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Pott. County Sheriff’s report (12/16/21)

News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), report three arrests:

  • 33-year-old Robert Michael Carter was arrested Tuesday, in Walnut, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
  • 38-year-old Nicholas Richard Schumacker, of Winterset, was arrested Wednesday, following an investigation into an injury accident at Highway 92 and 290th Street. He was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. Bond on those charges amounts to $1,300.
  • And, Wednesday afternoon, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail was presented with a warrant for Violation of Probation. 49-year-old Brad Randall Webster, of Council Bluffs, was returned to the custody of Corrections staff and then returned to his cell, after being read the warrant.

30 Iowa Municipalities to Save a Total of more than $7.6 million through State Revolving Fund Interest Rate Reduction

News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Thursday (today) announced that 30 municipalities with current State Revolving Fund loans for water quality projects, will save a total of more than $7.6 million in interest over the remaining life of their loans as a result of their interest rate being reduced from 3% to 1.75%. Among the communities, is Atlantic and Bedford. Atlantic will realize a savings of $922,300. Bedford’s savings amounts to $70,25.

The State Revolving Fund is one of Iowa’s primary sources for financing projects designed to improve Iowa’s water quality. Two funds, one for drinking water and one for wastewater and pollution control, have provided low-cost financing to projects in nearly 700 Iowa communities in addition to farmers, watershed groups and others for water quality projects. The program is jointly administered by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham says “This rate reduction is possible due to the success of the State Revolving Fund and excellent financial management.”

Durham said also, “The State Revolving Fund has saved Iowa communities a total of nearly $50 million in interest payments through interest rate reductions for loans that are more than ten years old. This is $50 million that municipalities have been able to invest in other priorities to create opportunities for their residents, community and businesses to thrive.”  Besides offering communities low interest rates to finance water infrastructure projects, the State Revolving Fund offers other benefits, such as lower up-front costs and no reserve requirement.

For more information on the State Revolving Loan program, visit IowaSRF.com.

Caution urged as Iowans cleanup damaged trees

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State forestry experts are encouraging Iowans to proceed with caution as they begin cleaning up the tree damage from Wednesday’s storm. Emma Hanigan, urban forestry coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, suggests homeowners hire a tree care professional if they do not have the experience, ability, and equipment to safely prune their own tree. Homeowners planning to do their own tree cleanup should wear safety equipment, including hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection, and avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes while using a chainsaw. “Be careful when working with trees and limbs that are snapped off, twisted and tangled together,” warns Hanigan. “The trunk or tree limbs may bind against the chainsaw.”

After cleanup is complete, homeowners wanting to have their trees inspected should contact a professional, insured arborist. The arborist can examine trees for cracks or other issues that might have been overlooked. Routine tree care of young trees makes them more resilient long term and decreases the likelihood of storm-related damage. Hanigan said younger wind-thrown trees can be saved by staking and guying, but larger trees are less likely to recover. When the time is right, homeowners who have lost trees are encouraged to replant.

The Iowa DNR has information and links to help homeowners identify and select a licensed arborist, and tips on chain saw safety, pruning and tree care and replanting online at https://www.iowadnr.gov/urbanforestry

Cass County EMC says Disaster Proclamation expected

News, Weather

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says he has applied for a Disaster Proclamation from the State, and Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to issue a Proclamation for Cass and other counties, sometime today. Kennon said they’re just beginning to assess the damage that spans west/southwest of Atlantic to northeast of town.

Kennon says they had a total of nine semi tractor-trailer rollovers in the County, primarily along Interstate 80. There were no life-threatening injuries reported. He said just because the storm has passed, doesn’t mean there aren’t hazards people should be aware of.

He said power crews are out and about working on downed lines. The tornado sirens in Atlantic went off twice, Wednesday evening. He offered advice to residents in the County, following the storms…

Residents with damage or downed power lines should call the Cass County EMA at 712-254-1500.

NWS to assess whether Kingsley hit with tornado or straight-line winds

News, Weather

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The 14-hundred residents of the northwest Iowa town of Kingsley lost power as Wednesday’s storm damaged power lines, trees and buildings. Duane Walhof is Plymouth County’s Emergency Management director. “Parts of roofs torn off and those type things, mainly on the south side of Kingsley,” Walhof says. “…Titan Machinery had the roof torn off and tossed across the road.”

Walhof says there were reports the roofs of hog barns in rural areas around Kingsley were damaged as well. Walhof says since the storm hit at about 5 p.m., it was difficult to assess damage in the dark. “The National Weather Service will be out to try to identify whether it was straight line winds or a tornado,” Walhof says. “We’ll see what the day brings in how quickly we can get Kingsley back up and restored and back on it again.”

The Plymouth County Sheriff restricted movement within the Kingsley City Limits overnight to residents of the community, to limit the number of sightseers driving through the damage. Kingsley-Pierson School was cancelled for today (Thursday).

(Podcast) KJAN News, 12/16/21

News, Podcasts

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The broadcast News at 8:05-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police report, 12/16/21

News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department says a merchant in the 400 block of S. Sumner Avenue reported on Dec. 10th, that a shoplifting incident had taken place. At around 7:10-p.m., a man was seen leaving the building with a basket filled with various tool,s including DeWalt and Milwaukee. The loss was estimated at $50.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 12/16/21

News, Podcasts

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The latest area news (broadcast at 7:07-a.m.), w/Ric Hanson.

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Power outage report (12/16/21)

News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(This information is current as of 6:30-a.m.) Here is a compiled report of power outages/customers affected in the area:

Cass County: 96 customers (90 with Guthrie County REC; 5 MidAmerican Energy; 1 Nishnabotna Valley REC)

Adair County: 18 customers (11 Guthrie County REC; 7 with Farmers Elec. Coop)

Adams County: 16 customers of Southwest REC

Audubon County: 523 customers (508 w/Guthrie Co. REC; 12 MidAm. Energy;3 Nishnabotna Valley REC)

Guthrie County: 656 customers (474 Alliant Energy; 175 Guthrie Co. REC;7 Midland Power Coop)

Shelby County: 228 customers (224 MidAm Energy; 4 Nishnabotna REC)

Pott. County: 1,297 customers (1,290 MidAm Energy; Scattered Harrison County & Nish REC’s)

Montgomery County:123 MidAm. Energy customers

NWS Storm Damage Assessment teams to fan out across Iowa today

News

December 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Storm Damage Assessment Teams will fan out across the state today, to get a better idea of the damage caused by what many have called a “Decemderecho.”  Winds gusting at 80-miles per hour or more caused widespread damage to property, and claimed at least one life. Here in Cass County, at least two video/spotter confirmed tornadoes touched down, one happened about a mile north/northwest of Atlantic. The other crossed Interstate 80 from Cass into Audubon Counties. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports there appeared to have been to be a path of damage spanning from just southwest of Atlantic to the northeast of town, affecting homes, silos, and outbuildings. Another tornado was confirmed three miles south/southwest of Brayton at around 5-p.m., Wednesday. A storm spotter reported flipped semi’s and power flashes. (See the complete [initial] report of damage on the Weather page at kjan.com)

Authorities closed Olive Street north of Atlantic from Chicago Road to Dallas Road last night, due to power lines across the road. Cass County Communications confirmed the road was still closed as of 5:30-a.m. today, but it was expected to re-open sometime this morning. The Sheriff’s Office advised motorists to use caution this morning, as there is a considerable amount of debris, power lines and poles down in some roadways. Numerous power outages were reported across the listening area, including Atlantic. One outage occurred last last night, when transformers blew between Olive Street and Wal-Mart. The power was restored a few hours later.

The line of fast-moving thunderstorms developed Wednesday afternoon in north central Kansas, and started moving to the northeast at 70 to 80 mph. We’ll get a better idea of the damage after daylight.