(DES MOINES) -On Monday, November 14, 2011, Gov. Terry Branstad will extend a proclamation to allow the transportation of overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw and stover.  The  proclamation takes effect November 14, 2011, and expires after 14 days. “Many Iowans’ livelihoods depend on a smooth, efficient harvest season,” said Branstad. “I am pleased to extend this proclamation, which will continue to allow the movement of Iowa’s commodities and help Iowa farmers during harvest.”

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code section 321.463 paragraph “5.b”, by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The action is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, and stover to be overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved.

DEXTER, Iowa (AP) – A pipeline leak has forced Dexter officials to ask residents to limit their water use. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that workers had begun repairs but it was uncertain when they would be finished. Mayor Jerry Stiles says the leak began Thursday in a pipeline that runs six miles from a well near Redfield. Stiles says water quality is not affected.

Dexter is a Dallas County town of about 1,000 people that sits 30 miles west of Des Moines.

Sustainable development through smart planning will be showcased tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 12th), in Greenfield, during the annual meeting of 1000 Friends of Iowa. Part of the day will be spent touring Greenfied’s town square, which has been a Main Street community since 1995, and showcases how the community has not allowed its city core to fall into disrepair.

Jay Howe is one of the backers who have refurbished the Hotel Greenfield, where the meeting will be held. He says it made sense to fix up the facility. “We are reducing the carbon footprint so to speak in contrast, let’s say, to promoting the constuction of a box hotel out on the highway strip.”  Howe says The Hotel Greenfield received $2-million in grants and is now open for business.  “Some of the stimulus money that became available at the time we were shovel-ready, so to speak. The  U.S. and Iowa historic rehabilitation credits are available that we can use to help fund the project.”

Altogether, Greenfield developers have obtained over $6.2-million and are currently rehabbing four other buildings, including the Opera House, turning it into a cultural center.  1000 Friends of Iowa will also be awarding their Best Development Awards, which showcase examples of growth and leadership that incorporate Smart Planning Principles.

For more information, surf to www.1000friendsofiowa.org.

(Courtesy the Iowa News Service)

An Elliott man was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Thursday night, following his arrest for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of OWI/2nd offense. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 32-year old Joshua Duane Mohn, of Elliott, was arrested at around 10:40-p.m. Mohn was being held in the jail on $2,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill south of Vail. The incident was reported by the Crawford County Engineer, Tuesday afternoon. Officials say many dead fish and a strong smell of manure indicate recent manure application may be the cause of the fish kill. The DNR fisheries staff did a fish kill count Wednesday, finding mostly small fish such as minnows and shiners. About one to two miles of Miller Creek have been affected southeast of its confluence with the Boyer River. The DNR is actively investigating the source of the fish kill and will continue to monitor the situation.

Local members of the Cass County Unit of the Salvation Army met this week to launch the “Red Kettle Campaign” for 2011.  JJ Kuzma from Salvation Army in Omaha attended the meeting with Duane McFadden, Chairman of the Red Kettle Campaign and Teresa Kanning Co-Chair of the Cass County Salvation Army unit.  As always, funds raised by the local Kettle Campaign stay in Cass County and are used for projects within the County. Last year the Cass County unit raised $5,827.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting held Wednesday, was the upcoming holiday season and setting up bell ringing for the season.  In the last several years, the unit has collected money by ringing bells for the campaign at Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and Fareway, as well as at the Grand Holiday Lighting. This year’s Grand Lighting ceremony takes place in the Atlantic City Park on November 17th,  at 5:30.  The bells will also be rung during the Lighted Christmas Parade, on December 3rd.   The funds raised by the campaign stay in Cass County.  During the last year, the funds were made available for such programs as the “Shop with a Cop” program, gift cards to local schools, to assist students in meeting various needs, assisting stranded motorists and transient individuals,  fans for distribution by West Central Community Action Center, and, back packs to be distributed by the administrative staff. This year the Cass County Salvation Army unit also partnered with the Parents as Teachers Program to purchase car seats for the program’s use.

New this year, Salvation Army has the ability to accept donations thru the National Salvation Army website.  Anyone wanting to donate to the local unit can go on the website and specify which local unit they want their Red Kettle donation to go to.  More information will be released on this program at a later date.  Volunteers to ring bells are welcome; any person, family, community group or religious organization who would like to sign up for a shift to ring bells for Salvation Army, please contact Duane McFadden at 712-781-2287.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been injured when he was struck by a train while watching another train pass by in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reported the man, who wasn’t identified, was struck by the train this (Thursday) afternoon. Police say the man was standing near the westbound tracks in the area, watching an eastbound train pass, when he was struck by a westbound train. Police Sgt. Jason Bailey says the man suffered an injury to his arm. It took the train several seconds to stop after it hit the man. It wasn’t immediately known how fast the train was traveling. A bystander says he saw the man under the train after the accident.

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District report another bomb threat was discovered and reported to the office at the Atlantic Middle School. In a statement released at around 11:15-a.m., the district says “The Atlantic Police Department was notified. The police have searched the building and feel the building is safe. The Middle School staff and students have been evacuated for a short period of time as a precautionary measure. The school district will continue to work with the local law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students in the district.”

Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson said at 11:30-a.m., classes were dismissed and students sent to the Trojan Bowl. They will return to their classrooms at Noon.

One week ago today (Thursday) a similar bomb threat was discovered at the Atlantic Middle School, and one student, a 12-year old male, was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat. On October 5th, a bomb threat was discovered at the Atlantic High School. No arrests have been made in connection with that incident.

The American Red Cross is asking people to roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets this Veterans Day weekend to honor those who have served their country. Officials say at the same time, anyone who comes to donate will have the opportunity to sign a card and include a personal message that will become part of the annual American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.　

The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have joined together for Holiday Mail for Heroes, a program through which people can sign holiday cards for members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families. Pitney Bowes will then screen the cards for hazardous materials, and the Red Cross will sort and deliver them to military installations, veterans medical facilities and other locations during the holidays.

Tricia Quinn, CEO of the Red Cross Midwest Blood Services Region, says “By giving blood this Veterans Day weekend, donors can pay tribute to those who serve this country. Quinn says the blood drives will “Give donors the chance to help hospital patients who need blood, and at the same time, write messages of thanks to veterans and members of the military for their service.”

On Friday (Nov. 11^th) an American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Cass County, from 8:30-a.m. until 2:30-p.m., at the Griswold High School. If you’d like to donate, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment, or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.　

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is making an air quality “watch list” available to the public for the first time. The EPA watch list names alleged air pollution offenders who’ve been out of compliance without state or local resolution within 270 days. Jason Marcel, with the DNR air quality bureau, says the list used to be for internal use only. “They made a decision here recently to make that, what they call the watch list, more publicly available. It was in response to repeated freedom of information act requests,” Marcel said. A few Iowa firms have shown up on the list in recent months.

“The expectation from the EPA to the state and local level is that enforcement actions should be processed in a timely manner, so the watch list is a check on that when the time limit is exceeded,” Marcel said. The EPA now publishes the watch list on its website. The September list included Griffin Pipe Products of Council Bluffs, Diamond V Mills in Cedar Rapids and Grain Processing Corporation in Muscatine. Only Griffin Pipe remained on the list in October. Marcel said enforcement for Griffin Pipe has been turned over to the EPA because water quality violations are also involved.

(Radio Iowa)