Summer is winding down and many travelers will be on Iowa’s highways during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The Iowa Department of Transportation and the state’s counties and cities want to remind travelers to use extra caution in work zones now in place to improve our transportation system. In the KJAN listening area…..

Work on Interstate 29 in Pottawattamie County is underway from the I-29/I-80 split from the Missouri River bridge in Council Bluffs, east approximately 3 miles, to the Lake Manawa/South Expressway interchange. The road is being graded and paved. Through traffic is maintained. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.

In Mills County, southbound I-29 from the Mills County line to the Iowa Highway 92 interchange is being reconstructed. Traffic is maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the northbound lanes. And, I-29 dual bridges over Iowa Highway 2 and the dual bridges 1.5 miles south of Iowa 2 are being repaired. Traffic is maintained in single lanes for both travel directions.

For traveler information anytime, visit http://www.511ia.org/ or call 511 from any phone.

The Atlantic Police Department this (Friday) morning, released the names of two persons whose bodies were found in a vehicle which crashed Thursday night, near the Cass County Memorial Hospital. In a report released just after 9-a.m., officials say a van driven by 86-year old Lenard Schroder crashed into a small ditch just south of 10th Street, west of the CCMH west driveway entrance. The accident, which happened at around 9:50-p.m., claimed the lives of Lenard and 83-year old Annabel Schroder, both of whom are from Atlantic.

Officials suspect a medical condition may have led to the crash, which remains under investigation.

(9-a.m. News)

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports additional charges have been filed against a man suspected of running a psychedelic mushroom growing operation. 34-year old Joshua Mullen of Atlantic, who was arrested August 27th for manufacturing psilocybin mushrooms within 1,000 feet of a public park, now faces additional charges that include one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense (Methamphetamine), and 33 counts of Failure to Affix a Tax Stamp. The subsequent charges were filed on Thursday (Aug. 29th). Each of the charges are Class-D felonies.

Mullen was released from custody and ordered to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on September 24th.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. is stopping in western Iowa this Labor Day weekend. The exhibit, known as “The Wall That Heals,” in now set up in Audubon and an opening ceremony will take place tonight (Friday) at 6:30. Margee Shaffer, with Audubon County Economic Development, says the community has been planning for this weekend for the past 9 months. She says The Wall That Heals is only making two stops in Iowa this year. It was in Newton back in April.

The exhibit is officially affiliated with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the nation’s capital. The 250 foot replica of the original memorial features the names of tens of thousands of soldiers who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. It’ll be on display in John James Audubon Park through Monday. The wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day with several ceremonies planned over the holiday weekend.

“We have a number of people who have planned their vacations to come back during this time period,” Shaffer says. “We have involved veterans groups throughout the area in the planning process and a number of veterans will be speaking about their experiences during the Vietnam War.”

This year, the Department of Defense is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam. Shaffer expects a lot of Vietnam vets will travel to Audubon to see the half-scale replica of The Wall. “For many, it’ll be an emotional time and it’ll be a healing time,” Shaffer says. “Because of the Vietnam War being somewhat controversial, we have a lot of veterans that came back who were never recognized for their service or those who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice.”

More information about The Wall That Heals and the schedule for it’s stay in Audubon is available at: auduboncounty.com.

(Radio Iowa)

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A Pottawattamie County man was arrested early Thursday morning after being pulled over for a moving violation. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Dillon Jackson, of Council Bluffs, was stopped at around 12:15-a.m. on Highway 34, for having no license plates on his vehicle. Deputies also determined Jackson had no valid driver’s license, no insurance for the vehicle and no registration. In addition the “In-Transit” stickers were found to be fraudulently placed on the vehicles’ windows.

Jackson has appeared before a judge, plead guilty to the charges, and was subsequently released on bond.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge has scheduled the summer’s final Family Fishing Day for Saturday morning. Activities will take place at the refuge’s South Gate Recreation Area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include basic instruction and fun fishing opportunities. Youths younger than 16 can fish without licenses.

Participants may take their own equipment or use equipment and bait provided by the refuge. All children participating in the fishing clinic will receive a free T-shirt. An entrance permit is required for all vehicles. Permits may be obtained at pay stations near the entrances or at the Visitor Center.

DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges sit north of Omaha, Neb., along U.S. Highway 30 between Missouri Valley, Iowa, and along U.S. Highway 75 near Fort Calhoun, Neb.

The National Weather Service in Omaha has extended a HEAT ADVISORY that is currently in effect until 7-p.m. Friday (Today). The ADVISORY now includes the following counties in western & southwest Iowa:
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT & PAGE, in addition to the remainder of the State. The western/sw Iowa ADVISORY begins at 1-p.m., and expires at 7-p.m.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE MID AND UPPER 90S THIS AFTERNOON. THE TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY TO CREATE HEAT INDEX VALUES FROM 103 TO 108 FOR A TIME THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN INCREASED THREAT FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION OR HEAT STROKE…ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WORKING OUTDOORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

EAGLE GROVE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa school superintendent says students were released all week because of the heat. Eagle Grove Superintendent Jeff Toliver says the window air conditioners in the 1920s-era school simply couldn’t keep up with this week’s high temperatures. Students are scheduled to be back after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Fire crews have spent hours pouring water onto a blaze in a warehouse near downtown Des Moines. Thick black smoke rose from the warehouse and stretched above much of Des Moines’ eastside. The building on Scott Avenue was less than a mile southeast of the state Capitol. There were no reports of injuries. The Register reports the same building caught fire in July.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials at Clarke University say the school’s annual blessing of cadavers for anatomy study reminds students that the bodies once belonged to loving people. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports faculty and students gathered Wednesday to bless the 10 cadavers as well as the school’s new $13 million science facility.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an Oklahoma woman barred from being near the band Hanson was arrested after showing up at their events in Des Moines. Police say 25-year-old Alexandra Martin of Tulsa, Oklahoma was arrested Wednesday night after she was spotted in the crowd at the band’s downtown concert. Local television station KCCI reports all three Hanson brothers have a protective order against Martin.