A reminder for Atlantic residents: Atlantic Police in coordination with the Atlantic Fire Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Emergency Management Agency, Atlantic Medivac, and the Iowa State Patrol, will be conducting an “Active Intruder” drill today at the Atlantic High School. Officials stress that “There are currently no known threats of violence to any schools or facilities within the area. This is strictly A DRILL.

The drill will begin shortly after 10-a.m., and will include and “ALERT” from the principal’s office, notifying everyone in the building of the “Danger Zone.” Those area affected in the “Danger Zone,” will be practicing “Lockdown/Barricade,” and discussing alternate exits from the classroom.

The principal will continue to “Inform” everyone of any changes to the “Danger Zone.” “Counter,” which was taught in previous lessons, will not be practiced in the first drill. Classrooms not in the “Danger Zone,” will practice the preferred response, “Evacuation.”

To ensure participant safety, certain intersections and roads surrounding the Atlantic High School, specifically the area of E. 14th Street, will be temporarily blocked-off and inaccessible. The closures include: Eastbound traffic on 14th Street from Olive Street; 14th and Roosevelt Streets; 14th and Lincoln Streets; 14th and Mulberry; 14th and Cherry; 14th and Plum, and westbound traffic on 14th Street from Redwood Drive.

The Atlantic Fire Department was called the scene of a fiery accident on Interstate 80 eastbound this morning, just east of the Highway 71 exit near the Nishna River Bridge. The road is completely blocked at the Nishna River bridge and traffic is being re-routed. Eastbound traffic is being directed south at Highway 71 to Highway 83 and then east to Anita. Westbound traffic is also in the process of being re-routed.

(Photo from Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon)

Two semi’s were involved, with one semi on its side. One semi is in the median. Both cabs were said to be on fire. Reports from the scene indicate one of the semi’s was partially in the ditch or on the shoulder when it was struck by the second semi. The call went out just after 5:30-a.m. One driver is out, the other driver was still inside his cab at last report.

No other details are currently available. Check back for updates.

A Red Oak man was arrested Thursday night, on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 34-year old Jesse Donald Trost was taken into custody in the 400 block of N. Highland Avenue, at around 7:30-p.m. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man charged with killing two police officers was having intense money problems and had been found by a judge to hit and financially exploit his mother. Scott Michael Greene was ordered to move out of his mother’s basement hours before the ambush-style attacks on Des Moines Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale officer Justin Martin. He was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Funeral arrangements have been set for an Iowa officer who was shot to death as he sat in his police car on a suburban Des Moines street. Urbandale police announced Thursday night that the funeral for officer Justin Martin will be held Tuesday at 11:40 a.m. at South Calhoun Middle School in his hometown of Rockwell City. The city of 1,700 is about 75 miles northwest of Des Moines.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton may not be accumulating the type of early-vote advantage lead her campaign wanted, but she continues to maintain an apparent edge over Donald Trump, with roughly one-fourth of all expected ballots cast in the 2016 election. Ballot requests from likely supporters have been weak in parts of the Midwest, and African-American turnout has fallen, too. Still, the tens of millions of early votes cast also point to strength from Democratic-leaning Latino voters.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has denied a request for a new trial by a Dubuque man convicted of killing his daughter. The Telegraph Herald reports that Iowa District Court Judge Michael Shubatt on Thursday denied the request by 63-year-old Robert Stern. Stern was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder in the June 2015 shooting death of 27-year-old Kimberly Stern.

Police in Council Bluffs said late Thursday evening, that the remaining two juveniles who had gone missing from the Children’s Square shelter in Council Bluffs, Wednesday, were returned to the shelter. Earlier in the day, Thursday, 11-year old Kyle Walding and 15-year old Jacob McBride returned to the facility voluntarily to the facility. The remaining juveniles, 17-year old Adam Guttau-Ford and 16-year old Kimberly Billick were still missing, but have since returned. All four had left the shelter on their own accord, but without permission.

Authorities have charged an Iowa man with two counts of first-degree murder in the ambush shooting deaths of two police officers. The Des Moines Police Department said that 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene was put under arrest Thursday afternoon after being questioned by detectives.

The department says that Greene was put into the handcuffs that had belonged to the officers who were killed, Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale officer Justin Martin. Greene is expected to be transported to the county jail. He faces life in prison if convicted. Greene was arrested after being released from the hospital and questioned by investigators.

Beminio, 38, and Martin, 24, were shot after 1 a.m. Wednesday while sitting in their patrol cars in separate incidents less than 2 miles apart. Police say they have recovered a rifle that was believed to be used in the shootings.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department and Richter and Sons Towing are asking for your help in finding a trucker who hasn’t been seen or heard from since Monday. 66-year old James “Jim” Stirek was last seen Monday afternoon in St. Mary’s, Ohio. His last fuel destination was Newton.

Jim Stirek (Commercial Driver’s license photo)

Stirek was driving a 2005 Peterbilt semi (truck #T-150), pulling a Great Dane trailer (#TT-109). The tractor is pinkish or salmon in color. The trailer is white with a purple reefer (refrigerator unit). The truck’s license plate is VB 9374. The trailer has plate # VB9375.

Stirek always travels with his golden retriever, and usually wears western-style shirts and blue jeans. He has no known health problems. If you know where he is, call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

The Cass County Conservation Board has announced the winners of their Lighted Halloween Campground event held last weekend at Cold Springs State Park, in Lewis. First place went to site #2, the Johnson (Terri Ehrman) family, the second place winner was Site 4, the Pangelina family, the third place winner was Site 1, the Amos family, and the fourth place was site 3: Melissa Ehrman-Johnson.

(left to right) Johnson family, Anita Pangelina, Karen Kirchhoff, Haden McAdams, Kaylee McAdams and Bob Amos

The CCCB thanks their business sponsor Cappel’s Ace Hardware who donated the prizes for the Lighted Halloween Campground. They also would like to thank everyone who signed up to decorate a site, and for sharing your Halloween décor with everyone.

Officials say The Lighted Halloween campground will be held again, in 2018!

DES MOINES– Floodplain mapping and watershed planning will be discussed at a meeting of the State Interagency Missouri River Authority (SIMRA) Nov. 18 in Des Moines. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Iowa Utilities Board, located at 1375 East Court Ave.

Scott Ralston from the Iowa DNR will present on the efforts of the DNR and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on providing new and updated flood hazard data for counties along the Missouri River. Larry Weber from the University of Iowa will present on a rural watershed approach to be used in the East and West Nishnabotna River watersheds. Other items on the agenda include updates on basin conditions and from the National Weather Service.

The complete agenda is available on the SIMRA website at www.iowadnr.gov/simra.

Interested people can attend the meeting by conference call. Dial 866-685-1580 and follow the prompts. The conference code is 5152817051 followed by the pound (#) sign.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a Mills County man was arrested on drug charges, Wednesday. 37-year old Jeremy Erickson, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while revoked. Erickson was being held in the Mills County Jail on $6,300 bond.

And, 55-year old Ray Radican, of Glenwood, was arrested today (Thursday), for Domestic abuse assault. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before a magistrate.