Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa felons were sentenced to federal prison this week for separate weapons charges. Fifty-eight-year-old Charles Petro, of Winfield, was sentenced to more than four years in prison. Meanwhile, 43-year-old Darwin Zoch, of Storm Lake, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Both were convicted of being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents will meet next week in Iowa City to consider building designs on four major University of Iowa projects. The panel will also discuss proposed academic cuts at the University of Northern Iowa.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 45-year-old man had to be taken to the hospital early this morning after he was hurt in a garage fire near a Cedar Rapids apartment complex. Two vehicles in the garage were destroyed and two others parked outside were damaged.

PELLA, Iowa (AP) – Organizers of the Tulip Time festival in Pella are worrying about the mild late-winter weather. The annual celebration runs from May 3rd until the 5th, but all three tulip varieties have already broken from the ground. It usually takes six weeks from the time tulips break through the ground until they’re at their peak.

w/ Ric Hanson

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AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR-COUNTIES
 650 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012
 
 …DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING…
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING.  WIDESPREAD FOG WITH VISIBILITIES OF A QUARTER MILE  OR LESS HAS DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN IOWA. CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN  TO IMPROVE BY 900 AM OR 1000 AM HOWEVER WITH VISIBILITIES OF AT  LEAST SEVERAL MILES BY THAT TIME. 

FOG WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AND PRODUCE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS EARLY THIS MORNING.

540 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012

Counties:  EMMET-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-SAC-CALHOUN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-CASS-ADAMS-TAYLOR-  

DENSE FOG OVER PARTS OF WESTERN IOWA THIS MORNING:

FOG HAS DEVELOPED OVER MUCH OF WESTERN IOWA THIS MORNING AND IS
EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH AT LEAST 900 AM. THE FOG WILL BE DENSE IN SPOTS AS WELL WITH VISIBILITIES DOWN TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALLOW FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME EARLY THIS MORNING AND DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY WITH INCREASED DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES.

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MONTGOMERY-PAGE.  524 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012
 
 …DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT THIS MORNING…
 
 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A DENSE  FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT THIS MORNING.  EXPECT VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS IN MANY ACROSS ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. BE PREPARED FOR RAPID FLUCTUATIONS IN VISIBILITY IF
TRAVELING THIS MORNING AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA FOLLOWING ROOM IN BETWEEN VEHICLES. A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN…USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

The Harlan Police Department Thursday issued a report on recent arrests. Officials say on March 8th, 49-year old Dale Noll, of Harlan, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication, after officers were informed Noll had walked away from Myrtue Medical Center. He was located, taken into custody and brought to the Shelby County Jail. Noll later pled guilty to the offense and was fined $200 plus court costs.

On March 7th, 19-year old Corey Williams, of Harlan, was cited for hitting fixtures on a highway, after allegedly striking a utility pole on 7th Street in Harlan. The pole was subsequently replaced by a Harlan Municipal Utilities’ crew.

And, on March 6th, 23-year old Theodore Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. Behrens was being held in the Shelby County Jail.

A Red Oak woman was arrested Thursday evening on a moving violation. According to Red Oak Police, 20-year old Randi Lynn Vanleuven was charged with Driving Under Suspension. She was issued a citation and released on her own recognizance.

The record warm temperatures in recent days have likely spurred water enthusiasts to break out their boating or canoe gear.

Todd Robertson

Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is reminding paddlers to dress for the water, not the air. “Even though air temperatures are nice and warm and all cozy, the water is a completely different story,” Robertson says. “The water temperatures are in the low 40s, which mean it is ice cold.” The general rule, according to Robertson, is that if the water and air temperatures do not equal 120 degrees, anyone dumped in the water is at risk for hyperthermia.

“I have already seen quite a few people going out paddling who don’t have a lot of experience. I’ve seen people on Gray’s Lake (in Des Moines) without life jackets and in cotton sweat shirts and jeans,” Robertson says. “I mean, God forbid if they were to ever dump their boat in the water, they’d run into a lot of trouble.” He says dry suits or wet suits are recommended for all paddling until the water temperatures hit safer levels in late April or early May.

Robertson also suggests taking a bag with plenty of dry clothing. A properly fitted lifejacket is always important, regardless of the water temperatures, but Robertson notes hypothermia causes the loss of coordination and movement becomes limited – so a lifejacket is necessary to stay afloat and keep the head above water.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this week approved a proposed amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Cass County Budget. The appropriation adjustments (or, changes in spending authority) for Fiscal Year 2012 included – General Basic Fund: increase Local Health by $62,340 (for flow thru of revenues for grants, etc); Increase Non-departmental by $44,150 (for Public Safety Communications); Decrease Local Option Sales Tax capital projects function by $199,372 and increase LOST debt service function by $199,372; Increase General Basic non-departmental by $520,000 (for return of appropriation borrowed for URA Amaizing Energy capital projects expenditures 8/31/11); and, increase URA Amaizing Energy Debt Service Fund by $520,000.

The Supervisors also unanimously approved Cass County Compensation Board recommendations for a 2.5-percent across the board compensation increase for all elected officials. They voted 3-to 2 in favor of the compensation boards’ recommendation the Board of Supervisor members also receive a 2.5% salary increase, with Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors receive $1,000 above the normal compensation. Frank Waters, Chuck Rieken and Duane McFadden voted in favor of the recommendation, Gaylord Schelling and Mark Wedemeyer voted against it.

Approval of the Compensation Boards’ recommendations means for FY 2013: The Cass County Attorney’s annual salary will be $87,468 (an increase of $2,133 over FY 2012); Auditor, Recorder and Treasurers annual salaries will be $50,198 (an increase of $1,224); Sheriff, $62,683 (an increase of $1,529); and, each Supervisor will be paid $26,202 (an increase of $639), with $1,000 additional for the Board Chair.

The Board Wednesday morning approved adoption of the proposed FY2013 Cass County budget, and the Secondary Roads/Iowa Department of Transportation expense budget for FY 2013. And, they unanimously approved the use of County Road N-28 as an official detour route (beginning at Iowa Highway 83, south for 10-miles to Iowa Highway 92), while work is being done on Iowa Highway 148 from Anita south, to Highway 92.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service and other preparedness partners will conduct a Severe Weather Awareness Week to promote severe weather safety to citizens the week of March 19-23, 2012. The National Weather Service will promote weather safety by issuing informative daily Public Information Statements. Citizens can also get this information by following the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency on Facebook. Topics will include: Severe Weather Terminology, Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Tornado Drill, Lightning, Flooding and Social Media.

The annual TORNADO DRILL DAY will be Wednesday, March 21st. (In case of severe weather, the drill will be postponed to Thursday March 22nd) The drill sequence will begin at 10a.m. with sirens sounding at approximately 10:10a.m. The test warning will be valid for 20 minutes. All citizens, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and public facilities are encouraged to participate in this drill by practicing what you would do in a real tornado warning.

The County 911 Center will activate outdoor warning sirens for the communities of Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Macedonia, McClelland, Neola, Oakland and Underwood. Citizens in other Pottawattamie County communities are encouraged to contact their City Hall or local Fire Department to see if sirens will sound during the drill.

The Emergency Management Agency would like to remind all citizens that outdoor warning sirens have limited to no effectiveness when you are in your home or traveling in your vehicle. Pottawattamie County residents and residents of our communities are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Code Red Emergency Notification System. The service is free of charge and you will receive a phone call (home and/or cell) when severe weather threatens.

This is a very important, potentially life-saving tool, especially where there are no sirens or you are in a place where sirens would be ineffective in warning you and your family. Residents should sign up for the service, free of charge at www.pottcounty.com.