DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Powerball jackpot has climbed above $400 million for the first time in nearly three months. The top prize for Wednesday night’s drawing will be an estimated $403 million if paid over 29 years or $244 million in cash. Winners then would have to pay taxes on their winnings.

The game’s six numbers will be drawn at 10:59 p.m. eastern time. Five white balls are drawn from a drum with 69 balls and a red ball is drawn from a drum with 26 balls. Powerball is played in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are incredibly small, at one in 292.2 million. If there is no winner, the prize will increase before the next drawing Saturday night.

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

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SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) – Middle school students will gather in separate locations today (Wednesday) as officials work on repairing their water-damaged school in Sergeant Bluff. A broken water main in the boiler room let loose a torrent around 7 p.m. Monday at Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle School. The water spread inches deep in some places in the hallways, library, lunchroom, gymnasium, computer lab and wrestling room. Classes were canceled Tuesday but will be held in different locations Wednesday.

Superintendent Rod Earleywine told the Sioux City Journal that eighth-grade students will report to the high school, seventh-graders will go to the community center and sixth-grade students will report to the elementary building.

Earleywine says that plan likely will hold through Friday, with the hope that the students can return to their school Monday.

Creston Police say two people were taken into custody on separate warrants, Tuesday afternoon. 47-year old Dennis Speed, of Creston, was arrested at his home on a Polk County warrant for Escape. And, 51-year old Lori Graham, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Parole Violation. Both were being held without bond, with Speed held in the Union County Jail, and Graham in the Ringgold County Jail.

Creston Police said also, a resident of the 1100 block of S. Patt Street, reported Tuesday night, that sometime over the noon hour, Tuesday, her daughter’s Iphone 5S in a gold case, was stolen while she was at the Creston School. The loss was estimated at $500.

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

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A woman who was backing-up her Smart Car in Red Oak, Tuesday night, accidentally stepped on the gas pedal too hard, causing the vehicle to reverse abruptly and end up on top of a handicapped ramp on the side of a residence in the 200 block of E. Washington Avenue. Red Oak Police say 79-year old Rose Smith, of Red Oak, wasn’t injured in the mishap, that caused $800 damage to her car and $2,000 damage to the house. No citations were issued. The accident happened at around 8:45-p.m.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports the three-month window to reserve a state park campsite for a Friday arrival on Memorial Day weekend opens this Sunday, Feb. 26. More than a few campers will plan their arrival for the weekend before Memorial Day and stay through the holiday, which means their window is open now.

Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau, says “Campers can make reservations for sites three months ahead of their first night stay. And we have a flurry of reservations from campers who begin their stay prior to the Memorial Day weekend.”

Lake Wapello, Lake Keomah state parks and Fairport State Recreation Area all underwent campground renovations last year and are anxious for visitors to check things out. Red Haw State Park’s campground will be open to walk-in camping only starting on April 17 due to the final phase of its renovation. Advanced reservations will be accepted starting on June 22. And Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area’s campground #1 will be closed through June 30 for an electrical upgrade.

Most parks will have nonelectric sites available for the Memorial Day weekend. Not every campsite is available on the reservation system. Parks maintain 25 percent or more of the electric and nonelectric sites as non-reservation sites, available for walk-up camping.

Information on Iowa’s state parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/parks
including the link to reservations. Campers can also log on directly to http://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com; enter their preferred amenities and requirements, dates and/or parks to see what sites are available and make a reservation.

Campers are encouraged to note closures when making their reservations. Some campgrounds may be closed Memorial Day. Weather will play an important role in how soon projects will be completed and a how soon campgrounds will be back online.
Closure information is current on the DNR website and reservation system. Closure information can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks-Rec-Areas/Closure-Information and on individual park webpages.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County report the arrest this (Wednesday) morning, of 43-year old Tiffany Lea Palmer, of Red Oak. Palmer was taken into custody following an incident in the 1800 block of Highway 48, north of Red Oak. She was charged with Simple Assault and was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

A little after 10-p.m., Tuesday, the Montgomery County Communications Center received a call regarding a single-vehicle, rollover accident on 270th Street, west of Coburg, Upon arrival, Deputies, assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, determined a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am, owned and operated by 19-year old Dillion Cole Baldwin, of Shenandoah, was traveling eastbound on 270th near Dogwood Avenue, when Baldwin swerved to miss a deer. The car entered the south ditch and rolled over, coming to rest on its top. Baldwin was transported by private vehicle to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of possible/minor injuries. He was subsequently cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the car was estimated at $4,000.

And, just before 9-p.m., Tuesday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 50-year old Shawn Allen Graham, of Villisca, for Driving While Barred, Failure to have SR-22 insurance on file, operating an ATV on a public roadway, and operating an ATV without headlights. The charges are the result of an incident that occurred at 5th Avenue and 2nd Street, in Villisca. Graham was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Police in Red Oak this (Wednesday) morning, arrested 22-year old David Wesley Williams III, of Bellevue, Nebraska. Williams was taken into custody at around 1-a.m. at the intersection of G Avenue and Highway 34 in Red Oak, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. He was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 cash bond.

A woman from northwest Iowa who had been missing since Sunday evening, was found dead Tuesday morning in a local creek. On Sunday evening at about 10:30 the Kingsley Police Department was notified about the missing woman. Josh Derby advised that his mother, 57-year old Lisa Derby, of Kingsley, had been missing since about 5:00 p-m. Sunday. Family and friends had been searching for Lisa, but were unable to locate her.

Just after 8-a.m. Tuesday, the Plymouth County Communications Center received a call from a man who said he was checking an unnamed creek close to his residence and found an unresponsive female in the creek. The woman was identified as Lisa Derby.

(Radio Iowa)