COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MONTGOMERY-PAGE.  524 AM CDT FRI MAR 16 2012
 
 …DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT THIS MORNING…
 
 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A DENSE  FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT THIS MORNING.  EXPECT VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS IN MANY ACROSS ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. BE PREPARED FOR RAPID FLUCTUATIONS IN VISIBILITY IF
TRAVELING THIS MORNING AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA FOLLOWING ROOM IN BETWEEN VEHICLES. A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN…USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

The Harlan Police Department Thursday issued a report on recent arrests. Officials say on March 8th, 49-year old Dale Noll, of Harlan, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication, after officers were informed Noll had walked away from Myrtue Medical Center. He was located, taken into custody and brought to the Shelby County Jail. Noll later pled guilty to the offense and was fined $200 plus court costs.

On March 7th, 19-year old Corey Williams, of Harlan, was cited for hitting fixtures on a highway, after allegedly striking a utility pole on 7th Street in Harlan. The pole was subsequently replaced by a Harlan Municipal Utilities’ crew.

And, on March 6th, 23-year old Theodore Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. Behrens was being held in the Shelby County Jail.

A Red Oak woman was arrested Thursday evening on a moving violation. According to Red Oak Police, 20-year old Randi Lynn Vanleuven was charged with Driving Under Suspension. She was issued a citation and released on her own recognizance.

The record warm temperatures in recent days have likely spurred water enthusiasts to break out their boating or canoe gear.

Todd Robertson

Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is reminding paddlers to dress for the water, not the air. “Even though air temperatures are nice and warm and all cozy, the water is a completely different story,” Robertson says. “The water temperatures are in the low 40s, which mean it is ice cold.” The general rule, according to Robertson, is that if the water and air temperatures do not equal 120 degrees, anyone dumped in the water is at risk for hyperthermia.

“I have already seen quite a few people going out paddling who don’t have a lot of experience. I’ve seen people on Gray’s Lake (in Des Moines) without life jackets and in cotton sweat shirts and jeans,” Robertson says. “I mean, God forbid if they were to ever dump their boat in the water, they’d run into a lot of trouble.” He says dry suits or wet suits are recommended for all paddling until the water temperatures hit safer levels in late April or early May.

Robertson also suggests taking a bag with plenty of dry clothing. A properly fitted lifejacket is always important, regardless of the water temperatures, but Robertson notes hypothermia causes the loss of coordination and movement becomes limited – so a lifejacket is necessary to stay afloat and keep the head above water.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this week approved a proposed amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Cass County Budget. The appropriation adjustments (or, changes in spending authority) for Fiscal Year 2012 included – General Basic Fund: increase Local Health by $62,340 (for flow thru of revenues for grants, etc); Increase Non-departmental by $44,150 (for Public Safety Communications); Decrease Local Option Sales Tax capital projects function by $199,372 and increase LOST debt service function by $199,372; Increase General Basic non-departmental by $520,000 (for return of appropriation borrowed for URA Amaizing Energy capital projects expenditures 8/31/11); and, increase URA Amaizing Energy Debt Service Fund by $520,000.

The Supervisors also unanimously approved Cass County Compensation Board recommendations for a 2.5-percent across the board compensation increase for all elected officials. They voted 3-to 2 in favor of the compensation boards’ recommendation the Board of Supervisor members also receive a 2.5% salary increase, with Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors receive $1,000 above the normal compensation. Frank Waters, Chuck Rieken and Duane McFadden voted in favor of the recommendation, Gaylord Schelling and Mark Wedemeyer voted against it.

Approval of the Compensation Boards’ recommendations means for FY 2013: The Cass County Attorney’s annual salary will be $87,468 (an increase of $2,133 over FY 2012); Auditor, Recorder and Treasurers annual salaries will be $50,198 (an increase of $1,224); Sheriff, $62,683 (an increase of $1,529); and, each Supervisor will be paid $26,202 (an increase of $639), with $1,000 additional for the Board Chair.

The Board Wednesday morning approved adoption of the proposed FY2013 Cass County budget, and the Secondary Roads/Iowa Department of Transportation expense budget for FY 2013. And, they unanimously approved the use of County Road N-28 as an official detour route (beginning at Iowa Highway 83, south for 10-miles to Iowa Highway 92), while work is being done on Iowa Highway 148 from Anita south, to Highway 92.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service and other preparedness partners will conduct a Severe Weather Awareness Week to promote severe weather safety to citizens the week of March 19-23, 2012. The National Weather Service will promote weather safety by issuing informative daily Public Information Statements. Citizens can also get this information by following the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency on Facebook. Topics will include: Severe Weather Terminology, Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Tornado Drill, Lightning, Flooding and Social Media.

The annual TORNADO DRILL DAY will be Wednesday, March 21st. (In case of severe weather, the drill will be postponed to Thursday March 22nd) The drill sequence will begin at 10a.m. with sirens sounding at approximately 10:10a.m. The test warning will be valid for 20 minutes. All citizens, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and public facilities are encouraged to participate in this drill by practicing what you would do in a real tornado warning.

The County 911 Center will activate outdoor warning sirens for the communities of Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Macedonia, McClelland, Neola, Oakland and Underwood. Citizens in other Pottawattamie County communities are encouraged to contact their City Hall or local Fire Department to see if sirens will sound during the drill.

The Emergency Management Agency would like to remind all citizens that outdoor warning sirens have limited to no effectiveness when you are in your home or traveling in your vehicle. Pottawattamie County residents and residents of our communities are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Code Red Emergency Notification System. The service is free of charge and you will receive a phone call (home and/or cell) when severe weather threatens.

This is a very important, potentially life-saving tool, especially where there are no sirens or you are in a place where sirens would be ineffective in warning you and your family. Residents should sign up for the service, free of charge at www.pottcounty.com.

Law enforcement officers around the state will be busy over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. A four day long Special Traffic Enforcement Program — or STEP “wave” — is underway involving 250 Iowa law enforcement agencies. STEP Coordinator Randy Hunefeld says officers will be watching for all traffic violations, including drunk drivers. “We know there will be a lot of partying going on over the weekend and with the added law enforcement, we recommend to the motoring public that if you’re drinking, don’t drive, because your chances of getting caught are a lot greater this weekend,” Hunefeld says. 

A similar STEP wave over the St. Patrick’s Day period last year resulted in 347 people stopped for drunk driving. Iowa roads have been dangerous so far this year. Hunefeld says there have been nearly 70 fatal crashes around the state over the first two-and-a-half months of 2012. “The sad part about that is we’ve had such a beautiful winter and the roads been clear and dry for the most part,” Hunefeld says. “Unfortunately, about 30-percent of those fatalities have involved victims not wearing their seat belts.” The nearly 70 deaths this year follows 363 traffic fatalities in all of 2011 — the fewest traffic deaths in Iowa in 66 years.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 22-year old Cam Christopher Jahnke, of Lewis, was arrested Monday on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine. Jahnke was also charged with two counts of Distribution to Person(s) under the Age of 18, and one count of Using a Person under 18 in the Drug Trade. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and held on $110,000 bond.