Iowa motorists wanting to remember a fallen law enforcement officer may now purchase a specialty license plate with a “Fallen Peace Officer” emblem, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The fees for a numbered “Fallen Peace Officer” plate are $35, with a $10 annual validation fee; and $60 for a personalized plate, with a $15 annual validation fee.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety receives $35 from each new plate and $10 from each renewal. The Iowa DPS distributes 100 percent of the funds in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations to assist in rebuilding the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. When awarding grants, the Iowa DPS gives first consideration to Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and similar nonprofit organizations providing such resources.

For information, applications, and pictures of this specialty plate go to the Iowa DOT’s website at www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ovs/plates/plates.htm.

Five vehicles collided in Atlantic Friday, but no injuries were reported. Atlantic Police report the accident happened at around 12:10-p.m. near the intersection of 7th and Pine Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by Payton Ryan, of Marne, Katrina James, of Lewis, Galen Hansen, of Exira, Barbara Wyscarver, of Atlantic, and Anthony Orstad, of Griswold, collided in a chain reaction fashion, when all had to stop abruptly due to traffic which came to a halt at the stop light. The accident happened as all five drivers were headed westbound on 7th Street.

Officials say vehicles driven by Ryan, James and Wyscarver were all able to stop before hitting vehicles in front of them, but Hansen and Orstad were unable to do so. Both struck vehicles in front of them, which continued the chain reaction accident that affected all the vehicles.

Damage from the crash amounted to $7,500. Authorities say Galen Hansen and Anthony Orstad were both cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance.

Police in Atlantic report two people were arrested Sunday on assault charges. 33-year old Tabitha Clark, and 18-year old Philip Thompson, Jr., both of Atlantic, were taken into custody on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault. Both were being held in the Cass County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, 26-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested Friday, on a charge of Public Intoxication/3rd offense. Knight was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

Woodbury County authorities are continuing their damage assessment after severe weather struck the area Friday evening. County Emergency Services Director Gary Brown says at least three tornadoes hit rural Woodbury County. He says ene started down by Sloan and split into two, another touched down just short of Bronson and lifted and the third set down west of Climbing Hill and went northeast across the county “We’ve got 123 farms that have been affected. We have 21 farms destroyed, 42 with major damage, 43 with minor damage and 17 that are in the category of what we call ‘affected’ for a total of 123,” Brown says.

The storms missed the cities in the county — hitting only rural areas — and Brown says there was only one person injured and no residents were killed. “We’ve got several thousand acres of crop damage, we’re still trying to tally up some of the power line issues, and we’ve had essentially a low number of livestock deaths,” according to Brown.

Several power poles were snapped off by the storm, including some major feed lines. Brown says the major power lines will take several weeks to restore, and residential power should be coming back on over the next several days.

Brown says the Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting cash donations to help the victims of the storms.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Storm Chasing Network said today (Monday), the Wayne, NE tornado  measured nearly 1.4-miles wide, and is the widest tornado to ever occur in the month of October since 1950. The National Weather Service said Sunday, the tornado was rated an EF-4 with peak winds reaching 170mph.

It was on the ground for 19 miles and injured 15 people. The Weather Service says October tornadoes are unusual, but not unheard of. Last year, there were 41 tornadoes nationwide in October.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s supporting fellow Republican Joni Ernst in her effort to win the U.S. Senate seat next year. Ernst, from Red Oak, was elected to succeed Reynolds in a southwest Iowa Senate district and is serving in her third year. Reynolds says Ernst is a proven conservative and the best of the Republican Party.

Gov. Terry Branstad says he will not endorse a Republican primary candidate for the Senate seat to be left open in 2015 by the retirement of Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

The primary next June will be crowded with Republicans with at least five other candidates announced and others considering a run to go up against the Democratic nominee, likely U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, the only Democrat running so far.

There is no shortage of outdoor activities to participate in this month, here in Cass County. The Conservation Board reports a Geocaching Class and “Magical Forest” Outdoor Hike are planned for October 19th and 26th, respectively.

The “Geocaching 101” class will be held 1-p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19th, at the Outdoor Educational Classroom, located two-miles south of Massena on Highway 148, and then left into Tucson Road for two-miles. During the class, you’ll learn about a newer technology to help you explore nature. Time will be spent on “Caching” with GPS units, and learning about the technology. You can bring your own GPS unit or use one available during the class. Pre-registration is requested by calling 712-769-2372. Let them know at that time, if you plan on bringing your own GPS.

And, the 22nd bi-annual Halloween Hike will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26th, beginning at 7-p.m., in the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park, in Atlantic. The event is for people of all ages, and is designed to both educate and entertain. Kids 12 and under are encouraged to arrive early to get their faces painted. Hikers will enjoy tasty treats and warm drinks after the hike.

Pre-registration is required (Call the number mentioned above, or by e-mailing lkanning@casscoia.us. If you plan to call, please leave a message with your name, phone number, the number of persons in your group and what time you wish to depart on the hike).

During the “Magical Forest” Hike, small groups will depart every 12 minutes, with the last group leaving the Camblin Addition at 8:10-p.m.  If you’d like to volunteer as one of the characters persons on the hike will encounter, please call the Conservation Department. That number again is 712-769-2372.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman said late this (Monday) morning, that firefighters are still on scene of the blaze that occurred early this morning in the former Pit Stop bar just east of downtown Red Oak. Hamman said the fire is under control, however crews were expected to remain on scene though at least mid-day.

Photo courtesy Montgomery County EMA.

Empire Construction was called in to assist crews on tearing down a portion of the buildings walls to make access to voids created during the roof collapse to extinguish the remaining hot spots. The area in and around the fire is still blocked off and will remain blocked off for several more hours.

Area residents who lost power this morning should have had it restored. If you’re power is not restored, please call Mid American Energy.

While Iowa is one of the nation’s top food producers, people in some areas of the state don’t have easy access to fruits and vegetables. Courtney Pinard, a research scientist, says a study finds neighborhoods that lack access to healthy foods have obesity rates 52-percent higher than communities with ready access to fresh produce.  “A lot of communities are considered what we call food deserts and that’s when the distance to the nearest full-service grocery store is more than a mile for urban areas and for rural areas, it’s ten miles,” according to Pinard.

Pinard, who works at the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition in Omaha, says”Many communities, especially in Iowa, do have this challenge.” While many Iowans have large supermarkets nearby featuring well-stocked produce sections, she says not everyone is as fortunate. “They don’t really have access and for the majority of the population, the middle- to upper-income, they don’t really see that but, if you go into a store in a lower-income community, even the quality of the products might not be the same,” Pinard says. “The fresh fruits and vegetables just don’t even look that good.”

Efforts are underway to improve all Iowans’ access to five food categories: fruits, vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy and whole grains. Pinard says, “Moving forward, we’d like to have a national program to be able to support the type of work that we’re doing and also just to increase food access in our communities.”

The Farm Bill, which is still tied up in Congress, is expected to include funding for what’s called the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The program promises to improve access to healthy food, bringing with it health benefits and revitalized communities by creating jobs and supporting small businesses.

(Radio Iowa)

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the Fire Danger index in the County will remain in the “Moderate” category through at least this Thursday, Oct. 10th. With winds expected to increase this week to around 30 miles per hour, Seivert says open burning should be avoided, especially on Tuesday.