…Brutal Cold This Weekend and Early Next Week…

.Arctic air will persist across the area from today into early Tuesday. This will bring bitterly cold wind chills to the area. There will be brief limited periods this afternoon and again Sunday afternoon when portions of the area may see some improvement
in wind chills and then wind chills will again quickly drop into the evening. Additionally, even colder air will move into the area Sunday into Monday. All of the area will then be under a wind chill warning at that time.

For the KJAN listening area: A WIND CHILL ADVISORY is NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY. A WIND CHILL WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY…

* WHAT…Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Expect wind chills to range from 15 below zero to 29 below zero through 6 am Sunday and then from 25 to 35 below through Tuesday.

* WHERE…Southwest into south central Iowa.

* WHEN…For the Wind Chill Warning, 6 AM Sunday to noon Tuesday. For the Wind Chill Advisory, this morning to 6 AM Sunday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin through Sunday. From Sunday through Tuesday wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and the wind will create dangerously low wind chill values. Frost bite can occur quickly and even hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves.

With temperatures dropping to the single digits and below, combined with the winds, weather officials have issued wind chill advisories for Iowa. The Director of Nursing for Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, Lorrie Mortensen, says frost bite is a real concern, and can hit you before you know it.

She says it can occur in a matter of minutes if you do not dress appropriately. Mortensen says any uncovered areas will be hit first. The tissues start to freeze and the first symptoms are a cold prickly feeling to exposed areas such as ears, toes and fingers. “And then it kind of turns into that numbness feeling,” she explains. She recommends wearing mittens as opposed to gloves.

“Because you actually have the other fingers keeping them warm…when they are individually covered you don’t have as much protection as you do with a mitten,” Mortensen says. She says both the young and the elderly are more susceptible to the frigid cold temperatures, and they are likely to get frost bite before others.

Mortensen says elderly people may have decreased circulation and they often walk slower and are exposed to cold weather longer than others. Mortensen’s advice during these cold days is to “keep moving and bundle up.” Wear several layers of clothing, and remember wet clothing will bring on frost bite faster than wearing dry clothing.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop in Montgomery County Friday afternoon, resulted in the arrest of a Union County man. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials say 23-year old Patrick Riley Iiams, of Creston, was pulled over on Highway 34 for speeding 20-miles per hour over the posted limit. During the investigation, authorities determined Hams was driving under a suspended license. He was also wanted on a Union County warrant for violation of probation.

Hams was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Friday, pending transportation to Union County.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

BOSTON (AP) — It’s not the forecast millions of residents suffering through a deep freeze want to hear: another arctic blast. Parts of the Midwest and the East Coast already socked by extreme cold and snow are dealing with a handful of deaths, highway crashes, train delays and frozen pipes. Many New Year’s Eve events have been canceled. The National Weather Service predicts another wave of cold will grip much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. through the weekend and into 2018.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency will release a report early next year designed to start measuring the impact of a new state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The Iowa Department of Human Services plans to release program data on Jan. 8. The report will include information on patient enrollment and program utilization, as well as details about health care providers and payments for services and pharmacy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California man charged with setting up fake businesses in Iowa and two other states to obtain more than $355,000 in unemployment benefits for nonexistent workers has pleaded guilty in federal court and will be sentenced next month. Court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa say Nikolai Monastyrski has pleaded guilty to all charges contained in a 14-count indictment alleging wire fraud and mail fraud.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The owners of a Sioux City bee and honey operation fear vandals may have cost the couple their business. Justin and Tori Engelhardt own Wild Hill Honey, and they found the damage Thursday morning when they went to dust snow off their 50 hives in a grove on their west Sioux City property. Justin Engelhardt says all the hives were knocked over, killing at least 500,000 bees

A semi tractor-trailer driver from Washington State was injured during a rollover accident near the Marne exit, Friday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports 68-year old Roumen Roussev, of Vancouver, WA., was traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near the Cass-Pottawattamie County line at around 3:40-p.m., when he lost control of the 2012 International semi he was driving.

The rig entered the south ditch near the 49 mile-marker and toppled onto its side. Roussev, who was wearing his seat belt, suffered from serious injuries and was transported by Atlantic Medivac to the UNMC in Omaha.

The Pottawattamie and Cass County Sheriff’s Offices assisted at the scene, along with Marne Fire and Rescue and the Atlantic Fire Department.

Iowans who need to travel somewhere this holiday weekend are being reminded to prepare for the extremely cold temperatures. Iowa State Patrol Trooper John Farley says any trip in these conditions should start with a full tank of gas and an emergency kit.

“Make sure you’re packing some warm blankets, heavier jackets and warm weather gear,” Farley says. “Throw in some energy bars, bottled water, energy drinks…that’s always helpful if you do become disabled or your vehicle does end up in the median or ditch along the interstate.” Law enforcement officers often warn motorists about the dangers of texting while driving, but Farley says a cell phone can be a lifesaver if you’re involved in an accident.

“Make sure you have your cell phone and you have a charger with you, so your battery is fully charged in case you do become stranded, you’re able to call emergency services,” Farley says. And if you do become stranded this weekend, Farley suggests you stay with your vehicle and wait for help.

“Never try and go walk out on to the interstate or highway thinking that farmhouse is close. During those severe cold, below zero temperatures, nothing is ever as close as you think it is,” Farley said. “Never take that chance, always stay with your vehicle.”

Last weekend, an 83-year-old woman died from exposure to the cold after crashing her car in eastern South Dakota. Police say she left her car and her body was found the following day, not far away, in a ditch. Overnight temperatures in the area fell as low as 2 degrees.

(Radio Iowa)

(Update) Firefighters from Adair, Anita and Wiota were called to the 73 mile marker of Interstate 80 eastbound Friday night, where a semi trailer hauling cars caught fire near Adair. The incident was reported at around 6:53-p.m.

According to dispatch reports and firefighters at the scene, the flames were spreading quickly to the vehicles being transported on the carrier, and several were fully engulfed in flames by the time the first crews arrived on the scene.

No injuries were reported, and no other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency will release a report early next year designed to start measuring the impact of a new state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The Iowa Department of Human Services plans to release program data on Jan. 8.

The report will include information on patient enrollment and program utilization, as well as details about health care providers and payments for services and pharmacy. The data will cover the first quarter of the budget year that began in July and will include information about a period before the new program was implemented.

The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature agreed last spring to give up millions in federal dollars to launch a $3 million state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providing organizations, although no state or federal dollars go to abortions in Iowa.

Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  For more information or to make an appointment call on or after January 8th to 712-755-3104.  Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000.  Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Slayer software to complete returns.  Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required.  Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed.  The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses.   A professional tax preparer should be consulted for these services.

In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Shelby County Extension and Outreach and The Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services.  For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Friday morning in their chambers at the courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board opened and reviewed a single application for Cass County Attorney. The deadline for applications was December 27th. The application they received and reviewed, was from Michael Hooper, of Atlantic.  Appointment of a Cass County Attorney is scheduled for January 2, 2018.

The Board also voted unanimously to abate the tax, penalties and interest collectible  on a parcel of land owned by The City of Atlantic, and ordered the Treasurer to strike the amount due from the County system.

And, beginning January 1st, 2018 the county is adding the option to participate in a Flexible Spending Account Plan to the county’s ISAC Group Health program. The move to approve the 2018 Cass County Flexible Benefits Plan Administrative Services Agreement by and between Cass County and TRISTAR Benefit Administrators, was carried unanimously.