The Glenwood Police Department reports residents in a four-square block area of a major gas line leak were allowed to return to their homes late this (Monday) morning. Authorities said just before noon today (Monday), that crews with Black Hills Energy were able to stop the leak that was reported at around 9-a.m. after a construction crew struck a natural gas line in the area of 3rd and Elm Streets.

Law enforcement and Glenwood Fire / Rescue personnel assisted in evacuating residents from their homes and sheltering them at the Grace United Methodist Church at 2nd and Walnut in Glenwood, as a safety precaution.  Residents had been asked to leave the area on foot and not by motor vehicle.They even posted a warning on social media for people to “Quit shooting fireworks while a major gas leak is going on!”

According to reports, the gas leak could be heard and smelled from several blocks away.

Lower crop prices have had a heavy impact on Iowa’s farmers and many are forming their financial plans based on continued low prices.  Farmland values and rental rates are heavily influenced by farmers’ current and future revenues.  So what does the future hold for Iowa land values and rents?  Find out at the land valuation and leasing meeting being held in your area.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach works to bring unbiased information to both land owners and renters to help both parties make successful management decisions.  The land valuation and leasing meetings discuss current land values, rental rates, trends and projections of how values and rents might change in the coming years.

Other topics will include: how to calculate a rental rate based on county specific information, the variety of leasing arrangements that land owners and tenants may use, and the expected cost of crop production in the coming year.  There will be a leasing meeting held on August 2nd at 9:00 am in Harlan, Iowa, at the Shelby County Extension Office, located at 906 Sixth Street.

The cost is $20/person pre-registered, or $25/person without pre-registration. Pre-registered by July 31.  Attendees will receive a land leasing handbook with reference and resource materials.  The workshop will last approximately 2 ½ hours.  Shane Ellis, ISU farm management specialist for the west central region of the state will be presenting.  To register, please call the Shelby County Extension office at 712-755-3104.

A severed natural gas line in Glenwood has forced authorities to evacuate a four-block neighborhood near the old Glenwood swimming pool. The incident, in the area of 3rd and Elm Streets, was reported at around 9-a.m., when a construction crew hit the gas line.

Law enforcement and Glenwood Fire / Rescue personnel were working on evacuating residents from their homes and sheltering them at the Grace United Methodist Church at 2nd and Walnut in Glenwood, as a safety precaution.  Residents were asked to leave the area on foot and not by motor vehicle.They even posted a warning on social media for people to “Quit shooting fireworks while a major gas leak is going on!”

According to reports, the gas leak could be heard and smelled from several blocks away. Utility company representatives were notified. Motor vehicle traffic is currently prohibited in the area.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man was cited following a non-injury accident last Friday afternoon. Authorities say deputies responded to the accident at Marne and Glacier Roads, at around 12:25 p.m.

Their investigation determined a 2000 Freightliner driven by 23-year old Alexander Brady Smith, of Atlantic, was making a right turn onto Glacier Road when the vehicle was struck in the passenger rear by a 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup. The pickup was being driven by 37-year old Jeremy Spencer Hahn, of Blair, NE.

No damage was reported to the Freightliner, but damage to the Chevy was estimated at $1,500. Hahn was cited for Following too Closely.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 30-year old Jacob William Earl Dofner, of Griswold, was arrested last Thursday, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Dofner was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Friday on his own recognizance.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests. A traffic stop at around 12:10-a.m. today (Monday) near Macedonia, resulted in the arrest of 37-year old Joseph Therlou Abrams, of Thurman. Abrams was taken into custody on a warrant for contempt of court.

Sunday afternoon, 40-year old Christine Ann Hall, of Oakland, was arrested at the Oakland Cemetery, after she stopped there to meet with a man. Hall was taken into custody on a nationwide warrant for Violation of Probation on a child endangerment charge. The warrant carried a $10,000 cash only bond.

Early Sunday morning, 56-year old Randall Eugene Huey, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant out of Council Bluffs, for 5th Degree Theft. He was taken into custody after a deputy on routine patrol in an area known for illegal dumping and theft, noticed personal property and a trail of downed grass. He found Huey and a woman asleep in a tent.

Also arrested Sunday morning, was 31-year old Riguardo Garcia-Vasquez, of Omaha. He was arrested on a warrant out of Omaha for Failure to Appear on drug charges. The arrest followed an investigation into a suspicious vehicle stuck at the end of a dead end road. At around 3-a.m. Saturday, Pott. County Deputies arrested 31-year old Joshua J. Langer, of Valley, NE., for OWI/1st offense.  About 90 minutes later, 31-year old Ross Martin Doebel, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense following a traffic stop for speeding.

Friday afternoon, 37-year old Justin David Collier, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Probation Violation. Collier was taken into custody after he turned himself-in on the warrant. And, 65-year old Ruth Ann Walden, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Friday afternoon, after she turned herself-in on a Pott. County warrant for Child Endangerment causing bodily injury.

A man from Ringgold County died Sunday, when the motorcycle he was riding went out of control and crashed. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 77-year old Paul Eugene McKinney, of Mount Ayr, died at the scene of the crash. McKinney was riding a 2017 Harley Davidson Trike southbound on Highway 169 at around 6:45-p.m., when, near the intersection with 165th Street, the cycle began to veer to the right.

The trike crossed the shoulder of the road and entered the west ditch, where it continued until striking a 6-inch diameter evergreen tree and a barbed wire fence into a hay field. The cycle came to rest on its side.

The Harley Trike was totaled in the crash. Damage to a fence, owned by Jerry Abell (Ay-bell), was estimated at $500. The accident remained under investigation.

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

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Many Iowans will be spending this holiday break in a boat and they’re being reminded to make sure the vessel is ready for the water. Dustin Eighmy is a conservation officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Make sure that all your fluids are full, check your oil, make sure your batteries are charged – you don’t want to get out there and then your engine won’t start,” Eighmy says. “Make sure you have enough gas. If you run out of gas out there, you could be stranded for several hours.”

Eighmy suggests boat operators, before they head out on a waterway, request a vessel safety check from a DNR officer, a U.S. Army Corps ranger, or a U.S. Coastal Guard official. “One thing we require here in Iowa on all vessels with horsepower of 10 or more is a fire extinguisher,” Eighmy said. “If you have one in the boat, make sure you get it out and check it. Shake it up every now and then. The solvent inside it can settle to the bottom and then when you do need it, it’s not going to work.”

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show 85-percent of all drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Most boats should be equipped with other life saving floatation devices. “If your vessel is over 16-foot in length, you need to have a type-four throwable…most people call them seat cushions. That’s not what they are – they are there to save people if they fall overboard. You can throw them that type-four throwable and get them out of the water,” Eighmy said.

Iowa boat owners are also encouraged to make sure their registration is up to date. “We’re seeing some expired registrations out there,” Eighmy said. “They run on a three-year period. The current registrations now expire in 2019, so we have a couple years left, but we are still seeing some registrations out there that are expired. You cannot be on public waters in the state of Iowa if your vessel is not up to date and registered.”

There are roughly 235,000 registered boats in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of business leaders suggests the economy will pick up over the next few months in nine Midwest and Plains states because manufacturing remains strong. The overall economic index for the region increased to 62.3 in June from May’s solid 55.5. Any score above 50 suggests growth.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor, while a score below that suggests decline. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate hike didn’t dampen business leaders’ confidence in the economy.

The survey released Monday covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.