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Heavy snows likely won’t pull western Iowa out of drought

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Much of western Iowa was in drought last year and even with a couple of heavy snowstorms already this winter, the drought is expected to continue at least into spring. Dennis Todey, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says it’s unlikely things will change soon. Todey says, “While a big snowstorm can provide melt-off and provide surface water, which is a positive, our soils are mainly frozen now so we need to get thawing soils before we can get any kind of precipitation into those soils.”

Todey says scientists are most concerned about the western third to western half of Iowa because the soils are the driest there.  “I would expect it to improve some in the spring,” Todey says. “Will it go away? I have a hard time thinking it’ll go completely away.” The U.S. Drought Monitor report released this week shows western Iowa in a moderate to extreme drought. Since 2018 and 2019 were very wet years for Iowa, the Iowa D-N-R’s Tim Hall says that probably helped get western Iowa through last year’s “harsh, dry conditions.” “I think we didn’t see as significant an impact because of the wetness coming out of the two years leading into this one,” Hall says.

Their comments were part of a drought webinar held by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Red Oak man arrested again on Animal Neglect-related charge

News

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Thursday, arrested a man who was wanted for Failure to Appear on a charge of Animal Neglect resulting in death. 39-year old Jared Michael Nyquist was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m., in the 700 block of E. Oak Street.

Jared M. Nyquist

He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,500 cash-only bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 1/15/21

Weather

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: **BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 6-P.M.** Snow/blowing snow. NW @ 20-40+mph. High around 30. New snow accumulation of 1-3″ possible.

Tonight: Light snow ending. Mostly Cloudy. Low 22. NW @ 20-40.

Tomorrow: Partly to Mo. cloudy. High 28. NW @ 10-20.

Sunday: P/to-Mo.Cldy. High 28.

Monday: P/to-Mo.Cldy. High 32.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 37. Our Low this morning (as of 4:45-a.m.) was 28. We had received 5″ of snow at the KJAN studios as of 5:50-a.m. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 28 and the Low -3. The Record High was 61 in 1990 and the Record Low was -23 in 1905.

Thursday’s area High School basketball scores (from 1/14/21)

Sports

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

Clarinda 58, Sidney 33

Stanton 60, Southwest Valley 53

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Sidney 52, Clarinda 23

Stanton 54, Southwest Valley 22

Blizzard Warning continues for the western half of Iowa

News, Weather

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

National Weather Service Des Moines IA
340 AM CST Fri Jan 15 2021

…Blizzard to Near Blizzard Conditions Continue to Significantly Impact Travel Across the Western Half of Iowa…

.Strong and gusty northwest winds coupled with moderate to at times heavy snowfall will continue to produce blizzard to near blizzard conditions into the daylight hours today over the western half of Iowa. Significant travel impacts are occurring or expected, especially along Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 in western Iowa. Over the eastern half of Iowa, lighter winds and lower snowfall amounts are forecast, but hazardous travel is anticipated.

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult due to areas of blowing snow, which could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes today.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

 

Roads are mostly 100% snow covered this morning

News, Weather

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is a glimpse of the latest road conditions from 511ia.org, as of 5:15-a.m., 1/15/21

Iowa early News Headlines: 1/15/21

News

January 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of the Iowa National Guard says Iowa is sending 250 soldiers and airmen to the U.S. Capitol, after officials called for additional support for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday. Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Ben Corell says initially Iowa had been scheduled to send 15 airmen to Washington, D.C., but because of the attack last week guard soldiers from all states and territories were asked to send support. He and Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed to send 250 additional Iowa National Guard members by this weekend. Corell says so far no Iowa National Guard support has been needed for security at the Iowa Capitol.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Eleven students from Brazil and Chile have filed a federal lawsuit accusing a northwest Iowa community college, a recruitment company, a pet food manufacturer and a packaging company of human trafficking and involuntary servitude. The lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Iowa says Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and the companies conspired to lure the students to Iowa under a work- and study- based visa exchange program only to push them into unskilled labor positions, pay them significantly less than U.S. employees and take unlawful deductions from their paychecks. The college denies the allegations calling them malicious, untrue, and offensive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With the widest reach of any lotteries in the U.S., Powerball and Mega Millions are designed to produce eyepopping jackpots that generate huge sales. It’s safe to say it’s working, as their combined jackpots reached an estimated $1.39 billion on Thursday. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday night, when an estimated $750 million prize will be up for grabs. The drawing for an estimated $640 million Powerball jackpot will be Saturday night. If you’re wondering whether to risk $2 on a ticket, do so only if you expect to lose. The odds are 1 in 292.2 million to win Powerball and 1 in 302.5 million to win Mega Millions.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two more suspects have been arrested in a fatal shooting at a New Year’s party in Sioux City. Carlos Morales and Anthony Bauer, both 18, were arrested Wednesday and are each being held on $500,000 bond. Morales’ brother, 19-year-old Christopher Morales, of Sioux City, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts after the shooting. Court documents say the three forced someone into the house where the party was being held and then fired at least 27 shots into the house. Eighteen-year-old Mia Kritis was killed and three others were injured. Police say detectives are not seeking any other suspects.

IGHSAU basketball rankings 1/14/2020

Sports

January 14th, 2021 by admin

Class 1A
School Record LW
1 Bishop Garrigan 13-0 1
2 Newell-Fonda 10-1 2
3 St. Ansgar 10-0 3
4 Kingsley-Pierson 13-0 4
5 MMCRU 9-1 5
6 Exira-EHK 11-0 7
7 Collins-Maxwell 10-0 8
8 Montezuma 13-1 9
9 Springville 11-2 6
10 Winfield-Mount Union 11-0 11
11 Burlington Notre Dame 9-1 13
12 North Mahaska 8-1 14
13 Logan-Magnolia 9-3 12
14 Turkey Valley 10-4 NR
15 Woodbury Central 11-3 NR
Dropped Out: CAM (10), AGWSR (15)

Class 2A
1 Maquoketa Valley 12-0 1
2 Dike-New Hartford 10-0 2
3 West Branch 9-1 3
4 North Linn 10-1 4
5 Nodaway Valley 10-0 5
6 West Hancock 10-1 6
7 Treynor 12-1 8
8 Denver 8-3 7
9 Central Lyon 11-1 11
10 Bellevue 12-1 13
11 Grundy Center 8-2 9
12 Underwood 12-1 14
13 Sioux Central 8-3 NR
14 Jesup 10-2 12
15 Cascade 10-4 NR
Dropped Out: South Central Calhoun (10), MFL-Mar-Mac (15)

Class 3A
1 Cherokee 12-0 1
2 Des Moines Christian 12-1 2
3 Unity Christian 9-1 3
4 Center Point-Urbana 10-2 4
5 Clear Lake 10-1 5
6 Osage 9-1 6
7 West Burlington 12-0 7
8 West Lyon 9-1 8
9 West Liberty 7-3 9
10 Panorama 9-2 10
11 Roland-Story 7-3 11
12 Solon 9-3 13
13 Sioux City Bishop Heelan 7-1 NR
14 Estherville-Lincoln Central 10-2 14
15 Vinton-Shellsburg 11-2 15
Dropped Out: Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (12)

Class 4A
1 Glenwood 9-1 1
2 Ballard 10-0 2
3 Gilbert 11-1 3
4 Dallas Center-Grimes 10-2 5
5 Central DeWitt 8-1 4
6 North Scott 7-1 7
7 Waverly-Shell Rock 9-2 6
8 Creston 9-3 12
9 Cedar Rapids Xavier 6-3 14
10 Bondurant-Farrar 7-3 9
11 Denison-Schleswig 8-2 8
12 Harlan 9-3 11
13 Dubuque Wahlert 5-4 10
14 Clear Creek-Amana 8-2 NR
15 Winterset 6-4 NR
Dropped Out: Grinnell (13), Benton (15)

Class 5A
1 Johnston 4-0 2
2 Waukee 3-1 1
3 Waterloo West 8-1 3
4 Cedar Falls 9-1 6
5 Southeast Polk 6-2 5
6 Ankeny Centennial 6-1 4
7 Iowa City West 3-3 7
8 Iowa City High 4-2 8
9 Davenport North 2-0 9
10 Des Moines Roosevelt 2-0 10
11 Cedar Rapids Washington 7-1 11
12 Dowling Catholic 6-2 12
13 West Des Moines Valley 2-3 13
14 Indianola 10-1 14
15 Cedar Rapids Prairie 5-2 NR
Dropped Out: Dubuque Senior (15)

Two more suspects charged in Sioux City New Year’s killing

News

January 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two more suspects have been arrested in a fatal shooting at a New Year’s party in Sioux City. Carlos Morales and Anthony Bauer, both 18, were arrested Wednesday and are each being held on $500,000 bond. Morales’ brother, 19-year-old Christopher Morales, of Sioux City, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and four other counts after the shooting.

Court documents say the three forced someone into the house where the party was being held and then fired at least 27 shots into the house. Eighteen-year-old Mia Kritis was killed and three others were injured. Police say detectives are not seeking any other suspects.

 

RONALD DEAN AKERS, 64, of Walnut (Svcs. 01/18/2021)

Obituaries

January 14th, 2021 by admin

RONALD DEAN AKERS, 64, of Walnut died Wednesday, January 13th at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Private family funeral services for RONALD DEAN AKERS will be held on Monday, January 18th at 2:00 p.m. at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Public visitation will be held on Sunday, January 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca and will resume on Monday, January 18th from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m.

Burial will be in the Layton Township Cemetery in Walnut.

RONALD DEAN AKERS is survived by:

Daughters: Ranea Sievers of Walnut. Reita (Nate) Larsen of Blair, NE. Cheri Akers Warren of Hickory, NC.

Son: Ronald Dean Akers, Jr. of Avoca.

Brother: Dennis (Betty) Akers of Walnut.

Sisters: Linda (Jon) Hall of Omaha, NE. Janet (Randall) Lawson of Stuart.

6 Grandchildren