VALLEY, Neb. (AP) – The National Weather Service is scheduling meetings to share information about the potential for river flooding this winter and spring in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The two areas were socked with record flooding late last winter and early spring. Weather service hydrologist David Pearson says warnings issued last year didn’t seem to reach people. He says this year the service is trying to reach more people with the best information and make personal connections. The Nebraska meetings are scheduled for Feb. 4 in Fremont, Feb. 13 in Columbus, Feb. 27 in Norfolk and March 5 in Sidney, Iowa.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a central Iowa woman was arrested at around 5:54-p.m. January 6th. 37-year old Shannon Kay Keeney, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Polk County Jail, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Keeney was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. And, 35-year old Dayne Jayne Sweeney, of Urbandale, was cited Jan. 9th following a traffic stop in Greenfield at around 12:15-a.m., for an expired registration.

The Deputy who made contact with Sweeney noticed a smell of alcohol on her breath. A Field Sobriety Test was conducted, after which she was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Sweeney was released later that same morning on a citation.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Some Waterloo officials say the city can’t afford to fix the crumbling third runway at the city-owned airport and may have to shut it down. The airport director recommends closing the runway because of safety and liability concerns. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Federal Aviation Administration won’t provide any money, because the two other runways can handle nearly all of the traffic. Some local pilots and others want the runway kept open, saying it’s important when crosswinds make the other two runways unsafe for small aircraft. Council members could vote on the issue at their meeting next week.

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – Authorities have recovered from a fire-damaged home the body of a man involved in a standoff with officers in southeast Iowa. Police said Tuesday the body of 62-year-old Michael Kartel was found in his West Des Moines basement around 8 p.m. Monday. Officers were sent to Kartel’s home early Monday to check on his welfare say Kartel brandished a shotgun when they arrived. Police say officers didn’t fire back when Kartel shot in their direction. A fire believed to have been set by Kartel burned unabated for nearly three hours until police were certain he no longer posed a danger to firefighters.

After having several, special, Budget Request meetings, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session Wednesday, beginning at 9-a.m. in the Boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse, in Greenfield. During the meeting, the Board will discuss and possibly act on:

• Taxable mileage
• A Manure Management Plan (update)
• The SICOG Housing Trust Fund report
• Homestead/Military Disallowances
• A Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down
• and, Condemnation Commission Appointments.

The Board will receive a report at around 9:15-a.m., Wednesday, from Veterans Affairs Director Duane Avey, and his FY 2021 Budget Request. At around 9:30-a.m., they’ll hear from County Auditor Mandy Berg, with regard to: an updated Computer Lease Agreement. And, FY21 Budget requests (Clerk of Court, Board of Supervisors, Medical Examiner, DHS, Social Services, Mental Health and Data Processing).

Montgomery County Deputy of Elections Josh Nelson reports the next scheduled elections for which candidates can file are the June 2, 2020 Primary for congressional, state legislative, and county offices, and the November 3, 2020 General Election. Due to changes in state law, all candidates (except Presidential candidates and candidates for the agricultural extension board) file during the same filing window in February and March. Democratic and Republican candidates must run in the June 2 Primary, with the winners moving on to the General Election ballot. Third party and independent candidates are placed directly on the General Election ballot.

Filing periods:

• State and Federal Offices: February 24 – March 13, 2020 (5:00 p.m.) File with Iowa Secretary of State.
• County Offices: Primary – March 2 – March 25, 2020 (5:00 p.m.) General – March 2 – March 20, 2020 (5:00 p.m.) File with Auditor’s Office.
• President/Vice President: July 27 – August 14, 2020 (5:00 p.m.) File with Iowa Secretary of State.
• Ag Extension Board: No first date (may file at any time). Deadline August 26, 2020 (5:00 p.m.) File with Auditor’s Office.

Information for candidates is available at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/candidates/index.html

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) approved the assignment of a Tax Sale Certificate to Donna M. Hansen, of Massena. The Certificate applies to Lot 1 – Block 7, & Lot 6 – Block 6, in Massena’s First Addition, and a vacated street between the two lots. In other business, the Board heard from County Conservation Director Micah Lee. He started his report with an update on Cold Springs State Park. He said after the campground closed for the season, they had a leaky Iowa Hydrant [a hand-pump water source] galvanized line which was dug-up and replaced with a plastic line. The campground, including the shelter house, was winterized.

As far as the T-Bone Trail is concerned. Lee said since there hasn’t been much snow, they’ve been working on brush removal along the trail and some bridge decking repairs. There are still a few days of brush removal left to complete the work needed. At West Nodaway, he says they laid down a couple of more food plots and cleared about 15 acres of Cedar trees off of the property, burn the area and seed it with native grass/plants later this Fall. In the Nodaway Recreation Area, an apparent Muskrat den caused the road to sink over a foot, creating a big pothole. The area was dug out and repaired with large gravel. Lee says they hope to accomplish renovation work out there this Summer.

At the Pellett Memorial Woods north of KJAN, a split-rain fence was starting to rot out. Repairs are underway, and new, Interpretive signs and posts are being ordered for installation later on. Work continues as well at the Hitchcock House property, including the Grainery restroom, and at the Outdoor Classroom. Micah says the Conservation Department received a grant from the Schildberg Foundation for multi-media equipment in the Outdoor Classroom’s enclosed shelter. A large screen TV and Blu-Ray DVD player were purchased to replace an old tv and VCR. Users will be able to hookup a laptop computer to the device and run programs on the screen rather than by a projector.

The Outdoor Classroom is used for conservation department presentations, social events and outdoor groups. There is currently no fee charged for use of the shelter, but Lee says he agrees with the Supervisors that there should be a fee, especially in light of the electric connections, a new kitchenette, heat and water. The decision will be up to the Conservation Board. Micah said also, Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning presented over 120 programs and saw about 2,300 people.

The Supervisors went into a closed session to interview a candidate for the County Engineer’s position, but no action was taken on hiring the individual following the session.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office issued a report today (Tuesday), on arrests and incidents dating back to January 1st. Yesterday (Monday), deputies arrested 35-year old Allen Michael Shampang, of Atlantic, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Shampang was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,000 bond. Last Thursday, 41-year old Travis Lee Demey, of Carroll, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Demey was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $20,000 bond.

On Jan. 8th, an investigation into a single-vehicle accident on Highway 6 at the AT&T curve, resulted in the arrest of 67-year old Joseph Francis Emert, from Atlantic. Emert was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. On January 7th, Cass County deputies arrested 19-year old Devin Joel Hilliard, of Council Bluffs, on two Sheriff’s Office warrants, one for four counts of Unauthorized Use of Credit Card, and one for Theft 5th Degree. Hilliard was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. On Jan. 6th, 51-year old Lenny Lee Biggs, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Des Moines PD warrant. Biggs was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released to Des Moines authorities.

On Jan. 2nd, 22-year old Jessica James Harrison, of Dallas Center, was arrested in Cass County on charges of Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. James was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later on $1,000 bond. On New Year’s Day, 58-year old Myron Lee Flathers, of Anita, was arrested on a charges of Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent (a Class-D Felony) and OWI 1st Offense. Flathers was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

There were also four accidents over the past couple of weeks. Three of the incidents were weather-related, and took place on January 3rd. Authorities say at about 8:25 p.m. the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle weather-related accident on I-80 eastbound. A 2004 Toyota Tundra driven by 22-year old Ryker Lee Stabenow, of Marion, IA, exited the roadway and flipped into the south ditch. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,000. On Jan. 3rd at around 8:53 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a one-vehicle weather-related accident on I-80 eastbound. A 2004 Chevy Impala driven by 63-year old Vicki Jo Nelson-Forbes, of Woodland Park, CO, lost control on the snow-covered road, striking the cable barrier and coming to rest on the south side of the road. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.

And, at around 9:46 p.m., Jan. 3rd,  deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80 eastbound. A 2012 Chevy Cruze driven by 33-year old Charles Lawrence Elmore, of Bellevue, NE, slid into the south ditch and struck a pole. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,000. Minor injuries were reported. Upon investigation of the accident, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Elmore on a US Marshals warrant. Elmore was held at the Cass County Jail and later released to the US Marshals Service.

On January 8th at around 10:12-a.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an accident at Richland Road and 750th Street. Officials say a 2007 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by 58-year old Bobby Ray Jeanes, of Fontanelle, was turning southward onto 750th Street from Richland Road when the trailer began to roll, causing both the trailer and power unit to roll on its side on the west shoulder of 750th Street. No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $35,000. And, last Sunday at around 5:41-p.m. a single-vehicle, weather related accident happened on I-80 westbound at the 63 mile marker. A 2005 Ford Taurus driven by 19-year old Ethan J. Cherry, of Chicago, struck a guardrail and entered the north ditch. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,500.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Feb. 18 trial start has been scheduled for a woman charged with the shooting deaths of two men and the attempted murders of two law officers in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County court records say April Montello-Roberts, of Shenandoah, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder of an officer, burglary and robbery.

Prosecutors say Montello-Roberts helped her boyfriend, Troy Petersen in the Aug. 4 killing of Jerrot Clark and the Aug. 7 slaying of Steven Carlson. An officer fatally shot Petersen after the pair’s pickup crashed during a chase.

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

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