Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the just completed month of April helped push the state to a new weather record. “For the first third of the year temperature wise, running about seven-point-four degrees above normal ,for the first four months of 2012. Preliminarily that would be the warmest first third of the year on record — about three-tenths of a degree above 1878 — which had been the previous warmest January through April period in Iowa,” Hillaker explains.

April was the seventh straight month were we’ve seen the average temperature end above the norm.Hillaker says April averaged about three degrees above normal, which made it end up just under one degree above the average temperature in March. “So if it seems like this month was not much warmer than the previous (month), that would be correct, they are both very similar,” Hillaker says. There was some April fooling going on by Mother Nature when it came to the temperatures, as Hillaker says the month started warmer than it finished. 

“The first half of the month was averaging about six degrees warmer than usual. The second half of April was slightly cooler than normal, so overall not really much trend as we went through the month, usually you kind of expect things to be the other way around,” the climatologist says. Hillaker says April provided another possible record when you compare the temperatures from the eastern cities to the temperatures in March.

“One interesting little tidbit for what it’s worth, most of eastern Iowa actually averaged warmer temperatures for the month of March than it did for the month of April,” Hillaker says. “Places like Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities, were slightly warmer in March than they were in April. Most likely that’s the first time that’s ever happened.” The numbers show April was wetter than average. Hillaker says the statewide average was three-point-nine-nine inches of precipitation in April, which is about one-half inch more than the average for April. He says that ranks it as the 31st wettest April in 140 years of records, and it is very similar to the April totals the last three years. Hillaker says the first third of the year saw about two-thirds of an inch more rainfall than we usually see, but he says it’s about what we’ve seen over the same period the last few years. It ranks as the 29th wettest first four months of the year on the state record books. There is a possibility that we also saw the first snowless April since 1890. Hillaker says there was a report of sleet on April 28th, which is technically considered snow.

In Atlantic, the average high for the month of April was 67.7-degrees. The average low was 40.2. Rainfall for the month amounted to 4.18-inches. The normal average high for the month is 62.6, while the normal monthly low is 37. Rainfall in April normally averages 3.01-inches.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa, & Ric Hanson/KJAN)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon, of 55-year old James Anthony Piunti, of Red Oak. Piunti was taken into custody on a warrant for Violation of his Probation, on an original charge of Indecent Contact with a Child. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting transportation to Pottawattamie County.

An Adams County woman received a rude awakening after she fell asleep at the wheel of her car, which then entered a ditch and came to an abrupt stop against a concrete culvert. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office the accident happened at around 10:40-a.m. Tuesday, on Highway 34. Officials say 66-year old Carolyn Ann Fritz, of Corning,  was traveling west on the highway in a 1999 Dodge Neon, when she fell asleep. The car traveled about 120-yards while in the north ditch, before hitting a concrete culvert, and sustaining disabling damage. No citations were issued at the time of the crash.

The Atlantic City Council will discuss and vote on the first readings of two ordinances Wednesday evening. One of the ordinances pertains to Urban Deer Control. The Council tabled action on the ordinance last month, because the Community Protection Committee learned City Attorney Dave Weidersteen had included some language in the proposed ordinance that was not in their original draft. The committee has since reviewed the ordinance, and have worked with Weidersteen to make some modifications. The CPC recommends the Council approve the ordinance as amended.

The second ordinance is with regard to reducing the speed limit on East 22nd Street, from Whitney Street (Highway 71) to Olive Street, from 45- to 35-miles per hour. After receiving some negative feedback from the public last month, the Council voted down a proposal to lower the speed limit on both the east and west sections of 22nd Street from 45-to 35-mph.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm shared with the CPC at a recent meeting, the findings and recommendations of Snyder’s Traffic Engineer Todd Knox, who recommends, based on a study of actual speed of traffic on the road, to leave the speed limit where it is. Knox said “There could be some sight issues, both horizontal and vertical, that could justify changing the speed limits.”

City Administrator Doug Harris says the CPC discussed the findings with Police Chief Steve Green, and concurred with his findings, to lower the speed limit on the east section of 22nd Street, from 45- to 35-miles per hour. Factors figuring into that recommendation include driveways that are obscured from motorists’ view, the prospect of future development in the area, and the amount of pedestrian traffic on that stretch of road.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on setting May 16th as the date for a public hearing on any proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall.

A vague note found in a bathroom at the AHST High School in Avoca Tuesday morning, prompted the evacuation of students in all of the districts building for a little over an hour an a half. Superintendent Mark Hopkins issued a statement Tuesday on the District’s website saying: 

The A­‐H­‐S­‐T Community School buildings were evacuated late (Tuesday) morning (May 1st) due to a bomb threat. At that time, law enforcement was called to ensure that the building was safe. It was determined that the buildings were completely safe and that the incident was a hoax. At no time was any student in harm’s way, and any future incidents of this nature will be handled with consultation and advice from law enforcement.” Hopkins went on to say “Unfortunately, incidents of this nature do occur,” but he commended the A‐H-­S-­T staff and students “for handling the situation extremely well.” Hopkins said classes will resume Wednesday, as usual.  The Superindendent said that “The A-­H-­S-­T Community School thanks all the parents and community members for their cooperation and understanding.”

According to authorities, a note indicating bombs were placed in a lunch room was found in a bathroom at around 11:4o-a.m., but the note didn’t specify which lunchroom. As a precaution, authorities evacuated both the high school and elementary school. A bomb squad with the the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office searched the buildings, but nothing was found. Students were allowed to return to their classrooms at around 1:30 p.m. The incident remains under investigation, and authorities say while there are suspects, they declined to release any further information at this time. It’s the first reported bomb threat in the AHST District, in at least nine-years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has become one of a dozen states to notify domestic violence victims when protective orders have been issued to keep an abuser away from the victim. Attorney General Tom Miller announced the program Tuesday, saying it’s financed by a federal Department of Justice grant. Ongoing costs of $160,000 come from a state program funded by fines and penalties assessed against criminals. Domestic abuse victims now may sign up with the state and receive automated phone call or email notifications when courts issue a protective order. That includes notification of when an order is about to expire.  Miller says the program’s intent is to give victims peace of mind.  Last year the Iowa Protective Order Notification for Domestic Abuse Program processed more than 15,000 protective and no-contact orders.

Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting this Thursday morning (May 3rd) in the Superintendent’s Office at the High School, in Elk Horn. On their agenda is discussion about and possible action on, approving a resolution for adopting a Redistricting Plan, and the redrawing of Director District boundaries.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say an Audubon man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning, on a drug-related warrant. 47-year old Roger Lee Bates was taken into custody at around 9:30-a.m., on a warrant charging him with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Gathering where drugs are used. The charges are the result of an investigation into an incident that occurred on April 19^th at a residence on Washington Street, in Audubon. Bates appeared before the magistrate, and was released on $1,000 bond. His preliminary hearing will take place May 21st. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in its investigation, by officers with the Audubon Police Department.