Counties: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE–

THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL BE IN THE EXTREME CATEGORY THIS AFTERNOON. EXTREME FIRE DANGER MEANS THAT FIRES START QUICKLY…SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS. ALL OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE DANGER.

Counties in Western Iowa: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE//Mon., Oct. 8th 2012

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS.

THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM AROUND MIDDAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS UNTIL A LITTLE AFTER SUNSET. WINDS OF AROUND 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES…WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE  AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT IN THE AREA. IN ADDITION, SURFACE FUELS ARE VERY DRY DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND PERSISTENT LACK OF RAINFALL.

ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. BURNING OF ANY KIND SHOULD BE POSTPONED…AND HARVESTING OPERATIONS SHOULD EXERCISE A HIGH LEVEL OF CAUTION. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

In area News: Two tractor-trailers collide on I-80 in Cass County early this morning, just east of the exit to Highway 71. One of the trucks erupted into flames. Only Minor injuries reported; Cass County Democratic Party Chair says several campaign signs have been stolen or vandalized in Atlantic; Atlantic Walk to School Program continues this morning; Atlantic School Board and Audubon City Council to hold separate, regular meetings tonight; record low temps set in Atlantic over the weekend; Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack to speak near Lewis this afternoon. RED FLAG WARNING for Counties along and north of Highway 30 today (from Noon-to 7-pm)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Members of the Audubon City Council will hold their regular meeting this (Monday) evening. On their short agenda, is discussion about, and possible action on, a Housing Rehabilitation Application through the Region 12 Council of Governments (COG). The Council will also receive and possibly act on, bids for the painting of the swimming pool, and a generator for the Sewer Department. Their meeting begins at 7-p.m.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will return to their Monday evening monthly sessions, beginning tonight. Previously, the Board had met on Tuesday evenings twice  a month, but during their last session, voted to change it back to Monday’s. During tonight’s session, which begins at 7:30, the Board will hear a progress report on construction at the Middle School, and a Student Council report from Media Specialist, Ginger Bechtold.

They’ll also act on contracts, including those for General and Special Education, and Volunteer Coaches, along with any resignations. The School Board is also expected to take action on approving changes in substitute non-certified pay, and the Certified Annual Report as well as Special Education Supplement, and a sharing agreement with the Fremont-Mills Community School District, for Chemistry classes.

Discussion items will focus on Driver’s Education, and a review of the 2012-2013 Activity Budget. The meeting takes place as always, in the Atlantic High School’s Media Center.

The Chair of the Cass County Democratic Party says campaign signs for candidates running for public office are being stolen or vandalized in Atlantic. Sherry Toelle (Tell’ee) says while some people feel that political signs being stolen and/or vandalized “Is merely a prank, ” it is far more than that.  She says “It is trespassing, destruction and/or theft of personal property, and a violation of people’s right to free speech.”

Toelle says she has had numerous reports of Democratic yard signs being stolen and/or vandalized from all parts of Atlantic. She says “What the vandals do not realize is that this only helps our Democratic candidates’ purses as these signs must be purchased from the campaigns, adding to their coffers. So, for every sign destroyed, the vandal is actually causing more money to go to the campaigns.”

And, for the record, Cass County Republicans say their signs are also being taken or vandalized, in Atlantic.

According to Iowa law, a person could be charged with criminal mischief for vandalizing a sign or fifth-degree theft for stealing a campaign sign.

Two people suffered only minor injuries during a two-vehicle collision and fire early this (Monday) morning near a bridge on interstate 80 in Cass County.

Semi’s collided on I-80 eastbound, at the East Nishnabotna River Bridge, Monday morning. (Ric Hanson photo)

According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and emergency crews responded to a report of a two-semi collision on I-80 eastbound just past the 60-mile marker (Highway 71) on-ramp to Interstate 80, at around 1:30-a.m.  Officials say a 2006 Sterling truck driven by 57-year old Roland A. Delezene, of Omaha, NE, was eastbound on I-80 when it struck the rear of a 2006 Freightliner, driven by Ali Rana Younis, of, Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The impact of the collision forced both semis nearly two-thirds of the way across the bridge before they came to rest in the outside lane.Younis and an unidentified passenger in the cab of his truck, were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. Delezene was uninjured.

Approximately 300 gallons of fuel was spilled at the location of the accident and were later cleaned up by a private company. A small fire on the engine of Delezene’s vehicle had extinguished itself upon emergency crews’ arrival. Damage to Delezene’s truck is estimated at $50,000, while the damage to Younis’ truck is estimated at $5,000. The Sheriff’s Department says Delezene was cited for Following too Close. Atlantic Fire and Rescue remained on the scene for a little more than two and a-half hours.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines, says there will be an increased Fire Danger risk across the northwestern two-thirds of Iowa Monday afternoon. Locally, counties included in the Elevated Fire Danger advisory are: Crawford, Carroll, Audubon, Guthrie, Dallas, Cass, Adair, Madison, Adams, Union, Taylor and Ringgold.

Much warmer temperatures are expected by mid-afternoon, Monday. Along with warm readings, dry relative humidity of 20-to 25%, and winds at 20-to 25-mph with higher gusts, may push fire conditions to near critical levels for several hours, Monday afternoon. With harvesting occurring in many areas, caution is advised, due to the increased potential for fires to spread rapidly.

Monitor later forecasts and statements for possible Fire Weather Watches or Warnings.

Atlantic broke two old record low temperatures and tied another, this weekend.The 24-hour Low for Friday, Oct. 5th was 22-degrees, breaking the old record of 25 set in 1966. The 24-hour Low for Saturday, Oct. 6th, was 15-degrees, which beat the record of 19 set in 1952. Sunday’s low of 16-degrees tied the record for October 7th, which was first set in 1952.

KJAN is the official National Weather Service reporting site for Atlantic. The 24-hour cycle of record keeping starts and ends at 7-a.m. each day. It includes the high and low temps, rain and or snowfall amounts.

Officials with the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic say the “Walk to School” Program, sponsored by Healthy Cass County, will continue this week (Mon., Oct. 8th through Friday, Oct. 12th). As many as 15 kids walked daily from several of the sites in Atlantic last week. It’s hoped more students will participate as the program builds momentum.

Children will continue to walk with volunteers, beginning from four different starting points: The Cass County Community Center; Pellet Park (18th & Chestnut); Sycamore Village; and, 14th St. and Redwood Drive. The groups and volunteers will gather at those locations beginning at 7:15-a.m., and proceed to the Washington, Schuler and Middle Schools, at 7:30-a.m. Other students are welcome to join as the groups make their way to school. An added incentive this week: kids will get to walk with athletes from the Atlantic High School’s Cross County and Football teams. The kids will also receive charms or other prizes each day of the week, and if they walk every day, will receive a certificate of recognition for their accomplishment.

If it is too cold, or rain threatens during the morning of the walk, it will be cancelled by 6:30-a.m. Parents and volunteers can call the YMCA at 243-3934, or listen for any weather-related announcements, on KJAN.