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Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., May 8th 2015

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa agriculture officials say two additional commercial poultry farms show signs of the presence of bird flu. A chicken farm in Osceola County with 100,000 birds and a turkey farm in Cherokee County are the latest additions to the list of farms testing positive for the H5N2 virus.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found a 74-year-old northern Iowa man guilty of sexual abusing two 8-year-old children. Jurors convicted John Winston Lusk of Floyd of two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Prosecutors allege Lusk sexually abused a girl about three years ago when she stayed overnight at his home, and sexually abused a boy in 2014.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The murder trial of a Sioux City man accused in the shooting death of another Iowan has been continued as lawyers await forensic test results. Attorneys on Wednesday filed a motion to delay the first-degree murder trial of Timothy Schroeder, arguing they needed more time to conduct depositions. They also said they’re waiting on ballistics and fingerprint reports from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation laboratory. The Sioux City Journal reports the trial has been rescheduled for September 1st.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man convicted in 2011 of sexually abusing three girls has been granted a retrial in June. Woodbury County Assistant Attorney Drew Bockenstedt tells the Sioux City Journal reports 42-year-old Julius Turner filed for post-conviction relief in 2012, claiming his attorney inadequately defended him.

Western IA boy suffers gunshot wound to his neck

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 4:45-a.m.)

A four-year old Council Bluffs boy was reported to be in critical condition at a hospital in Nebraska, after being shot in the neck Thursday evening. According to Council Bluffs Police, Q-Marion Jones was transported CHI Creighton Hospital before being transferred to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, after he was hit by a bullet at around 5-p.m., Thursday.

Police say they received a call at 5:03-p.m. from Q-Marion’s mother saying the boy was having breathing problems while in her vehicle. The dispatcher was able to ascertain the woman’s location was 19th Street and West Broadway. A rescue squad was dispatched and upon arrival, determined the boy had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the neck.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is conducting an investigation into the incident, but preliminary information reveals there was another juvenile in the mother’s apartment, who had access to a semi-automatic pistol. The juvenile was placed into protective custody, pending completion of an investigation.

A search warrant was executed late Thursday evening at the residence, with evidence recovered that indicated a weapon was fired inside the home. The weapon however, had not been recovered at last report.

Mills County landfill could be the final resting place for bird carcasses

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A site in Mills County could become the final resting place for millions of chickens, turkeys, and at least one flock of ducks who have been killed for having the H5N2 Avian Bird flu. State Senator Mark Costello and Representative David Sieck, of Glenwood, both told the Council Bluffs Daily NonPareil, the birds could end-up at the Loess Hills Regional Sanitary Landfill, near Malvern. The officials have been in talks with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about the matter.

At least 20 million chickens, 750,000 turkeys and a herd of ducks are among the dead. Turkeys may be disposed of by letting them decompose in piles inside a barn, which creates heat to kill the virus. Chickens would be placed in bags and heated to about 150-degrees to kill the germs before the birds are buried. Composting the remains is also a possibility, but incinerating all of the birds isn’t possible, according to Sieck, because there isn’t enough equipment for the job.

Four Iowa landfills are in talks with the USDA to handle this responsibility. The Mills County landfill is privately owned, which means it can move faster to execute the operation.The landfill has clay liners and gravel underneath, to prevent the spread of remains from leaking out.

So far, none of the dead birds have been moved from their quarantine zones.

Bluffs man arrested following altercation w/his girlfriend

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs report one person was arrested following a domestic disturbance Thursday evening. Authorities say officers were dispatched to 1516 Little John Circle, Unit 4, just before 7-p.m. Upon arrival, they met with the alleged victim, 59-year old Dani Lewis, of Council Bluffs, who reported she had an argument with her live-in boyfriend.

Lewis said during the argument, 52-year old Mark Dean Smith, of Council Bluffs, grabbed her by the arm, spun her around, and knocked her to the ground. She suffered several bone fractures as a result of the incident. Smith denied the allegations but, based on the evidence, he was arrested and booked into corrections for Willful Injury causing serious injury. Lewis was treated for her injuries, and released.

Significant Weather Advisory: Fremont-Page-Mills-Montgomery

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

733 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN POTTAWATTAMIE, WESTERN MONTGOMERY,SOUTHERN MILLS,NORTHWESTERN PAGE…NORTHERN FREMONT…COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT…

AT 732 PM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR 30 MILES SOUTH OF OMAHA…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

NEBRASKA CITY…RED OAK…MALVERN…STANTON…EMERSON…UNION… TABOR…THURMAN…RANDOLPH…HASTINGS…IMOGENE…COBURG AND CAMP CATRON.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS…

HIGHWAY 34 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND 42.

HIGHWAY 59 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 19 AND 34.

HIGHWAY 75 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 51 AND 59.

INTERSTATE 29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 12 AND 27.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM…AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

 

Flood Warning: N.W. Montgomery & Eastern Mills Counties

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

716 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR…NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…EASTERN MILLS COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA… UNTIL 115 AM CDT FRIDAY

* AT 714 PM CDT…A GAUGE ON INDIAN CREEK NEAR EMERSON WAS REPORTING LEVELS OVER FLOOD STAGE. RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 4 INCHES OF THIS RAIN IN THAT AREA FROM EARLIER STORMS. ADDITIONAL STORMS COULD MOVE IN THIS EVENING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE…EMERSON.

 

SVR Thunderstorm Warning for Cass County is cancelled

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

529 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTY IS CANCELLED…THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE LIMITS…AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.

THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HOWEVER SMALL HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER…CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES.

 

Severe thunderstorm warning continues for Cass County until 5:45

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

522 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTY…

AT 520 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF GRISWOLD…OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF ATLANTIC…MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. HAZARD…QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED.

THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTY…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS…CUMBERLAND…GRISWOLD PARK AND COLD SPRINGS STATE PARK.

 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning S.W. Cass County

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

456 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN CASS COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…UNTIL 545 PM CDT

* AT 456 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ELLIOTT…OR 19 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ATLANTIC…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL. SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED. At 5-p.m. law enforcement reported pea sized hail in Griswold.

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

* THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…GRISWOLD AROUND 510 PM CDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE CUMBERLAND…GRISWOLD PARK AND COLD SPRINGS STATE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

Special Weather Statement: Cass County, IA

Weather

May 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

445 PM CDT THU MAY 7 2015

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS HEADING INTO SOUTHWEST CASS COUNTY.

AT 442 PM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MACEDONIA…OR 24 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ATLANTIC… MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…GRISWOLD AROUND 515 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE LEWIS…GRISWOLD PARK AND COLD SPRINGS STATE PARK.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY…SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS…AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS…FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.