(Radio Iowa) — The Missouri River at southwest Iowa’s Fremont County fell below flood stage this week for the first time in 270 days. Flood warnings have been in effect for the river since March, but it’s now below flood stage from Sioux City all the way to St. Louis. National Weather Service hydrologist David Pearson says it’s not normal for the waterway to be so high for so long. “It shows just how extreme and how much water had to move through, not just in Nebraska and Iowa, but also in the Dakotas,” Pearson says, “and a lot of the water that went through the river came from the Dakotas.”

Sites further downstream have a higher chance of staying above flood stage for longer because more water comes in from smaller rivers. Plus, the amount of water released at Gavins Point Dam was higher than normal, adding even more water to the river. Pearson says conditions are favorable for another flood early next year, but there’s still a lot of unknowns, like how much precipitation we’ll see this winter. “With the wet soils and a lot of the rivers are higher than normal, those two things alone contribute to an increased flood threat,” he says, “and if we get a lot of precipitation, snow and rain, it will make it potentially that much more worse.”

Fremont County still has standing water over some roads. The river needs to drop even farther for that water to finally recede.

(Reporting by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

FORT MADISON, Iowa —  The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports that just before 11-p.m. Tuesday, the Fort Madison Police Department was called to a local manufacturing warehouse in reference to an individual armed with a handgun.  Upon arrival, law enforcement encountered the individual who was subsequently shot by a Fort Madison police officer.  The subject was transported to the Fort Madison Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The name of the person shot was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The Fort Madison Police Department contacted the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to request an independent investigation into the southeast Iowa shooting incident.  Per protocol, the name of the police officer is being withheld pending an interview with the DCI. Departments responding to the incident consisted of the Fort Madison Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Corrections-Probation and Patrol, Iowa State Fort Madison Penitentiary, West Point and Donnellson Police Department, Fort Madison Fire Department and the Lee County Ambulance Service.

No additional information will be released at this time.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County arrested a woman Tuesday evening in rural Honey Creek, following a report of an assault involving an armed person. The incident took place in the 18,700 block of Leisure Avenue, at around 6:35-p.m.  Deputies arrested 31-year old Ashley Jo Sullivan, of Council Bluffs, on aggravated misdemeanor charges of Assault/use or display of a weapon, and Harassment in the 1st Degree by threat or forcible felony, and a Felony, Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon, charge. Sullivan was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $4,000 bond.

And, Tuesday morning, 36-year old Tressa Dawn McQuiston was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation.

(A-P) The superintendent of Iowa’s care center for people with intellectual disabilities has been placed on paid leave amid a federal investigation into the facility. The director of Iowa’s Human Services Department told Glenwood Resource Center workers Monday about the action taken against Jerry Rea. The Des Moines Register reported that Rea was placed on leave “in light of” a federal investigation. Associated Press efforts to reach Rea on Wednesday were unsuccessful. The newspaper reported earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating whether the state was providing adequate medical care and employing “needless and harmful restraint practices.”

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

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A data center that could employ up to 10 people is being built in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports that CyrusOne broke ground Tuesday on the $60 million facility. The first building phase is expected to be finished in fall 2020. CyrusOne chief technology officer Kevin Timmons said Council Bluffs was an ideal site for several reasons, including the site’s attributes, reliability of fiber optics and affordable power. CyrusOne is based in Dallas and provides information technology infrastructure for about 1,000 customers.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The holiday season is known for celebrations and traditions, but it is also known for being the deadliest season when it comes to drunk and drug-impaired driving. Iowa Law Enforcement across the state will partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this holiday season to remove impaired drivers from the roads and help save lives. From December 13, 2019 to January 1, 2020, motorists will see an increased presence of law enforcement.

As we prepare for festivities with family and friends, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and area law enforcement agencies, want to remind all drivers of the dangers of driving impaired. You have to choose your role before the celebration begins. Will you drink, use drugs or will you drive? Remember, even if you have a little bit to drink, you could still be over the legal limit. Whether the drug is legally prescribed or illegal, driving while drug-impaired poses a threat to the driver, vehicle passengers, and other road users. Remember….if you feel different, you drive different!

Sobering Statistics:

• In 2017, 45% of the drivers killed in fatal crashes who were tested for drugs, tested positive.
• According to NHTSA, 885 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver during the month of December, 2017.
• Despite the fact it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2017, one person was killed every 48 minutes by a drunk driver on our nation’s roads.
• On average, an OWI could set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and more.
• The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.
• On average, an OWI could set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and more.
• The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.

From December 13, 2018 to January 1, 2019, Iowa law enforcement officers arrested 506 impaired drivers. Also during this time frame in Iowa, there were 17 fatal crashes killing 18 people. Four of these seventeen fatal crashes involved an impaired driver. Celebrate with a Plan: Always remember to plan ahead if you will be celebrating with an impairing substance. If you plan to indulge, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Call a taxi, friend or Uber! Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take the role seriously and do not partake in alcohol or any other drugs. You are saving lives!

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests.

• Officials say 42-year old Timothy Duane Snyder, of Elk Horn, was arrested December 5th, for Violation of a No Contact Order. Snyder was held in the Audubon County Jail without bond until appearing before the Magistrate later that day and was released.  And, 39-year old Abigail Rae Lennon, of Atlantic, was charged with Burglary on December 5th. The charge stems from an investigation into an incident that took place in Kimballton in October. She appeared before the Magistrate and was released.
• 35-year old Bryan Gene Snell, of Coon Rapids, was arrested Nov. 16th and charged with Driving While Barred. The charge stems from a traffic stop that occurred near the intersection of Littlefield Dr. and Zinnia Ave. He appeared before the Magistrate the following morning and was held on a $2,000.00 bond. He was later transported to another county on outstanding warrants in that county.
• On Nov. 9th, 35-year old Brandon Barringer, of Brayton, turned himself into the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office on two outstanding warrants for Violation of Probation. He posted a $15,000.00 bond and was released.
• And, 39-year old Jeremy Daniel Schneider, of Exira, was arrested November 5th for OWI – 1st. The charge stems from a traffic stop that occurred in the 1600 block of Littlefield Drive. He was transported to and held in the Audubon County Jail until the following morning when he appeared before the Magistrate and was released.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A murder trial has been moved to Scott County for a man accused of killing an Iowa high school student almost 40 years ago. Court records show a judge agreed Monday to relocate the trial of 65-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. Police arrested Burns on Dec. 19 last year, 39 years to the day after 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. She had been stabbed in the face and chest.

Burns’ attorney said in a filing that pretrial publicity made it unlikely Burns could receive a fair trial in Linn County.  The trial still is scheduled to begin Feb. 10. Burns has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.