PIONEER, Iowa (AP) — A tiny city in northern Iowa is edging toward unincorporating as its population dwindles, but first it must figure out how to spend its healthy reserve fund. The Messenger reports that Pioneer City Clerk Janet Berte recently met with the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to discuss the formal process of unincorporating. Berte says the last census found that the city had a population of 23. Officials say that the city soon won’t be able to meet the official requirements of being a city as its citizens age.

Berte says one obstacle to unincorporating is the city’s good financials. She says most cities unincorporated when they run out of money, but Pioneer has about $150,000. Berte says the City Council doesn’t have a set timeline for unincorporating.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state audit says the legislature, governor and Iowa Department of Human Services have failed to follow a state law that requires full quarterly financial reports on the state’s privatized Medicaid program. Auditor Mary Mosiman says in an audit released Monday that the state officials and lawmakers should have established a method to estimate program cost savings when they moved from state-managed Medicaid to a system managed by for-profit health care companies in 2016.

The state released widely varied estimates of savings last year ranging from $47 million to $235 million in the $5 billion program that oversees the health care program for poor and disabled Iowans. Mosiman estimates the state saved $126 million in fiscal year 2018 compared to what it would have spent under state-managed care.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say The Whistle Stop, in Lorimor, reported that at around 8:51-p.m. November 21st, someone came in to the store and paid for $51.05 worth of product with a counterfeit $100 bill. The subject had left the store before the money was tested. No other information was available.

(Radio Iowa) — Work continues on one of the largest and most expensive road construction projects in Iowa that was delayed by a contractor mistake. What’s called a “flyover bridge” is being built where Interstate 35 meets U-S Highway 30 on the east side of Ames. Iowa Department of Transportation engineer Scott Dockstader says they already had several nighttime shutdowns on the I-35 and work involving Highway 30 is next.”We still have to do work over Highway 30 and connect up to the other abutment so we’ll have multiple U-S 30 night closures and beam settings,” Dockstader says.

The current clover-leaf interchange between U-S 30 and I-35 in Ames will be retired once a new bridge is completed. Dockstader says the new bridge is expected to make thing safer for drivers. “With this flyover we’re able to eliminate a lot of that merging/diverging movement, so in the future we won’t have people getting off at high speed trying to find a gap with that traffic merging onto the interstate from that loop,” according to Dockstader.

Dockstader says the project appears to be on-pace for a mid-summer opening of the new flyover bridge. The new bridge was supposed to be completed by the end of this year — but the work was delayed after it was discovered the Minnesota contractor made mistakes with the elevation of the piers and the anchor bolts that go into the piers weren’t positioned properly.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa kids from Chariton to Washington to Davenport are getting an extra day of Thanksgiving vacation as many schools across the southeastern third of the state cancelled classes due to heavy snow. Sunday’s blizzard dumped six-to-12 inches of snow on much of the region, but meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service, says some areas got much more. “The highest report that we’ve gotten so far is 17 inches in Oskaloosa,” Hagenhoff says. “We also had 16 inches reported in Osceola and at University Park in Mahaska County.”

Knoxville reports 14 inches of snow, Muscatine and the Quad Cities both report 13 inches, Sigourney got a foot even, while Clarinda got almost 11 inches of snowfall. While it’s unclear if any records were set with the holiday weekend snowstorm, it left behind temperatures far below normal. “The stiff north winds yesterday helped usher in a lot of that colder weather and we’re looking for that to stick around at least through the middle to the end of the week,” Hagenhoff says. “The normal high for this time of year is 42 degrees. Yesterday we hit 33 and today we’re looking to stay right around 26.”

On the plus side, Hagenhoff says there shouldn’t be any more snow in Iowa anytime soon. “Not right now,” Hagenhoff says. “It’s a relatively active pattern so there may be chances for just light flurries around the state but nothing significant that we’re looking at right now.”  A woman answering the phone at the Mahaska County Roads Department in Oskaloosa said no one was available to comment on conditions there as everyone was out on snow plows — and many had been at it with only brief breaks for a solid 24 hours.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Sunday afternoon resulted in a citation for a Griswold man. 27-year old Jonathan Christian Pilgreen was cited for Driving While Revoked. He was then released from the scene. At around 12:20-a.m., Sunday, a Pott. County Deputy was called to a residence in Council Bluffs, to check on the welfare of an individual. The deputy then determined that an assault had taken place. 45-year old Shawn Craig Gappa, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Domestic Assault, with regard to an incident involving a 15-year old male. Gappa was transported to the Pott. County Jail.

Friday evening, a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy was on patrol in the area of N.16th Street and Nash Boulevard, when he saw a Ford F-250 pickup occupied by an adult male and female. A check of the license plate revealed the male owner, 37-year old Danny Davidson, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on a warrant for Conspiracy to Commit a Forcible Felony, and Theft in the 1st Degree. A traffic stop on the vehicle was initiated, and the warrant confirmed. Davidson was taken into custody on the warrant and transported to the Pott. County Jail, where bond was set at $10,000. His passenger was authorized to remove the vehicle from the scene.

And, at around 4-a.m. Wednesday, an investigation into a property damage accident in the 24,000 block of Pioneer Trail, resulted in the arrested of 24-year old Sabriena R. Bruce, of Omaha. The woman was charged with OWI/1st offense, and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health report from 2014-2017, there was a 38 percent increase in methamphetamine treatment admissions in Iowa. Similarly, the IDPH reports there was an eight-fold increase in Iowa deaths related to amphetamines, which includes methamphetamine. November 30 is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. IDPH is using the observance as an opportunity to remind Iowans that methamphetamine continues to be a serious concern.

Katie Bee of the IDPH Bureau of Substance Abuse, says “Meth is now the second most reported drug by adults at admission to treatment, moving ahead of marijuana for the first time. Alcohol remains number one for adults, while marijuana remains the number one drug of choice for juveniles. It is important for Iowans to know help is available from Iowa’s treatment network, which can be found at yourlifeiowa.org.”

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant and is most commonly a white, odorless powder. In the short term, its effects include increased attention and activity, decreased appetite and a rapid heartbeat. In the long term, consequences include paranoia, hallucinations, brain structure changes, memory loss, aggression and severe dental problems. If you are concerned about your own methamphetamine use or that of someone you care about, free and confidential help is available every day, around-the-clock. Visit www.YourLifeIowa.org for help by text, chat and phone (855-581-8111).

The annual Lighted Parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 1st, starting at 6 PM. Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. AtlantiCash will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Winners will be notified before the parade. Fireworks, sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son and Meyer & Gross Real Estate, kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM.

Before the parade, Santa will be in his Cabin at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Santa’s Reindeer as well as free Carriage Rides will also be at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Santa’s Cabin is presented by the Atlantic Rotary Club. If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Line up begins at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is not required, but encouraged. Judges for the 2018 Lighted Parade include: Donnie Drennan, Drennan Insurance; Arlene Drennan, Cass County Abstract; Amanda Martin & kids, City of Atlantic and Krysta Hanson, Hanson’s Fine Jewelry.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (Nov. 26, 2018) — The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors to give now to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies during the holiday season. Blood and platelet donations often decline during the holidays. Regular donors are busy with holiday activities, and travel and severe winter weather may cause blood drive cancellations. Yet donations remain critical for patients.

Donors are urged to give now to ensure that families don’t have to worry about the availability of blood this winter. In thanks for helping meet the urgent need around the holidays, all those who come to donate blood or platelets now through Dec. 19, 2018, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 26-Dec. 19

Anita: 12/6/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., CAM High School, 1000 Victory Park Road

Avoca: 12/3/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., AHSTW High School, 768 So. Maple

Exira: 11/26/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson

Earling: 12/4/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main Street

Greenfield: 12/14/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nodaway Valley High School, 410 NW 2nd Street

Lenox: 12/12/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 210 E. Dallas St

Neola: 12/6/2018: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Neola Community Center, 110 4th St

Panama: 12/5/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary’s Parish Center, 204 St. Mary Avenue

Arcadia: 12/18/2018: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 210 Head Street

Carroll: 12/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Guard Armory, 1712 LeClark Road

Denison: 12/11/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 113 South 14th Street

Dunlap: 12/12/2018: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 716 Iowa Ave.

Logan: 11/27/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Logan Magnolia High School, 1200 N 2nd Ave

Missouri Valley: 12/18/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St

Malvern: 11/28/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., East Mills High School, 1505 E. 15th St.

Red Oak: 12/3/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Montgomery County Hospital, 2301 Eastern Ave; 12/3/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit

Stanton: 12/5/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Viking Center, 501 Elliot

College Springs: 11/30/2018: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., South Page High School, 600 S Iowa

Council Bluffs:

Council Bluffs: American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, Loess Hills Blood Donation Center, 705 N. 16th St. Council Bluffs.

11/26/2018: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pottawattamie County Courthouse, 227 S. 6th St.

11/29/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lewis Central High School, 3504 Harry Langdon Blvd

12/2/2018: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., New Horizon Presbyterian Church, 30 Valley View Drive

12/3/2018: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Charles E. Lakin YMCA – Council Bluffs, 235 Harmony St.

12/10/2018: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m., Mid-America Center, One Arena Way

12/10/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mid-America Center, One Arena Way

12/13/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Albert’s High School, 400 Gleason St.

12/14/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Iowa School for the Deaf, 3501 Harry Langdon Blvd.

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

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