Due to the weather forecast of impending snow and wind, City Officials in Harlan have declared a Snow Emergency for Friday January 15, 2021. No parking on north/south streets from 8:00am to noon, and no parking on east/west streets from 1:00pm to 5:00 pm. (1/14/21)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Ben Corell says there were a “staggering number” of domestic and overseas deployments for Iowa Guard soldiers and airmen in 2020. That includes 17-hundred who are still on duty overseas and over 900 Iowa Guardsmen called to pandemic-related duty. “Not since the historic floods of 2008, has the Iowa National Guard played such a diverse role in coming to the aid of Iowans during their time of need,” Corell said.

Adj. Gen. Ben Correll

Corell delivered the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to Iowa legislators this (Thursday) morning. He went on to highlight the actions of the Guard during the pandemic: distributing 312 tons of food to food insecure Iowans, driving over 420,000 miles to deliver personal protective equipment and Test Iowa Samples to Iowa hospitals, and staffing 12 Test Iowa locations.

The Guard also assisted during the Derecho; they were responsible for clearing debris from city blocks so that power could be restored. 2020 saw the Guard have 1,700+ soldiers and airmen deployed full time on humanitarian and peace keeping missions. General Corell maintained that the National Guard is ready and capable and will remain ready and capable moving forward.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged in Iowa with felony extortion and domestic assault counts after police say he threatened to shoot a woman if she didn’t give him thousands of dollars. The Globe Gazette reports that 27-year-old Anthony Scott Moore was arrested Tuesday, and charges were filed Wednesday in Cerro Gordo County. Police say Moore admitted to investigators that he held a gun to a woman’s head in a Mason City home and threatened to kill her if she didn’t write him a $50,000 check.

Police say he also took a cellphone from the woman and disconnected the 911 call she was trying to make. Moore is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail without bond.

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in northeastern Iowa say a delivery driver was hospitalized after being attacked in La Porte City by two dogs that also attacked a postal carrier. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the attack happened Wednesday morning after the dogs escaped their fenced backyard and ran down a FedEx driver. Police Chief Chris Brecher says the woman suffered significant bites and tears before she was able to escape to her vehicle.

Brecher says the dogs then attacked a letter carrier. It was unclear whether the letter carrier suffered any injuries. Police say one of the dogs was hit by a car as officials chased the animals and had to be euthanized. Police say the other dog is under quarantine.

Homefront activities and life during World War II is the subject of a special ZOOM program this Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17th), in Atlantic.  Iowa did more than its share to supply goods to help win the war. Dr. Lisa Ossian will tell that story beginning at 2 pm. Dr. Ossian has researched and published a book The Home Fronts of Iowa, 1939 – 1945. Ordnance plants in Burlington and Ankeny and the Maytag industry produced guns, bullets, bombs and other military necessities during the war. Iowa exceeded records in War Bond Drives. Farmers, men and women, met food goals.

Dr. Lisa Payne Ossian

Dr. Ossian is a professor of history at Des Moines Area community College and has served on numerous state and national educational boards. She has been a Humanities Iowa speaker for many years. The program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). It is supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission and made possible by Humanities Iowa.

Using Zoom makes it possible to reach up to 100 people in your own homes. No masks and social distancing required. Find the link to the Sunday program Zoom at “What’s New” on the ARISE web site, ariseAtlantic.org.

(Radio Iowa) – After ten U-S House Republicans joined Democrats in impeaching President Trump on Wednesday, now some Republicans in the U-S Senate are considering voting to convict Trump in a looming trial there. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’s not sure there should even be a Senate trial, given the timeline, as it wouldn’t likely take place until Trump is already out of office. “It’s a big constitutional question about impeaching a private citizen,” Grassley says. “That’s a major thing you’ve gotta’ think about, should Congress, under the Constitution, even do it?”

Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, voted for impeachment, calling the president the rhetorical “ring leader” of last week’s riot at the U-S Capitol, while Iowa’s three Republican House members opposed impeachment. President-elect Biden’s inauguration is scheduled for next Wednesday and Grassley says he’s focused on looking ahead, not back. “We’re just six days away from a new president,” Grassley says. “I’ve been spending all of my time, as I hope all of my colleagues are, on working with the Biden administration to unify the country and it seems to me, that’s not an action that unifies the country, it further divides.”

If there should be a Senate trial, Grassley would not commit in advance to how he’d vote, as senators would be sitting as jurors. “We ought to listen to all of the evidence that’s presented and the defense that’s presented before we make a decision,” Grassley says. “I haven’t even read the indictment that comes from the grand jury-like action that the House took yesterday (Wednesday).”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is quoted as saying he won’t stand in the way of an impeachment trial in the Senate, adding that he is “done” with Trump.

954 AM CST Thu Jan 14 2021; A Blizzard will significantly impact much of Iowa tonight into Friday. Extremely stout winds coupled with moderate to heavy snow will lead to blizzard conditions tonight and throughout much of the day Friday over the central to western sections of Iowa. The heaviest snowfall is likely to fall over north central portions of the state, but even further south and west blizzard conditions are anticipated. Significant travel impacts are expected, especially along Interstates 80 and 35.

Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold-Crawford-Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont and Page Counties.…A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 12-AM FRIDAY TO 6 PM.

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult if not impossible at times with blowing snow significantly reducing visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and
evening commutes. Isolated power outages and tree damage may occur with the gusty winds.

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.

A WIND ADVISORY IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY for much of western and southwest Iowa.

* WHAT…Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters say a large winter storm system is moving toward Iowa that will likely impact travel for many of us before the weekend arrives. Up to nine inches of snow is forecast for parts of west and central Iowa along with winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour. Meteorologist Cory Martin, at the National Weather Service, says it’ll get wicked late tonight (Thursday) and early tomorrow (Friday). “We’re looking at snowfall increasing by late today and into the overnight hours,” Martin says. “Really, the story with this system isn’t necessarily going to be how much snow falls, it’s just that the combination of the snow with the really strong winds is going to make travel really difficult — if not impossible — in some areas, generally along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor.”

A Blizzard Warning is posted for much of the state’s western half from 6 o’clock tonight through 6 tomorrow night. Snowfall could be heavy. “North-central and northwest Iowa, we’re looking at over six inches likely up there, a little less as you get south towards the Des Moines metro and into west-central and southwest Iowa,” Martin says. “Again, combined with the strong winds, you’re going to have widespread visibilities of a quarter-mile or less possible which would make travel very difficult.”

With some of the advisories and warnings taking effect at 6 P-M, the weather could start getting nasty about the time many tens of thousands of Iowans will be trying to get home for the day. “The worst of the conditions are probably going to be overnight into tomorrow,” Martin says, “but if you do have travel plans or you need to commute later today, it’s best to check ahead before you leave and make plans accordingly.”

Seven counties in central and north-central Iowa are under a Winter Storm Warning while wide sections of Iowa’s eastern half have Winter Weather Advisories posted, though he says Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Davenport won’t see as many falling flakes. “Not as much snow out that way,” Martin says. “They’re looking at a couple of inches but still some stronger winds and it won’t take much snow when combined with this wind to possibly cause some travel issues.”

Keep up with the changing forecast at kjan.com or at weather.gov.