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Ice threat lingers for some Midwest states; storms in Texas

News, Weather

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A few states in the Midwest again are on alert for icy conditions, while strong storms are moving through the Houston area. While the weekend’s storm caused travel issues in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, some meteorologists acknowledged it fell short of dire forecasts. Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa are expected to see a mix of rain and freezing rain today (Monday).

Strong storms moved through Houston on Monday morning, following a night of storms.  There was at least one tornado in Texas on Sunday evening, and severe weather kept some fans, the Packers and a few Cowboys inside Dallas’ AT&T Stadium for more than hour after the NFL divisional playoff game on Sunday night.

In southwest Iowa, only scattered power outages were reported this morning, due to icing.

PATRICIA RAE SCHWARTZ, 83, of Atlantic (updated 1/16: Gathering of Friends 1/18/17)

Obituaries

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

(Updated date of services due to the weather on Monday, 1/16)…

PATRICIA RAE SCHWARTZ, 83, of Atlantic died January 4th, at Atlantic Specialty Care. A Gathering of family and friends of PATRICIA SCHWARTZ will be held beginning at 6-p.m. Wednesday, January 18th, in the new Heritage House multi-purpose room, in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements. [Please note the change in date for the gathering. It was to have taken place Monday (1/16)]

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the Atlantic Animal Shelter.

PATRICIA SCHWARTZ is survived by:

Her daughter – Karen Berger-Dooley

Her brother – Ray Roan.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 1/16/2017

News, Podcasts

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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4 arrests in Creston; Generator stolen

News

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests over the past few days.Early Sunday morning, 31-year old Patricia McFail, of Creston, was arrested at the Law Enforcement Center on the charges of Driving While Suspended and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug or Device. She was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

Saturday morning, 31-year old Joshua Coulter, of Creston, was arrested at Sumner/Mills on the charges of Public Intoxication. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

Friday night, 20-year old Destany Degonia, of Creston, was arrested on the 800 Block of W Adams on the charges of Interference of Official Acts, and Accessory After the Fact. Degonia was released from the Union County Jail on a $2000 bond.

Friday afternoon, 38-year old Erik Witt, of Ellston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Possession of Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 500 block of S. Chestnut Street, in Creston, reported Sunday afternoon, that someone stole a generator out of a
customers vehicle that was parked on their property sometime between 1-a.m. and
1:15-a.m., Sunday. The loss was estimated at $2000.

Save Our Health Care’ Rallies in four Iowa cities

News

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Democratic Party organized rallies in four of the state’s cities Sunday afternoon. The events were billed as a “first stand” against G-O-P efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Matt Tapscott of Decorah runs a child care business and Tapscott says he hadn’t been able to afford insurance until the law. “My elected representative said we’re working to ensure that you have access to health care,” Tapscott said during a rally in Des Moines. “It makes no difference that we have access if I can’t afford what I have access to. The Affordable Care Act made it possible that I could actually afford my health care.”

Rick Smith of Urbandale says the law hasn’t just helped people with pre-existing conditions, it bans insurance companies from setting a yearly limit on spending on covered benefits.  “We’ve got to remind all of our friends…that everybody has benefitted from this and will continue to benefit,” he said.

Rallies were held in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Sioux City. Both of Iowa’s Republican U.S. Senators and the three Republicans who serve in the U.S. House voted last week on legislation to start the process of repealing “ObamaCare.”

(Radio Iowa)

Slippery roads cause collision in Creston, Sunday night

News

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Slippery road conditions contributed to an accident that involved three vehicles in Creston, Sunday night, near the intersection of E. Irving and N. Birch Streets. The Creston Police Department says a 2007 Dodge pickup driven by 25-year old Cortney Sandeman, of Creston, was driving too fast for conditions at around 10:55-p.m., when he lost control and collided with a parked 2004 Ford pickup. His vehicle also struck a 2017 Chevy driven by 32-year old Elizabeth Loomis-Montoya, of Creston.

Loomis-Montoya’s car had slid into the north curb and was trying to get out, with three people trying to push the vehicle up hill at the time the accident occurred. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $1,900. No citations were issued.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 1/16/2017

News, Podcasts

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 01/16/17

Weather

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Today: **ICE STORM WARNING through late this evening**

Area of fog, periods of freezing rain/drizzle this morning; Rain/drizzle this afternoon. High 34. E/SE @ 10-20.

Tonight: Freezing rain or drizzle changing to light snow. Low 31. NW @ 10-15.

Tomorrow: Cldy to P/Cldy. High 38. NW @ 10-20mph.

Wednesday: P/Cldy High 48.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High near 50.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 35. Our Low this morning was 28. We received .2” of an inch of precipitation over the past 24-hours (ending at 7-a.m. today, here in Atlantic. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 20 and the low was -8. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 64 in 1990. The Record Low was -25 in 2009.

More ice still on way to parts of Nebraska, Iowa

News, Weather

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Travel remains hazardous in parts of Iowa and Nebraska as ice storms move north and east through the states. Authorities say most roadways that have been treated in anticipation of sleet or freezing rain are safe for cautious navigation. But untreated sidewalks, streets and rural roads could be treacherous Monday.

Fears of widespread power outages Sunday and early Monday have not materialized. Major utilities in both states report that fewer than 20 customers don’t have electricity. Air travel is problematical. More than 20 Monday departures have been canceled at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and five at Des Moines International Airport.

National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead says more rain is expected in both states Monday, but the temperature in most spots is hovering above the freezing mark.

Marshalltown man dies following train-vs-vehicle crash

News

January 16th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A collision Saturday night between a Union Pacific train and a small SUV in Marshall County has resulted in the death of a Marshalltown man. The Iowa State Patrol says 62-year old Kyle Dean Quick died at a hospital in Des Moines after he was flown from the scene of the crash that happened at around 8-p.m Saturday, in Marshalltown.

Quick was driving a 1995 Geo Tracker northbound on 6th Street, when he went around the activated railroad crossing arms and was struck by the train. The accident remains under investigation.