HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIES…329 AM CDT MON OCT 19 2015

Shaded counties are under a Red Flag Warning today (10/19).

A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA ND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA, FROM 11-AM UNTIL 6-PM TODAY. THAT’S IN ADDITION TO THE RED FLAG WARNING FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-CARROLL-CASS-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-GUTHRIE-MADISON-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD AND UNION COUNTIES, THAT’S IN EFFECT FROM 10-AM UNTIL 7-PM, TODAY.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa-based autism center has expanded its services in northeast Iowa, a move that one family says will help them better communicate with a three-year-old boy. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports the Homestead is celebrating its grand opening in Cedar Falls on Wednesday though the facility has been open for several weeks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of stealing a taxi after he was discharged from a Des Moines hospital says he didn’t want to walk home. Des Moines police say 26-year-old Luis Orellana-Rivera drove off with the vehicle shortly after he was released from Mercy Medical Center around 6 a.m. on Friday. The unoccupied taxi had the key in the ignition at the time.

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — The driver of a motorcycle has been injured in eastern Iowa following a crash with a recreational vehicle. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office says the Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling in rural LeClaire on Saturday afternoon when the driver attempted to a pass a RV backing into a private driveway. The motorcycle driver struck the RV and was thrown off the bike.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for an inmate accused of failing to return to an Iowa correction facility following an approved leave of absence. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Blake Lyon was on a 30-hour court-ordered furlough from the county’s correction center when he failed to return on Saturday.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors is set to meet Monday evening in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During the 5:15-p.m. session, the Board will further discuss and possible take action on approving a 5-year plan for parks and recreation, in Atlantic.

The new Nishna Valley Trail Connector bridge in-place near the KJAN studios.

The Board held a special meeting on Oct. 7th to draft their “wish list” for the parks system. Following that meeting, Parks Director Roger Herring said the Board’s number one priority, was the continued development of the Schildberg Recreation area, and the seeking out of grant funds from Vision Iowa and other sources, especially with regard to the campground area at Schildberg. The Board will receive an update on the campground project, during their meeting.

During Monday’s meeting the Board will also receive an update on the Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park. The shelter was demolished after Labor Day, and work was scheduled to have begun Oct. 1st on the concrete portion of the shelter. They’ll also receive a report on the status of Boat Ramp access to the East Nishnabotna Rover, located near the Atlantic WasteWater Treatment Plant.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board will discuss and receive an update on the Nishna Valley Connector Trail project, and its impact on the Parks and Rec Department.

The Griswold School Board will hold its regular monthly meeting following a work session Monday evening, in the Central Office of the Middle School/High School Building. The work session, which begins at 5-p.m., will cover Financial Planning and Board Goals.

During their regular session, the Griswold School Board will act on Security bids, following a receipt of updated information. They’ll also act on approving a plethora of Board Policies. Information will be presented under New Business, with regard to SINA [School In Need of Assistance], and with regard to the first reading of Board series 200 Policies.

A 10-year old girl is reported to be in stable condition after they were struck by a passing train, Sunday afternoon, in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police, officers and fire department personnel responded to the scene at S. 13th Street and 4th Avenue, at around 12:24-p.m.

Officers found the girl, who was suffering from head injuries, conscious and alert, lying in the median between two sets of train tracks that run parallel to each other. Medics transported the child to an Omaha trauma center. The child’s identity was not released.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the girl attempted to cross the tracks after one train had passed, and was struck by a second train that had been traveling in the same direction.

The Council Bluffs Police Department’s Traffic Unit and the Union Pacific Rail Road are investigating this accident. If anyone witnessed this accident, please call the CBPD Traffic Unit at 712-328-4948.

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD.

Counties shaded in pink are under a Red Flag Warning Monday

ISSUED 256 PM CDT SUN OCT 18 2015 …

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS.

• TIMING…LATE MONDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY MONDAY EVENING.
• WIND…SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT 20 TO 25 MPH GUSTING TO 40 MPH.
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 27 PERCENT.
• FUEL…DRY GRASSES AND CROPS INCLUDING CORN STUBBLE
• IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF DRY GRASSES AND CROPS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND VERY GUSTY WINDS WILL ALLOW FOR ANY FIELD FIRES TO EXHIBIT RAPID EXPANSION. SEVERAL BURN BANS ARE IN EFFECT AS WELL ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE STATE. ANY PLANS TO FOR BURNING SHOULD BE PUT ON HELD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

Firefighters from Cumberland and Massena were called to a reported corn field fire, Sunday afternoon. Crews were dispatched to an area 3-to 4-miles west of Highway 148 off Yankton Road, at around 2:23-p.m. The Fire was declared extinguished at 2:45-p.m.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been arrested in connection with a vehicle pursuit that led authorities through parts of Iowa and Nebraska. Omaha police say 29-year-old Robert Coffman was booked into Douglas County Corrections early Sunday. He faces charges that include methamphetamine possession and resisting arrest.

Police say officers observed Coffman driving a car early Sunday in Omaha that was reported stolen. Coffman is accused of ignoring a traffic stop request from officers and driving into nearby Carter Lake, Iowa. The car then entered Blair, Nebraska, before returning to Omaha. Authorities attempted to deploy tire deflation devices but the vehicle avoided them.

The car stopped eventually and Coffman and a male passenger were taken into custody. The passenger was cited and released.

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. (AP) — Bison from Wind Cave National Park are scheduled to be transferred to preserves in South Dakota and other states to help form new or boost existing herds. The National Park Service says about 70 bison are part of this year’s relocation effort. The bison transferred out of state are going to Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois.

The transfers are allowed under an agreement between the Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. Wind Cave’s bison herd is known for its high levels of genetic purity and diversity.

The approximately 70 animals set to be transferred will be among the dozens of bison that will be blood tested Tuesday. The park tests the bison every year. The animals also get an ear tag and are weighed and measured.

A woman whose vehicle was broken down on Interstate 29 in Fremont County early this (Sunday) morning, was arrested on numerous charges. Deputies came upon the vehicle just before 2-a.m. near mile marker 14, on I-29. A check of the license plates indicated the vehicle had been reported stolen. The driver, 30-year old Shelly Rae Vincent, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Council Bluffs. She was also found to allegedly be in possession of 14 grams of methamphetamine.

Vincent faces felony charges that include Possession of Meth with the Intent to Distribute, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Additional charges were pending. Vincent was brought to the Fremont County Jail, where she was being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

Authorities say the Fremont County K9 “Argo” and deputies with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, assisted with the investigation.