Authorities in Council Bluffs  say a 52-year-old Carter Lake woman was killed Friday in a two-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate 480 that tied up traffic for several hours. Police say Linda Steskal, of Carter Lake, died at the scene of the crash.  According to Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Geer, an SUV driven by 45-year old Ronnie Dunbar, of Council Bluffs, was traveling at a high rate of speed at around 3:30-p.m. Friday, when it hit the rear of Steskal’s Chevy Malibu near the Dodge Street exit. Following the collision,the 4-door Malibu bounced off of a guardrail, spewing debris across the roadway. Police had to shut down all four eastbound lanes into Council Bluffs for more than three hours, while eastbound traffic was diverted back into downtown Omaha. Law officers from the Council Bluffs and Omaha police departments, the Iowa State Patrol and Nebraska State Patrol helped reroute traffic.

Steskal’s car sustained heavy front- and rear-end damage before it ended up in a ditch with the back window broken out and the hood folded up. The other vehicle, a Mercury Mountaineer, was on the north shoulder of I-480 east, facing west.  It had heavy damage to the driver’s side, with the back wheel broken. Sgt. Geer told reporters alcohol was found in the SUV, and officials were investigating whether alcohol use was a factor in the accident.

Dunbar fled the scene on foot following the crash, but was taken into custody near the Interstate 29 bridge over Ninth Avenue. He was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license. His passenger, 45-year old Michael Barnett, of Council Bluffs, was injured and taken to Mercy Hospital, where he was treated and released.

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM SUNDAY FOR MOST OF THE KJAN LISTENING AREA, EXCEPT FOR THE FAR WEST/SW COUNTIES, WHERE THE ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 3-P.M. TODAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

The National Weather Services says winds should increase early this (Saturday) evening and remain strong through Sunday. The strongest winds will likely be during the day, Sunday. Northwest winds from 25-to-45 miles per hours can be expected, with gusts up to 55-mph.

The prolonged period of strong winds will impact travel, especially for high profile vehicles over the holiday weekend. MInor property damage is also possible with wind speeds of this magnitude.

A Wind Advisory means that winds of 30 MPH or higher are expected. They can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

For those persons in the northern fringe of our listening area, the National Weather Service has issued  a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for wind and blowing snow, which is in effect from 6-pm today through 3-a.m. Sunday.  The advisory includes Denison, Carroll, Sac City, Storm Lake, Ft. Dodge, Algona and Mason City.

Rain is expected to mix with and change to snow after 6-pm west of I-35, and east of I-35 in northern Iowa, after 9-pm. Total snow/ice accumulations in the advisory area across western and northern Iowa, are expected to range from 1-to 2-inches by early Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Wind Advisory in effect from 6-p.m. Saturday through 6-p.m. Sunday, for the following counties:

CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR and RINGGOLD COUNTIES
Issued 332 PM CST FRI DEC 30 2011

TIMING…WINDS SHOULD INCREASE EARLY SATURDAY EVENING AND REMAIN   STRONG THROUGH SUNDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL LIKELY BE DURING   THE DAY ON SUNDAY.

WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS FROM 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS FROM 45 TO   50 MPH.

IMPACTS…THE PROLONGED PERIOD OF STRONG WINDS WILL IMPACT   TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES OVER THE HOLIDAY  WEEKEND. MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE WITH WIND SPEEDS OF  THIS MAGNITUDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING  DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

EARLY, Iowa (AP) — Republican Michele Bachmann’s closest congressional ally has offered kind words for the presidential candidate but stopped short of an outright endorsement that could lift her back-of-the-pack campaign. Bachmann and Iowa Rep. Steve King appeared together Friday at a small-town cafe in his congressional district. King has remained neutral in the race despite attempts by several candidates to land his official support and that of the evangelical voters he tends to attract in his own elections. King called Bachmann “my great friend” but said he still hasn’t reached a personal decision in the GOP race. Bachmann attracted small crowds in two stops Friday. She chalked it up to last-minute scheduling.  The Iowa caucuses are Tuesday.

(please note this is a correction to an earlier version of this story which posted on KJAN.com, which indicated the maximum paid for the burial of a deceased indigent person was $2,500. It should have said $2,000)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), approved the final version of an Indigent Disposition Policy (formerly called an Indigent Burial Policy). The policy states a maximum of $2,000 will be paid by the County for the burial of a deceased indigent person, or a maximum of $1,500 for a cremation. That includes the mandatory Medical Examiner certification fee. Burial or cremation is limited to: A casket, vault, or cremation container; Funeral Director fees and, other normal expenses required for burial or cremation. In addition, the County will pay the reasonable and customary cemetery expenses, not to exceed $550, or for burial of cremains, $200. Any unusual transportation or other expenses beyond those amounts may be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval. The Board has the complete and sole discretion to decide upon reimbursement of those costs.

The policy also states the family or interested persons associated with the deceased, shall sign an agreement to repay the County, from any resources or benefits that belong to, or are due to, the deceased person. That would include: life insurance; real estate; personal property; social security, railroad or other benefits; memorial and fundraiser monies; contracts; and, bank accounts, annuities, stocks, bonds, and Certificates of Deposits (C.D.’s). Applications for disposition benefits must be made in writing as soon as possible following the death of an indigent person, to the Cass County General Assistance Office or Veterans Affairs Office. Eligibility for benefits will be determined by the General Assistance Coordinator or Veterans Affairs Ordinances, as deemed appropriate.

An Audubon man was arrested Thursday night, on drug charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Joseph Mark Zaiger was taken into custody at around 9:30-p.m. on charges of Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The arrest stems from a traffic stop on Highway 71, in Brayton. Zaiger was cited for the offenses and released, with orders to appear in court on January 5th.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney will be in Atlantic and Council Bluffs this Sunday. His stop in Atlantic, during which he will discuss jobs and the economy, is scheduled to occur at 2:15-p.m., Sunday at the Family Table Restaurant (609 W. 7th St.).  Romney’s visit to Council Bluffs, Sunday, will include a rally at Bayliss Park Hall (530 1^st Avenue), at 5:05-p.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department K-9 who was hurt when he was hit by a car in 2010, will be retired this weekend after six-years of service to the county. K-9 “Raven’s”  last day as a member of the sheriff’s department is January 1^st.  Guthrie County Sheriff Marty Arganbright announced the news during this week’s meeting of the County Board of Supervisors. Raven was struck by a car in October 2010, and never fully recovered from a compound leg fracture he suffered during the accident. He also suffers from arthritis in his injured leg. Arganbright says even though Raven underwent surgery to repair the damage to his leg, the dog was unable to continue with the force. He’s served the county for six years. 

Raven’s training was paid for entirely through donations, and cost about $10,000. His after-accident surgery exceeded $4,000, and was also fully funded by donations. The Sheriff said Raven will not be replaced any time soon. He hopes someone will step forward and adopt the dog, whom he says served the County well, and needs to be treated right, in his retirement years.