355 PM CST SUN JAN 5 2014

…EXTREME LIFE THREATENING COLD EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES SAYS AN EXTREMELY COLD ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ITS GRIP ON IOWA INTO THE NIGHT AND PERSIST INTO TUESDAY. COMBINED WITH STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS…LIFE THREATENING COLD AND WIND CHILLS WILL OCCUR…ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

A WIND CHILL WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH NOON TUESDAY, FOR MOST OF THE STATE OF IOWA.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH AND HIGHER GUSTS…COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS BELOW ZERO AFTER SUNSET…WILL CREATE WIND CHILL VALUES FROM 25 TO 45 BELOW ZERO BY LATE EVENING. THE COLDEST OF THESE READINGS WILL OCCUR OVER NORTHERN IOWA.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES AT LEAST DOWN TO 20 TO 40 BELOW ZERO WILL OCCUR INTO TUESDAY MORNING. THE WORST AND MOST LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILL INDICES ARE EXPECTED EARLY MONDAY MORNING…SEVERAL HOURS EITHER SIDE OF DAYBREAK…WITH WIND CHILLS FROM 35 TO 55 BELOW.

* IMPACTS…EXTREME WIND CHILLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE IN MINUTES AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF EXTREMELY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE LIFE THREATENING LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

A Des Moines man suffered minor injuries during an accident Sunday afternoon, north of Atlantic. According to dispatch reports, a vehicle driven by 56-year old James W. Hohl went into the west ditch off of Olive Street, near the Farm Service Co-op. Hohl suffered from an injury to his head, but was conscious and answering authorities’ questions while in the comfort of another motorist’s vehicle.

The accident was reported at around 3:47-p.m. Cass County Sheriff’s deputies, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue all responded initially, to the scene. The man was treated at the scene and not transported to the hospital.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein reports there will be no classes in Atlantic on Monday due to the extreme wind chill conditions. The district had planned to start 2-hours late as of last Friday, but administrators changed their minds once it became clear how dangerous and life-threatening the bitterly cold conditions are expected to be Sunday night through Tuesday morning. Man y other area school districts have also cancelled classes on Monday. For a full list of cancellations, see the “Cancellations” tab under the Community Hub on the front page at www.kjan.com.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pet owners are being encouraged to bring their animals inside during the bitter cold snap. Temperatures are predicted to fall to at least 15 degrees below zero Sunday night and Monday morning in Nebraska and Iowa. Then strong winds will make it feel 30-to-60 degrees below zero. The Nebraska Humane Society says it’s best to bring pets inside during periods of extreme cold like this.

But if pets must remain outside, it’s important to make sure they have a solid structure to protect them with hay or straw inside for insulation. Dogs also need constant access to water, so pet owners should use heated bowls during freezing weather.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans are preparing to deal with bitter cold temperatures over the next few days, and some schools have cancelled classes as a precaution. The National Weather Service says temperatures will fall as low as 15-to-25 degrees below zero Sunday night and Monday. And strong northwest winds will create wind chills of 35-to-60 degrees below zero across the state. The coldest temperatures are expected in northern Iowa, but all of the state will experience the artic blast.

Many school districts around the state have cancelled classes for Monday because of the frigid forecast, including Atlantic. School officials don’t want children to be standing outside waiting for buses during the dangerous cold. For a list of the cancellations and late starts, go to the Community Hub on the front page of www.kjan.com and click on the Cancellations category.

The Audubon Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Banquet and awards program Saturday evening at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center. During the event, President Trish Nielsen gave a review of the past year’s activities and accomplishments, including the hosting and continued support f various events. Nielsen then turned the gavel over to 2014 President elect Dave Witt.  New CHamber Board of Director members this year include Vicky Robinson, Ashley VanAernam, Ann Wood-Randeris and Shane Lange.

The Audubon Chamber then presented its Citizen of the Year award to Roger Malmberg. Malmberg is a native of southwest Iowa who enlisted in the National Guard after high school and served two periods of enlistment. He graduated from college and moved to Audubon in 1964 while continuing to study for his Master’s Degree. He and his wife raised four girls in Audubon. During his years in the community, Malmberg has been active in the Knights of Columbus and teaches Christian education classes. He’s also served on the Conservation Board.

Junior Citizen of the Year awards went to Madelyn Christensen and Megan Deist, both of whom have been actively involved in high school sports, youth groups and community and other school-related activities.

And, the Community Service Award was presented to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital for their dedicated commitment and outstanding care provided to the community, and in recognition of the The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellance Award, along with 100 Great Community  Hospitals list and Top 20 Critical Access Hospital accolades.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the arrest early Sunday morning of 40-year old Dereck Wayne Freshour, of Villisca. Freshour was taken into custody at around 4:38-a.m. on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal health care law is now in effect, but many Iowa residents are still trying to figure out their new insurance plans or are continuing to seek health coverage. Jan. 1 marked the first day for many provisions of the new law, including insurance coverage for those who signed up for private plans on the federal enrollment website. Iowa’s modified Medicaid expansion — which uses federal dollars to offer coverage to some low-income Iowans — also started that day.

Experts at insurance companies, health clinics and enrollment centers say they’ve been busy fielding questions from people who either have coverage or need it. And some Iowa residents who thought they might be getting Medicaid coverage remain in limbo due to processing delays by the federal government.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — You know it’s going to be cold when an ice skating rink shuts down due to expected subzero temperatures. That’s what happened in downtown Des Moines, where officials have opted to close the outdoor Brenton Skating Plaza today and Monday because of the frigid weather.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials say an eastern Iowa house fire was started by a tenant who used a propane torch to thaw frozen water pipes. KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids reports that the fire began just before 10:30 p.m. Thursday in Independence. Independence Fire Chief Doug Cook says Tristin Beltz was using a torch in a part of a former duplex that was being renovated. Beltz and his family escaped the home safely.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three teenage boys have been charged in an assault of a 16-year-old boy in Des Moines, which spread quickly online after witnesses bragged about the beating on Facebook. Des Moines police said yesterday that two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old were charged with willful injury. Family members of 16-year-old Nathan Rogers say the attack was so severe that the East High School student was hospitalized.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say an Iowa man was arrested after he pulled a knife on his brother during a fight over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The Register reports that Jerome Davis was arrested on Friday after the confrontation with his brother in their Des Moines home. Both men are in their 50s.

A woman who came to visit an inmate at the Page County Jail Saturday afternoon nearly became an inmate herself, after it was determined she was under the influence of alcohol. Sheriff’s officials arrested 37-year old Lee Ann Gulbrandson, of Braddyville on a charge of Public Intoxication, after she came to the north door of the jail at around 1:15-p.m., smelling of alcohol.

Gulbrandson, who is also known as Lee Ann Bencker, was released from custody after posting a $300 bond.