AMES, Iowa – Dec. 21, 2012; 12:45 p.m. update – The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting that road crews are out actively clearing remaining road blockages, blading off packed snow and ice, and widening areas where travel was restricted to one lane or narrow lane areas. Drivers are urged to take appropriate actions as described below.

Heavy-duty snow blowers and other equipment are being moved into areas where there are large drifts blocking the road. The Iowa DOT is also working with state and local law enforcement agencies, and towing companies to remove vehicles that are stuck in drifts or blocking the roadways.

Recovery work is being hampered by the hard snow/ice pack caused by the rain/snow mix of precipitation, vehicle travel on covered roadways, and at times the ineffectiveness of salt 12due to the drop in temperatures. The sun today will help loosen some of the snow pack and aid blading operations.

Until the snow pack is removed, travelers may encounter areas where there are clear patches of road and then snowy or icy patches. Drivers should adjust their winter driving skills accordingly by reducing speeds for conditions and adding more space between their vehicle and the ones ahead and around them.

It is imperative that persons traveling on the interstate or higher speed four-lane roadways make appropriate adjustments as the severity of a crash at higher speeds is greater, and the risk of involving other vehicles in an incident is more likely. Do not use cruise control under these conditions.

All travelers should also be aware that it is difficult for semi-tractor-trailer units to climb roadway inclines in some areas due to the icy road conditions. This means everyone sharing the road must exercise patience and be prepared to slow down when there are trucks ahead.

The Iowa DOT expects road conditions to continue to improve throughout the day, but it will be a very gradual process. Please exercise additional caution so everyone can make it to their holiday destination safely.

(Press Release – IA DOT)

ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux County authorities are looking for the person or people who tampered with a hog facility’s thermostat, killing 475 pigs.  The Sioux City Journal reports that at least one person entered the hog confinement facility five miles south of Rock Valley on Wednesday and tampered with the climate control system.  That led to the death of the pigs, each weighing about 280 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office at 712-737-2280.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate has dropped below 5 percent in November for the first time in nearly four years. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 percent, down from 5.1 percent in October. The November rate was a decline from the 5.6 percent rate last year.  Iowa’s rate is significantly lower than the national November figure of 7.7 percent.

Workforce Development says there were 80,400 unemployed Iowans in November.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports the CodeRED early weather alert system has been upgraded, to allow residents countywide to receive winter storm warnings. As Midwest residents know, significant winter storms can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies and disrupting emergency and medical services.

Doug Reed, Emergency Management Director for Pottawattamie County, says “Residents need to be informed so they can better prepare for devastating storms. With new winter storm warnings available, our community can do just that.”

Winter storm warnings are sent to residents through text and email moments after an alert is issued by the NWS. Notifications are only available to those who have opted in to the CodeRED system. To receive an alert for a winter storm warning, residents should log on to the county website at www.pottcounty.com and enter both an email address and a cell phone number. Many city websites throughout the county also provide a direct link to the enrollment form. For citizens already registered, repeating the process will only update your current account and takes only a few minutes.

Phone calls are not made for winter storm warnings because many of them are extended during the early morning hours. We want the community to be informed but not annoyed with late night phone calls. Residents may also select to receive severe thunderstorm, flash flood and tornado warnings through telephone calls to their homes and businesses, email and text messages.
All residents are encouraged to subscribe to the countywide CodeRED system. Having the option to receive winter storm warnings is an added bonus for the residents that live here and will provide them extra time to prepare if a storm were to impact our area.

A Mills County man died in a weather-related crash early Friday morning, in Pottawattamie County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 56-year old Duane Allen, of Glenwood, died when the 2006 Chevy Colorado pickup he was driving went out of control, entered the median and struck an unoccupied  2009 Jeep Compass that was stuck in the median as a result of Thursday’s blizzard, and had not been towed. The Patrol says Allen was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident happened at around 5:20-a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound, about 6-miles southwest of Underwood.

(12-p.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Two Atlantic residents were arrested Thursday for Driving While Revoked. 44-year old David Jordan and 32-year old Nicole Anaya were taken into custody following separate traffic stops. Anaya faces an additional charge of Driving While Barred. Both drivers were booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an initial court appearance.

(Update at 9:45-a.m.: No injuries reported)

Crews from Anita Fire and Rescue, Wiota 1st Responders and Medivac Ambulance were called t the scene of a rollover accident this morning, on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Dispatch reports indicate the accident happened near the Anita Exit off I-80 westbound (70-mile marker), at around 9:35-a.m. Later dispatch reports indicated no injuries were reported.

No other details are currently available.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota State Patrol says the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 between Albert Lea and the Iowa border have reopened. That section of the interstate had been closed since Thursday about 2 p.m. because of multiple accidents and the request of the Iowa Department of Transportation. In Iowa, I-35 from the Minnesota border to Ames has also reopened. The Department of Transportation says driving conditions in southeastern Minnesota are fair.

Officials with the Stuart-based Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation, say the organization is currently accepting nominations for the Guy Powell Award, which recognizes excellence in leadership, and passion for economic development in the Midwest Partnership Development region. That region includes Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie Counties.

Powell, a past-president of MPDC, was an active volunteer on the boards of many other organizations, and was passionate about local and regional economic development. The award in recognition of his life-long dedication, commitment and service to economic development, is presented to individuals who are outstanding leaders in west central Iowa, and who work to make it a more economically vital place to live, work and play.

Nominations submitted by businesses and individuals who are members of the Midwest Partnership Development Corporation, should consider the nominee’s vision, leadership, courage and impact on economic development. A brief statement of 500 words or less on how the nominee has made an impact on their local community and/or region through volunteer service, along with their name, address and phone number, and the same information of the person completing the nomination form, should be submitted no later than January 15th, 2013.

Mail an nomination form to: Monica Cateron – Office Manager, Midwest Partnership Development Corporation, P.O. Box 537, Stuart, IA 50250. Or e-mail mcateron@midwestpartnership.com

For more information, go to www.westcentraliowausa.com