The Creston Police Department reports a resident told authorities someone slit a tire on his vehicle while it was parked near his home. The incident, which took place sometime between 8-p.m. Wednesday and 5-p.m. Thursday, resulted in a loss of about $85.

Authorities also report 33-year old Troy Williams, of Creston, was arrested Thursday evening and charged with Driving While Suspended. Williams was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a wrong-way driver who died after a collision on U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa. Sioux City police identified the woman as 84-year-old Katherine Siler, of Sioux City. The accident occurred a little before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the westbound lanes on the bridge over Interstate 29 in Sioux City. Sioux City police say Siler was driving alone when she entered the wrong lanes in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and headed east.

Her truck struck a van driven by 33-year-old Melanie Albenesius, of South Sioux City. Albenesius and her passenger, her 3-year-old daughter, were taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Authorities say Siler died at the scene.

AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES…518 AM CDT FRI MAR 20 2015

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING.

* VISIBILITY…VISIBILITY WILL BE BELOW A QUARTER MILE TO NEAR
ZERO IN AREAS OF DENSER FOG.

* IMPACTS…VERY LOW VISIBILITY WILL MAKE DRIVING HAZARDOUS.
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY.

Some Iowa farmers may welcome the news but consumers won’t be thrilled — or surprised — to hear predictions that food prices will be rising in 2015, according to a report from the U-S-D-A. Agency economist Annemarie Kuhns says overall supermarket prices rose about two-and-a-half percent last year and we can expect more of the same in the year ahead. “In 2015, we’re expecting grocery store prices to rise two to three percent,” Kuhns says. The U-S-D-A’s Food Inflation Forecast details how beef prices are up about 19-percent from a year ago and those prices will likely continue to climb still-higher.

“We are forecasting beef and veal prices to rise five to six percent,” Kuhns says. The report predicts pork prices and dairy prices will also rise two-to-three percent, along with fresh vegetables, too. Kuhns says, “It’s going to be a lot of the items around the perimeter of the store, some of the meats, produce, that will see slightly higher-than-average inflation than a lot of the goods within the center aisles, the non-perishable goods, cereals, bakery products, sugars and sweets and non-alcoholic beverages.”

Look for changes on the menu at your favorite eatery, as well. The survey predicts restaurant prices will be rising an average of three-percent over last year.

(Radio Iowa)

SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIES…506 AM CDT FRI MAR 20 2015

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING…

* VISIBILITY…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS…TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S. THIS COULD RESULT IN SOME SLICK ROADS…ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN… USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

A join investigation in Fremont County between Tabor Police and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, resulted in the arrests of two Tabor teens. Authorities say the 14-year old’s were arrested on 1st Degree Arson charges, and were being held at the Juvenile Detention Facility in Council Bluffs.

The investigation into their alleged actions began following a house fire at 804 Main Street in Tabor on March 15th. Investigators were able to determine the fire originated on the front porch of the home and moved into the roof. Authorities learned the teens set the fires inside and outside the home, by allegedly using an aerosol device. The pair left the home under the assumption the fires had been extinguished.

Two people were arrested Thursday evening in Red Oak, for Driving Under Suspension. Red Oak Police say 32-year old Michelle Renee Shuffler and 32-year old Brent Lee Wagaman, both of Red Oak, were arrested less than two-hours of each other. Shuffler was taken into custody in the 400 block of West Washington Avenue, at around 5:50-p.m., while Wagaman was arrested at around 8:35-p.m. in the 100 block of South 4th Street. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.

A panel of state senators has grilled a key state administrator over moves to close the state-run Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant, but Department of Human Services director Chuck Palmer may still win confirmation from senators to keep his job for another four years. Palmer told senators he had recommended that the facilities be closed, but the governor made the final decision out of a list of significant budget-cutting options Palmer drew up.

“The budget has driven some of our decisions maybe more quickly than what some of us would like,” Palmer said, “but that’s the reality that I’ve faced.” Senator Rich Taylor, a Democrat from Mount Pleasant, says he’s not come across “a single person” who thinks closing the two facilities is a good idea. “I’ve always respected you. I’ve always thought you did a good job,” Taylor said, “until recently.” Senate President Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, echoed those concerns.

“Maybe there’s a master grand plan out there on what we’re going to do with all the folks who have been in these MHIs, but we’ve not heard it,” Jochum told Palmer. Palmer told senators he believes there will be enough space in privately-run facilities to care for patients who would have been sent to the substance abuse and mental health units in Mount Pleasant and the psychiatric unit in Clarinda for elderly patients.

“That’s not to discount the significant impact on those communities and on the fine staff that’s there, so I don’t want to minimize that,” Palmer said. “These are people that I have worked with and these are people, frankly, I care about, so these are not easy decisions.” Some senators also raised concerns about a plan to hire managed care companies to run Iowa’s four-point-two BILLION dollar Medicaid program, plus last year’s decision to close the state-run Iowa Juvenile Home. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, told Palmer he has a “really hard job.”

“I think a lot of what you have to do is put a smiley face on a lot of the decisions made in this building by your boss and the people down in the Department of Management,” Bolkcom said. Palmer’s “boss” — Governor Terry Branstad — has asked Palmer to continue to serve as the leader of the largest agency in state government. Two-thirds of the state senate must vote confirm him Palmer for another four-year term. Senator Steve Sodders, a Democrat from State Center, will be a no.

“And I would like everyone to keep this mantra: chuck Chuck,” Sodders told his colleagues during remarks on the senate floor earlier this week. Palmer must get the backing of at least 34 senators to keep his job. Palmer made this pitch Thursday. “Why would I be interested in continuing? One, because I really am committed and I really believe deeply in what we’ve been able to do,” Palmer said. “…I consider myself a problem solver and a bridge builder. I consider myself very open to input.”

Palmer, who is 76 years old, served as director of the Department of Human Services from 1989 through 1999, until Governor Terry Branstad left office. Palmer returned to the department in 2011 when Branstad returned to the governor’s office.

(Radio Iowa)