In an update to our story posted early this (Wednesday) morning on KJAN.com, the Iowa State Patrol says a Council Bluffs woman injured in an accident on Interstate 8o in Adair County Tuesday night, has succumbed to her injuries. Officials say41-year old Heather Ann Roberts, of Council Bluffs, died at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Roberts was traveling west on I-80 at around 10:30-p.m., when her full-sized Chevy pickup went out of control.

The pickup crossed the median and entered the eastbound lanes of traffic, where it was hit on the passenger side by a 2006 Volvo semi.  Both vehicles then came to rest in the east ditch off of eastbound I-80. Roberts, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to the hospital in Des Moines, by Stuart Rescue. The driver of the semi, 49-year old Michael P. Cole, of Oswego, IL., was not injured.

These are from various reports received through 7-a.m. by the National Weather Service and media outlets: In Atlantic (KJAN studios), 4.2″….Creston 4.5″….Glenwood  6″….Audubon  5″…Avoca  4″.. and Hamburg 4″.  The snow had begun to taper-off to flurries by 8-a.m. across most of western Iowa, but the wind was still creating some whiteout conditions.

w/ Ric Hanson

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WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – Former Madison County Attorney Anthony Zane Blessum has been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend.  The Des Moines Register reports that the 56-year-old Blessum has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to inflict injury and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. He was charged on Jan. 14th.

Police reports say Blessum and the woman argued at Blessum’s house in Dallas County on June 11. A 911 call was placed from the house, and officers found the woman with several injuries. She was taken to a hospital for treatment, but Blessum was not arrested that night.  Iowa Assistant Attorney General Laura Roan is prosecuting the case.  Blessum’s attorney, Shane Michael, says Blessum acted in self-defense.

Blessum served as Madison County attorney from 1987 to 1997.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Snow and gusty winds are slicking roads and slowing travel in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. A winter weather advisory remained in effect Wednesday morning for the southeastern quarter of Nebraska. Weather forecasters estimated that up to 3 inches of snow had fallen by early Wednesday morning in the Omaha area, while Lincoln officials reported around 6 inches of snow. In western Iowa, roadways were covered with a mix of snow and ice, and the Iowa Department of Transportation warned of treacherous driving conditions.

Most schools from Lincoln to Omaha in Nebraska and in western Iowa canceled Wednesday classes.  The National Weather Service has also issued a winter storm warning for parts of central Iowa later Wednesday, with Cedar Rapids forecast to get up to 7 inches of snow.

One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident Tuesday night about 3.5-miles east of Stuart, on Interstate 80 in Adair County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2006 Chevy Colorado pickup driven by 41-year old Heather Ann Roberts, of Council Bluffs, was traveling west on I-80 at around 10:30-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control. The pickup crossed the median and was hit broadside in the passenger side by a 2006 Volvo semi, driven by 49-year old Michael P. Cole, of Oswego, IL. Both vehicles then came to rest in the east ditch off of eastbound I-80. Roberts was transported by Stuart Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. A report on her condition is not available. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

City officials in Carson say a problem they experienced on Tuesday which resulted in cloudy or discolored water, has been resolved. On Tuesday, the City said mechanical failure at the water treatment plant was causing a higher concentration of potassium permanganate to exist in the water. Since the initial announcement, the City gone through the processes necessary to make sure water coming out of the taps is clean and clear, but some discolored water may remain in private lines for  a short time.

The City recommends that any resident currently experiencing discolored water, should flush all of your private lines until the water runs clear. Carson’s maintenance supervisor also recommends that you run a cycle through your washing machine to clear it of any remaining colored water. Once the water is clear it is fine to drink.

An Iowa based organization is planning a cross country event this summer to raise money for cancer research. Marathoner Steve Cannon says the Million Dollar Marathon will involve a series of nonstop marathons through 15 states. “It’s called the Million Dollar Marathon for a reason. Our goal is to raise a million dollars. That’s the kind of money that can really move the needle to help those people who are in the fight,” Cannon said. The relay will involve runners passing a baton every 26.2 miles — covering a total of 3,850 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic.  “We will end up with 160 runners, each running a marathon one after the other and each with their own cancer story,” Cannon said. “Many of them will be cancer survivors. Some of them will be people who are actively in treatment. Some of them will be people who have incredible stories to tell of loved ones lost or loved ones who are in the fight.”

Cannon is no stranger to raising money and awareness for those in the fight against cancer. In 2009, he ran the entire RAGBRAI route and last summer, he became the first person to run around Lake Michigan. That 1,037 mile journey was completed in just 40 days – as Cannon averaged a marathon a day. Cannon has partnered with the Des Moines based group Above + Beyond Cancer on plans for the Million Dollar Marathon. Mercy Cancer Center Director Dr. Richard Deming, founder of Above + Beyond Cancer, said each marathoner will be joined by other runners — basically anyone who wants to participate. “Just yesterday I saw a patient and she just turned 90 years old. She’s a survivor. She has a walker and she wants a piece of this marathon,” Deming said. “We find the opportunity for people like her, a 90-year-old breast cancer survivor with a walker, to carry the baton and be a part of this.” Each of the 160 marathon runners selected will be asked to reach a fundraising goal of $7,000.

Deming started the Above + Beyond Cancer organization a year ago. He noted while 600-thousand (600,000) people will die of cancer in the United States this year, there are also 14-million Americans who are living with cancer or beat it.  “Cancer no longer has to be a death sentence,” Deming said. “One can overcome cancer and cancer can actually be a springboard to teaching you so many things about life.” Charlie Wittmack, the only American to have climbed Mount Everest and swim the English Channel, is executive director of Above + Beyond Cancer. He’s led cancer survivors and others touched by cancer on several expeditions – including climbs to a Mount Everest base camp and to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

“It’s truly been an extraordinary year – four expeditions, hundreds of speaking events, hundreds of hours spent advocating, days and days devoted to fundraising, service and volunteerism,” Wittmack said. “It’s hard to believe we’ve done all of that in the course of a year.” The Million Dollar Marathon is scheduled to begin on June 21 in Washington State. It’s unclear when the relay will pass through Iowa. Deming said ceremonies honoring the runners will be held in Denver, Colorado, Des Moines and Washington, D.C.

More information: http://coasttocoastforcancer.org

(Radio Iowa)