A ceremony will be held this (Tuesday) afternoon at the Memorial Union at Iowa State University to honor five I-S-U students who died serving our country. I-S-U spokeswoman Kristin Erdman says this is the 13th year for this Veterans Day event on the Ames campus. “The Memorial Union was founded in 1928 as a memorial to veterans, at that time, from World War One,” Erdman says. “The Gold Star Hall was created as a living memorial for these Iowa State students who fell during the time of war.” The names of each of the student-veterans are engraved on the wall at the Union in a special place of honor.

“The criteria for being a name on the Gold Star Hall wall is that these students had to have attended Iowa State full-time at some point in their career,” Erdman says, “and they also had to have passed away during the theater of war during a time of wartime.” While many Iowa State students have made the ultimate sacrifice, she says five were singled out for this year’s ceremony.

“The first one that we’ll honor is Maurice Raskin, he’s from Woodbury, Iowa,” Erdman says. “He was a pre-veterinary medicine student in 1938 here at Iowa State. He was in World War Two and was killed in a mission over Italy in 1943.” Others being honored include: Jerry L. Converse of Boone who was killed in 1967 aboard the U.S.S. Liberty off the shore of Egypt at the time of the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt.

Charles Douglas King of Muscatine was a para-rescueman during the Vietnam War who went missing in action in 1968 while attempting to rescue the body of a pilot in Laos. Donald Lee Sparks of Glidden was a 1968 ISU graduate initially listed as an MIA in South Vietnam in 1969. He was later declared a Prisoner of War and is believed to have died in captivity. Deric Rasmussen of Storm Lake attended Iowa State between 1999 and 2002 was killed in Afghanistan last May 11th. The ceremony begins at 3:15 P-M.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The first snowfall of the season already has caught motorists off-guard. Numerous, non-injury accidents have been reported along Interstate 80 this (Tuesday) morning, with vehicles sliding-off into the ditch.  As of 6-a.m.,  the Iowa Department of Transportation reported most roads in western and southwest Iowa to be partially covered with snow.

The Iowa Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to slow down, drive defensively, and to be aware of the changing road conditions. Trooper Vince Kurtz says the first snows always create headaches.

“When you’ve got so many people who don’t remember what it’s like to drive on snow and ice, there are always going to be crashes in that first snow. Law enforcement and emergency services always dread that first snow, because people have forgotten how to drive,” Kurtz says. He suggests you equip your vehicle with a winter survivor’s kit, and have the vehicle checked by a mechanic before dangerous winter conditions strike. Kurtz says there are several things that need to be checked to prep your car for winter.

He says they can check the tire tread, tire inflation, antifreeze, wiper blades, the battery condition. Kurtz says it’s good to get those things done ahead of time, so you aren’t left out in the cold.
And you can check the state road reports before heading out on any trip (www.511ia.org) or call 5-1-1 for road information.

(Radio Iowa)

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR-308 AM CST TUE NOV 11 2014

...ICY ROADS POSSIBLE FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE…

THE SNOW HAS ENDED ALTHOUGH THERE MAY STILL BE SOME FLURRIES THROUGH EARLY MORNING. MOST LOCATIONS HAD A HALF INCH OR LESS OF SNOW BUT A NORTHWEST WIND AT 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL BE CONTINUING THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE DRIFTING SNOW AND ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE ICY ROADS WILL LIKELY BE PREVALENT THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE. USE WINTER DRIVING RULES AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE…SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA SPACE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF YOU.

DALLAS-MADISON-UNION-RINGGOLD-

…SNOW WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THROUGH 7AM PRODUCING WINTER-

LIKE CONDITIONS…A BAND OF SNOW EXTENDING FROM ALLISON TO DES MOINES TO WINTERSET WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. WHILE SNOWFALL WITH THIS BAND WILL BE LESS THAN A HALF INCH…A NORTHWEST WIND AT 20 TO 30 MPH WILL PRODUCE SOME DRIFTING ACROSS ROADWAYS WHICH WILL MAKE FOR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION…VISIBILITY MAY DROP TO AROUND A MILE AT TIMES IN BLOWING SNOW. THE ICY ROAD CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE SO USE WINTER DRIVING RULES AND SLOW DOWN…ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND LEAVE EXTRA SPACE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU.

A traffic stop in Panora early Sunday morning resulted in numerous charges against the driver. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says 33-year old Joanna J. Heckman was pulled over at around 1:30-a.m. in the 800 block of east Main Street, in Panora. Heckman was subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated 2nd Offense, an aggravated misdemeanor. Monday morning the woman appeared before the Guthrie County magistrate and was held on bond. She later posted bond and was released.
Later in the day Monday, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office filed additional charges against Heckman. She was charged with: open container of alcohol (driver), driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, possession of drug paraphernalia, all simple misdemeanors. Heckman was also charged with possession of methamphetamine – 1st offense, a serious misdemeanor.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Panora Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR-MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY.

* WINDS…NORTH TO NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS…ANY LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS MAY BE BLOWN AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING AS IT MAY BE DIFFICULT WITH THE GUSTY WINDS…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES AND IN AREAS WHERE ROADS MAY BE SLICK DUE TO THE POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION. VISIBILITIES MAY BE BRIEFLY REDUCED AT TIMES DUE TO PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The season’s first snowstorm could be bad news for farmers in the Upper Midwest where corn remains in fields. At least 4 inches of snow could fall overnight in South Dakota where about 40 percent of the crop remains, and in Minnesota where about a third remains. Most of the storm is expected to stay north of corn and soybean areas in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Iowa State University agriculture economist Chad Hart says a snowstorm could reduce the harvest if ears of corn are knocked off or plants fall over. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says soybean farmers will harvest 3.96 billion bushels, up 31 million bushels from the October estimate. The corn crop is slightly smaller at 14.41 billion bushels, down 68 million bushels from the October estimate.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports officials will meet with a working group of Lake Manawa State Park area residents and park users on Nov. 12th, to continue discussions on plans to improve the heavily used state park. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, at the Game and Fish Club, on Lake Manawa.

Responding to feedback from the Oct. 14 meeting on the proposal to move the campground will likely be the focal point of discussion. The DNR has been discussing plans to improve the campground for 14 years.

Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa DNR’s State Parks Bureau, says “Lake Manawa is unique. It has many different types of users, from the sailing club, to mountain bikers, campers, anglers and picnickers. Plus its part of a neighborhood in the largest metro area in Iowa and each one of those constituencies has a different idea of what they want from the park.” What the DNR heard during the October meeting was concerns from local homeowners’ association members about the proposed location of the new campground in relation to the homes, vegetation and water level management for the lake and safety and security issues in the park.

The park draws many visitors from Omaha, as well as from Council Bluffs and the surrounding area. It is attractive to Nebraskans because Iowa parks do not require a park entry permit. Lake Manawa hosts around 1.5 million visitors each year easily ranking as Iowa’s most visited state park and its campground is in the top 10 busiest in the state.

A District Court Judge has granted a request by the defense attorney in the case of 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson, to have her trial moved out of Cass County. The Atlantic woman is accused of faking her daughter’s cancer and endangering her life by administering drugs and a feeding tube. She’s also accused of theft by deception for soliciting funds for her daughter’s treatment. Her trial is now set to begin 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18th, in Mills County District Court.

Leatha Slauson enters the courtroom for a hearing 11/10/14 (Ric Hanson/photo)

In last month’s motion for a Change of Venue, Slauson Attorney Jay Mez said the woman’s trial should be moved for a number of reasons, including extensive media coverage. Mez reiterated those same contentions Monday morning in Cass County District Court.  He said a limited jury pool resulting from the extensive media coverage, and allegations that the community was the victim in this case, make getting a fair and impartial trial in Cass County impossible.

In his ruling, Judge Mark Eveloff agreed, saying if the court tried to pick a jury in Cass County next week and a mistrial is declared, it could be violating Slauson’s Right to a Speedy Trial.  He said there “Was such a degree of prejudice that would exist in Cass County that there would be a substantial likelihood of a fair and impartial trial that could not be preserved with the jury selected in Cass County.”

Eveloff selected Mills County because it is similar in size to Cass County. The Judge said the court will reconsider the conditions of Slauson’s bond next Monday, Nov. 17th at 9-a.m. Attorney Mez has stated he intends to use a defense of “Diminished Responsibility” when Slauson’s case comes before a jury. He said she was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong.

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception.