Getting around on the western side of the state today (Monday) is a challenge as the winter storm moved in brought large amounts of snow with it. The Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, Craig Bargfred says drivers are facing winter conditions in that area.

“Basically from the Sioux City area heading up towards the Minnesota border and then a little further east along the Minnesota border,” Bargfrede says. He says South Dakota has closed Interstate 29 roughly outside of Sioux City north. Bargfrede says they’ve issued an advisory for the Iowa area.

“In that Sioux City area and just south along I-29 we have areas where we are saying travel is not advised due to the blowing and drifting,” Bargfrede says, “but we have not officially closed I-29 if you will.” Things are much better as you head east, and he says they’ve caught one break from the weather.

“The fortunate thing is that most of the rest of the state of Iowa, the air and temperatures have remained high enough that we’re not seeing the icing occur that we had originally forecasted,” Bargfrede says. Bargfrede says drivers in areas where there is bad weather need to be patient.

He says you need to be careful operating around the plows and don’t crowd them or try to pass when the visibility is low. The Iowa State Patrol issued a tow ban for all of northwest Iowa. Reports from Le Mars showed they had received seven inches of snow by 12:30, and the snow was till falling. The city of Le Mars pulled plows off the streets until the visibility improves.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican governor candidate Ron Corbett is receiving $185,000 in compensation from a conservative think tank that doesn’t disclose its donors and that, according to its treasurer, has “basically suspended” operations.

Engage Iowa stopped fundraising and holding public events last June when Corbett launched his primary campaign against Gov. Kim Reynolds. But Corbett says serving as the group’s president remains his day job, similar to candidates who work as lawyers or farmers. He says he continues to research education, environment and economic policy in that capacity. Corbett says he shouldn’t be expected to give up the job to run for governor.

Some critics say the arrangement is potentially troubling because voters don’t know who is funding Corbett’s salary and benefits. One critic has called it a “dark money” group.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Six more Democratic representatives are seeking to join a lawsuit that alleges Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and an aide illegally transferred $13 million to balance the state budget.

Rep. Chris Hall filed the case against Reynolds and Department of Management Director Dave Roederer earlier this month. Iowa House members Marti Anderson, Liz Bennett, Bruce Hunter, Jerry Kearns, Monica Kurth and Amy Nielsen were joining the lawsuit as plaintiffs in an amended complaint being filed Monday.

At issue is whether Reynolds’ administration acted legally in September when using $13 million from the State Economic Emergency Fund to plug a year-end hole in the budget. The lawsuit contends that the legal conditions weren’t met for Reynolds to use her authority to transfer money out of the fund.

Reynolds has defended the transfer while calling the law outdated.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests have occurred. On Sunday, January 21st, 37-year old Peter Mualia, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1^st Offense. Mualia was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Two arrests took place last Friday. 33-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested for OWI/1^st Offense, and Driving while Revoked. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond. And, 34-year old Jeffery Lee Carpenter, of Wiota, was arrested on charges of False Imprisonment, and Obstructing Emergency Communication. Carpenter was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Wednesday, Cass County Deputies arrested 20-year old Olivia Lea Johnson, of Kimballton, on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $10,000 bond. And, 32-year old Albert Alexander Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to three accidents recently, two of which took place today (Monday, Jan. 22nd). At around 6-a.m. today, a single-vehicle accident occurred on 590^th Street, in Cass County. A 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by 28-year old Lacy Jean Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was northbound on 590^th when the vehicle went out of control, crossed the center line and entered the west ditch, where it struck some signs, trees, and fence. Christensen was cited for Driving Under Suspension. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000.

At around 8-a.m. today, a single-vehicle accident happened on White Pole Road, about one-quarter of a mile est of 570^th Street. Officials say a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee owned and driven by 29-year old Mitchell Terrence Whiley, of Griswold, was eastbound on White Pole Road when the vehicle began to slide on the slushy road surface. It entered the north ditch and hit a sign, some small trees and bushes. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

And, at around 11:10-a.m. on January 16th, a two-vehicle accident occurred on Walnut Street, in Anita. Authorities say a 2018 Freightliner driven by 40-year old Travis Leroy Anderson, of Creston, was pulling out southbound from being parked on Walnut Street. A 2002 Buick LeSabre driven by 30-year old Dana Marie Walker, of Anita, was northbound on Walnut Street and attempted to stop to make room for the tractor-trailer when the vehicle slid on the snow-covered road.

The front left tire of the tractor-trailer struck the front right portion of the Buick. No injuries were reported. Anderson was cited for Fail to Yield Upon Entering Thoroughfare. Damage to the Freightliner is estimated at $50; damage to the Buick is estimated at $2,000.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two recent arrests. On Saturday, 27-year old Norrin Bishop, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Simple Assault. And, On Friday, 18-year old Ethan Halterman, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. Both subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Stuart Police Department is asking for the public’s help is identifying two male suspects who were caught on surveillance video burglarizing R&D Service, sometime overnight Sunday into this (Monday) morning. The men got away with the business’ cash register.  The images are posted below. If you know who the men are, call the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department

Stuart PD photos

dispatch center at 641-747-2214.

DELHI, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Manchester man was driving when a vehicle broke through the ice at Lake Delhi, drowning his passenger. The body of 23-year-old Alex Salow was found in the vehicle Jan. 8. A witness had spotted it doing doughnuts on the ice before plunging into the frigid water. Records show 36-year-old Joshua Juengel is charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving and related crimes.

Juengel initially denied being at the scene. A court document says investigators found frozen shoes belonging to Juengel that “smelled of lake water” and matched tracks found at the scene. He eventually told investigators that he was driving that night but was able to escape the sinking vehicle, flee the scene and return home.

Red Oak Police this morning (Monday morning), report the arrest of 21-year old Tanner Ryon League, of Red Oak. League was taken into custody at a residence in the 200 block of E. Corning Street, at around 10:45-a.m. He faces a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree (for items valued at less than $200). His bond was set at $300.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — A state audit of the city of Johnston books has determined that nearly $14,000 collected from library fines and fees and other revenue sources has not been deposited in city accounts. A news release from the office of state auditor Mary Mosiman says Monday that the investigation was requested by city officials for the period of July 1, 2015, through July 31, 2017. The news release says officials were concerned about deposits processed by a former accounting clerk, Teresa Osburne.

A city news release says Osburne falsified records and was fired. The city also says police are investigating. Online court records don’t list any charges against Osburne.