Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a Taylor County man was arrested on alcohol-related charges, after his vehicle nearly collided with law enforcement vehicles. The incident happened just before 1-a.m. Thursday (today). The Sheriff says a Page County Deputy was assisting Clarinda Police Department Officers on a traffic stop on Highway 2, east of the city limits of Clarinda., when a vehicle approached in the eastbound lane of Highway 2 travelling westbound. 

He says after the vehicle allegedly came close to hitting the Law Enforcement vehicles, the Deputy engaged in a pursuit.  The vehicle pulled over a short distance later.  Its driver and only occupant, 25-year old Christopher Ryan Savala, of New Market,  was arrested for O.W.I. 1^st Offense, following an investigation. Savala later posted bond, and was released.

Much anticipated rainfall following the passage of a cold front failed to materialize across much of western Iowa Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. As a result, Shelby County Emergency Management Officials say the Fire Danger level will remain in the “HIGH” category through Monday, July 30^th.  Jason Wickizer, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator at the Shelby County EMA, told KJAN News the rains in his county were “very spotty.”

Wickizer said the Fire Danger rating in Shelby County is based on input from local fire chiefs and the Emergency Manager, and weather factors. He says the County has experienced high temperatures, low humidity during the afternoon, and abundant natural fuel –in the form of dry grass and crops – due to the low rainfall. Wickizer says even though some rain is in the forecast for this weekend, that doesn’t mean the Fire Danger threat will be reduced prior to Monday.

Signs indicating the increased fire threat are located at fire stations within the County, and on the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency’s website, at www.shelbycountyema.com.  Shelby County is currently not included in a ban on open burning. Wickizer said that’s because they are using the “Fire Danger” signs as a “public education tool.” He said since they have not seen an increase in fires, they will use the signs instead of asking the State Fire Marshal’s Office for an open burning ban. The purpose of the Fire Danger signs, according to Wickizer, is to cut down on instances where people start fires on their property, and have numerous fire trucks show-up when it is a non-emergency situation.

He says anyone who wants to conduct any type of open burning outside, on their property, should contact the Shelby County EMA at 712-755-2124, and inform the on-duty dispatcher of your intentions. The dispatcher will put residents in contact with their local fire chief. Permission for you to conduct an open burn is at the sole discretion of your fire chief.

WHITING, Iowa (AP) – A 40-year-old western Iowa man has been electrocuted.  The Monona County Sheriff’s Office blamed malfunctioning welding equipment for the death of Tracy Brenden.  Brenden, of Whiting, was found lying near a building on the east side of Whiting just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows all of Iowa and most of Nebraska are suffering severe or extreme drought.  The map shows the east-central portion of the state and a section of southeast Iowa are experiencing extreme drought.  

In Nebraska, the western 75 percent is enduring extreme drought, with the most of rest suffering severe drought. A few counties in central Nebraska are listed as being under exceptional drought conditions, the worst possible listing on the monitor.
 
The drought map is a project shared by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Weather Service. The latest map is based on conditions as of 6 a.m. Tuesday and so doesn’t include rainfall from storms Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Audubon County Fair continues its near weeklong run today, in Audubon. Some highlights include a “Knowledge Bowl” in the Show Barn at 1:30, Children’s Theater at the Grandstand (5:30-p.m.), 4-H Recognition at the Grandstand (6:30-p.m.) and the Queen Contest at 7:30-p.m.

For more information, log on to www.extension.iastate.edu/audubon/

And, for information about other county fairs going on in the State of Iowa, surf to http://www.iowafairs.com/site/aif-member-fairs.php

The 2012 Cass County Fair begins its six-day run today, in Atlantic, with livestock check-ins and other activities. Among them, is the 4-H static exhibit entries and conference judging, and a food sale that takes place in the Community Center at 10-a.m. 

The King and Queen Contest starts tonight at Eight O’clock, and can be heard live here on KJAN. Then at 8:30, there’ll be a Senior Recognition. Highlights during the evening hours of the next few days include: a Bullride at 7:30-p.m. Friday; ATV races at 6-p.m. Saturday; a tractor show Sunday at 4-p.m.; Grand Champion Beef selection Monday at 7-p.m., and the Livestock sale Tuesday, at 8-a.m. 

For a complete rundown of the fair schedule, surf the web to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ and look for the pdf link.

And, for information about other county fairs going on in the State of Iowa, surf to http://www.iowafairs.com/site/aif-member-fairs.php

Storms that blew through parts of western and north central Iowa Wednesday night brought lots of wind, and widely scattered precipitation, with some areas receiving more than one-inch of rain, while others were left deprived…again. The National Weather Service says Carroll County bore the brunt of the wind damage at the onset, with winds gusting anywhere from 61-to as much as 75-miles per hour, between 7:30 and 8-p.m. The winds caused power lines to snap in Carroll and Lanesboro, brought down tree limbs, one of which fell on a porch and house in Carroll, causing damage, but no injuries.

Just north of Arcadia, the Weather Service says thunderstorm winds felled 3-foot diameter trees, and a 30-foot long camper attached to a truck was blown over. Several crops were damaged, as well. Winds gusted to near 60-miles per hour near Earlham, at around 8:30-p.m., Wednesday, according to law enforcement.

And, strong winds passing through Atlantic may have caused a tree limb to come into contact with a power line, causing a brief, small fire, in the 1400 block of Roosevelt Drive, at around 7:47-p.m. In addition, law enforcement reported a sign was down across the road along Highway 71, near Interstate 80. The sign has since been removed.

Trees were blown down in Clarinda, and there were scattered reports of power outages in Page, Adams and Montgomery Counties. Mid American Energy said 28 of its customers in Adams County, and seven customers in Montgomery County, were without power as of 5-a.m., but by 7-a.m., power had been restored to those same customers.

Some unofficial, reported rainfall amounts include: 1.28″ south of Malvern; 1.2″ in Shenandoah; 1.03″ in Clarinda; .92″ in Sidney; ;85 in Emerson; .8″ in Red Oak; .75″ in Villisca; .4″ in Carroll; .3″ in Massena, and .25″ in Lyman.  Atlantic remained dry during the passage of the storms. The last time we received more than one-inch of rain here in Atlantic, was over a month ago (June 23rd), when 1.23-inches made its way into the gauge outside the KJAN studios.