Traffic is backed-up past the Cass-Adair County line early this (Wed.) morning due to a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident about 1.5-miles west of Adair, at around the 74.4 mile marker of Interstate 80 eastbound. The accident was reported at around 5:30-a.m. Both lanes of the interstate eastbound are completely blocked. Authorities were re-routing traffic south into Anita off I-80 at Exit 70 (Anita/Highway 148).  Traffic will then take White Pole Road (G-30) east to Exit 75 past and back onto I-80 eastbound.

The International semi was hauling paper towels and other, non-hazardous materials. The 42-year old driver from Nebraska was being checked out by medics.

No other details are currently available.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, on separate charges. A little after 2-a.m., deputies arrested 59-year old Fredrick Clifton Welsch, of Elliott, in Elliott. Welsch was taken into custody on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd degree. He was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

And, at around 12:50-a.m., deputies in Montgomery County, assisted by Red Oak Police, arrested 42-year old James Donald Uhlmann, Jr., of Red Oak, in Red Oak. Uhlmann was taken into custody on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $20,000 bond.

People on at least six floors of the Harrah’s Council Bluffs hotel/casino were evacuated early this (Wednesday) morning, when a fire erupted in the kitchen on the 12th-floor of the restaurant. The Omaha World-Herald reports thick smoked filled at least two floors of the casino on the western edge of the city, and a light haze drifted through other floors. Authorities said a 24-year-old security guard at the hotel was taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTIES: A HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM TODAY UNTIL 3 AM  THURSDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THOSE COUNTIES.

AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON COUNTIES: HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 9-PM (WED.) THROUGH 6-AM THURSDAY.  WIND ADVISORY FROM 6-AM-TO 6-PM THURSDAY.

SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL COUNTIES: HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6-AM THURSDAY, FOLLOWED BY A WIND ADVISORY FROM 6-AM THURSDAY UNTIL 6-P.M.

MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE COUNTIES: WIND ADVISORY 5-PM TODAY THROUGH 3-AM THURSDAY.

ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES: WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9-PM WED. (TODAY) UNTIL 6-AM THURSDAY.

High Wind Warning for counties in gold, Wind Advisory for counties in brown

WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 55 TO 60 MPH ARE LIKELY. WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE HAZARDOUS TO MOTORISTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. CERTAIN OUTDOOR ITEMS WHICH CAN BE BLOWN AWAY SHOULD BE SECURED OR BROUGHT INDOORS.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Cass County Republican Party Chair David Wiederstein reports Tom Moore, from Griswold, won a vote taken Tuesday night during a Special Nominating Convention for House District 21. The event took place at the Corning Opera House, in Corning. The Iowa House District 21 seat was left vacant by the death of State Rep. Jack Drake of Griswold. Moore was among six Republican’s seeking the nomination during the convention.

On Dec. 8th, Moore will face the Democrat who is selected during Thursday’s Democratic Party Nominating Convention in Massena. That event will take place beginning at 6-p.m., at the Massena Public Library. At last report, the lone Democratic candidate was Tim Ennis, of Corning, vice chairman of the Adams County Democrats.

Delegates eligible for both conventions are the precinct committee members from Iowa House District 21 elected at the 2014 precinct caucuses or those elected by their county central committee after the caucuses.

House District 21 covers portions of Pottawattamie and Cass Counties and all of Adams and Union Counties.

Former Iowa Congressman and current Transportation Commission chairman, Leonard Boswell, told the commission today (Tuesday) via telephone that his is in Arizona getting a tumor checked out. Boswell, a Vietnam veteran, says the tumor could be linked to the chemical known as Agent Orange that was used in Vietnam. He says he is seeking a second opinion on the diagnosis.

Boswell says he will get the second opinion in the next couple of days. Boswell spoke to the commission this morning during their informal workshop prior to their regular meeting. “Don’t be worried about me, I am still on my feet. I am doing the same, I just know that something is happening,” Boswell said. Boswell told the commission he would join the regular meeting via telephone.

Boswell, a Democrat from Davis City, was appointed to the Transportation Commission by Governor Terry Branstad in January of 2014. Boswell served in Congress from 1997 to 2013 and prior to that was a state legislator. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses while flying helicopters in Vietnam. Boswell, who is 81, had a non-cancerous tumor removed from his stomach in 2005.

(Radio Iowa)

The Harlan Police Department reports 39-year old Stephanie Anastasi, of Harlan, was arrested Monday on an active Shelby County warrant for theft in the 5th degree. Anastasi was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

On Sunday, officer with the Harlan P-D were called to the 700 block of Broadway for a disturbance. As a result of the investigation, 29-year old Charles Hayes, of Harlan, was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with burglary in the 1st degree for allegedly entering the residence at 708 Broadway, uninvited, and a scuffle ensued. Justin Henriksen, of Harlan, was treated at Myrtue Medical Center for a severe laceration as a result of that scuffle.

And, last Friday, officers were called to the 400 block of Durant for a family disturbance. 18-year old Christopher Buttry, of Harlan, was arrested and taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault. Matthew Buttry, age 43, was also cited for assault and released.