w/ Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest three-month forecast from the National Weather Service says there’s little chance of major spring flooding in Iowa.  Heavy rains and snowmelt upstream overwhelmed the Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River reservoir system last year. That led to historic flooding along the river that divides western Iowa from eastern Nebraska. 

Hydrologist Jeff Zogg of the weather service’s Johnston office says last year’s conditions aren’t evident.   Zogg says the usual minor flooding is possible this spring – common along the Missouri River south of Council Bluffs in both Iowa and Nebraska.  The Quad Cities weather service reports conditions are average along the Mississippi River.

Police in Red Oak report a 17-year old was arrested late Thursday night following a traffic stop on West Coolbaugh Street. Officials say Wyatt Kane Bailey, of Red Oak, was stopped at around 10:20-p.m. Thursday, and cited for Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign. He was arrested for .02-alcohol violation. The teen was released to the custody of a parent after paying a $262 bond.

Police in Shenandoah report the arrest of a 49-year old man on a charge of 3rd degree sexual assault.  George Poe was taken into custody Thursday, following an investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred on Feb. 1st, at a location in the 200 block of north Sycamore, in Shenandoah. Poe was being held in the Page County Jail on $10,000 bond.

A 19-year old former, part-time audio-visual support technician for the Glenwood Community High School, has been charged with 3rd degree sexual abuse, a Class-C Felony. Court records indicate Andrew Schoening, of Glenwood, was given the charge last week, and plead not guilty last Friday, Feb. 10th.  He also waived a speedy trial. The charge was filed on January 17th, after a 15-year-old girl told school officials and police that Schoening forced her to have sex in a closet at the high school.  The incident allegedly took place December 20, 2011.

When confronted with the allegations, Schoening admitted that he did have sex with the minor and that he knew she was underage.  Schoening was released from custody January 19th, on a $10,000 bond. He’s been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim of the abuse. A trial date has not yet been set.

Retiring Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) General Manager Allen Bonderman has received the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities’ (IAMU) Life Membership Award. The award was presented during IAMU’s Winter Meeting, in Des Moines, and was in recognition of Bonderman’s “37-years of leadership in the public power arena,” including his 12-years of service in Atlantic, and his significant involvement with IAMU, a statewide association that benefits more than 550 municipal utilities in Iowa.

Bonderman began his career working with municipal utilities more than 40-years ago. He’s worked in Atlantic for the past 12-years. While with AMU, he developed the first municipal WiFi service in the state of Iowa, allowing DSL, cable modem and alternative wireless services to be made available by other service providers, to Atlantic’s businesses and residents. He also worked to establish a scholarship program at AMU for local students to attend the power line worker training program at Northwest Iowa Community College.

During his career, Bonderman also earned the Energy Innovator Award from the American Public Power Association, for his development of an energy management system for the City of Sanborn, Iowa. AMU congratulates Bonderman on his long and successful municipal utility career.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers in 10 Midwest and Great Plains states shows the rural economy slowing down, but reflects strong gains in hiring and farmland prices. The Rural Mainstreet Index released Thursday dropped slightly from 59.8 last month to 59.6 in February. Anytime the index, which ranges from 1 to 100, is above 50, it suggests the economy will grow. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says he expects to see slower growth in farm income as a result of softer agriculture commodity prices and higher overhead costs. The economic confidence index, which reflects expectations for the economy six months out, rose to 60.3 from January’s 56.1. The survey covers Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming.

(DES MOINES) – Secretary of State Matt Schultz announced today that the redistricting and reprecincting based on the 2010 Census changes will impact the 2012 Primary and General elections for the Iowa Senate.

Iowa has 50 senate districts, and each senator is elected to a 4-year term at a General election.  Senators that live and serve in an even-numbered district are on the ballot during presidential election years, and senators that serve in an odd-numbered district are on the ballot during the gubernatorial election years.

The 2012 Primary and General election ballot will include all the even-numbered senate districts.  Due to the redistricting that took place based on the 2010 Census, this year’s ballots will also include an odd-numbered senate district.  No incumbent senator currently resides in senate district 49, so this office must be placed on the 2012 Primary and General ballots for a 2-year term.

Every incumbent state senator filed a declaration of residency by a statutory deadline of February 1st. Maps effective for the 2012 elections are available on the Secretary of State’s web page http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/maps/index.html or by calling 515-281-0145.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say one of two women suspected of abducting a 3-year-old Des Moines boy has been found, and she provided information that led officers to the child. An Amber Alert was issued early Thursday for Nicolas Jimmerson when he was not returned to his custodial guardian. The alert was canceled several hours later after he was found. Police were looking for 22-year-old Melanie Stout, the boy’s biological mother, and her friend, 25-year-old Amber Johnson.
Police say Johnson contacted the boy’s guardian about a visit on Wednesday. When Johnson didn’t return the child, the guardian called authorities.  Johnson showed up at an emergency room at 5 a.m. Thursday. She provided information that led to the boy, who was in good condition.  Police are still looking for Stout, who escaped from prison.