(Radio Iowa) – There’s the potential for precipitation in southeast Iowa tonight, but State Climatologist Justin Glisan says it’s likely this November will rank among the 20 driest Novembers on record. “The first 20 days we were at 5% of normal, so a very dry first two-thirds of November,” Glisan says. As of this morning, the statewide average for precipitation is just four-tenths of an inch. “That’s almost an inch and a half below average,” Glisan says.

This is the 178th week of moderate drought somewhere in Iowa — the longest drought in Iowa since the U.S. Drought Monitor was launched 23 years ago. “If you combine November with the other meteorological months of October and September, it looks like around the 36th driest fall on record,” Glisan says. “Interestingly enough, last fall was drier. It was the 22nd driest, so you can see that we’ve just really stacked up precipitation deficits through various seasons.” Last spring was the 16th driest on record and this past summer was the 17th driest summer in the past 151 years. “When you’re not getting the expected precipitation in spring and summer, which is the dominant season for rainfall that supplies soil moisture and stream flows, that’s where we’ve seen the drought just expand and intensify,” Glisan says.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan (Official photo from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship photo.)

The current drought is different from the droughts that struck Iowa in 2012 and 1988, according to Glisan. “This has definitely been longer, but it hasn’t been coupled with extremely warm temperatures for long periods of time,” Glisan says, “so we’ve kind of termed this drought a ‘cool drought’ in that, again, we haven’t seen those exceedingly warm temperatures that would really push drought conditions to lead to widespread crop failure and things of that nature.”

Glisan says there are some positives in preliminary forecasts for the middle of December. “There’s a very high probability of above average temperatures,” Glisan says, “and why that’s a good signal to see is perhaps we won’t see soils freeze as deep or as fast if we have warm temperatures through December.” It means precipitation could be absorbed rather than run off frozen ground.”As you’ll remember from last year, in early December we had widespread rainfall before we froze up that really helped supply moisture for this growing season,” Glisan says. “Also, wetter soils don’t freeze as fast or as deep, so as we get into winter melt into early spring, there’s faster infiltration if we don’t have a deep frost level.”

Preliminary forecasts indicate there are slightly elevated signals for wetter conditions in December.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa’s campanile renovation project is getting a boost with 250-thousand-dollar donation from local alumni Jan and Scott Bittner . U-N-I Foundation President, Jim Jermier, says the phase one of the renovations improved the instrument’s sound. “There are nine new bells that were installed with the existing 47. All of those bells were completely refurbished along with the carillon itself, and I believe we gained nearly two octaves,” he says.

The second phase of the renovations focuses on renovating the plaza around the campanile and the addition of seating and landscaping to create a community gathering area.”It’s a unifying space, a community space, that will be even more welcoming when this project work is complete,” Jermier says.

A new bell lifted into place at UNI. (UNI photo)

Other renovations include a temperature-controlled room for the bells in the tower. The total cost of both phases is about two-point-two million dollars, which will come from private donations. The university hopes to complete the tower’s renovation by 2026, which will mark the school’s 150th anniversary.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand, today (Thursday), released an independent auditor’s report pertaining to a periodic examination of the City of Wiota’s management and financial practices. The audit – performed by Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Co. P.C., in Atlantic – covered the period of April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. The City agreed to have the audit performed.

The report states, that among other things:

• The City should review its control procedures to obtain the maximum internal control possible under the circumstances utilizing currently available staff, including elected officials. Independent reviews of reconciliations should be documented by the signature or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review.
• The City has not implemented the recommended Uniform Chart of Accounts (COA) for Iowa City Governments approved by the City Finance Committee. The auditor’s recommendation: “To provide better financial information and control, the recommended COA, or its equivalent, should be followed.”
• City Council proceedings should be published with a list of claims allowed, including the reason for the claim. The City Council minutes tested published a list of claims allowed, but the list did not include the reason for the claim; Recommendation – The City should comply with the Code of Iowa and publish a list of claims allowed, including the reason for the claim.
• The City has not adopted a written investment policy as required by Chapter 12B.10B of the Code of Iowa; Recommendation – The City should adopt a written investment policy that complies with the provisions of Chapter 12B.10B of the Code of Iowa.
• Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2022 exceeded the amounts budgeted in the public safety, culture and recreation, community and economic development, general government and business type activities functions. Chapter 384.20 of the Code of Iowa states, in part, “Public monies may not be expended or encumbered except under an annual or continuing appropriation.”; Recommendation – The budget should have been amended in accordance with Chapter 384.18 of the Code of Iowa before disbursements were allowed to exceed the budget.
• Chapter 384.20 of the Code of Iowa states, in part, “A city shall keep accounts which show an accurate and detailed statement of all public funds collected, received, or expended for any city purpose, by any city officer, employee, or other person, and which show the receipt, use, and disposition of all city property.”
  • The City Fire Department maintains a bank account for activity separate from the City Clerk’s accounting records. While the Department is part of the City, the transactions and the resulting balance were not included in the City’s accounting records and were not included in the City’s annual budget, monthly financial reports or Annual Financial Reports.
  • In addition, the transactions and resulting balance of this account were not reported to the City Council and disbursements from the account were not reviewed and approved by the City Council. Also, a summary of the account’s receipts, total disbursements and the listings of claims allowed each month were not published in accordance with Chapter 372.13(6) of the Code of Iowa;
  • Recommendation – In accordance with Chapter 384.20 of the Code of Iowa, and to  strengthen internal control and increase operating efficiencies, the financial transactions of the Fire Department separate account should be integrated with the City’s accounting records in the City Clerk’s office. The financial activity should be included in the City Clerk’s accounting records, monthly financial reports and the Annual Financial Reports. The activity in the account should be subject to City Council review and approval and should be included in the City’s budget process. Also, a summary of the account’s receipts, total disbursements and listings of claims allowed each month should be published, as required.
• The City’s Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) ballot requires LOST receipts be used 90% for community betterment and 10% for property tax relief. The City has not been tracking the
  use of LOST receipts; Recommendation – The City should implement procedures to track LOST disbursements.

Read the full report HERE.

Glenwood, Iowa (KETV) — The Mills County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, accepted the resignation of Sheriff Travis Oetter. Their action came during a special meeting Wednesday morning. The Sheriff’s last day is Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Oetter was elected in November, 2020. Chief Deputy Josh England will serve as interim sheriff.

The board of supervisors has the option of appointing England or another individual to complete the remainder of the sheriff’s term, which runs through December 2024. A special election could also take place if there is opposition to a board appointment and/or another person seeks to serve as interim sheriff for the remainder of the term.

Travis Oetter

The sheriff’s position will be on the November 2024 general election ballot. According to reports, England, who was in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, said he doesn’t intend to run for sheriff in 2024.

Rural Glenwood resident and veteran law enforcement officer Greg Schultz, currently a captain with the Council Bluffs Police Department, has already announced his intentions to run for the sheriff’s post in 2024.

Des Moines – The Iowa Insurance Division reports a Dallas County man entered a plea of guilty, November 17th, to one-count of Identity Theft. 48-year-old Christopher Robin Cundiff, of Adel, also pled guilty to one count of Forgery. The charges were the results of an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. The investigation began in January 2023 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating Cundiff had presented to an insurer a written document in support of payment knowing such document contained false information.

Christopher Cundiff (Photo courtesy of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office).

Cundiff was arrested by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office on June 12, 2023. Following his guilty plea, Cundiff was placed on supervised probation for two years and was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,710.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa/KETV) A high-speed pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Wednesday morning, resulted in the eventual arrest of a man from Pottawattamie County. The chase began a little before 7-a.m. near Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, after a Nebraska State Trooper observed a Chevrolet Silverado hauling a vending machine. The vehicle had no rear driver’s side tire and no front passenger-side tire. The Trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver – later identified as 26-year-old Matthew Figueroa, of Council Bluffs, took-off and merged onto Interstate 80 eastbound. All the while, authorities said the vehicles was “throwing sparks on the roadway from driving on rims.”

As the pursuit continued and entered Iowa, the Trooper received assistance from Council Bluffs Police. The Nebraska State Patrol said that the pickup slowed “significantly” as it exited I-80 at the I-29 northbound on-ramp, and the pursuit came to an end.

Figueroa was taken into custody by Council Bluffs police. The NSP said he’ll be cited for flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving in Nebraska.  He faces additional charges in Iowa.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) –A woman attacked late last Friday (11/24) morning by three dogs in Fort Dodge, is in critical condition and recovering from multiple surgeries that include amputations.

According to Fort Dodge Police, the incident happened at around 11:25-a.m. in the 800 block of S. 16th Street. An officer with the Fort Dodge Police Department arrived in the area and located a woman being attacked by three dogs. The officer attempted to scare the dogs away to stop them from attacking the woman, but the animals would not stop. The officer on scene then drew his duty weapon and shot all three dogs multiple times to stop the attack.

A GoFundMe page set up by a member of the woman’s family, said that as of Monday (11/28), the victim – who was identified only as “Brittany” – has had many surgeries and procedures since the attack. She had both legs amputated to her knees, and parts of her hands. The post said she is going to need facial reconstruction surgery, has serious head trauma and much more.

The post claims Brittany was attacked by three Pit Bulls. No charges have been filed as of the latest available information.

(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, following an investigation into an accident. According to Creston Police, a 2013 Ford Explorer driven by 24-year-old Larry Dean Fernandez, of Creston, struck a pole in the Creston True Value parking lot, next to the building, at around 12:30-a.m.  Fernandez then drove-off and was followed to the area of the 1200 block of N. Spruce Street. The vehicle was parked in front of a driveway, but not before hitting a garbage can at the end of the driveway.

When officers arrived, Fernandez told them he had been drinking, and that he was the only one in the vehicle. He was arrested for OWI.

The Explorer had sustained front-end damage and was leaking red fluid. An investigation showed a pole that held up an over hang on the True Value building was struck, and red fluid matching that which was coming from the SUV, was found on Spruce Street. Damage to the pole was estimated at $2,500.

Paint chips also matched the color of the vehicle on Spruce.  An officer followed the trail of red fluid, starting at the pole and across the parking lot, over a curve and then onto eastbound Townline Road. The red trail ended where the SUV stopped.

The vehicle was parked by a friend of the owner’s daughter.

(Radio Iowa/IDALS) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture says two positive cases Avian Influenza are confirmed in Woodbury County. The cases are both in backyard mixed species flocks. There have now been 17 cases reported in the last two months.

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

About HPAI
HPAI is a highly contagious viral disease affecting bird populations. HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. The virus can spread through the droppings or the nasal discharge of an infected bird, both of which can contaminate dust and soil.

(Montgomery County, Iowa) –  Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle Wednesday afternoon, resulted the arrest of two people from northwest Iowa. Authorities say a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a car for speeding at Highway 34 and 8th Street, at around 3:11-p.m. The driver, 36-year-old Ashley Lamonte Roberson, of Sioux City, was arrested for Driving While Barred and cited for speeding.

During the same traffic stop, 40-year-old Nicholas Lamonte Roberson, also of Sioux City, was arrested on a Woodbury County warrant for Contempt of Court. Both subjects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.