IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court is giving the green light to a major wind energy expansion by the state’s largest public utility. The court today (Friday) upheld a 2009 decision by the Iowa Utilities Board that guaranteed MidAmerican Energy could raise customers’ rates in the future to pay for a huge wind energy project set to be completed this year. The court rejected a challenge by NextEra Energy Resources, a rival who argued MidAmerican didn’t demonstrate a need for extra capacity and didn’t properly consider other alternatives. In a 5-0 ruling, the court says the board’s decision was based on “substantial evidence” the expansion would reduce emissions, diversify the fuel supply, promote economic development and maintain reasonable prices for customers. MidAmerican spokeswoman Ann Thelen says the company is pleased with the ruling.
 
MidAmerican says it owns the most wind-powered capacity among the nation’s rate-regulated utilities. Among its area projects, are: The Adair Project in Cass and Adair Counties, producing 174.8-megawatts (MW) of power; The Eclipse Project in Audubon and Guthrie Counties, producing 200.1 -mw; The Morning Light Project in Adair County, which produces more than 101.2-mw of power; The Rolling Hills Wind Energy Project in Adair, Adams & Cass Counties, which generates 443.9-mw of power; and the Carroll Project, which can produce up to 150-mw of power.

All together, there are 56 wind turbines which have been built or are in the process of being erected, in those counties. The total amount of energy generated by those turbines amounts to slightly more than 1,070-megawatts. Mid-American says by the end of 2012, all of their wind energy projects, when completed, will have the capacity to generate more then 2,284-megawatts of power. According to the American Wind Energy Association, 1 Megawatt of wind-generated power can provide electricity for anywhere from 240-to 300-households, per year.

For more information: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/wind/include/pdf/facts_iowa_wind.pdf

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June is one of Iowa’s most popular months for weddings and if you’ve gotten an invitation to attend someone’s nuptials in a few weeks, you can expect the unexpected. Wedding planner Adelaide Polk-Bauman says many Iowa couples are mixing things up. “When you look at the trends for 2012 there is certainly a theme,” Polk-Bauman. “There are modern twists on the very traditional, classic wedding ideas.” The location is one big change. Many Iowans aren’t getting hitched in churches but instead, they’re tying the knots in mansions and country clubs — or in backyard gardens of their own homes.  “Brides are pushing the envelope,” she says. “They’re getting married in modern art museums and refurbished barns that kind of capture that vintage, old world feel but maybe with more of a contemporary look.”

Polk-Bauman says one tradition has returned — in the wedding dress itself.  “The royal wedding really influenced a lot of brides’ decisions for their dress,” she says. “Everybody saw Kate Middleton choosing a very classic, traditional white wedding dress, long lace sleeves, with the train and the veil, the works, but she made a point of going with a very contemporary designer. Alexander McQueen is known for really mixing things up in the fashion space.” Polk-Bauman says the traditional hand-tied wedding bouquet is also making a comeback.  “Brides we’re seeing are choosing white flowers, the traditional but smaller bouquets,” she says. “If you have a particular flower in mind, you may want to try to plan you wedding in season of the flower so your budget doesn’t go through the roof.”

Polk-Bauman says many brides are jazzing the flowers up by adding sparkling ribbons or gemstones. When it comes to the reception, some Iowa brides are skipping the three-tier wedding cakes for cupcakes. Also, instead of a sit-down dinner, some are opting for a specialty buffet like a taco bar.

(Radio Iowa)

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Authorities in Guthrie County say five people were arrested over the past couple of weeks, on drug charges. On Sunday (June 3^rd), 52-year old Kevin Dale Ross, of Manning, was arrested for possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia following a routine traffic stop on Highway 141 approximately three miles east of Coon Rapids. 

On Friday (June 1^st), 19-year old Jacob Ryan Scherer, of Grimes, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after a search warrant was issued for a residence in Panora. The warrant was issued as a follow-up to a traffic stop which occurred the previous day. Online court records indicate Scherer pled not guilty. His Pre-Trial hearing will take place on July 5^th, with trial set for July 26^th. 

On Thursday, May 31^st, 31-year old Ryan Carl Koester, of Ankeny, was detained by Guthrie County authorities on two Polk County warrants for failure to pay child support, following a routine traffic stop east of Guthrie Center, on Highway 44. Koester was also arrested for possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also arrested during the traffic stop was 28-year old Cory Michael Dawkins, of Clive. He was taken into custody on two counts of Possession of Controlled Substances/Marijuana.

And, on May 25th, 20-year old Holly Joelle Jensen, of Menlo, was arrested for possession of Xanax, first offense, following a traffic stop west of Stuart, on White Pole Road. Jensen was released on $1,000 bond. Court records show her arraignment will take place July 2^nd.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – State climatologists say farmers in Nebraska and Iowa should prepare for persistent drought conditions this summer that could devastate their crops. Nebraska State Climatologist Harry Al Dutcher said Thursday that he expects that ranchers and farmers in the western part of his state will suffer crop damage, unless the weather suddenly becomes cooler and wetter. He says that’s unlikely, given the current conditions. 
 
Ranchers in western Nebraska and farmers in north-central Iowa say the weather conditions are the driest they’ve ever seen.  The situation is less dire in Iowa, but State Climatologist Harry Hillaker predicts that June will be warmer than usual. High winds are also causing water to evaporate faster.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) – A former western Iowa school principal accused of pulling down the pants of a student has been found guilty of simple assault.  Online court records say 35-year-old Mike Loftin was given a year of unsupervised probation after his conviction on Wednesday. He also was given a deferred judgment, which means the conviction could be removed from his record if he successfully completes probation.
 
Loftin, who lives in Omaha, Neb., was principal for the West Harrison Community School district junior-senior high school in Mondamin.  Loftin also coached the girls’ basketball team. Authorities say he pulled down a girl’s warm-up pants before a game on Jan. 20. She wasn’t wearing uniform or gym shorts underneath.  He was fired in late January.

Five men, two from Adams County, two from Cass County and one from Adair County, were arrested Thursday night on warrants for Assault with Willful Injury. Taken into custody by Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies at around 9:45-p.m., was: 21-year old Zachary Bagshaw, of Cumberland; 33-year old Douglas Alan Stirek, of Massena; 31-year old Eric Michael Bradley, of Greenfield; and 35-year old Aaron Jon Greenwalt, along with 28-year old Shawn Michael Buffington, both of Corning. Eric Bradley’s cash only bond was set at $10,000, while the other suspect’s cash only bonds were set at $5,000, each.

Sheriff’s officials say the men were arrested following a fight at the local bar that resulted in one person being seriously injured. The fight was reported by the unidentified victim, who was treated for their injuries at the hospital, and released. Officials have declined to comment on what started the incident, and other details.

Authorities in Omaha have arrested the second suspect wanted in connection with last week’s brutal beating of a Council Bluffs woman. The Omaha-World Herald says the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force arrested 32-year old Travis Labno,  of Omaha, on a charge of first-degree kidnapping. The man was taken into custody without incident at around 2-p.m. Thursday, in a house near 132nd and Fort Streets, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal John Huggins, who the head of the task force.

The other suspect in the case, 38-year old Bryan Bey, of Crescent, Iowa, was arrested last Friday, also on a charge of first-degree kidnapping. Both men are accused of assaulting 29-year-old Tabitha Proplesch, who was found at around 2-p.m. Thursday, May 31st slumped over the wheel of a pickup truck located on the Mormon Bridge Road, near the Crescent exit off of Interstate 29. Her arms had been handcuffed behind her, and she had suffered blunt trauma to the head.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic said today (Thursday), patients in the CCMH Emergency Department will be seeing a familiar face when they visit the Cass County Memorial Hospital Emergency Department (ED).

Mark Johnson, M.D.

Dr. Mark Johnson, M.D., will be transitioning from his full-time position as a family medicine physician at Atlantic Medical Center (AMC) to working full-time in the CCMH Emergency Department. Dr. Johnson came to AMC in June 1987. His final day at AMC will be Friday, August 3rd, 2012.  Dr. Johnson has provided some ED care throughout his time at AMC, and officials say the change will expand his role in that department.

CCMH Administrator Pat Markham says some other changes are happening with Emergency Department staffing.  According to Markham, currently a staff of five medical providers, including two physicians, one nurse practitioner and two physician assistants, provide care in the Emergency Department 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  And, since that sometimes that can involve a provider working some long shifts, the medical staff and hospital administration have decided to increase the number of providers to decrease the length of shifts worked, which will improve quality of patient care and patient safety.