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

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The National Weather Service is advising Iowa residents to be prepared for strong winds and the potential for severe weather, early this afternoon and this evening. In southwest and western Iowa, winds are expected to gust upwards of 30- to 45-miles per hour. The winds will create travel difficulties, especially for high-profile vehicles, and minor property damage.The humidity will also be on the rise, with heat-related illnesses and heat exhaustion possible, as the temps rise to near 90. Heat index values will also be around 90, depending on the amount of cloud cover.

The threat for severe weather in this part of the state is minimal. In northeast Iowa, severe storms are expected to fire-up this afternoon, bringing large hail, damaging wind and an isolated tornado.

Two separate property owners in Creston reported to police, Monday, that their garages – located in the 500 block of College Drive, and the 500 block of N. Cherry Street – had been broken into sometime between Sept. 27th and Oct. 1st. In both cases, numerous tools were stolen. The loss amounted to about $5,000 altogether.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials in central Iowa’s Black Hawk County are close to approving the $5.6 million sale of a nursing and mental health care center that has struggled financially in recent years. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the buyer, Pritok Capital, plans to keep Country View open, but it’s not clear how many of the 190 workers there will keep their jobs. The agreement to sell the county-owned facility is being finalized and could be voted on as soon as next week.

If the sale is approved, the county will lay off current workers at the facility, and they will have to apply for new jobs with Pritok. Supervisor Linda Laylin says the sale must be approved before the county can discuss in detail what will happen to workers.

No injuries were reported following a semi-trailer rollover accident this morning, in Cass County. Anita Rescue and Wiota 1st Responders were called to Interstate 80 eastbound at around the 66-mile marker at around 6:16-a.m., for an unknown injury accident. At the scene, a trailer had rolled onto its side, but the semi driver from Illinois was not hurt. No other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines agreed to pay $25,000 to an African-American driver who questioned a traffic stop in a lawsuit, but the city didn’t admit any wrongdoing. The Des Moines Register reports Lonnie Porter of Des Moines recorded the Dec. 6 traffic stop on his phone. The 41-year-old Porter didn’t receive a ticket during the stop. Officer Sean O’Neill said on the video that he pulled Porter over because a temporary license plate on the vehicle wasn’t fully visible. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says O’Neill has an outstanding record and acts with integrity.

(Radio Iowa) — A memorial service is scheduled in La Porte City this weekend to remember a 16-year-old autistic boy whose disappearance in April triggered a massive four-month search. A service of remembrance to honor Jake Wilson will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Union High School gymnasium.
A press release from La Porte City Police Chief Chris Brecher says the public is invited to gather before the service at 12:30 for condolences and to share their memories with one another. Jake’s family is hoping that those who helped with the search will be able to attend.
Jake went missing on April 7th when he went for a walk to nearby Wolf Creek and didn’t return home. In the days and weeks that followed, volunteers combed nearly 255 square miles around La Porte City, but their search failed to turn up any clues in his disappearance. The search for Jake ended week of August 12th, when kayakers found his remains in Wolf Creek, about a mile downstream from La Porte City.

Red Oak Police report three arrests took place, Tuesday. At around 7:50-p.m., 48-year old Shelby Joann Olivares, of Red Oak, was arrested in the area of E. Grimes and N. 2nd Street in Red Oak, for Breach of Peace. Olivares was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 7-p.m., 58-year old Dennis Edward Elliott, and 53-year old Valerie Zamora, both of Red Oak, were arrested in the 100 block of W. Grimes Street in Red Oak, for Public Intoxication, 3rd or subsequent offense. They were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond, each.

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County report the arrest this (Wednesday) morning, of 20-year old James Isaiah Van Fossen, of Villisca. He was taken into custody at around 12:50-a.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Van Fossen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond. At around 10:20-p.m. Tuesday, deputies arrested 40-year old Jamie Ryan Straw, and 26-year old Justyn Ray Carlson, both of Villisca, for Disorderly Conduct. Their cash bonds were set at $300 each.