Tornadoes can spin out of the sky during any month of the year in Iowa, but now that we’re into August, twisters are becoming much less likely. Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says Iowa is wrapping up the season with fewer tornadoes than usual. “Certainly, we did start off fairly quickly in 2017, we did have a couple of tornado events, one in February and another one in March, that accounted for several tornadoes,” Donavon says. “We’re already sitting at 40 tornadoes right now. The average in Iowa is mid- to upper-40s so we’re pretty close to average, even though we’ve been fairly quiet the last month or two.”

An E-F-one tornado hit McGregor in northeast Iowa on July 19th, causing widespread damage in the historic downtown. The biggest risk going forward, Donavon says, will likely be hail and severe winds, not tornadoes. “We’re going back to another dry period and we’ll really start tailing off,” Donavon says. “Typically, in severe weather season, we tend to go more damaging wind events as we get more into July and August and our peak tornado season really ends by mid- to late-June, so, we’re starting to get out of tornado season.”

Last year, Iowa reported 43 tornadoes.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Regulators are seeking tough penalties against a former Sioux City councilman and his electronics recycling company, accusing them of repeatedly violating environmental law. Iowa Natural Resources Department documents say Recycletronics owner Aaron Rochester has wrongfully stored lead-containing glass cathode ray tubes at a Sioux City facility and illegally stored or disposed of the material at five more locations. The department says Rochester hasn’t paid more than $75,000 owed on a state loan used to buy equipment.

The department is asking permission from the state Environmental Protection Commission to turn the case over to the state attorney general’s office, which can seek higher penalties than the department. Rochester says he’s been working with the department to close Recycletronics. The department also says federal regulators have inspected Recycletronics sites in Nebraska.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a very short meeting today (Wednesday), in Atlantic. Officials heard from Snyder and Associates’ Engineer Dave Sturm, with regard to the Elite Octane, LLC. Gray Water Transmission project. Sturm provided the Board with a Resolution authorizing the County to request bids for the installation of pipes and related components needed for the gray water line from the Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant to the ethanol plant.

Sturm said they have the plans and specifications mostly finished and are just waiting on their electrical sub-contractor to provide their schematics, which are expected by no later than Friday. Afterward, they plan on going to bid for the project, with taking bids on Aug. 22nd. Bids received will be considered during the Board’s meeting on August 23rd.

A Public Hearing will be held on the proposed project plans, specifications and form of contract August 23rd, as well. Sturm was asked about the engineering costs of the gray water project. He said the most recent estimate, was $700,000. A better estimate will be available for the board prior to taking bids.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 63-year old Daniel Leroy Finck, of Council Bluffs, received a citation/summons to court, on a charge of Simple Assault. Deputy Adam Fields said in his report, that at around 3-p.m., he was notified of a possible, belated assault report to be taken at a residence in the 14,000 block of 230th Street. A short time later, he met with the reporting party and victim, a 38-year old man from Council Bluffs, who advised he was assaulted in the day and wanted to make a report. The victim and Finck were not previously acquainted.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says two people were arrested at around 2-a.m. today (Wednesday), for Violation of a No Contact Order. 29-year old Jared Lee Pomerenke, and 32-year old Robyn Leigh Salmons, both of Glenwood, were taken into custody near the intersection of Levi Road and Highway 34. They were being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

Police in Clarinda have arrested a man on drug charges. 57-year old Larry Michael Smith,  of Clarinda, was arrested at around 12-a.m. today (Wednesday), for delivery of a controlled substance, believed to be methamphetamine and for possession of drugs believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana.

Smith was being held in the Page County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Investigative reports have been forwarded to Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review and consideration of the filing of formal charges.

The Clarinda Police Department was assisted in the investigation and arrest by the Page County Sheriff’s Department and Page County Sheriff’s Department K-9, Lucas.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A traffic stop at around 1:35-a.m. today (Wednesday), in Creston, resulted in an arrest. 26-year old Peter Larsen III, of Afton, was arrested at the intersection of Taylor/Division Streets, on the charges of OWI 1st and Driving while Suspended. Larsen was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Iowa’s 19 state-licensed are making an extra effort to reach out to customers this week as part of Responsible Gaming Education Week. Iowa Gaming Association C-E-O, Wes Ehrecke says the casinos have several activities planned throughout the week. “The Responsible Gaming Education Week has always been a time over the last 18 years to focus on heightening awareness with our patrons and treatment providers and staff….that people should go to the casino for the fun and entertainment that it is intended to be and using discretionary dollars,” Ehrecke says.

A big issue being discussed this year is the change in the law on self bans from casinos. “It’s an opportunity to answer questions and get everybody sort of on the same page — kind of a learning curve here,” Ehrecke says. The new law clarifies that the ban only includes the gaming floor areas at the casinos. He says a lot of studying went into changing the law that now gives someone the option of a five-year ban — which had been limited to only a lifetime ban. Ehrecke says treatment professionals believe it may lead to more people taking advantage of it because it doesn’t last forever.

“When people maybe have the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce or loss of a job. It’s not necessarily a compulsive gambler, they just need a time out. Something that’s maybe shorter than a lifetime,” Eherecke says. “So this is giving that opportunity of a better option.”

The new law began July 1st and Ehrecke says those who had banned themselves already have a chance to take another look at the issue. “If they’ve been excluded for at least five years they would have an opportunity to be reinstated,” Ehrecke explains . “So that’s another aspect of this we’ve been trying to help educate and heighten awareness and answer questions — of which there have been plenty of in the last couple of weeks.”

While this week focuses on the effort to stop problem gambling, he says casinos are working on the issue throughout the year. “It’s absolutely important to have a focus on responsible gaming year round, and I applaud our casinos who work with respective area treatment providers. They invite them in on a periodic basis,” Ehrecke says. “Certainly this week there is a lot of attention on staff training and interaction, and just looking at signage and what can we do to improve.”

Ehrecke says there is a lot of information available on gambling and the rules in the state at the Iowa Gaming Association’s website at: iowagaming.org.

(Radio Iowa)