Iowans are turning the calendar to June after sweating through possibly the hottest May in the state’s history. National Weather Service Meteorologist Craig Cogill says the warm temperatures last month followed Iowa’s coldest-ever April on record. “What a switch we had from April, someone turned up the thermostat,” Cogill said. “We saw (temperatures) well above normal across the entire state, especially over the second half of the month when readings were 10 to 20 degrees above normal.”

Highs climbed above 100 in some locations over the Memorial Day weekend. In Atlantic, our average High for the month was 81.3 (8.2 degrees above normal). The average Low was 55.2 (6.1 degrees warmer than normal).  Rainfall amounted to 4.88 inches in May, which was more than one-half inch (.56″) above normal.  The hottest temps (100 degrees on May 26th and 27th, and 97 degrees on the 28th), were all record setters. Two, 123-year old record High temps fell over the holiday weekend.

In Iowa’s capital city, the temperature last Saturday reached 96. That broke Des Moines’ previous record for the date – 93 – set in 1985. In addition to unusual heat, many areas of Iowa were soaked by heavy rains in May. Sections of southeast Iowa, meanwhile, remained mostly dry. “We did see precipitation remain below normal down around Ottumwa, Bloomfield – locations that have seen dry conditions over the last two years or so,” Cogill said. “There are concerns about drought developing or increasing in those locations, especially given the warmth that we saw during (May).”

High temperatures are expected in the 90s across much of Iowa again today (Friday). The anticipated conditions are much different than they were on this date 129 years ago. On June 1, 1889, unseasonably cold weather settled across Iowa. In Des Moines, a low of 37 was reported, which remains the all-time June record for the state’s largest city.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN weather data)

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been accused of swinging a baseball bat to kill a 22-year-old man in southeast Iowa more than 25 years ago. Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren said Thursday that Annette Dee Cahill, of Tipton, is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 13, 1992, slaying of Corey Lee Wieneke. He was found dead on his bedroom floor in rural West Liberty.
Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.

A criminal complaint says someone reported last year that Cahill made comments a few weeks after the slaying that she was responsible. Officials also say she told another person that a baseball bat had been used to kill Wieneke, something only she could have been certain of at the time. An aluminum bat with blood on it was found a mile from his home.

An accident early this (Friday) morning, in Council Bluffs, is under investigation. Bluffs Police say officers were called to North 15th Street and K Avenue at around 2:11-a.m., with regard to an injury accident. The suspect vehicle collided with a parked vehicle, the action of which caused the driver to lose control, and run into a residence at 1500 Ave K. The home however, did not sustain heavy damage. The driver of the vehicle was transported to the hospital for further medical evaluation. Their name was not immediately released.

Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor for the accident. The Council Bluffs Traffic Unit is investigating.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday, arrested 37-year old April Marie Watson, of Red Oak, on a Felony, Delivery of Methamphetamine charge. Her arrest stems from an investigation conducted in March, 2018. Watson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

The entire City of Creston, and all customers of the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) will be under a Boil Water Advisory beginning at 8-a.m. today (Friday), and until further notice.The order was issued, according to SIRWA, because “Due to problems at the 12-mile Treatment Plant, there is a chance for bacterial contamination, and it is being recommended that the water be boiled before it is used for drinking, or cooking, or that an alternative source be used.”

Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one-minute and then let it cool, or, used bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing your teeth and food preparation, until further notice. Boiling the water kills bacteria and other organisms that may be present. The water is safe for bathing and other, similar purposes.

The Advisory, which affects SIRWA customers in Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties, is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. For more information, call 641-782-5744.

Customers of the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) include:

Adams County: Nodaway, Prescott and surrounding rural areas

Clarke County: Murray and surrounding rural areas west of Interstate 35

Decatur County: Grand River and surrounding rural areas west of Interstate 35 Madison County: Macksburg and surrounding rural areas

Ringgold County: Beaconsfield, Benton, Delphos, Diagonal, Ellston, Kellerton, Maloy, Mt. Ayr, Redding, Sun Valley, Tingley and surrounding rural areas

Taylor County: Bedford, Blockton, Conway, Clearfield, Gravity, Lenox, Sharpsburg and surrounding rural areas

Union County: Afton, Arispe, Creston, Cromwell, Kent, Lorimor, Shannon City, Thayer and surrounding rural areas

For more information on guidelines to reduce risk of infection, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa legislator who dropped his Republican Party affiliation after comments by then-candidate Donald Trump won’t seek re-election. Sen. David Johnson of Ocheyedan announced Thursday he won’t seek re-election in his northwest Iowa district. The 67-year-old didn’t explain his decision but noted in a statement that the political process had become more polarizing and partisan. Johnson dropped his party affiliation in 2016 after Trump made comments about a federal judge of Mexican heritage

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A third person has been sentenced to federal prison in a case that saw the trio using stolen identities and debit card numbers for a buying spree across Iowa. Prosecutors say 21-year-old Liliany de Armas Mena, a Cuban national, was sentenced Wednesday to three years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say she and two other men stole account information last year from at least 35 accounts using “skimming” devices.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in north-central Iowa say the body of a missing kayaker has been found in the Des Moines River. Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter told The Messenger on Thursday afternoon that family members had located the remains of 26-year-old Alex Dencklau, of Clare, in the river south of the Fort Dodge Water Treatment Plant. Dencklau’s body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for an autopsy.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Concepts for a riverfront revitalization plan in Council Bluffs include an elevated walkway through the trees, a pavilion with a rooftop restaurant and a marina. The Omaha World-Herald reports that those were among ideas floated Wednesday during a community meeting on plans to transform the Council Bluffs side of the Missouri River. On June 12, the Riverfront Revitalization Planning Committee plans to present a master plan for the Omaha riverfront during an open house at Gallup in Omaha.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa legislator who dropped his Republican affiliation after comments by then-candidate Donald Trump has decided not to seek re-election.
Sen. David Johnson of Ocheyedan announced Thursday he won’t run in his northwest Iowa district.

The 67-year-old didn’t explain his decision but noted in a statement that the political process had become more polarizing and partisan. Johnson, a lifelong Republican who served two terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2002, dropped his affiliation in 2016 after Trump made comments about a federal judge of Mexican heritage.

Johnson began voting as a no-party affiliated senator. That led Republicans, who took control of the Senate after the 2016 election, to remove Johnson from committees.
Three Republicans and no Democrats are running in Tuesday’s primary for Johnson’s seat.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Concepts for a riverfront revitalization plan in Council Bluffs include an elevated walkway through the trees, a pavilion with a rooftop restaurant and a marina. The Omaha World-Herald reports that those were among ideas floated Wednesday during a community meeting on plans to transform the Council Bluffs side of the Missouri River.

On June 12, the Riverfront Revitalization Planning Committee plans to present a master plan for the Omaha riverfront during an open house at Gallup in Omaha.
A national team of experts is working to develop a master plan for areas in and around River’s Edge from north of Hanafan Park to the Union Pacific Bridge in Council Bluffs, as well as Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in north-central Iowa say the body of a missing kayaker has been found in the Des Moines River. Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter told The Messenger on Thursday afternoon that family members had located the remains of 26-year-old Alex Dencklau, of Clare, in the river south of the Fort Dodge Water Treatment Plant.

Hergenreter says authorities were notified about 12:15 p.m. Thursday. Dencklau’s body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for an autopsy. Dencklau and his wife were kayaking below the hydroelectric dam when both kayaks flipped about 3:30 p.m. Monday. She swam to shore, but he was swept away by the river.

Three people living in the same neighborhood, were arrested Wednesday, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials reports 29-year old Damingo Dupree Burks, of Omaha, NE was arrested at around 9:10-p.m. for being a Felon in Control of Firearm, Carrying a Weapon, Assault and for No Valid Driver’s License. His bond was set at $7,300.

Two houses away, and at around 9-p.m., Wednesday, 30-year old Tammi Lynn Kopiasz, of Omaha, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly by Loud and Raucous Noise. Her bond was set at $600. At that same location and at around 10-p.m., 26-year old Michael Xavier Simpson, of Omaha, NE  was arrested for Felon in Possession of Firearm, and Fugitive From Justice. His bond on the Felon in Possession charges was set at $5,000, and he was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond, on the Fugitive charge.