A man from Montgomery County was arrested Wednesday night on drug charges. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 23-year-old Edward Taylor-Harmon, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m., Wednesday.  Taylor-Harmon faces a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge when he appears before a magistrate later this (Thursday) morning. He was being held  in the Montgomery County jail on a $1,000 cash only bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80 in Polk County resulted in the death of an Illinois girl, and injuries to four people from Virginia. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the victims were traveling in a 2007 Mitsubishi Gallant on I-80 westbound, northeast of Des Moines, when it went out of control and collided with a guardrail, at around 2:30-p.m. The vehicle flipped over the guardrail and rolled one and one-half times before coming to rest on its roof, in a ditch.

Eleven-year old Jacquelle McDonald, of Chicago, IL, was ejected from the car and died at the scene. Officials say she was not wearing a seat belt. Four other people in the car, including the driver, 24-year old Brittany Moore, of Newport News, VA, were injured and transported by Saylor Fire and Rescue to a hospital in Des Moines. The victims were identified as 21-year old Spencer Moore, one-year old Naliya Moore, and 4-year old Jadyn Lindsey, all of Newport News.All four of the injured were wearing their seat belts.

The accident remains  under investigation.

Iowa’s weather went from one extreme to the other in December, as a very warm start was followed by a harsh blizzard. After so many months of drought, state climatologist Harry Hillaker says that big storm dumped almost 14 inches of snow on parts of central Iowa, moisture that was much-needed.  “Overall, December was a wetter-than-normal month, preliminarily ranking 35th wettest in 140 years of records,” Hillaker says. “Southeastern Iowa, much of that precipitation came in the form of rain. Elsewhere in the state, it was about equally divided between rain and snowfall.” Hillaker says December kicked off being quite warm but the temperature dropped like a rock.

“The month got off to a very mild start and then the more seasonal temperatures arrived during the last week and a half or so of December,” Hillaker says. “Overall, we averaged almost five-degrees warmer than normal and it was the 38th warmest December in 140 years of records.” As for the month ahead, January is shaping up to be quite cold but Hillaker predicts a slow warming trend in the first few weeks along with drier-than-normal conditions.

In Atlantic, the average High for the month of December was 38-degrees, which was three-degrees warmer than normal. The average low was 16, which was just one-degree warmer than normal. Precipitation (both rainfall & melted snowfall) amounted to 1.55-inches.  Actual snowfall for the month was 9.1-inches.

(Information from Radio Iowa & KJAN records)

Three people are dead after a medical helicopter crashed in northern Iowa, while flying from Mason City to Emmetsburg.  Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Matt Klunder said the helicopter was affiliated with Mercy Medical Center and that a pilot and two nurses were killed. Witnesses say the chopper burst into flames, when it went down.

The Heli-pad at Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa in Mason City sits empty following a fatal crash Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy Bob Fisher, KGLO/Mason City)

The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Wednesday near Ventura. Officials with Mercy Medical Center North issued the following statement to the local media early Thursday morning:

“Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa is devastated to confirm that its medical helicopter, Mercy Air Med, went down en route to Emmetsburg at about 9:00 pm Wednesday. The three people on board — a nurse, Shelly (Shell) Lair-Langenbau; a paramedic, Russell (Russ) Piehl; and a pilot with Med-Trans, the helicopter service, did not survive the incident. There was not a patient on board.”

“I know their colleagues in healthcare are grieving the loss with their loved ones,” said Dan Varnum, President/CEO of Mercy-North Iowa. “The entire organization and I send prayers to all who knew them. They were committed and dedicated to serving the people of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota.”

“They were each selfless healthcare professionals devoted to the delivery of emergency medical care. While they fulfilled significant duties, they played a greater role as our neighbors and friends.”

The cause of the incident is unknown. Mercy-North Iowa is working closely with law enforcement officials and the FAA who are investigating the accident. Members of Mercy-North Iowa’s Spiritual Care Department and counselors were available Wednesday and will continue to be available to provide support.

The helicopter was operated by a Lewisville, TX-based service company, Med-Trans Air Medical transport.

(Information from the Associated Press and KGLO Radio in Mason City)

The City Council in Walnut will hold its first meeting of the year, Thursday evening. During the 5-p.m. session, the Council will discuss a possible Streetscape enhancement project, and the possible purchase of a Fire Department “Quick Attack” unit.

In other, Walnut Fire Department-related business, the Council will consider the possible adoption of a resolution extending for two-additional years, the agreement for Fire Protection Services between the City of Walnut, Layton Township, Lincoln Township, and Monroe Township. They’ll also review the Fire And Ambulance budgets.

Speaking of budgets, the Walnut City Council, Thursday, will hold its budget discussion, which includes a review of the library budget. They’ll also receive and possibly act on a recommendation for the replacement of a Zoning Commissioner, Committee Appointments, and other administrative matters.

In addition, the Council will discuss and possibly hold the first reading of an ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, by adding a section regarding the prohibiting of Compression, or “Jake” Brakes. That may be followed by the possible waving of the second- and third-readings of the ordinance.  The Walnut City Council meeting gets underway at 5-p.m. Thursday, in their chambers at City Hall.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday morning in Atlantic, and took care of administrative matters heading into the new year. According to Auditor Dale Sunderman, the Board elected Mark Wedemeyer as Chairman for 2013, while Frank Waters was elected Vice-Chair for the current year. Oaths of Office were administered to Sunderman, Sheriff Darby McLaren, and the Supervisors, all of whom were re-elected to serve during the November 2012 General Election.

Karen Oathoudt and Sheri Karns were once again appointed Deputy Auditors. Sheriff’s Deputies, including Bill Ayers, Ben Bartholomew, Ryan Johnson, Corey Larsen, Josh McLaren and Kyle Quist were all approved for re-appointment to their posts, as well Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering, and Sheriff’s assistants, Billie Taylor McLaren and Joni Knudsen. Stephanie Witzman was re-appointed as Civil Process Server.

In other business, County Recorder’s Administrative Assistant Mary Ward’s employment status was changed from part-time to full-time, retroactive to January 1st, 2013, and wage adjustments were granted by the Supervisors, for Mental Health/General Assistance Assistant Director Debbie Schuler, and Vickie Adams, VA/MH/GA Assistant.  The Board also elected to continue to hold their regular sessions on Wednesday, at 9-a.m., unless otherwise specified in the previous minutes of their meetings.

Many other committee and commission appointments were made during Wednesday’s meeting, including those for township trustees and clerks. And, the  Board voted to authorize county officials to destroy records in their possession, which have been on-file for 10-or more years, and are not required to be kept as permanent records, under the Code of Iowa. The Cass County Board of Supervisors’ next meeting is at 9-a.m. Wednesday, January 9th. During the session, they will hold the first of two public hearings, on an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance for change in the zoning district or districts permitted Principal uses.