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Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Monday, 8/26/24

Weather

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny and hot. High near 98. HEAT ADVISORY from 1-until 8-p.m. Heat index values as high as 110. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West southwest wind  5 to 10 mph.
Tue. Night: Partly cloudy w/a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 67.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wed. Night: Partly cloudy w/a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms late. Low around 69.
Thursday: A 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Sunday’s high was 95 degrees. Our low this morning, 69. Last year on this date the high was 83 and the low was 55. The record high for August 26th in Atlantic is 100 degrees, set in 1936, and the record low is 39, set in 1904. Sunrise today: 6:38. Sunset is at 8:03.

(UPDATE) Structure fire in Anita Monday morning

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Anita, Iowa) – (Updated 6:12-a.m.) No injuries were reported following a residential structure fire early this (Monday) morning, in Anita. Anita and Wiota Fire crews were dispatched at around 2:19-a.m. to a home at 206 Cherry Street, where smoke was seen coming from the structure. Anita Fire arrived on the scene a few minutes later, and reported flames coming from the home.

In a statement to KJAN News, Anita Fire Chief Eric Steffensen said “When we arrived on the scene, there was a young man stating everyone was out of the house, except two dogs [that were] upstairs.” Steffensen said “We had crews knocking down the fire and a crew rescuing the dogs. [We] got the fire knocked down fast, and the dogs rescued safe!

The home sustained heavy smoke damage. The living room sustained heavy fire damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

Governor exploring ways to boost energy water infrastructure

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s critical to ensure Iowa has enough electricity and upgraded water treatment plants, to support business expansion. “Especially for rural Iowa, we need to figure that out,” Reynolds says. “We’ve got a lot of capacity in rural Iowa, but if you don’t have the load capacity or you don’t have the water treatment capacity, it’s hard for those existing businesses to expand or think about locating there.”

Water treatment plants are expensive. For larger communities, it can cost 12 million dollars for a plant that can handle an average of 10 million gallons per day. Reynolds says the cost for smaller communities, while less, cannot be easily borne by residents who’d pay higher utility bills to pay for it.  “The populations aren’t where they need to be to sustain it,” Reynolds says. The State Revolving Fund provides communities with low interest loans to finance drinking water systems, water treatment facilities and sewers, but Reynolds says she’s asked the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority to review the range of state incentives that are available — and could be proposed for the future.

“We’ve just kind of delving into that right now and taking a look at how do we then project that for the next 10 to 20 years,” Reynolds says, “and how do I get in front of that and make us competitive when businesses are looking at locating and expanding in Iowa.” The E-P-A recently announced a dozen drinking water systems in Iowa need upgrades to remove so-called “forever chemicals” that are linked to sites where firefighters have used foam to quickly put out fires.

(The following drinking water systems are cited: Buffalo, Burlington, Camanche, Davenport, Dubuque, Muscatine, Osage, Sioux City and Tama as well as Bayer Crop Science near Muscatine, a mobile home park in Muscatine and the Peteschs campground near Bellevue.)

(Update) Names released in fatal Muscatine County crash

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Muscatine County, Iowa) – A collision Friday evening in eastern Iowa resulted in the death of one person and two others injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Nissan Rogue SUV driven by 53-year-old Marion Edwards, of Muscatine, was traveling south on Taylor Avenue in Muscatine at around 5:55-p.m., when the Edwards failed to stop at the stop sign with Highway 61. The SUV was struck by a Dodge Surango SUV driven by 26-year-old Allison Pierce, of Muscatine, as she was traveling south on Highway 61.

A passenger in one of the vehicles, 48-year-old Darrell Allchin, of Muscatine, died from his injuries at Trinity Hospital in Muscatine. Pierce was transported to the same hospital, by private vehicle. Edwards was flown by helicopter to UIHC in Iowa City. All of the accident victims were wearing their seat belts.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine EMS/Fire, Muscatine Police and Aircare.

Fatal crash in Greene County Saturday night

News

August 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Rural Greene County, Iowa) – One person died and another was injured during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Saturday night, west of Paton, in rural Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a pickup truck, 31-year-old Kyle Shank, of Paton, died at the scene. His passenger, 30-year-old Sydney Shank, also of Paton, was injured and transported by ambulance to the Greene County Hospital. The crash happened a little after 10-p.m.

According to the report, the 2017 Chevy Silverado pickup was traveling east on 130th Street, when Kyle Shank attempted to pass another vehicle also traveling eastbound, at a high rate of speed. The pickup’s tires dropped-off the north shoulder of the road, causing the vehicle to go out of control. It entered the north ditch, hit a field drive, and became airborne before rolling several times end-over-end and coming to rest in a corn field.

Kyle Shank was not wearing a seat belt. He was ejected from the pickup and came to rest east of the vehicle. Sydney Shank was wearing a seat belt. A report on her condition was not available.

CHARLES “CHUCK” WESTPHALEN, 86, of Atlantic (Visitation 8/29 & 8/30/24)

Obituaries

August 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CHARLES “CHUCK” WESTPHALEN, 86, of Atlantic, died Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Atlantic Specialty Care (in Atlantic, Iowa). An open visitation for CHUCK WESTPHALEN (without the family present) will be held on Thursday, Aug. 29th, from 1-until 5-p.m., and on Friday, Aug. 30th, from 9-a.m. until 4-p.m., at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.  Visitation WITH the family present will be held at the funeral home, from 4-until 7-p.m., Friday.

A prayer service, officiated by Pastor Lauri Boysen of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, will be held at the conclusion of visitation starting at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

 The family has requested casual attire at all gatherings.

 A private family burial will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in memory of Chuck and can be mailed to Roland Funeral Service, PO Box 129, Atlantic, Iowa 50022

CHARLES “CHUCK” WESTPHALEN is survived by:

His wife – Marcia Westphalen.

His son – Brian Westphalen.

His brother – Ron Westphalen.

2 grandchildren, and his daughter-in-law, Tammy Westphalen.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Adams County Sheriff’s report: 5 arrests from Aug. 9th through the 23rd

News

August 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a total of five arrests occurred between August 9th and the 23rd. Last Friday (8/23), Deputies in Adams County arrested 33-year-old Frank Sylvester Mills, Jr., of Merathon, NY. Mills was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m. on an active warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA) on a previous, Domestic Abuse Assault, charge. Mills also had a second active warrant for Harboring a Runaway.  He was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

At around 1:20-p.m. on August 19th, Adams County Deputies arrested 29-year-old Jeffery Whitt, of Villisca, following a traffic stop for a window tint violation. Whitt was found to allegedly be in possession of marijuana. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)  3rd offense, and held in the Adams County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond, until seen by a magistrate.

On August 11th, deputies arrested Noble John Murren, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense, and Driving Under Suspension. He was booked into the Adams County Jail and held on a $1,300 cash bond, until seen by the magistrate.

And, on August 9th, Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop at Highway 148 & 200th Street. The driver of the vehicle, 27-year-old Aaron Johnson, of Creston, was arrested for PCS (A serious misdemeanor), and Possession of drug paraphernalia. His passenger, 34-year-old Tonya Tindle, of Creston, was arrested for PCS (A Class-D Felony), and possession of paraphernalia.

Adams County Deputies were assisted during their investigation, by Adams County K9 “Midge.”

Sheriff’s disclaimer: “Any potential charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Hit-and-run property damage accident in Creston

News

August 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a hit-and-run property damage accident caused a reported $1,500 damage, Saturday afternoon. Authorities say a legally parked SUV was struck by a 2012 Chevy pickup at around 12:40-p.m., in a parking lot located off of Sheldon Street, in Creston.

According to the report, the pickup, driven by 91-year-old Harold Carr, of Greenfield, was traveling the wrong way, and attempted to park in an angled parking space, when the vehicle struck the SUV on the rear, passenger side, causing minor damage.

Carr left the scene, apparently unaware his truck hit the SUV. No citations were issued. No injuries were reported.

ZOE ANN RUHL, 66, of Griswold (Visitation 8/29/24)

Obituaries

August 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ZOE ANN RUHL, 66, of Griswold, died Saturday, August 24th (2024), at home in Griswold. A visitation for ZOE RUHL will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 PM, at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.

Interment will be at the Grant Cemetery at a later date.

ZOE RUHL is survived by:

Her daughter – Misty (Brandon) Adams.

Her sister – Becky DuBois.

Her brother – Nathan (Missy) Miller.

4 grandchildren, many other relatives and friends.

Iowa prepares for Illinois State

Sports

August 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa will open the season on Saturday against Illinois State without head coach Kirk Ferentz. The veteran coach was suspended for the opener due to a recruiting violation. It will be the first time Ferentz has missed a game.

Ferentz will not be allowed to be at the stadium and expects to watch the game from home.