, too.  “We have the PLC program which is all based on price,” Davis says. “If price goes for corn below $3.70, then there would be a payment, but that would be an average price for the marketing year. At this point, they are projecting a little bit, possibly, of a payment but we’ll have to wait and see on that.”

Davis says whatever farm program a farmer decides upon, they will remain with that program through 2018. He says farmers can also sign up one farm with one program and another farm with a second program, or they can split the programs with different crops. Davis encourages farmers to visit their county F-S-A office prior to next Tuesday’s deadline in order to have all of the options explained.

(Radio Iowa)