Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman said today his office received some calls this (Thursday) morning with regard to an Outdoor Warning Siren that was activated last night during the Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Red Oak. Hamman says the siren was not activated by the Communications Center and was potentially struck by lightning or received an electrical surge at the pole.

Hamman says the City of Red Oak has contacted the sales rep for the siren and they will be investigating the cause of the activation. The sirens can be activated during Severe Weather if there is an immediate threat to property and life due to strong winds or extremely large hail.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A 28-year-old Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of vehicular homicide stemming from a crash last November. Lenley Schofield Jr. filed the written plea on Tuesday in Monona County District Court. Prosecutors say Schofield was driving on Iowa Highway 141 near Mapleton on Nov. 21 when his car ran into an oncoming truck. Schofield’s passenger, Robert Palmer, died later.   Court documents say Schofield was driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

(12-pm News)

A company headquartered in Adair that produces a variety of products, some of which cater to  the delicatessen industry, has been featured in a trade industry video. Owner Revolution Inc. (www.ownrev.com) officials say its subsidiary, Schafer Solutions Incorporated, in Adair, has been featured in the August 9th, 2012 issue of Deli Market TV. (The video is available through this link: https://www.filesanywhere.com/FS/v.aspx?v=8a71648758637375ad6c)

Schafer Solutions is a high quality supplier of unique and exciting custom fabricated plastic products for point of purchase displays and dispensers at convenience stores, restaurants, delis, bakeries and dairy stores. Company officials say compared to most displays and dispensers, Schafer Solutions’ products are unmatched for their brilliance, innovative design, fit, finish and customizability. The company is an expert in high volume customization.

Since its inception, Schafer Solutions has exhibited at five major trade shows, including The 2011 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show and the 2011 and 2012 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Shows, all took place in Chicago. Schafer Solutions will be exhibiting in booth at the 2012 NACS Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this October 8-10, as well.

Iowans who plan to grill up some summer sausages will want to take note of a recall before taking a bite. The recall is from Johnsonville Sausage on 13-and-a-half ounce packages of Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese. The Wisconsin-based company is recalling nearly 49-thousand pounds of the sausages in Iowa and 21 other states. The packages in question have a “best by” date of August 20th. The company says there’s a risk they may contain foreign material — namely, pieces of gloves. There are no reports of injury or illness. For more details, see the company website at johnsonville-dot-com.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Kansas City, KS, office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Thursday, that EPA Region 7 representatives will meet with livestock producers on Thursday, August 30, at the American Legion Hall (210 W. Head St.), in the Carroll County community of Arcadia. During the meeting, which runs from 6:30-to 8:30-pm.,  the EPA’s inspection program for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), winter feeding areas, aerial overflights, medium-sized CAFOs, nutrient management plans and manure stockpiles will be discussed.

EPA staff will also review the selection of CAFOs for inspection, flyover practices and details about CAFO on-the-ground inspections.  In addition, there will be an opportunity for attendees to interact with EPA officials during a question-and-answer session led by Shawn Shouse, of Iowa State University Extension. The EPA says it is working with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa State University Extension, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to encourage livestock producers’ attendance.

The Cass County Conservation Board says they will be holding a “Mysterious Monarchs” program at the Main Campground at Lake Anita State Park in Anita, on August 31^st. The free, public program begins at4:00 pm, and offers you a chance to discover the Monarch Butterflies before their journey south.

Conservation staff will tag monarchs, and show you how you can do the same. If you would like a home tagging kit, you must attend and pre-register for the Kit. Call 712-769-2372 to pre-register for your kit. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against a Florida-based professional fundraiser. Courtesy Health Watch, Inc. (CHW), headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, is a for profit company that raises money for various nonprofit clients including many cancer related charities. Iowa Attorney General’s office spokesman Geoff Greenwood says CHW misled Iowans they called for donations by insinuating that the caller was directly associated with the charity.

“We’re alleging that this company and its solicitors are not shooting straight with Iowans when they call for donations,” Greenwood said. He also notes they company’s employees exaggerated how much of the donation would go to the charity. “Iowans may’ve thought their whole entire donation was going to the charity when, in fact, it may have been only 10-to-30 percent,” Greenwood said. CHW is also accused of telling would-be donors that making a donation would halt future solicitation calls, when donations actually triggered an increase in additional solicitations. The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit CHW from making any more deceptive calls to Iowans and to require the company to pay civil penalties and attorney fees.

The A-G’s Office offers these tips for avoiding charity fraud and making the most of your donations….
* Ask questions. Be wary of claims that the caller is a charity worker or volunteer, that most of your donation goes to the cause, or that your donation will be used locally.
* Don’t let a sympathetic charity name fool you – some fundraisers exaggerate or fabricate their support for veterans or military families, law enforcement, fire fighters, victims of disease, and children’s causes.
* Ask phone solicitors to send written information. Be suspicious if they insist on a pledge before they’ll send you information. Check them out at the national Better Business Bureau “wise giving” site – www.give.org
* Don’t give your credit card or checking account numbers over the phone to someone you don’t know.
* Give directly to a known charity of your choice.
* Bottom line: Keep giving generously, but give wisely. Giving to a known charity you’re confident about is often the best option. If you think you have been cheated by a fundraising scheme, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Hoover Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. Call 515-281-5926, or 888-777-4590 toll free. Online at:
www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said today (Thursday), that despite the fact some spotty rain had fallen throughout the County, and while every bit helps, the County will remain in the HIGH Fire Danger category until at least Monday, when the next update will be provided on conditions in the County.

Seivert says on Wednesday, National Weather service forecasters were very close to declaring a Red Flag condition for northeastern Nebraska. Wind and very low relative humidity are two of the several parameters used in determining that classification. Red Flag conditions are the most severe for the spread of fire in any given area. The rarity of these designations, underline how significant they are, when issued, according to Seivert, who says also that the forecast is not encouraging for any sustained rainfall over the next week.

The Clarinda Police Department reports a pyrotechnic device damaged a home on east Lincoln Street early Tuesday morning. A resident told authorities a person or persons unknown detonated a 25 shot Saturn Missile pyrotechnic device behind their residence sometime between 12:45 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Several of the projectiles from the device struck the exterior of the home. The incident remains under investigation.

And on Monday, a Clarinda resident reported that an unknown individual damaged a door and latch to a commercial washing machine at the 12^th Street Laundromat, a business owned by the resident.  Damage to the washing machine is estimated at $150.00. The incident, which is believed to have occurred sometime during the day on Sunday, August 12^th,  remains under investigation.