The National Climate Prediction Center is again issuing a La Nina watch into next year, though an Iowa climatologist says it likely isn’t much reason for farmers and snow shovelers to worry. Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says the La Nina watch won’t mean any significant changes in the long-range outlook. “Okay, yeah, it could end up being La Nina,” Todey says. “Still, I don’t think it’s going to be a major issue. It doesn’t really change too much about what it says for the winter or for next growing season.”

La Nina occurs when Pacific Ocean surface temperatures fall and it has some effect on the weather across North America. Todey says the looming La Nina may be a contributing factor to the winter ahead. “The storm pattern may be a bit more active across the northern U.S. this year,” Todey says. “I’m not saying we’re calling for more precipitation than average but it could be more active and we’ll probably see more storm systems coming through.”

Todey says other factors may have more of an effect on the weather through next spring. “Probably something else is going to kick in and be more of a driver this winter than the La Nina will be,” Todey says, “and then, it becomes a non-factor by next summer.” The La Nina pattern comes on the heels of a two-year, record-breaking El Nino pattern that faded away late this summer.

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents has ordered an audit of every flight that Iowa State University President Steven Leath has taken on the school’s two airplanes, citing possible misuse. Board President Bruce Rastetter said Thursday that he’s extremely disappointed that Leath has used the planes on multiple occasions in ways that appear “questionable at best.”

He says Leath has been a successful president but the board must take seriously any questions about the potential misuse of university resources. The board’s audit committee voted to order its internal auditor to review Leath’s flights on university planes during his five-year tenure. He said the report must be detailed and answer all questions about the trips.

A pilot, Leath has repeatedly flown to and from North Carolina, where he owns a mountain home.

Officials with the Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation, in Stuart, invite you to celebrate Manufacturing Month, by touring Quality Machine of Iowa, in Audubon. Stop by the facility at 1040 4th Avenue in Audubon, any time between 9-a.m. and Noon on October 26th, to get a firsthand look at cutting edge manufacturing.

Officials say this is a great opportunity for students and community leaders to learn more about the manufacturing industry, manufacturing careers, and to see how innovative products are made right here and shipped all over the world. Experts in  horizontal/vertical machining centers, CNC turning, Spline rolling, sawing and laser marking will be on-hand to share their knowledge.

Registrations are requested, but walk-in’s are welcome. To register for a tour, go to http://www.mfgday.com/events/2016/quality-machine-of-iowa-2/register, or call Stacie Euken at Midwest Partnership, (515)523-1262 or e-mail seuken@midwestpartnership.com.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says two men were arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly passing counterfeit bills at a convenience store in Minden. 25-year old Adrian S. Byers, of Burnham, IL, and 24-year old Jordan F-C Lyles, of Dolton, IL, each face a felony charge of Forgery, after they allegedly tried to pass a $100 counterfeit bill at the Casey’s General Store in Minden. A subsequent investigation identified about $2,100 in bogus bills, plus nearly $500 in additional currency. The money and a cellphone was taken into evidence.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 19-year old Taylor Lee Storrow, who has no known address, was arrested Thursday afternoon for Criminal Trespass, after a resident in Carson called to complain a man was sleeping in an outhouse behind a home.

And, 33-year old Curtis Allen Yelton, of Council Bluffs, was arrested early this (Thursday) morning in Carson, after a deputy investigated a property damage accident. The deputy was informed a person living at the home at 210 Washington Street, was wanted on a warrant for Violation of the Sex Offender Registry.

Yelton claimed he didn’t know there was a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody and booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Starting today (Thursday) Iowans have a new online way to connect with other commuters who want to consolidate trips using a car pool or van pool. IowaRideshare.org uses technology to connect people coming and going to the same location. Bicycle and walking buddies can also be matched using the secure website.

The Iowa Department of Transportation partnered with several agencies to reduce the number of duplicative systems by integrating the car pool and van pool matching programs of several partnering agencies into Iowa Rideshare. Those agencies include the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, East Central Iowa Council of Governments, and The University of Iowa.

Iowa Rideshare is a service provided by the Iowa DOT and funded as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative.

How does the system work?
Iowa Rideshare, designed by a company called RideShark, uses state-of-the-art mapping technology to search for possible commute matches. Matches are displayed on an interactive Google map, allowing you to email potential matches.

The database is searchable, and always changing as more users sign up. Because the service is new, finding a match might take a little time until more users are added to the database.

Who does the driving?
There is no hard and fast rule – it is totally dependent upon the individual circumstances of those in your car pool. In some car pools, each car pool member takes turns driving their own vehicle, while in others there is only one driver.

The program is designed to be flexible. You can sign up for options that work best for you including which days of the week you want to share a ride or if you prefer to drive or ride only. If the first car pool or van pool you choose doesn’t work out, check back for other options.

The Facilities Committee of the Griswold Community School District met with the Griswold School Board Monday night. Griswold Superintendent David Henrichs said the Committee wanted some guidance or direction from the Board with regard to moving forward on their options.

He said in general terms the committee feels it has enough information and has used the information on-hand to formalize a recommendation of one of the three options. Those options include – Consolidate all operations into one facility in Griswold; Eliminate the Elementary Building in Lewis or Elliott; or, consolidate operations and shift some kids around.”

Henrichs said part of the original charge from the School Board was to analyze the savings as well as any additional costs incurred by the district. Without having firm numbers though, the Committee can’t accomplish the second part of their job. They asked the Board if the Committee should try and put those numbers together, or would it be better to hire a firm to crunch the numbers.

The Board wanted to take a step back and look into getting someone for the task. In the meantime, Henrichs, the School Board and District as a whole will start looking into options to establish terms for an RFP [Request for Proposal] to obtain bids to do the design plan cost estimates for another building in the District.”

The Facilities Committee will continue to meet. Their next session will be held 5-p.m. Monday, Oct. 24^th, at the Middle School/High School Building Library.

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

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Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports 32-year old Nathan Kinzie, of Atlantic, was arrested today (Thursday), for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Kinzie was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And no injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday afternoon at 6^th and Chestnut Streets. Green says Sharon Huddleson, of Stuart, was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, after she failed to stop at the light, and her vehicle struck a vehicle driven by Alan Redler, of Harlan. The accident, which happened at around 1:10-p.m., resulted in $2,800 damage altogether.

Creston Police report a woman from Lenox was arrested Wednesday evening for Assault with Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. 37-year old Brenda Davis was later released from 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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