There are no reports of injuries, but there’s a bit of damage across portions of southern Iowa following a round of severe weather Wednesday. Kevin Skow is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Johnston. “At least three tornadoes we’re aware of, possibly more…generally all confined to southwest Iowa. There was also some small hail with that storm as it moved through southern Iowa,” Skow said.

Stanton Tornado damage 4-27-16 (Photo by Stanton Fire Chief)

The National Weather Service office in Omaha today (Thu.) is sending a storm survey team to an area east of Stanton in Montgomery County. That’s where a tornado damaged an outbuilding and vehicles. Skow says, of the three or so tornadoes, the one near Stanton was probably the most damaging. “They were generally short-lived and generally weak, probably in the neighborhood of EF-0 or EF-1 type damage,” Skow said.

(The Iowa Storm Chasing Network has posted a video of the tornado on the ground near Stanton, on its Facebook page. The link to which is here: https://www.facebook.com/IowaStormChasing/?notif_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1461699462000718 ) or, on their YouTube page (https://youtu.be/HBf03HDyDG0)

Another tornado passed near Creston in Union County Wednesday afternoon and firefighters reported a brief tornado touchdown with no damage near Hepburn in Page County. Cool and rainy conditions are expected across Iowa through the weekend. “We’re only in April, so these temperatures — highs in the 50s and 60s — are certainly not uncommon this late in the year,” Skow said.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that beginning today, Thursday, April 28, a voter who chooses to vote prior to June 7, may cast a ballot at the office of the county auditor.

In Cass County the voter may go to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot.

If you have questions concerning this or other elections, contact the office of Cass County Auditor/Election Commissioner (Phone: 712-243-4570)

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, approved the tentative, 2016-17 Non-Certified staff, contract agreement. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said non-certified staff include para-professionals, secretaries, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, and anyone who is not required to be endorsed or licensed in the State.

Amstein says they settled on a total package of 3.162-percent, or, a 33-cent per hour wage increase, which amounts to about $86,000. He said the non-certified group ratified the agreement on Tuesday.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the hiring of Justin Williams, as Head Freshman Baseball Coach. They also heard presentations with regard to the district’s Home/School Program and English Language Learner (ELL) Program. They also heard from Schuler Principal James Northwick and the Lindamood-Bell program coordinators, with regard to the Spring 2016 Iowa Assessments.

And, Amstein said the school board continued with discussions pertaining to the possibility of having a Special Election Sept. 13^th with regard to a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) income surtax. He says they’ve estimated that if the PPEL surtax had been approved last year, the property tax asking could have been reduced about 62-cents per thousand dollars valuation.

Sheriff’s deputies in Audubon County arrested a man Wednesday night wanted on a warrant in connection with the January 19th burglary of a residence in the 3200 block of Goldfinch Place. 26-year old David Allen Hollingsworth, of Brayton, was arrested on charges of Burglary in the 3rd and Theft in the 3rd degrees.

He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after posting bond. Hollingsworth is scheduled to appear in court May 5th.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston say a man was arrested late Wednesday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 36-year old Justin Beckwith, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Failure to Comply with his Pre-trial Release conditions, on an original charge for Controlled Substance Violation. Beckwith was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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NODAWAY, Iowa (AP) – Two Kansas men have pleaded guilty in what authorities say was the drug-related slaying of an Iowa man. The Creston News Advertiser reports  that 42-year-old Jon Rubendall and 40-year-old James Bost were convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder after prosecutors lowered their charges. The Hiawatha, Kansas, men are scheduled to be sentenced May 16.

Authorities say they killed 44-year-old Allen Pafford last June. A court document says authorities found Pafford tied up in a workshop near his mother’s home in Nodaway, with a bedsheet wrapped around his head and neck and a bullet wound in the back of his head. The document says Bost told authorities that Pafford owed Rubendall $3,000 for drugs.

Authorities in Denison report a strip club was the target of an attempted robbery early this (Thursday) morning. According to Denison Police, at around 12:50-a.m., a white female, 5’4”-5’5”, approximately 250 pounds wearing glasses, a pink shirt and black pants along with a black male, 5’5”-5’9”, approximately 165 pounds wearing gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants attempted to rob the Book-em Dano’s.

Surveillance still image of the male and female suspects.

The suspects remained in the business as the owner was attempting to close up. When the owner attempted to escort them out, the male pushed the owner down and held her at gunpoint. A physical confrontation then occurred and the male eventually left the building in an unknown direction.

If anyone has information on this or any other serious crime, contact the Denison Police Department at 712-263-3195 or Crawford County Crime Stoppers at 712-263-4050.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Nebraska was arrested Wednesday afternoon on numerous charges following an investigation into the distribution of illegal substances in the County. 35-year old Rex Kmiecik, of Omaha, faces charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and a felony possession of Contraband in a Jail facility, charge. Additional charges are pending.

Rex Kmiecik (Fremont Co. S/O photo)

Authorities say more than 2 ¼-pounds of methamphetamine was seized along with packaging equipment and $500 cash, following a drug transaction that went down. Kmiecik was arrested after he tried to elude deputies. He went into a ditch near the scene shortly after the incident and was taken into custody at around 4:30-p.m..

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and the Fremont County Attorney’s Office.