The National Weather Service has extended the number of counties it has included in a Winter Storm Watch, which will be in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. The Watch now includes the following counties: Crawford, Carroll, Monona, Harrison, Shelby, and Pottawattamie.

The Weather Service says rain will change to snow during the day, Saturday, and end before daybreak on Sunday. Snowfall amounts in the Watch area may range from 4-to 7-inches, with the highest amounts of 6-to 7-inches expected to fall along and north of Interstate 80. Winds are forecast to become N-NW at 15-20 mph.

A Winter Storm Watch mean there is a potential for significant snow…sleet..or ice accumulations that may impact travel.

A study finds about one in ten cars on Iowa’s roads is riding on at least one bald tire, creating a potentially-dangerous hazard when wintery weather arrives. Kim Webber, spokeswoman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, says Iowans should closely inspect their tires for two things — wear and proper inflation.

“Check your tire pressure once a month and before every long trip and don’t forget the spare tire,” Webber says. “Check your tires when they’re cold. To determine how much air should be in the tires, look in the owner’s manual.” There may also be a white sticker on the driver’s side door jam, detailing proper inflation levels. Webber says tires that are out of alignment can wear unevenly and she says you should have your tires rotated by a professional.

“By regularly rotating your tires, we recommend every five- to eight-thousand miles or whatever your owner’s manual says,” Webber says. “By rotating your tires, you will maintain that even tread wear on all four of those tires.” Webber says use a penny to check your tires’ tread. Put the penny in the tire groove head-first and if you can see all of President Lincoln’s profile, it’s time to replace the tire. While replacing worn tires may not be in the budget, Webber says you need to put safety first.

“Bald tires are not being replaced most likely due to the vehicle owner putting off tire replacement due to tough economic times and, in turn, creating more dangers on the road,” she says. An on-line survey shows 64-percent of car owners didn’t know how to check tread depth, while nine-percent never checked their tread depth.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s pension fund for retired public employees is facing a long-term shortfall of nearly $5.7 billion and some officials say they are worried about the sustainability of the fund. The Des Moines Register says a consultant’s report issued Thursday says despite the concerns there are no immediate threats to members’ monthly pension checks. The Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System has about 325,000 members.

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, who serves on the fund’s investment board, says he is concerned about the funds sustainability and that the amount owed by taxpayers continues to grow. But Brad Hudson, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association, says changes made by lawmakers last year are a step in the right direction. The changes include increased contributions combined with future benefit reductions.

The annual “Shop with the Sheriff” program will be held tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 3rd), in Council Bluffs. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says the 13th annual event being held at the Target Store in Council Bluffs, will benefit 28 children this year. The program is funded by donations from individuals and businesses from throughout Pott County and the surrounding areas.

Danker says the names of families selected to benefit from this year’s program were provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services. Each child will receive $175 to spend for their families. They’re encouraged to use most of the money for clothing, shoes and other necessities, but the purchase of toys is allowed. In addition, each family will receive a food basket.

About 45 employees and families of employees with the Sheriff’s Office volunteer their time to assist with the program. The doors to the Council Bluffs Target Store will open one-hour early Saturday, before the public is allowed in,  to offer the children the chance to shop for their families.

Members of the CAM Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday evening, in Anita. During the 7-p.m. session in the Media Center at the CAM High School, the board will discuss matters pertaining to an Online Charter School. No action will be taken on the issue.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a Corning couple was arrested Thursday afternoon on drug charges. 48-year old Miles Cross, Jr., and 49-year old Shelly Cross, were taken into custody on Possession of Marijuana charges, following a traffic stop at around 4:40-p.m.  The drugs were discovered when a Ringgold County K-9 unit conducted a search of the couples’ vehicle. The Cross’ were being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,000 bond each.

And, a Corning man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a Parole Violation. 26-year old Ronald Gilbert was taken into custody at around 1:50-p.m., and was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 cash only bond.

The Iowa State Patrol says one person died as the result of a single-vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 29 Thursday evening, in Pottawattamie County. 47-year old Eileen J. Walpus, of Glenwood, died after being flown from the scene of the crash near Council Bluffs, to the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. Officials says Walpus was traveling on I-29 at around 5:40-p.m. when her 2005 Dodge Neon left the road and entered a ditch before traveling through a fence and onto Beacon Lane. From there, the car entered another ditch and rolled over before finally coming to rest on its top. The Patrol says Walpus was wearing her seatbelt. The accident remains under investigation.

Two people were injured during a single-vehicle accident Thursday evening about one-half mile south of Lewis Lake. The accident happened at around 6:10-p.m. Lewis Fire and Griswold Rescue responded to the scene. One of the victims suffered a shoulder injury, the other a laceration to the head, when the car they were in went off the road and ended-up in a ditch. None of the injuries were believed to have been life threatening.
Emergency responders reported the roads in the area, especially on the curves, were “like a skating rink,”  meaning very icy. No other details are currently available.