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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Aug. 7th 2013

News

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lucky ticketholders who win jackpots such as the current $425 million Powerball pot aren’t the only ones who score big. The retailers who sell the tickets that win big money share in the customer’s good fortune. Casey’s General Store in Bondurant, Iowa, is known as the place that sold a $202.1 million Powerball jackpot ticket in September. Assistant Manager Debra Fetters says she’s asked, “Does lightning strike twice here?”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines police officer who was pinned by a truck last month has left a Minnesota hospital. Lt. Joe Gonzalez has left the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He is resting with family at an undisclosed location.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — The second trial for a southeast Iowa man charged with killing his pregnant wife has been postponed. The re-trial for Seth Techel was to begin Monday but has been delayed indefinitely due to a medical problem. Techel is charged with murder and nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy in connection with the death of his wife, Lisa Techel, and their unborn child. She was shot in May 2012 at their home near Agency. The first jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man captured by police after a dangerous pursuit has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 30-year-old northern Iowa woman. Thirty-nine-year-old Tyrone Washington Jr. has been charged in Monday’s death of Justina Marie Smith of Northwood.

Storm Wind & Hail reports (early Wed. morning 8/7/13)

Weather

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

1:16-a.m.  1.5″ diameter hail ( quarter to ping-pong ball-sized) and heavy rain 11 miles N/NE of Corning in Adams County (reported by the public).

12:47-a.m. 1″ diameter (1/4-sized) hail reported N/NE of Massena in Cass County. (observed by a trained storm spotter)

Severe Weather update: Adams/Ringgold/Union/Taylor Counties

Weather

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

UNION IA-TAYLOR IA-RINGGOLD IA-ADAMS IA-
145 AM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ADAMS...
NORTHWESTERN RINGGOLD...NORTHEASTERN TAYLOR AND SOUTHWESTERN UNION
COUNTIES UNTIL 200 AM CDT...

AT 141 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF
LENOX...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO
         ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLEARFIELD...ARISPE...SHANNON CITY AND DIAGONAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

Andre Reed giving Chiefs wide receiver new outlook

Sports

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Longtime Bills wide receiver Andre Reed is trying to break into coaching.  Reed is helping out the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp as a volunteer intern, working with their young wide receivers in preparation for their first preseason game.

Reed says that he had his pick of where he wanted to go, but that Chiefs coach Andy Reid made it clear to him that he was wanted in Kansas City. Reed says that coaching has already been an eye-opening experience, particularly when it comes to the behind-the-scenes work.

He doesn’t know how long his internship will last, or whether it will turn into a full-time job, but he appreciates the chance to get a fresh perspective on the game.

Beltran powers Cardinals past Dodgers 5-1

Sports

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Carlos Beltran and Matt Adams homered in the eighth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 15-game road winning streak with a 5-1 victory on Tuesday night.  Joe Kelly pitched into the sixth inning, outperforming Clayton Kershaw and helping St. Louis to its fourth victory in the last six games. Tony Cruz added an RBI single.

The Dodgers’ road winning streak was a franchise record. Their previous loss away from Chavez Ravine was a 4-2 decision at San Francisco on July 6.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Adams/Ringgold/Taylor/Union Counties

Weather

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

114 AM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…
NORTHWESTERN RINGGOLD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…
NORTHEASTERN TAYLOR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…
SOUTHWESTERN UNION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…

* UNTIL 200 AM CDT

* AT 110 AM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHEAST
OF CORNING…AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD…PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED. ONE AND A HALF INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED
AT 110 AM 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF CORNING.

IMPACT…PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OUTDOORS WILL BE INJURED. EXPECT HAIL
DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING…WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXPECT
WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
CRESTON…LENOX…PRESCOTT…CROMWELL…KENT…CRESTON AIRPORT…
CLEARFIELD…ARISPE…SHANNON CITY AND DIAGONAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Cass/Adair/Adams Counties

Weather

August 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

1243 AM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN ADAIR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN CASS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 115 AM CDT

* AT 1242 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES NORTH OF
  CORNING...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

  HAZARD...QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO
           ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORNING...CARBON AND PRESCOTT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until Midnight for the KJAN listening area

Weather

August 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

THE SEVERE STORMS PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN, OK., AT 6:55-P.M, HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #476, WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH: ADAIR ADAMS AUDUBON CASS DALLAS FREMONT GUTHRIE HARRISON MADISON MILLS MONTGOMERY PAGE POTTAWATTAMIE RINGGOLD SHELBY TAYLOR UNION IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.

PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE…

SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE. SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 45 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF COLUMBUS NEBRASKA TO 35 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF BURLINGTON IOWA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

Atlantic City Council to hear abatement request from Cass County Fair Board

News

August 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council is expected to hear a request during its meeting Wednesday evening, for the abatement of the fee for a building permit pertaining to the Cass County Fairgrounds. The Cass County Ag and Ed. Association, commonly referred to as the “Fair Board,” is asking the City of waive the building permit fee of just under $3,100, for the construction of a Cattle Barn on the Fairgrounds.

Cass Co. Fair Cattle Barn schematic

Cass Co. Fair Cattle Barn schematic

Zoning Administrator John Lund, will not be present to explain why he feels the fee was exorbitant for what he calls a “Glorified carport,” but City Administrator Doug Harris will speak on his behalf. City Attorney Dave Weiderstein has also indicated he has similar thoughts on the matter. Doug Harris says while Lund has reservations on a complete abatement of the fee due to precedent and fairness (as no entity is exempt from building permit fees outside of the City itself and AMU/Utility companies for basic infrastructure), he has sympathy for an entity that exists purely on donations, and provides an educational and enjoyable experience for all Cass County residents and visitors while remaining free to the public.

The Cattle Barn building is funded through donations from both individuals and businesses around Cass County. Construction on the 86-foot wide, 120-fott long all steel, clear-span structure is expected to begin within about  30-days. It will have open sides, with steel sliding doors on the ends and a dirt floor. The building is expected to cost nearly $84,300.

Regardless of the Council’s decision on approving abatement of the fee request, Lund has indicated he will likely present the matter before the Finance and Personnel Committee, so they can determine if the ordinance Lund must follow is flawed, and ways in which they can be improved to reflect a fair and logical pricing system for everyone.

Ft. Calhoun nuke station exercise & public meetings postponed TFN

News

August 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office announced today (Tuesday) that the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station public meeting and emergency response exercise, scheduled to take place this week near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska has been postponed until further notice. High wind speeds reaching approximately 90 mph were reported during a severe thunderstorm this morning, and power was lost. The power has since been restored and there are no safety concerns.REPP Logo

The states of Nebraska and Iowa along with Washington County in Nebraska and Pottawattamie and Harrison Counties in Iowa will work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), FEMA and the Omaha Public Power District to reschedule the exercise for a future date to be determined. The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the state and local radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. It tests the abilities of the state, the utility company, and participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living and working in the vicinity of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station.

The exercise requires the activation of emergency facilities operated by state, county and local units of government, all of which generating response activities that are evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. Concurrently, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station on-site performance is evaluated by officials from the NRC.

Members of the public will be informed when the exercise and the public meeting outlining the full-scale response exercise process, has been rescheduled.