Fire Weather Watch for most of Iowa on Monday

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(NWS/Des Moines) – Elevated to Extreme Fire Weather Conditions Possible Monday afternoon Central and South. The combination of warm temperatures, strong wind gusts over 40 mph, lower humidities, and relatively dry grasses and fuels may create elevated to extreme fire weather conditions by Monday afternoon central and south.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY MONDAY EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS. The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Fire Weather Watch FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS, which is in effect from Monday afternoon through early Monday evening.

* Relative Humidity…As low as 28 to 32 percent.

* Impacts…Any fires that start Monday afternoon may spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.

* WIND…Strong south to southwest winds with sustained speeds of 25 mph, and gusts of 45 mph possible.

* FUEL…Grasses and any lingering crop debris will dry out quickly in these conditions and may be able to burn easily.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa early News Headlines: 3/28/21

News

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:05 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Court records show an Iowa gun store refused to sell a semi-automatic rifle to a heavily armed and agitated Colorado man who said he was surprised his friends didn’t suspect he was the Boulder mass shooter. Federal agents say Adam Vannoy made the remark Tuesday when he was trying to purchase an AR-style rifle from Sportsman’s Warehouse in Ankeny, Iowa. The store denied the sale and notified federal authorities. Vannoy allegedly said he had 500 rounds of ammunition in his truck. He has been arrested on a federal weapons charge stemming from a March 14 traffic stop in Nebraska, when authorities say he had several firearms, an illegal silencer and marijuana.

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Monday to remember the prison nurse and correctional officer killed in a failed escape attempt. She said Saturday in a news release that that the state “grieves the loss” of 50-year-old nurse Lorena Schulte, of Cedar Rapids, and 46-year-old Officer Robert McFarland, of Ely. They were killed Tuesday at the Anamosa State Penitentiary in eastern Iowa. The release said Monday is when both will be laid to rest. Inmates Michael Dutcher, 28, and Thomas Woodard, 39, are charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coronavirus data continued to suggest Friday that virus activity is increasing in the state with infections and deaths continuing to rise. Similar trends were noted Friday by the White House COVID-19 Response Team members who expressed concerns about rising cases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says cases and hospital admissions are rising nationally and people should take this moment seriously and continue to wear a mask to avoid another surge. Iowa reported 979 new cases on Friday and 19 additional deaths increasing the state death total to 5,708. The seven-day positivity rate increased to 4.8%.

Posted in News |

DELORES ANN ANDERSON, 87, of Harlan (Public Viewing 3/30/21)

Obituaries

March 28th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DELORES ANN ANDERSON, 87, of Harlan, died Friday, March 26th, in Council Bluffs. A Public Viewing for DELORES ANDERSON will be held Tuesday, March 30th, from 3-until 8-p.m., at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, in Harlan. CDC guidelines will be observed, and masks are required.

A Private funeral service will be held. (Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com)

Burial is in the Harlan Cemetery.

DELORES ANN ANDERSON is survived by:

Her sons – Rick “Stick” (Annette) Anderson, and Denny “Bucket” Anderson, all of Harlan.

7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Hawkins, Northwest Missouri St. repeat as D-II champs 80-54

Sports

March 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Former Atlantic (Iowa) standout Ryan Hawkins scored 14 of his 31 points in a back-breaking second-half run as Northwest Missouri State capped a dominating season with an 80-54 defeat of West Texas A&M, repeating as Division II national champions. The repeat championship win was also No. 300 for Bearcats coach Ben McCollum.

Hawkins scored his 31 points on 10 of 16 shooting, made 9 of 10 free throws and pulled down 18 rebounds. Wes Dreamer added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Qua Grant led West Texas A&M with 20 points but was 7-for-17 shooting, making just 1 of 5 from 3-point range. The Buffs were held to 31% shooting (20 of 64).

Posted in Sports |

Williams, Bueckers lead UConn past Iowa 92-72

Sports

March 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Christyn Williams scored 27 points and Paige Bueckers added 18 to lead No. 1 UConn to a 92-72 win over fifth-seeded Iowa in the Sweet 16 of the women’s basketball tournament. There was a lot of hype surrounding this game with the matchup of two extremely talented freshmen in Bueckers and Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark. The friends had taken the women’s basketball world by storm this season.

Bueckers also had nine rebounds and eight assists. Clark, in a huge part because of the defense from Williams who shadowed her on almost every possession. finished the game with 21 points _ below her nearly 27-point a game average. The game marked the return of UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who missed the opening two rounds because of the coronavirus.

Posted in Sports |

Cubs option infielder Nico Hoerner to Triple-A Iowa

Sports

March 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Chicago Cubs have optioned infielder Nico Hoerner and reliever Brad Wieck to Triple-A Iowa. Veteran outfielder Cameron Maybin has been released, and right-handers Shelby Miller, Pedro Strop and Trevor Megill have been assigned to minor league camp, along with outfielder Rafael Ortega.

Miller, Strop, Megill and Ortega were nonroster invitees to big league spring training. Hoerner, a first-round pick in the 2018 amateur draft out of Stanford, was in the mix for the starting job at second base. He had a strong spring, batting .361 with a homer and six RBIs.

Posted in Sports |

Northwest wins third men’s basketball championship, Hawkins leads with 31

Sports

March 27th, 2021 by admin

Northwest Missouri State dominated No. 1 West Texas A&M to win the 2021 DII men’s basketball championship on Saturday. The Bearcats pulled away in the second half for an 80-54 win. It’s the third title for the Bearcats in the last four completed seasons. The Bearcats defended their 2019 crown after last year’s tournament was cancelled.

Atlantic’s Ryan Hawkins led all scorers with 31 points and had 18 boards. He went 10-of-16 shooting in the game and had a double double by halftime, first time a player has done that in the DII Championships. Northwest Missouri State shot 50 percent from the floor and 47 percent from three.

The Bearcats finish their title run with a record of 28-2.

West Texas A&M was led by Qua Grant’s 20 points and six rebounds. The Buffaloes finish 19-3.

Posted in Sports |

Governor tours Hamilton County shrimp farm

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) Governor Kim Reynolds visited the NaturalShrimp facilities in Blairsburg and Webster City, Friday. The Dallas, Texas-based company this week began the process of stocking the shrimp at the two Hamilton County locations. “For them to come in bring the technology that really eliminates the wastewater that the previous facility was dealing with, it is exciting,” Reynolds says.

Gov. Reynolds tours shrimp farm

NaturalShrimp purchased the former Vero Blue Farms building in Webster City last January. Reynolds says one site services as the incubator for the shrimp and the other will grow them to a size where they can be sold to restaurants.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa COVID19 update for 3/27/21: 8 additional deaths; 563 additional cases

News

March 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Coronavirus dashboard, today (as of 10-a.m, Saturday) reported 563 additional positive test results for COVID returned from the labs, for a total of 377,397, and 8 additional deaths, for a pandemic total of 5,716. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 2,231 of the total number of deaths across the state. Twenty-four hours earlier, the health department reported 376,834 total positive tests and 5,708 total deaths.

There remain two COVID-19 outbreak at a Long-Term Care facilities across the State. As previously mentioned, the outbreaks occurred at the Urbandale Care Center and Good Samaritan Society in Ottumwa. The state reports 12 positive cases among residents and staff within those facilities.

Health officials say 201 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID (down from 207 previously); 43 people are in an ICU (down three from Friday); 33 people were admitted to a hospital across the state (compared to 38 previously), and 12 patients are on a ventilator.

RMCC Region 4 hospitals (those in western/southwest Iowa) show: There are 13 hospitalized with COVID; nine COVID patients are in an ICU; Two people were admitted w/symptoms of COVID, and there remain four people with COVID on a ventilator.

The 14-day positivity rate is unchanged at 4.3%, while the seven day rate went from 4.8% to 4.6%. Iowa reports 1,396,382 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and 543,193 individuals have completed the vaccine series.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date: