(Radio Iowa) — Harvest season will kick into high gear once Iowa gets an extended period of dry weather and that means large farm machinery will be traveling the state’s roadways. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz is calling on motorists to be patient and prepared. “Even though you may end up following a tractor for several miles at 35 miles an hour, in the grand scheme of things, it’s really only going to cost you a couple minutes of your time,” Kurtz says. “As opposed to the danger that you could be putting yourself and your family in by making a poor pass or by going too fast, not paying attention, and possibly rear-end that implement coming up over the top of a hill.”

Farmers can help reduce the chances of a crash by properly marking their machinery. “That all begins with a SMV (slow moving vehicle) triangle at the back of every vehicle you’re pulling,” Kurtz says. “So, if you’re pulling a wagon, you have to have that SMV triangle on the back of that wagon and visible. If you’re pulling another piece of equipment, make sure you have it at the back of that train.”

Farmers working after dark should also have a red light at the rear of the vehicle and flashing amber lights. Kurtz says he’s been called to three or four accidents involving farm equipment within the last month.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Congressman David Young and his Democratic challenger, Cindy Axne, both say they favor hiring more agents and using drones to patrol some areas. But the two quarreled about another immigration-related issue last (Sunday) night during a debate broadcast on K-M-A Radio.
“If we lose this seat and Nancy Pelosi becomes speaker, their agenda is basically to have a borderless society and to get rid of ICE.”

Young is referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Axne responded. “I have never once said that I would abolish ICE,” Axne said. “…I don’t think scare tactics are an appropriate way to address these issues.” This summer, a group of House Democrats introduced a bill to abolish the agency and appoint a commission to examine how asylum seekers are handled at the southern border. During last (Sunday) night’s debate, Young, Axne and Libertarian Party candidate Bryan Jack Holder all expressed opposition to the policy of separating children from parents crossing the border and seeking asylum in the United States.

The U.S. health care system was also an issue of pointed discussion during last (Sunday) night’s debate. Holder revealed he’s been uninsured for several years because he has a pre-existing condition. “When the Democrats were in charge of congress, they could have put through single payer, but they didn’t have the political courage to do that,” Holder said. “instead, they threw us to the wolves, to the predatory health insurance companies.”

Young and Axne quarrelled over Young’s record on federal policy toward Americans with pre-existing conditions. The candidates also used some of their air time last (Sunday) night to introduce themselves to voters. Holder, the Libertarian, touted what he calls the “Iowa Compromise.” It would double the size of the U.S. House of Representatives from 435 to 870 members, so there would be smaller districts.

The National Weather Service has expanded a FLOOD WATCH which is in effect from 7-a.m. today (Monday) through 7-a.m. Wednesday, for the entire KJAN listening area.

* Periods with heavy rainfall are forecast through the period. Expect an area with heavy rain beginning this morning with additional bouts tonight and again Tuesday and Tuesday night. Total accumulations after multiple days of rain may reach as high as three to six inches.

* Saturated soils in addition to expected heavy rainfall will lead to significant runoff into area streams and may result in extensive overland flooding and ponding water. Localized flash flooding may also occur. In addition, widespread river flooding may occur across the northern half of Iowa.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Police in Council Bluffs say warrants have been issued in connection with a murder that took place Sunday afternoon. Active warrants charge 69-year old Kenneth Still, of Council Bluffs, with Murder in the 1st Degree and Felon In Possession of a Firearm, in connection to the death of 21-year old Devon M. Theisen, of Council Bluffs. Still is considered to be armed and dangerous. He’s believed to be driving a green 2000 Nissen Xterra SUV with license plate G-O-M 2-6-2

Suspect’s green Nissan Xterra

Kenneth Still

Authorities say officers were called just before 3-p.m. Sunday to 127 Park Avenue, for a shooting that had just occurred at that location.  When officers arrived, they found Theisen on the front porch, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.  Witnesses told officers at the scene that the victim was involved in a disturbance with the suspect, Kenneth Still.

They told police that at some point during the incident, Still grabbed a shot gun inside the residence and fired one round, striking Theisen in the head.  Still then left the area in the Nissan SUV and had not been located as of the latest report. Theisen was transported by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

If you have any information on Still’s location please call 911.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Cory Booker says President Donald Trump’s recent criticisms don’t bother him, and he welcomes a discussion of his record as the former mayor of Newark and his work in the Senate. The New Jersey Democrat is in Iowa, the lead-off presidential caucus state, as he weighs running for president in 2020.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man has been arrested and charged in the June shooting death of another man. The Quad-City Times reports that 37-year-old Deondra Lamont Thomas appeared in court Saturday morning to face charges of first-degree murder and a weapons county in the June 9 shooting death of 46-year-old Jason Roberts.

COLO, Iowa (AP) — A registered sex offender in Iowa faces new charges after investigators say he molested several young boys on camping trips to a Story County park. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that 30-year-old Michael Ferguson took several boys between the ages of 9 and 14 camping at Hickory Grove Park in Colo between May 2017 and February. Court documents say Ferguson forced at least four children to perform sexual acts.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The western Iowa jury has found a man guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of another homeless man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 46-year-old Vance Good was found guilty Friday in the March stabbing death of 44-year-old Lee Johnson. Good is one of four men charged in Johnson’s death, including 20-year-old James McCauley, who also faces a first-degree murder charge.

The National Weather Service, in its Flood Outlook for the next few days, reports moderate to heavy rain starts later tonight and continues on and off through Wednesday morning. This rain will lead to rises on area creeks/streams/rivers and may cause localized flash flooding. Widespread river flooding is possible over northern and parts of central Iowa. For More information -> https://www.weather.gov/dmx/sitrep.

The National Weather Service has issued a FLASH FLOOD WATCH in effect from 7-a.m. Monday through 7-a.m. Wednesday for the following area counties: Cass-Adair-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas, Pottawattamie, Mills, Harrison, Shelby, Sac, Crawford, and Carroll.

A frontal system south of Iowa this evening will lift into the state overnight and then stall southwest to northeast Monday and Tuesday before finally exiting Wednesday morning. Unusually high amounts of moisture for fall will be in place near the system allowing for repetitive moderate to heavy rains. Total accumulations after multiple days of rain may reach as high as four to six inches across west central and northwest Iowa with two to four inch totals possible central and southeast.

* Soils are already at or near saturation so much of the rainfall will runoff into streams, creeks and rivers and may result in extensive overland flooding and standing water, ponding water on roads and even localized flash flooding. This is in addition to the potential of widespread river flooding across the northern half of Iowa.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate reminds Iowans to be ‘Voter Ready’ as the absentee voting period begins this Monday, October 8, for the 2018 general election. Iowans wishing to vote early can download an absentee ballot request form and mail it to their county auditor’s office or vote in-person at the auditor’s office. Pate says he hopes “Every eligible Iowan makes their voice heard by participating in this election. Iowa has no-excuse absentee voting, which means every eligible Iowan can vote by mail, in-person at your county auditor’s office, at a satellite voting location, or at the polls on Election Day. Part of being voter ready means having a plan on how and when you’re going to cast your ballot. I generally think it’s a good idea to vote early.”

Requests for absentee ballots by mail must be received in your county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 27. To download an absentee ballot request form, and for a variety of election-related information, visit VoterReadyIowa.org.

(Groups and organizations hoping to assist their members with voting can download customizable materials from Secretary Pate’s Voter Ready Toolkit at this link.)

Police in Council Bluffs are looking for information about a man who allegedly robbed the Mega Saver Store this (Sunday) morning. Officers were called a little after 8-a.m. to the store, located at 3540 West Broadway, for a robbery that just occurred at that location.

Police arrived and spoke with the station attendant who stated that a black male in his 30’s entered the business wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with dark sleeves. After entering, the suspect walked around the counter and pointed a silver handgun at him, and demanded money. The suspect went to both registers and took money from both registers. The suspect left the area, running northwest, from the area. (see his picture below)

If you have any information about the suspect, you’re asked to please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867. Thank you for your assistance.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections reports 22-year old Devin Kesean Dock, who was convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility as required Saturday night.

Dock is a black male, 5-feet 10-inches tall, and weighs 236 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on September 10, 2018.  Persons with information on Dock’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Devin Dock