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Law Enforcement warns of 100% ice covered roads in Atlantic & Cass County

News, Weather

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Communications center is warning roads in Atlantic and around the County are 100-percent ice covered due to the freezing drizzle. County road crews had not been out as of 5:30-a.m. to treat teh roads. Streets and intersections in Atlantic are also extremely slick. Allow yourself plenty of extra space to stop before you reach an intersection.

Posted in News, Weather |

Fort Dodge woman dies in crash on Hamilton/Boone county line

News

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Patrol says a Fort Dodge motorist was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Thursday afternoon on Highway 17 just north of the Hamilton-Boone county line. The victim is identified as 47-year-old Heidi Beisch. Reportedly, a southbound 2009 Nissan Quest driven by Beisch lost control and spun counter clockwise into the path of a northbound 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, driven by 30-year-old Emily Loughry, of Webster City. The Loughry van struck the passenger side of the Beisch vehicle. Beisch was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Loughry and her three children were transported to the Boone County Hospital for treatment of non-life -threatening injuries.

Posted in News |

Iowa could end year with fewest traffic deaths since 1944

News

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa could close 2018 with its lowest traffic fatality figure in over seven decades. Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says around 312 people have died in crashes on Iowa roads this year. That puts the state on pace to improve on a low fatality count posted five years ago. “In 2013, there were 317 fatalities. Before that, you’d have to go all the way back to 1944 when there were 310 fatalities,” Hoye said. It’s no cause for celebration, but Hoye credits the dip in fatal crashes this year to several factors – including changes in traffic laws. “Whether it be the ignition interlock law or the primary texting law that were passed – we’re seeing that those are having some impact,” Hoye said. “The educational message going out on texting and driving, the seriousness of that offense, we believe those are all some positive influences.”

A law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, police could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for another offense. Hoye believes more Iowans are staying off their phone when they’re behind the wheel. “The overall consensus is that it has improved slightly, but when we talk to all of our law enforcement partners they tell us it still is a major concern,” Hoye said. Motorists who are caught texting while driving in Iowa can face a fine of over $100.

Posted in News |

Window on U.S./China trade truce one-third way closed

Ag/Outdoor

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Concern is growing among farmers and ag groups that the U.S. and China won’t agree to a long-term trade deal ahead of a self-imposed deadline. President Trump announced at the end of the G20 Summit he and Chinese President Xi would halt the trade war for 90 days in hopes of reaching an agreement. The Summit was a month ago, meaning that window is now a third of the way closed. The trade war has hit soybean growers especially hard. Bill Gordon is vice-president of the American Soybean Association. “The worst thing that can happen is we roll product and have product in the ocean on the way over (to China), 90 days comes (and) we don’t have a deal or anything in the works and all of the sudden our boats are being diverted to other markets,” Gordon said. ” That would renege all the good that we’ve done in these markets now.”

China just recently resumed buying U.S. soybeans for the first time in six months, but the purchases are well behind the pace of previous years. Most soybean growers in Iowa have placed this year’s crop in storage, while waiting for better prices. Gordon suggests farmers shouldn’t hold out too long. “I also do accounting on the side and I tell my guys, ‘we’re not trying to hit grand slams here, we’re trying to get base hits,'” Gordon said. “You need to look at your profitability on your farm and everybody’s price is different. If we get to those levels where you’re profitable or at least break even at your yields, make some sales, don’t wait.”

Gordon grows corn and soybeans in Worthington, Minnesota – just 10 miles north of the Iowa border.

(Thanks to Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Hazardous Weather Outlook for the KJAN listening area (12/28/18)

Weather

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties…
437 AM CST Fri Dec 28 2018

DAY ONE…Today and tonight: Light snow is possible through this evening. A brief period of light freezing drizzle cannot be ruled out this morning. Minor snow accumulation is expected and should freezing drizzle occur, a light glaze is possible. Roads in the area were very slick (as of 5-a.m.), with freezing drizzle observed.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Saturday through Thursday: A wintry mix is possible Monday into Tuesday. At this time only minor snow and ice accumulations are expected with little impact to travel. It will become sharply colder early next week. In addition to the cold, a strong and gust northwest wind could drive wind chills to 5 to 15 below zero.

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont and Page Counties…

DAY ONE…Today and Tonight: A little light snow and flurries will continue today with any accumulations less than an inch. There may be some reduced visibilities due to the gusty northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Saturday through Thursday: A wintry mix is possible Sunday night with a little light snow and flurries New Years Eve Day and New Years Eve. Very cold wind chills are likely for New Year`s morning

Posted in Weather |

Red Oak man arrested Thursday night

News

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 8:10-p.m. Thursday, of 45-year old James Reed Mitroff III, of Red Oak. Mitroff was taken into custody for Public Intoxication, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Posted in News |

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area, 12/28//2018

Weather

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Today: A 40 percent chance of snow between 1pm and 5pm. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 16 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as zero. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -5. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as -5. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 17. South southwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Breezy.
Sunday Night: A chance of snow and freezing rain between midnight and 1am, then a chance of snow after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: A slight chance of snow and freezing rain before 10am, then a slight chance of snow between 10am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 54. Our Low tis morning (as of 6-a.m.) was 19. We received .1” rain yesterday, and freezing drizzle this morning, making roads 100% ice covered. Last year on this date our High was 19 and the Low was 3. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 65 in 1984. The Record Low was -25 in 1924.

Posted in Weather |

Hamburg woman arrested Friday morning on a drug charge

News

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports early this (Friday) morning, his deputies arrested 27- year old Courtney Bartles, of Hamburg. Bartles was located in the 1300 block of Jefferson Street, in Hamburg, and arrested on a valid warrant for Distribution of a controlled Substance.

Bartles was transported to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and is being on a $250,000 bond while awaiting on extradition to Missouri.

Posted in News |

Midwest Sports Headlines: 12/28/2018

Sports

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs can win the AFC West for the third straight time and earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a win over Oakland on Sunday. But they’ve already squandered two shots at clinching the division and the Raiders are playing the best they have all season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford and defensive tackle Chris Jones have been the lone bright spots in a defense that has struggled all season. Both will be due big contracts in the near future, though neither is thinking about that with a crucial game against Oakland awaiting in Week 17. Win and they will have a week off as the No. 1 seed.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ty-Shon Alexander scored 19 points and Creighton routed UMKC 89-53 to complete nonconference play. Fellow guard Davion Mintz added 13 points, and Martin Krampelj had 11 for the Bluejays (9-4).

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Back in September, Iowa State was sitting at 1-3 with a record that looked like the Cyclones of old. The season appeared to be on the brink of collapse with a canceled game, an injured senior quarterback and two straight losses out of the gate. Then came a change to freshman quarterback Brock Purdy, a win streak and the Cyclones’ best finish in the Big 12. A win over Washington State in the Alamo Bowl on Friday night would cap one of Iowa State’s best seasons in decades.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, Dec. 28th 2018

News

December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STANHOPE — One person died, three others were injured, during a collision between two passenger vans Thursday evening, in northern Iowa’s Hamilton County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 47-year old Heidi Beisch, of Ft. Dodge died when he Nissan Quest went out of control on Highway 17 at around 4:25-p.m., and spun into the path of Chrysler van. The driver of the Chrysler, 30-year old Emily Loughry, of Webster City, along with three children in her vehicle, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a hospital.DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The romance of Barack Obama’s surprise victory in Iowa hangs like a championship banner in the minds of Democrats in the state more than a decade after they set him on the road to being the nation’s first African-American president. But as they begin to think about Iowa’s 2020 presidential caucuses _ in which as many as two dozen Democratic candidates may seek their support _ the wistfulness is fading fast.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — John C. Culver, who represented Iowa in Congress during the Vietnam War era, has died at age 86. The Democrat won praise across the political spectrum for his independence and willingness to take tough votes. He was an attorney and former aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy when he was elected to the House in 1964. He was elected to the Senate in 1974 and served one term. He’s also the father of former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. His family says he died late Wednesday at his home near Washington.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two men were injured in an explosion at a Sioux City landfill. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Cougill told the Sioux City Journal the men injured Thursday were employees of Gill Hauling, which operates the city-owned landfill. Emergency responders were called to the landfill about noon and found an explosion and fire had damaged an office area of the scale house, where trucks weigh the garbage they’re hauling. Cougill says he didn’t know how seriously the men were injured.

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — An East Moline alderman has been arrested in Iowa on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Quad City Times reports that Alderman Jose Roberto “JR” Rico was questioned Wednesday night by officers who, in response to a call about a disruptive and intoxicated man at a Davenport bar, found Rico staggering, slurring his words and smelling of alcohol.

Posted in News |