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

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The Creston Police Department reports 47-year old Mary Giles, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday night at her home, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. Giles was brought to the Union County Jail and later released on $1,000 bond.

And, 56-year old Michael Fry, of Creston, was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, on a charge of Driving While Barred. Fry was being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Authorities said also, 30-year old Tawayna Wyett, of Creston, was cited Tuesday evening for Allowing an Animal to Run At-Large. Wyett was released on a Promise to Appear later, in court.

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

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AMES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources forestry bureau, working in coordination with the US Forest Service has grant money available for Iowa’s rural fire departments to help battle wildfires. The grants offer funding assistance for wildfire suppression equipment, slide in units, hoses, nozzles, adapters, portable tanks and pumps, personal protective equipment and communications equipment.

Additionally, if a fire department has a special need that can be tied directly to wildfire suppression, this grant allows for such special requests. The grant provides 50 percent reimbursement for wildland fire equipment with a maximum reimbursement grant of $3,500 per department.

Gail Kantak, DNR state wildland fire supervisor, reminds fire departments that they should send her a Wildland Fire Report whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Departments actively returning these reports can receive priority points in the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant application scoring process.

“It is important for rural fire departments to return these reports so we can assess the actual demands on our rural fire departments as a result of wildfire activity,” Kantak said. “The wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and reported to Congress.”

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant applications are due October 15, 2016.  In mid-June, fire departments were mailed information about the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant. The grant application package and the Wildland Fire Report form are also available online at www.iowadnr.gov/fire.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports work has been completed on a bridge over Lyons Creek, and 1700th Street Street, is now open again. The road had been closed in the 1100 Block of 1700^th Street since April 4th.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR MOST OF IOWA.

* TEMPERATURE…HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 105 TO 115. HIGHS IN THE 90S…LOWS IN THE MID 70S…WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S.

* IMPACTS…EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD LEAD TO SEVERE HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES AND POSSIBLY DEATH IF PROPER ACTION IS NOT TAKEN.

Excessive Heat Warning from 1-p.m. Wed, thru 7-p.m Friday (Counties shaded in pink/mauve); Excessive Heat Watch for counties shaded in deep red

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY.

CHILDREN…SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS ARE AT HIGHER RISK. RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISE TO COOLER EVENING HOURS. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT AND GET INTO AN AIR CONDITIONED SPACE.

DO NOT LEAVE PETS AND/OR CHILDREN IN UNATTENDED VEHICLES. CAR INTERIORS CAN REACH LETHAL TEMPERATURES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES IN THESE CONDITIONS. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9 1 1.

The Atlantic City Council this (Wednesday) evening, will discuss and possibly act on filling a vacancy for the At-Large seat on the Council. In March, At-Large Councilman Bob Cord announced he would be leaving his seat because he and his wife planned on relocating to another community, but the date of his departure was left open at that time, pending the sale of his home here in Atlantic. His term on the Council was set to expire January 1st, 2018.

Atlantic At-Large Councilman Bob Cord

In other business, the Council will act on a Resolution in support of a Workforce Housing Tax Incentive Program Application being submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IDEA), by the Whitney Group, LLC, for a 16-unit housing project located at the former old Whitney Inn (222 Chestnut St.). They’ll also act on a Resolution Approving the Contract and Bonds for the 2016 Street Improvement Project, and hold discussion with regard to the re-piping of a collapsed section of storm sewer pipe southeast of the 8th and Walnut Street intersection.

The Council may decide on whether or not it would be more economically feasible to re-pipe the entire block. City Administrator John Lund has indicated that would cost more than $200,000, which is a large chunk of the $990,000 available for the entire Bull Creek project. The price tag is due to the size, weight and depth of the pipe, the largest piece of which weighs-in at 14,000-pounds. A large excavator would be needed to install that section of pipe.

And, the Council is expected to hear a report from Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ouida Hargens, as part of the regular monthly series of Department Head reports. The Chamber receives $35,000 in direct, annual support from the City, plus thousands more in Community Promotion funds.

The City Council meeting is set to begin 5:30-p.m. in their Chambers, at City Hall.

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

MT. PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack rose from the steps of an orphanage to serving as a Cabinet secretary. He won’t talk about the vice presidential rumors, but he will say that Donald Trump is wrong about America.

RYAN, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of a fish kill in northeastern Iowa. The department says in a news release Tuesday that someone fishing in Buck Creek near Ryan reported the fish kill over the weekend. Upon investigation Monday, staff found both dead and live fish in the stream. No cause for the kill had been determined by Tuesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman accused of duping dozens of people into buying non-existent tickets to the Super Bowl and other high-profile events has been charged with fraud. The federal charges of mail and tax fraud against Ranae Van Roekel of Boyden, Iowa, come four years after her alleged scheme became public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A thunderstorm carrying strong lightning and heavy rain has caused flash flooding in some areas of north and central Iowa including Des Moines. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Tuesday for portions of four central Iowa counties until early evening. More than a dozen others were placed in a flash flood watch, where conditions are possible for additional evening flooding to develop.

The Cass County Democratic Party will be sponsoring its Fifth Annual School Supply Drive for the children of Cass County. Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Party Chair, says in years past, County Democrats have donated to each of the three school districts in the county. Suggested items include, but are not limited to, backpacks, notebooks, filler paper, pencils and pens, pencil cases, portfolios, erasers, highlighters, and other supplies that students will require to have a more successful school year.

Toelle said “We are sponsoring this school supply drive but it is a non-partisan event. You don’t have to be a Democrat to donate OR to receive school supplies. It is something that we, as Democrats, feel is important for the betterment of our children. Not all families can easily afford the many supplies needed to start off the school year. This makes it easier for all students to begin the year on an equal footing with their fellow students.”

Donated items can be dropped off at the Cass County Democratic Party’s Fair Booth from July 22nd through the 25th, or at its AtlanticFest booth on August 13th, or at Toelle’s home at 10 East 13th Street in Atlantic. Supplies will then be distributed the week of August 15th.

A man from the unincorporated town of McPaul, in Fremont County, was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 36-year old Rafael “Rocky” Speed was arrested for Public Intoxication, and Trespassing on Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad property. Speed was brought to the Fremont County Jail and held on $600 bond.

“Rocky” Speed