Some much need rain and snow melt is expected around Iowa this weekend. The latest water summary update, released by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, shows poor stream flow conditions and groundwater levels at or near historic lows across the state. Tim Hall, with the DNR, says the good news is Iowa received above normal precipitation in both January and February. “That’s tempered by the fact that January and February are pretty dry months, typically, to begin with,” Hall says. “So, above normal precipitation in a dry month isn’t the greatest thing in the world to shout about.” Sioux, Palo Alto, Osceola and Crawford counties are especially hard hit by low levels of shallow groundwater, according to Hall.

“We’re seeing places in northwest Iowa that were struggling to keep up with demand last summer and they’re going into this year with groundwater levels lower than they were a year ago,” Hall says. “So, they’re starting off in a weaker position.” Across much of northern Iowa, much of the rain and snow melt this weekend will runoff directly in streams, lakes or low lying areas because of concrete frost.

“That involves an ice layer frozen into the upper most part of the soil profile, which prevents rain or snow melt from getting very far down into the ground,” Hall explained. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across Iowa tonight and into tomorrow (Saturday). A cold front is forecast to move into the state by Sunday and bring a chance of snow.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest this (Friday) morning, of 19-year old Jacob Patrick Sweeney. Sweeney, who’s from Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say a Malvern man was arrested Tuesday for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon. 45-year old James Lee Conn, Jr., was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. in Malvern. He was booked into the Mills County Jail and posted a $5,000 cash bond on Wednesday. His preliminary hearing is set to take place March 19th.

Authorities in Mills County also report the arrest early Thursday morning, of 30-year old Brian Lee Widman, of Council Bluffs. Widman, who was taken into custody at around 2:45-a.m. in the vicinity of 221st Street and Goode,  faces a Possession with the Intent to Deliver, charge. His bond was set at $50,000.

And, at around 2:20-a.m. Wednesday, deputies in Mills County arrested 22-year old Thomas Patrick Shea Larington, of Omaha, on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

A meeting is set for Saturday afternoon in Shelby County to discuss poultry options. The Iowa Food Systems Council is hosting the meeting at the St. Boniface Parish Center in Westphalia from 1 to 5pm. The meeting is for anyone interested in learning more about poultry options. The council is working on a rural business enterprise grant to help producers grow their business with processing and sales along with options for producers and help growers access a broader sales base. The meeting in Westphalia is open to any poultry producer in Shelby County.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Officials with the City of Harlan are warning the public about sickly raccoons in the area. Kevin Krohn, Harlan City Parks and Animal Control Manager, said the city has recently had four cases of sick raccoons inside city limits. Normally, he says, the animals would not be seen during the day or approachable. However, Krohn said the animals seem rather tame and residents can walk right up to them.

The City of Harlan had the last raccoon sent to Iowa State University to discover the disease these animals are carrying. Krohn said if you see a raccoon that seems tame or is curled up, do not approach it, and contact the city of Harlan.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Iowa Congressman Steve King is still not ready to say whether he’ll run for the U-S Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Harkin in 2014. King, a Republican from Kiron, says he wants to do a little more fact-finding before he’ll commit. “When Tom Harkin announced his retirement here a little over a month ago, it was something I’d been looking at anyway so that accelerated the decision-making process somewhat,” King says. “As things have unfolded, we’ll be going out and doing serious polling here within a short period of time.”

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, has already said he’ll run for the Senate nomination, while Congressman Tom Latham, a Republican from Clive, says he will NOT seek the seat. King says he is actively looking at launching a campaign. “The nomination path looks pretty good and very positive,” he says. “If we can put together a plan and a campaign that has a reasonable chance to win, then I’d be in a position to say yes.” King says he is confident of winning any possible Republican primary and he adds, “political science is not a science, it’s far more art.”

“Every endeavor I’ve tried, they’ve said was impossible,” King says. “That doesn’t mean I’m invincible by any means, but I do trust my head and my gut and my heart more than I do the counsel sometimes of somebody who don’t have the benefit of the information that we will have.” Governor Terry Branstad, a Republican, said he would support Latham in a Senate bid — before Latham dropped out. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds has also said she’d consider running for the Senate seat.

(Radio Iowa)

A public hearing will be held Monday evening in Atlantic, with regard to the Certified 2013-2014 Budget for the Atlantic Community School District. Business Manager/Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast tells KJAN News the levy for the district under the Budget is up 10-cents from last year, to $14.51 per thousand dollars of assessed property valuation. The total amount of the budget is a little more than $5.94-million. A hearing on the budget will take place during a meeting of the Atlantic Board of Education. Their session begins at 7:30-p.m. Monday, in the High School Media Center. Later on during the meeting, a vote will be held on approving the budget.

In other business, with the recently announced resignation of Middle School Principal Cam Smith, Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein is expected to recommend the School Board consider and/or act on Administrative Realignment, or how the building administrators are set-up in the district and what their respective responsibilities will be.

The Board will also act on approving the Instructional Support Program, which provides additional funding in the General Fund, and has been in-place for the past 10-years, and is set to expire in June 2014. The Program may be funded by all property tax or a combination of property tax and income surtax. The total Program may not exceed 10% of the district’s regular program district cost.

Mary Beth Fast said most of the school districts in Iowa have an ISP, the funds for which are spent on instruction. That may include books and other educational materials. She says the first time the ISP came into being was the result of a public vote, which put it into effect for 10-years. The district has the option to put the ISP up for a renewal vote, which would keep it in-place for another10-years, or, the Board can opt to vote on the measure, which would keep it in effect for 5-years. Mary Beth says the Board is planning on approving the 5-year option. (For more information on the ISP, surf to: http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1425&Itemid=2425)

The Atlantic School Board will also discuss and act on: Approving the Early Start Calendar Waiver request for the 2013-2014 school year; School fees (Fast says the only changes are to some reductions in the fees students and/or parents pay); Approval of the change in mascot name for the Atlantic Trojanns to “Trojans,” which was requested by students in the district; and, the make-up of snow days, as required by the district’s contracts.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports the Marne Fire Department and Cass County Emergency Management Agency will host a Storm Spotter Training Program on Wednesday, March 13th, from 7-to 9-pm., at the Marne Fire Station. Kennon says a meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Des Moines will be on-hand to provide participants with information about safely observing and reporting severe weather. The session is FREE, open to the general public, and no registration is required.

Each year, National Weather Service meteorologists from Des Moines travel to many counties they serve, to provide a comprehensive multi-media spotter training presentation. The course contains information about severe weather climatology, severe thunderstorm types, different severe weather threats and how to identify them, how to report severe weather, spotter safety and severe weather communications. Spotter training classes typically last between one and two hours.

Trained Spotters provide an invaluable service for the Weather Service. Real-time observations provide a truly reliable information base for severe weather detection and verification. Timely and accurate observations assist NWS staff members in their warning decisions, enabling the NWS to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

The Spotter Training class on March 13th is sponsored by the Cass County Emergency Management Agency. Questions concerning the class should be directed to the Cass County EMA coordinator, Mike Kennon at 712-254-1500.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Members of the Iowa Supreme Court will meet with students with stops at five high schools and a college in the Sioux City area.  The justices will split up for visits Wednesday at Sioux City North, Sioux City West, Maple Valley in Mapleton, Westwood in Sloan, OA/BCIG High in Ida Grove, and Morningside College in Sioux City. They will talk with students about the role of the courts.

The Judicial Branch says the justices also will hold a special session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Morningside’s Epply Auditorium, where they will hear arguments in two cases.