Iowans are being warned about a scam that’s surfaced this week, following Wednesday’s world record Powerball drawing. Jim Hegarty, at the Better Business Bureau, says crooks are always looking for new ways to separate unsuspecting folks from their money. “We’ll probably start seeing texts and emails that are going out to people saying, ‘We’re sorry you weren’t a grand prize winner but you were a secondary winner,'” Hegarty says. They’ll claim your numbers were picked and you’re eligible to collect a few hundred-thousand dollars. “You call a number and then you’ll be connected with scammers and they’re going to work you,” he says.

Hegarty says Iowans need to be very wary of this type of email, letter or phone call. “If you think this through, there’s no way they can know who you are, they don’t know who has bought these tickets,” he says. “It’s like the foreign lottery scam that we’ve seen for years. You get a letter in the mail saying you’re the grand prize winner of a foreign lottery that you entered because you shopped at Walmart or Target or whatever.”

Con artists have learned to make it appear that they’re legitimate, so Hegarty says you need to be on guard when answering your phone and when opening your mail and email. “The tip-off the the rip-off is that you’ve been contacted,” he says. “They’ll spoof the email to make it look like it’s coming from Powerball, they’ll spoof phone calls to make it look like that, too, so don’t trust caller I-D, don’t trust the address.” Hegarty says if one of these scammers calls you, simply hang up.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says hazardous weather will impact Iowa, this weekend. One-to three-inches of snow and blowing snow are expected across much of the state, with two-to three-inches in parts of northwest and western Iowa. The snow is forecast to impact travel Saturday night.

Roadways will likely become snow covered and slippery. Blowing snow may greatly reduce visibility at times. Travel speeds will likely be decreased. And, with cold temperatures, road treatments will not be as effective.

You should also be prepared for extremely cold wind chills of -25 to -40 degrees, especially Sunday morning through Monday morning. Northern Iowa will experience the lowest wind chill values of -35 to -45. As wind chills approach -30 degrees, Frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes.

Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to frostbite. Bring pets indoors, if possible. Dress in layers and try to cover as much exposed skin as possible.

(8-a.m. News)

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

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BOUTON, Iowa (AP) – A more than $12,000 grant will soon allow archaeologists to research a 1850s party house in rural Dallas County. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs recently gave the Dallas County Conservation Board the grant for the project on the Dayton House’s 11-acre plot in Bouton.

The building was originally a stopover for stagecoach riders, but turned into a place for dancing, drinking and horse racing. The board’s historical and cultural resources coordinator Pete Malmberg says he hopes the property gains a National Register of Historic Places nomination from the project’s findings, which could include traces of two race tracks.

Bids for the archaeological survey will go out later this year. Malmberg says the house will open for rentals this spring or summer.

The Creston Police Department reports the driver of a van was cited following an accident Thursday morning on S. Peterson Street. Officials say 23-year old Codie Cook, of Creston, was cited for Operating a motor vehicle while license suspended, and Failure to Maintain Control.

Cook had just gotten off work and was driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan southbound on S. Peterson Street at around 6:30-a.m., when he fell asleep at the wheel. The van hit the left rear of a parked, 2000 Dodge Intrepid, causing a total of $2,000 damage. No injuries were reported.

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

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Two teenage females from Union County suffered possible/unknown injuries during a single-vehicle accident Thursday morning. Authorities say a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero driven by 17-year old Breanna Ripperger, of Afton, was traveling south on Creamery Road at around 9:30-a.m., when the vehicle hit a patch of frost as it entered an “S” curve in the road. The car entered the north ditch and then went into a deep gully.

Ripperger, and her passenger, 17-year old Dalli McIntire, of Afton, were helped out of the vehicle and gully, by a fireman with a ladder. The girls complained of pain, but were not transported to the hospital.

The car was totaled during the mishap. No citations were issued.

A Red Oak man was arrested Thursday night on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on an OWI/1st offense, charge. 49-year old George Wesley Miller was arrested at around 7:40-p.m. and taken to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on a $1,000 cash bond.

A Pottawattamie County man who lost his leg in 2012 after being treated at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, has been awarded damages amounting to $90,000. According to the Daily NonPareil, a jury on Thursday awarded Tony Bailey, of Walnut, $22,500 for past loss of full mind and body, $22,500 in future loss of full mind and body, $22,500 for past pain and suffering and $22,500 in future pain and suffering.

A man from Nebraska was arrested Thursday night on numerous charges in Omaha, following an investigation into an incident in Council Bluffs that led to a pursuit. 22-year old Dylan J. Maron, of Nebraska City faces charges that include Fugitive from Justice, Aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding, reckless driving, Disorderly Conduct, and Theft in the 5th Degree. Maron was suspected of being under the influence of methamphetamine. He was booked into Douglas County, NE., Jail and was awaiting extradition to Iowa.

Dylan J. Maron

Authorities say the incident which led to his arrest began at around 7:48-p.m.,after Officers were sent to the Best Buy store at 3115 Manawa Center Drive, where a man was allegedly being aggressive with the store manager and at some point, had pulled a knife.

An officer arrived in the area shortly after the call was dispatched and located the suspect in a silver-colored BMW with no plates. The man, later identified as Maron, allegedly rammed the police cruiser in an attempt to flee the area. He then rammed the police cruiser a second time and drove the car across a grass median. The car then went westbound on 30th Ave.

Two additional officers arrived in the area and were able to get in behind the vehicle in an attempt to stop it. The vehicle failed to stop and fled westbound on I-80 entering into Omaha. Officers continued to pursue the vehicle into Omaha on I-80. The vehicle exited onto 42nd street continuing southbound to L Street where it turned westbound. The Nebraska State Patrol assisted and successfully deployed stop sticks at 90th and L Street. The vehicle was then disabled and came to a stop in the area of 108th and L.

Maron was then taken into custody and the vehicle was impounded by the Nebraska State Patrol.