(Radio Iowa) – A region already battered by severe storms this season is preparing for another major hurricane to hit tomorrow (Wednesday), and American Red Cross volunteers from Iowa are in place to help evacuees take shelter from the anticipated powerful winds, heavy rains and flooding. Josh Murray, spokesman for the agency’s Nebraska-Iowa Region, says a few dozen Iowans left more than a week ago to help in the recovery from the first big storm. “There’s over 2,000 Red Cross volunteers in that area, all throughout the southeast following Hurricane Helene, including close to 30 from Iowa that are down there,” Murray says, “and yes, especially those in the Florida area where Milton is headed, they’re preparing for the next wave and what might come with that.”

It’s been more than a century since a Category 5 hurricane hit Tampa Bay, which is one of the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas with more than three million residents. “This is going to be a large evacuation. We’re going to have a large number of people looking for places to stay. So we have been working, that’s been really the focus the last several days, getting more shelters,” Murray says. “We already have several open in the area from Hurricane Helene. Those that remain open, those can hopefully welcome more people, but we know we’re going to need more.”

Milton is a very large storm system and as Florida interstates clog up with evacuees, hotels to the north and south are booking up, and Red Cross shelters will likely be in high demand. Murray says it’s a delicate guessing game as to where to open shelters so fleeing Floridians don’t have to travel too far, versus being too close to the storm’s fury for safety’s sake.  “We’ll watch the forecast really close. If there’s a little bit north, a little bit south, how far inland do we think it’s safe. We know it’ll still be a little dangerous inland, but maybe it’ll be safe enough that we can still house people there if you’re far enough inland,” Murray says. “We want to make sure it’s safe, definitely for our folks who are there, but also, obviously, the residents who are evacuating, we want to make sure we provide a safe location for them to go.”

Hurricane Helene survivors in a South Carolina shelter (Red Cross photo)

Iowans who would like to help the Red Cross to help others can call 1-800-Red Cross, or visit RedCross-dot-org. You can also text the word “Helene” to 90999 to make a donation.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports 34-year-old Holly Buckingham, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday (Oct. 7th), for OWI and Child Endangerment. Buckingham was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $3,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue reports numerous arrests occurred between Sept. 24th and Oct. 7th. Those arrested on warrants include:

On Oct. 7th: 38-year-old David Reeves, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear; 22-year-old Shaelyn Gettler, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Guthrie County warrant for Probation Violation.

On Oct. 1st: 34-year-old Gary Blakeman, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant out of Council Bluffs for Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations. He was also charged with Disorderly Conduct.

On Sept. 28th: 37-year-old Aaron Macias, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for a Drug Violation. And,

On Sept. 27th: Atlantic Police arrested 28-year-old Weneity Seker, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear on an OWI/1st offense charge.

Other arrests in Atlantic include:

On Oct. 7th: 42-year-old Melanie Stoural, of Atlantic, for OWI/1st offense, and 37-year-old Louis Chipenson, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.

On Oct. 5th: 30-year-old Edward Parrott, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault

On Oct. 3rd, Atlantic Police arrested 33-year-old Jade Nicholson, of Atlantic, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Poss. of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana.

Atlantic Police arrested 30-year-old Dennis Buss, of Atlantic, on Oct. 1st, for Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct. And, on Sept. 24th, 23-year-old K-Son Beker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. And finally, the A-PD says 18-year-old Skyler Mack, of Atlantic, was cited into court Sept. 12th for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and released at the scene.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors during their meeting Tuesday, to approved an Informal Resolution with regard to a complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), about an alleged violation of Iowa’ Open Meeting Law by the County Supervisors. Supervisor Randy Cooper described the complaint.

Cooper also described the agreed to complaint resolution.

The terms of the informal resolution and compliance will result in the complaint being dismissed by the IPIB.

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors meeting, 10-8-2024

Supervisor Donna Robinson said the meeting that took place was “unfortunate,” and an honest mistake.

Board Chair Mark Olson acknowledged there were sufficient facts to show the July 22nd meeting was in violation of the Open Meetings law and the complaint about that meeting was valid.

He said the Board acknowledges the violations was “A result of human error, and were in no way intended to conceal information from, or mislead the public,in any manner. We fully intend to comply with any terms and conditions imposed” by the IPIB. Donna Robinson said she disagrees with the reason for the closed session, but reiterated the process of doing so was “unintentional human error.”

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors received a weekly report from County Engineer Karen Albert. Toward the end of their meeting, the Supervisors acted to approve Board representatives for the County Compensation Board.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The October session of Healthy U at Cass Health in Atlantic, will focus on cardiology care presented by Kristin Babb, PA-C. The session will be held October 17th at noon, in Conference Room 2 at CCHS. Babb will discuss cardiology topics common amongst older adults such as blood thinners, heart disease, and available treatments.

Kristin Babb provides care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. She is board certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is licensed by both Arizona and Iowa. She received her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from A.T. Still University, AZ School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Arizona in 2006. She has worked in cardiology for more than 16 years, and she has previous experience in emergency medicine as well.

Kristin Babb, PA-C

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Radio Iowa) – An expert from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says peak viewing for the fall colors in northern Iowa will likely start late this week and run through October 20th. D-N-R forester Joe Herring, who’s based in Iowa Falls, says the leaves of one species of tree typically offer the brightest fall visibility. “The maples are really the best color. They kind of steal the show. They give you the really nice reds, sometimes oranges and yellows, depending on the species and the location,” Herring says. “Out in the more natural timbers where we get more oak trees, they really comprise the best color later on in the season, like the second half of October and even into November.”

When most of the other colors are gone, he says the white oaks and red oaks will hold their leaves and offer pretty views. Herring says this latest stretch of dry weather should -not- dim the fall color show. “This late drought that’s come on shouldn’t be a huge factor. If anything, it might help a little bit, because we see that the fall colors tend to be improved when we get really kind of clear and dry, blue sky days in September and October,” Herring says. “It’s kind of warm days, but cold night that tends to help give us the best fall colors.”

Peak viewing across central Iowa is usually a week or so behind, and may run through the third to fourth week in October, while southern Iowa may see good color into November.