(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is still struggling with high water levels in Missouri River reservoirs and time is running out to get them down to winter storage stages. John Remus, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Office in Omaha, says there’s been discussion all year on the congressionally-authorized purposes versus the operational priorities for the system. “It is important to understand that authorized purposes and priorities are not the same thing,” Remus says. “While the system is authorized for eight purposes, the Corps’ priority is life and heath safety. In large run-off years such as 2018 and 2019, or during an extreme hydrologic event, the flood control purpose drives the Corps’ operational decisions for the system.”

Remus says water troubles have persisted much of the year.  “In 2019, Mother Nature has made managing run-off in the Missouri River basin very challenging,” Remus says. “People throughout the basin have been, and continue to be, directly impacted, some severely impacted. The Corps is well aware of the damage that this year’s flooding has caused and we are doing all we can to reduce the impact and assist in the recovery.”

Remus says each run-off year is different and calls for different responses. “It’s important to understand that the volume, timing and location at which run-off enters the system significantly impacts the timing and amount of releases,” Remus says. “Each run-off season and flooding event is unique and care should be taken when comparing one event to another.”

The Corps will maintain releases from Gavins Point Dam at 80-thousand cubic feet per second through November before rapidly stepping them down by mid-December.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Regulators have found serious workplace safety violations at a state-run psychiatric hospital in Iowa where combative patients have assaulted employees. A recent inspection found that employees at the Independence Mental Health Institute struggle to manage violent outbursts due to inadequate emergency plans, low staffing, ineffective communication and dissatisfactory safety shields. Inspectors ordered the state to fix seven serious safety violations and proposed a $72,770 fine.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A half-dozen or so of the Democrats running for president are languishing at the bottom of polling less than three months before the Iowa primaries. Yet they are continuing to campaign, a resolve bolstered in part by some concerns over the lineup of top contenders and the belief that the race could be upended. One of those candidates, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, says everyone goes up and down in polls and that he needs to be organizing and catching fire as the voting begins.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man burned in a fire at a northwest Iowa hog confinement has died. Le Mars Fire-Rescue says 38-year-old Jorge Orozco died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Burn Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. He’d been flown there after being taken in a private vehicle on Sept. 30 to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. The hog confinement sits about 5 miles northwest of Le Mars. Orozco lived in Sioux City.

Griswold Rescue and law enforcement were called to the scene of a shooting Monday night. The incident involving a female in an SUV took place in the parking lot of the Casey’s Store in Griswold. It was reported at around 9:44-p.m.

The weapon was said to be a .38-caliber Ruger handgun. The woman, a 39-year old whose name was not immediately released, suffered a self-inflicted, non-life threatening, gunshot wound to the hand.

The vehicle was impounded as evidence late Monday night. Authorities were interviewing witnesses late Monday night.

The Cass Co Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services are again sponsoring a Winter Coat Drive and accepting new or gently used winter coats, hats, gloves or mittens for children, men and women.

Please drop off your donation at our office, 1501 E. 7th St. in Atlantic. Office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Thursday and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, November 27th.

The coats will be donated the first week in December to the West Central Community Action Office in downtown Atlantic for local families in need.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Regulators have found serious safety violations at a state-run psychiatric hospital in Iowa where several combative patients have assaulted employees. An inspection found that employees at the Independence Mental Health Institute struggle to manage violent outbursts due to inadequate emergency plans, low staffing, poor communication and ineffective safety shields that staffers haven’t been trained to use.

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation in June after a series of attacks against staff members. A union representing employees said the hospital faced an urgent safety crisis. Inspectors found seven serious and three minor safety violations. They proposed a $72,770 fine against the Iowa Department of Human Services, which operates the facility, and ordered it to fix the problems.

The hospital treats patients with severe and complex psychiatric needs.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man burned in a fire at a northwest Iowa hog confinement has died. Le Mars Fire-Rescue says 38-year-old Jorge Orozco died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Burn Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. He’d been flown there after being taken in a private vehicle on Sept. 30 to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Officials say Orozco lived in Sioux City.

The hog operation sits about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northwest of Le Mars. Officials say Orozco and another man had been inside a building, using a power washer to clean it. Orozco left the building to refuel the power washer engine, and he spilled gas on himself and the machine. The vapors ignited, burning Orozco.

Officials with the Cass County Health System in Atlantic say they will temporarily close the Emergency Drive on Tuesday, November 12th from 10:30 am to noon. Patients who need access to the Emergency Department or Rehabilitation Services during this time are asked to please use the Main Entrance drive and circle around the building instead.

The drive is being closed while soil borings are being taken in preparation for repair work on CCHS parking lots and drives, and for the upcoming renovations outlined in the master facility plan. Additional soil borings will also be taken throughout the day, however, they should not cause any disruptions to patient traffic or parking

(Radio Iowa) — The backup in the propane supply in Iowa is not expected to end very quickly. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says it continues to be a demand issue with farmers needing propane to dry crops and others needing it to heat their homes. “It’s not that there’s not enough propane in the country — it has to do with the logistics of getting it where it needs to go,” Naig says. He says it doesn’t look like there will be a big change in the situation anytime soon. “The things that are going to help alleviate that are getting the harvest completed and warmer temperatures,” Naig says. “I don’t think we are going to see any of those two in the immediate future.”

Suppliers have had to send trucks long distances to get propane and Naig says that may show up in the price. “The price will rise to accommodate for transportation issues if there are any. We hear about some folks putting surcharges on — it’s logical — it needs to be reasonable. If a supplier is having to drive to Kansas to get the supply — they will have to pass some of that cost on to consumers,” according to Naig. “We will be watching that situation closely.”

He says they would take action if they see the price being raised just to take advantage of the delays in getting propane.

(Radio Iowa) — December 21st is -supposed- to be the first day of winter this year but a peek outside shows it’s already here. Heavy snowfall overnight dropped almost a half-foot of flakes on some areas of the state and near-record cold temperatures are expected tonight (Monday). Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service, says much of the snowfall was concentrated between Highway 30 and Interstate 80. “The Des Moines metro, here at the office in Johnston, we had 4.4 inches of snow,” Kotenberg says. “There’s a place in Benton County with 4.8 inches, Cedar Rapids had 5.8 inches. Spreading outwards from there, one to two inches as you get toward Fort Dodge, Waterloo had three-and-a-half inches.”

(Click on the graphic to enlarge)

Some schools had late starts this morning due to the wintry weather, while many fender benders were reported across the state’s midsection as roads are very slick. Even where it’s stopped snowing, hazards remain. “We’ll continue to have winds going from north to south at around 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts nearing 30 miles an hour here and there,” Kotenberg says. “That could cause blowing and drifting of snow, especially on untreated roadways, so definitely take it easy if you’re out there, if you’re traveling.”

The all-time record low temperature for this date at the Des Moines International Airport is four degrees, while the forecast for this evening calls for a low of three-degrees.  “We’re also going to have a little bit of wind speed so that’s going to bring the wind chills down to anywhere between zero and minus-ten degrees across much of Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “Towards the northern tier of counties, they’ll be in the minus-ten to minus-15 degree range. Not quite wind chill advisory but definitely hat and gloves and try to minimize the amount of time you spend outside.”

Forecasters says another wintry blast is predicted to arrive late Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning with the potential to drop another one-to-three inches of snow. Kotenberg says they’re still watching that developing storm to see exactly where the snow will fall and how much.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Cass County Health System are now accepting nominations for the 2019 Angel(s) of Christmas. The Angel of Christmas is a tradition in Atlantic recognizing and thanking area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long – putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “Sometimes we forget the true meaning of the season and I think celebrating people who put others first and spread holiday cheer all year long deserve to be recognized.”

In 2018, Lt. Devin Hogue was named the Angel of Christmas, demonstrating the true meaning of the season serving as a dedicated public servant on the Police Department but also offering his time as a tireless volunteer to the community. Devin plans many events for local youth including the annual Youth Weekend Campout, Henry Doorly Zoo trip, school food drives, family dream Christmas, Shop with A Cop and Family Night Out.

Nominate a Christmas Angel you know, to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce by November 22nd. This year’s angel will be announced at the Holiday Concert on December 8th at 3 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic. Nominate by submitting brief comments about the person to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. You can find a nomination form on www.christmasinatlantic.com.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retails businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook or Instagram (@AtlanticIowaFan) page. Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at 712-243-3017.