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Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said today (Thursday), that despite the fact some spotty rain had fallen throughout the County, and while every bit helps, the County will remain in the HIGH Fire Danger category until at least Monday, when the next update will be provided on conditions in the County.

Seivert says on Wednesday, National Weather service forecasters were very close to declaring a Red Flag condition for northeastern Nebraska. Wind and very low relative humidity are two of the several parameters used in determining that classification. Red Flag conditions are the most severe for the spread of fire in any given area. The rarity of these designations, underline how significant they are, when issued, according to Seivert, who says also that the forecast is not encouraging for any sustained rainfall over the next week.

The Clarinda Police Department reports a pyrotechnic device damaged a home on east Lincoln Street early Tuesday morning. A resident told authorities a person or persons unknown detonated a 25 shot Saturn Missile pyrotechnic device behind their residence sometime between 12:45 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Several of the projectiles from the device struck the exterior of the home. The incident remains under investigation.

And on Monday, a Clarinda resident reported that an unknown individual damaged a door and latch to a commercial washing machine at the 12^th Street Laundromat, a business owned by the resident.  Damage to the washing machine is estimated at $150.00. The incident, which is believed to have occurred sometime during the day on Sunday, August 12^th,  remains under investigation.

The Clarinda Police Department reports a traffic stop late Wednesday night resulted in the arrest of a Braddyville man. 21-year old Thomas Jeffery Engstrand was pulled over at 11:34 p.m. at 15^th & Washington Streets. During their investigation, officers discovered what is believed to be drug paraphernalia and marijuana. The incident remains under investigation and charges are pending against Engstrand. Earlier that same night, 29-year old Edward Dawayne Mayes, of Clarinda, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Page County District Court, for revocation of probation. Mayes was arrested without incident at his residence and transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $1,000 bond, pending an appearance before the Page County District Court.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says also, that a Clarinda resident reported Wednesday her residence on east Main Street had been burglarized. A Bissell vacuum cleaner and a Vizio 42” flat screen television were taken from the home. The loss was estimated at $400. The theft is believed to have taken place sometime between June and August 15^th, while the residence was unoccupied. The incident remains under investigation.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man who prosecutors say asked in a Facebook posting whether he needed to “shoot up a mall before people understand” has been charged with making threats of terrorism. 22-year-old Gabriel Rodriquez was arrested last week. Prosecutors say in court documents that Rodriguez wrote “suicidal- and homicidal-themed messages” on the social networking site between Aug. 2nd and 9th.  Police say the posts on Rodriguez’s Facebook profile couldn’t be seen by the general public, but Sioux City police spokesman Mark Kirkpatrick wouldn’t make any additional comments about the investigation.  A Woodbury County jailer said Rodriguez remained in custody on Thursday, pending $10,000 bail.

(8-a.m. News)

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The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening approved the second reading of an ordinance on Illegal Dumping, and the first reading of an ordinance with regard to No Parking on 8^th Street near the old Lincoln School/Wickman Day Care Center, while school is in session. The Council however failed to approve the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to Private Wells, opting instead to have the wording clarified and a public hearing on the matter, which was set for September 5^th.

The No Parking ordinance was amended to say it would not be allowed on the east side of Linn Street from 8^th Street and 100-feet north, so that school buses may unload and load students safely, and if passed on the second and third readings, would cover the hours of 7:45-a.m. to 3:15-p.m., while school is in session, only. In addition, the board approved a request from Atlantic School District Transportation Director Dave Eckles, to have an area on the west side of Linn Street, from 8^th Street and 80-feet north, designated as a School Bus Loading Zone.

The Council also heard a report from Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, who said his officers made 296 arrests over the past year. Green said his officers also made 1,514 traffic stops, during which they issued 700 citations. The department answered and/or responded to 6,700 calls last year, as well. Green says one of his officers has accepted a job in Dallas County, will work in the West Des Moines area. The officer was the Police Department’s drug recognition expert. He’ll continue with those types of activities in central Iowa.

The Chief says he’s received applications to replace the officer, with testing to take place next week. Green said also, his future plans may call for the purchase of a drug dog for the City. He says in order for his department to be more effective during search and seizures, and in light of recent Supreme Court rulings, they need to have more people trained as Drug Recognition Experts, and he may have to acquire a dog to conduct searches for illegal substances.

He also plans to upgrade some of his police vehicles to SUV’s, because his officers are simply too tall for the cruisers. He says he’s ordered a new, Ford pursuit-rated SUV with all-wheel drive. Green also reminded persons interested in bow hunting deer within the Atlantic City limits, that the first of two qualify sessions will be held this Saturday morning. He says the session will begin at 10-a.m. in Sunnyside Park by the old school house. The next session is Wed., Aug. 22^nd, at 6-p.m. For more information, stop by the Police Department during their normal business hours.

Storms that formed in Nebraska late Wednesday night, moved into parts of western and southwest Iowa early this (Thursday) morning. The first warnings for our listening area were broadcast at around 11:40-p.m., and affected eastern Douglas County in Nebraska, and Western Pottawattamie County in Iowa. About 20-minutes later, additional warnings were issued for northwestern Mills and southwestern Pott. Counties. According to the National Weather Service, half dollar-sized hail fell near Lake Manawa, shortly after midnight.

About 45-minutes later, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for eastern Mills, southwestern Montgomery, and extreme northwestern Page County. Penny-sized hail was reported to have fallen three-miles west of Pacific Junction at around 12:25-a.m., according to the Weather Service. As the storms in southwest Iowa moved out to the southeast, other storms moved into western and northwest Iowa and tracked east.

Thunderstorm warnings went out for Crawford and Sac Counties at around 1:45-a.m. It wasn’t long afterward that penny-to-quarter sized hail began to fall in Mapleton, which is in Monona County. Less than an hour after the warnings were issued for Crawford and Sac Counties, the Weather Service in Des Moines issued warnings for northeastern Audubon and northern Guthrie Counties. Those same storms moved into Dallas County and points east, bringing half-dollar sized hail to Adel, along with winds of up to 50-miles per hour, at around 3:30-a.m.

There were no immediate reports of damage early this morning.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press