Officials with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s Office say the Governor will be in Greenfield, Corning and Creston next week, to hold “Our Opportunity. Our Iowa,” town hall meetings. Branstad will be at the Nodaway Diner in Greenfield (near the intersection of Highways 92 & 25) at 9-a.m. Friday, March 1st. Afterward, Branstad will travel to Creston, where his 10:30-a.m. town hall meeting takes place at the Adams Street Espresso and Soda Shoppe (213 W. Adams St.) . In Corning, the Governor will meet with residents in The Turner Room (724 Davis St.), beginning at 12:30-p.m.

The meetings are a part of Branstad’s plan he announced during his January 2013 “Condition of the State Address,” to focus on: Property tax relief, economic development and job creation; Education, and  improving the quality of life for all Iowans by ensuring greater access to health care.

There are no surprises in the statewide outlook being issued for the spring flood season. Jeff Zogg, senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says it appears the drought that plagued Iowa most of last year will continue into 2013. One upside of that is — flooding is less likely. “The spring flood risk is lower than normal statewide, however, across the north-central part of the state, there’s a little bit of a different situation,” Zogg says. “We have a combination of frozen ground and some ice in the upper layers of the soil which may result in more runoff than we’d otherwise expect once the snow melts and we get any kind of rainfall in the spring.”

While 2012 was one of Iowa’s driest years in decades, the report indicates there’s no alteration in course coming in the weeks ahead. “Since the risk of flooding is lower than normal, that just infers that the drought conditions are continuing,” Zogg says. “We see no indications right now that there’s going to be a significant change in the dry conditions we’ve been experiencing.”

The worst drought conditions are in the northwest half of Iowa. The state’s snow pack is below-normal, except for the upper-most portion of the Des Moines River basin in southwest Minnesota where it is above normal. For Iowa’s farmers, the report means more headaches and scanning the skies, praying for rain. “The soil moisture conditions statewide are below normal,” Zogg says. “They’re driest across the northwest part of the state and a little bit closer to normal across the southeast part of Iowa and that’s been the theme since last summer.”

A report in December claimed Iowa would need eight feet of snow this winter to make up for the rainfall we lacked all of last year. Zogg isn’t sure about that eight-foot figure but says the end result is still the same. “The fact of the matter is, we are definitely dry and we are going to need a prolonged period of above-normal precipitation to end the drought,” Zogg says. “Unfortunately, with snowfall, the water content is lower obviously than if it falls as rain, so snowfall itself won’t make much of an impact. It’s also important that we don’t receive it all at once, especially as rainfall, because that will result in flooding.”

(Radio Iowa)

The driver of a pickup and three passengers were injured during a rollover accident about two-miles northeast of Audubon, Thursday night. Sheriff’s Officials say 30-year old Kyle Edward Lauridsen, of Audubon, was driving a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup west on 190th Street at around 10:30-p.m., when the vehicle hit a snow drift and went out of control just west of Lark Avenue. The pickup rolled over and came to rest on the passenger side.

Lauridsen, and his passengers: 23-year old Rebecca Sue Brookshire, of Wiota; 37-year old Julie Lynn Finnell, of Griswold, and 30-year old Christopher Roger Bylund, of Audubon, were injured and transported by private vehicle to the Audubon County Hospital.

Damage to the pickup was estimated at $7,000. The accident remains under investigation.

Officials in Shelby County say no injuries were reported following a house fire Thursday morning about four-miles northeast of Irwin. The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says the fire happened at 2228 County Road F-16, just after nine-a.m. , Thursday. Jason Wickizer, Shelby County Emergency Medical Services Coordinator, says several area departments were called to the scene.

Wickizer said when crew from Irwin arrived, flames were clearly visible, so they requested mutual aid from Manning, Manilla, Defiance and Templeton. Also on the scene was F-S-C from Irwin, which brought extra water, and the American Red Cross. Despite their efforts, the home was a complete loss. Crews were however able to save some of the family’s possessions.

Firefighters were on the scene for over two hours. Wickizer said the last truck cleared the area at around 12:15-pm. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and a dollar amount of the damage was not determined. The family was receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says officials with Stuart Utilities has lifted the boil advisory for Stuart Water customers. The advisory was issued late Wednesday night after a 10-inch wide water main ruptured. Officials issued the advisory as a precaution, fearing the line may have become contaminated, but tests revealed the water is now safe to drink.

If you have any questions, contact the Stuart City Hall at (515) 523-1280

A Harrison County family lost their home to a fire, Wednesday morning. According to the Missouri Valley Times, the Pisgah Fire Department was called to a four-story log cabin home located just south of Pisgah off of Highway 183, at around 2:15am Wednesday. Fire Chief Gail Hatcher told the paper the house was fully engulfed by flames when firefighters arrived, but a family of five living in the home was able to escape without injury.

Crews from Little Sioux, Magnolia, Modale and Mondamin battled the blaze for nearly five-hours.  The house was a total loss. Hatcher says the family is currently living next door to their home, with a relative. Persons who wish to help the family can make donations at the Pisgah United Methodist Church. For more information, contact the church at 712-456-2813.

Authorities in Adams County are asking for your help in locating a man who fled from deputies in Corning on Sunday, Feb. 17th.

27-year old Michael Scott “Scotty” Walton

Michael Scott “Scotty” Walton is wanted on warrants pertaining to Child Support and Interference with Official Acts. The 27-year old Walton was last seen at around 4:30-p.m. Feb. 17th by police, in an alley between 8th and 9th street in Corning, just west of Nodaway Avenue.

Walton fled from deputies on foot. He was last seen wearing a grey and flannel coat and blue jeans. Anyone found to have helped or is currently helping Walton hide from authorities will also be charged. He is known to hide in either Corning or Villisca. If you have any information about his location, contact the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 641-322-4444 or dial 911.

(9-a.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Updated snowfall totals through 7:45-a.m. (from the National Weather Service/Mesonet)