Iowans who want to keep close tabs on weather warnings may now be able to get them on their cellular phones, beginning today (Monday). The nation’s emergency alert system is starting a new program this week. Al Kenyan, a project manager with FEMA, says people need to check with their cell phone carrier to see if it’s an option to receive these potentially-life-saving alerts. “It’s similar to a text message but it’s not a text message,” Kenyan says. “You need to have probably a newer handset or a handset that has the capability to receive these messages.” 

Kenyan says it’s part of a larger effort to modernize the emergency warning system. The wireless weather alerts will let you know about things like severe thunderstorms or tornado warnings. He says Iowans should take those warnings seriously.”When (people) get an alert, whether it’s from wireless emergency alerts or from the radio station they’re listening to or a television station, take action on it,” Kenyan says. “We’ve had cases where people have been alerted to a tornado warning and they said, ‘Well, that’s interesting,’ and they didn’t take action and they get hurt. That’s a very bad thing.” 

The new program is through a partnership between FEMA, the FCC, the National Weather Service and cellphone carriers.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Griswold, CAM and Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District Boards of Education are set to hold separate meetings Monday evening. The Griswold School Board will gather in the Central Office Board Room at 5:30-p.m. During the meeting, they’re expected to receive updates on the various district improvement projects and redistricting. The Griswold Board will also discuss and act on: Bids for auto and property insurance, fuel and technology support; Designating a Level 1 and 2 Child Abuse Investigator; Registration fees, and Travel Compensation amount,  for 2012-2013; and Central Office/Administrative Contracts.

The CAM School Board will meet at 7-p.m. in the Media Center at the CAM High School, in Anita. Discussion and/or action items on their agenda include those pertaining to: A resolution for land transfer of Lots 1,2, & 3 to the City of Anita; Contract; Approval of Elementary literacy materials; an agreement with Casey’s Computer Consulting, and other administrative matters. The CAM Board will enter into a closed session for evaluation of the Superintendent, and resume their regular session with action on the Superintendent’s contract.

And, in Elk Horn, the EHK School Board will meet in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School beginning at 7-p.m. During their meeting, the Board will act on: Resignations and Contracts; the possible transfer of more than $1,585 from the General Fund to the Activity Fund, for the Yearbook Account; Handbooks; the addition of Data Compromise coverage to the District’s Insurance program, Fees for 2012-2013, and Staff Excellent Attendance Pay.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet Monday evening at City Hall. During their 5:15-p.m. session, the Board will hear updates on the various Capital Improvement Projects, including those pertaining to: The Park Maintenance Building; Sunnyside Park improvements; and Pellett Park Playground Equipment.

Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring will provide an update on: the Summer Rec program registration numbers; Schildberg Campground area and dog park projects; Eagle Scout bench project at the Schildberg Rec Area; an agreement with the DNR for a boat ramp, and, Fall material for the area playgrounds.

The Board will also discuss the Trevor Frederickson Softball Field scoreboard donation and approval, along with plans for Tuesday’s Schildberg Rec Area Work Day.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says one person was arrested on numerous charges following a traffic stop and pursuit Saturday afternoon, four-mileas east of Red Oak. Officials say 25-year old Miles Ryan Pein, of Glenwood, was cited for traveling 81-miles per hour in a 55 zone, and Failure to Maintain Control. Pein also faces charges in Mills County, where he was wanted on warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree and Arson in the Second Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on the local charges, pending extradition to Mills County.

Officials say At around 3:50-p.m. Saturday, a 2004 Chevy Silverado pickup owned and operated by Pein, was clocked for speeding westbound on 210th Street in Montgomery County. The deputy also observed the pickup swerving all over the road. Pein lost control of the vehicle which crashed into the south ditch and sustained $5,000 damage. Pein took off on foot, but was apprehended by authorities before he could leave the scene.

319 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012

…NEAR RECORD HIGHS MONDAY…
 
TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…WARMER. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH.
MONDAY…SUNNY. HOT AND HUMID. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 90S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 101 TO 106 IN THE AFTERNOON. 

MONDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 THROUGH  MIDNIGHT.
TUESDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 90S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 25 MPH INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS AROUND 100 IN THE AFTERNOON.
TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT.
WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF  THUNDERSTORMS. NOT AS WARM. HIGH IN THE MID 80S.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT…THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW IN THE MID 60S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 60 PERCENT. 

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S.
THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE MID 60S.
FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 80S.

An accident just outside of Boone Saturday afternoon claimed the lives of two elderly Boone residents, and injured two other people. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1996 GMC Jimmy driven by 15-year old Daniel Peter, of Ames, was traveling west on Highway 30 and changing lanes to make a left hand turn, when the SUV was hit by a  2003 Humvee Limousine driven by 43-year old John Barker, Jr., of Des Moines. The accident happened at around 3:15-p.m., Saturday.

Following the impact, the SUV left the road and rolled over, ejecting one passenger. The limo came to rest in the median. The Patrol says 77-year old Dorothy Peter, of Boone, died at the scene. 80-year old Delbert Peter, of Boone, was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, where died from his injuries. Officials say he was not wearing a seat belt.

Injured in the crash, was 28-year old Danielle Snook, of Davenport, and 24-year old Loyd Hise, of Guthrie Center. Both were flown by Mercy One helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register said Sunday that Snook was in Fair condition, while Hise was listed in critical condition. The accidednt remains under investigation.

The Cass County Community Center is the planned location for a night of dancing and music on June 23rd,  as local musicians return to the bandstand for a big band dance. The jazz band “Popcorn Button” will bring their second dance of the summer to the community.The Community Center is a new venue for the band, which means they’ll be able to accommodate more dancers and listeners. The band is comprised of a diverse group of talented volunteer musicians from Atlantic High School, the community, and several universities. Some return from colleges and internships as far away as Iowa City and Kansas City to play at the dances.

Dance instructor Jake Auerbach and his mother Pam will once again be offering a guide to getting started with ballroom and swing dancing at the event from 7:30-8 pm. Event organizers are also working out the scheduling of a potential visit from a member of the Iowa State University Cyclone Swing Society. This will provide the opportunity for all involved to learn some new moves in addition to the basics of waltz, swing, two step, and polka.

The dance is a free public event. A free will donation will be accepted at the door to help defray costs of the event. All ages and dancing abilities are invited and encouraged to attend from 7-10 pm on Saturday, June 23rd at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic.  For more information, contact Curtis Ullerich at info@popcornbutton.org or at 712-249-2588, or visit the band’s website at www.popcornbutton.org.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A veterans’ health care network that serves Nebraska and western Iowa is planning to expand its mental-health services.  The Lincoln Journal Star reports the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System is planning to add more staff in Lincoln, Omaha and other locations.  The 10 percent increase in staff comes as the Veterans Administration prepares to deal with more cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems. The region’s health care system currently has 106 employees.
 
Chief psychologist Todd Fleischer says officials have not yet decided where all the new hires will be based. But he says the request for mental-health providers is being fast-tracked. The hiring move will add 1,600 people nationwide.