The City of Exira has declared a snow emergency. The related Ordinance states “No person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area during any snow emergency proclaimed by the Mayor unless the snow has been removed or plowed from the street, alley, or parking area and the snow has ceased to fall. During such an emergency, parking shall specifically be prohibited on the even-numbered side of the streets between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and noon.

And on the odd-numbered side of the streets from 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Parking is allowed after the snow has ceased to fall and cleaning operations have been completed.”

Tow bans are in-place for a handful of western Iowa counties. No towing is allowed (except if a vehicle is blocking the roadway), in Adair, Cass, Harrison, Montgomery and Pottawattamie Counties. The restrictions will be in-place until the snow/blowing snow subsides and tow truck operators can safely remove vehicles from ditches and the median.

Rescue crews were dispatched to the scene of a semi-tractor trailer rollover accident off I-80 eastbound, near mile 34, just west of the Shelby Exit. One person was injured during the crash that was reported at around 9:35-a.m.  Additional details are currently not available.

The former speaker of the Iowa House who did not seek re-election in 2020 will be helping the Iowa Republican Party to try to win elections statewide in 2022. Party leaders meeting tomorrow (Saturday) plan to elect Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake as the co-chair of the Republican Party of Iowa.  “I’ve been engaged in elections and recruiting candidates and doing all kinds of things over the years,” Upmeyer says. “And while I still genuinely do not want to be as busy as I was as speaker, I want more time for my family, I also thought: ‘Gee, if I can be helpful with my skills and help out Jeff Kaufmann, why wouldn’t I do that?'”

Kaufmann has been the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party since June of 2013. Upmeyer raised one-and-a-half million for legislative candidates running in 2018 and Upmeyer says she’s ready to ask donors for money for the party — and to recruit candidates to run for office in 2022.  “My experience in working with women, to recruit more women, and people that perhaps that haven’t thought about it before,” Upmeyer says, “I think I have a decent track record doing that.

The state party will be involved in high-profile races for governor and U.S. senator in 2022, as Republicans wrestle with what’s next after the U.S. Capitol riot in the closing days of Donald Trump’s presidency. “What went on in Washington was outrageous and we absolutely can’t tolerate people bursting into the Capitol and creating insecure environments for our elected officials. All of that’s just terrible. We now need, in my opinion, to look forward,” Upmeyer says. “…Uniting Americans, finding areas where we can agree, really seems like something that requires attention now, not later.”

Upmeyer, who served 18 years in the legislature, was the first woman to serve as speaker of the Iowa House. Upmeyer announced in the fall of 2019 that she was stepping down from that role and wouldn’t seek re-election.

The Iowa State Patrol has issued a DO NOT TRAVEL advisory for parts of western Iowa., including Adair, Cass and Pottawattamie Counties. Trooper Ryan DeVault reported from Exit 60 in Cass County, “Travel is absolutely treacherous.”

DeVault says the high winds and snow are making for near zero visibility on I-80 and area secondary roads.

As if the wind and snow weren’t making driving extremely difficult enough, Thursday’s weather added another element of surprise for some drivers.

Trooper Devault said a tow ban will be issued for western Iowa soon. Right now, they only towing being done is to remove trucks that are blocking a lane of traffic. DeVault said traffic was light this morning, but what travelers are out there, are finding themselves in a very dangerous position. His advice:

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

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The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Thursday afternoon, of 44-year-old Christina Lynn Selvy. The woman from Creston was taken into custody at the Creston Police Department, on a Union County Warrant. She was later released on a $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A strong cold front has brought a blizzard with heavy snow and winds of up to 50 mph to eastern Nebraska and the western half of Iowa. Officials say roads along the eastern border of Nebraska and throughout Iowa are either completely or partially covered by snow, and residents are urged to stay inside and not travel. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for eastern parts of Nebraska and most of the western half of Iowa until 6 p.m. Friday.

The service says in excess of 5 inches of snow in those regions is expected, along with high winds gusting up to 50 mph.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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