The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Long-range forecasters say the overall trend of cooler, wetter weather will likely continue for the next several months, with some periods of hot and dry mixed in. Brian Fuchs, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center, says the regional climate outlook, going out just eight-to-14 days, shows the rest of July and into August will be on the warm side.

“The eight-to-14 is showing temperatures being above normal during this time,” Fuchs says, “and when you couple that with the precipitation, it does look like after the next seven-day period, it is looking like the potential for drier-than-normal conditions from the Ohio River Valley into the Midwest.”

Fuchs says the trend from late summer into fall looks to be more of what we have seen most of the first half of the year.  “If you look at the probabilities of seeing above-normal precipitation, that starts out in the Southwest and continues into the Central Rockies out onto the Plains and catching part of the Midwest,” Fuchs says. “That’s also associated with temperatures being below normal.”

With a very strong El Nino weather pattern developing in the Pacific Ocean, Fuchs says the winter outlook is trending toward less snow and cold for most of the country’s northern half. “We’re seeing those warmer-than-normal temperature probabilities staying in place from the Pacific Northwest through the Northern Plains,” he says, “and the below-normal temperature probabilities from the Southern Plains through the Southeast continue as well.”

Fuchs says the El Nino is now trending up and could be one of the strongest ever recorded. The National Drought Mitigation Center is based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

(Radio Iowa)

A survey of trees is underway in Atlantic, in preparation for what officials say is the inevitable invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm told the Parks Board Monday evening, that residents of the community may have seen, or will soon see, a couple of men standing in the public right-of-ways, looking at trees in your neighborhood. Larry Bowman and Eric Sansgaard are conducting an inventory of the trees, their location and condition.

Staashelm said he and Herring have been doing a lot of training which has helped them identify trees and disease and other date for the tree census. Staashelm said everything they have been doing with their training has also put them at the front end of preparing for the Emerald Ash Borer.

In other business, the Parks Board Monday approved a bid of $42,149 from Caliber Concrete, of Adair, for cement work in preparation for the Kiddie Korral project at Sunnyside Park. The current Kiddie Korral will be closed after Labor Day for demolition and reconstruction, so the Parks and Rec Department will not be accepting reservations for the shelter after that date, until the project is complete.

The Board also received and approved a bid of $64, 481 from Bluffs Paving and Utility Company, of Crescent, for the Bull Creek Trail project. The project will be paid for through a Transportation Alternatives Project (or, TAP) grant amounting to $39,000, and a Wellmark Grant amounting to $25,000.

And, the public is invited to the grand opening of the horseshoe pits at Sunnyside Park. The event takes place this morning at 10-a.m. Chamber Ambassadors and others will gather at the Camblin Shelter before moving to the Senior Activity Area for the horseshoe site dedication.

An investigation into a previously announced case of felony Child Endangerment in Montgomery County, has resulted in additional charges against one of the suspects. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Kristopher Edward Wayne Davies, of Red Oak, was charged Monday with Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, a Class-B felony.

Davies, who was already being held on $50,000 bond for two counts of Child Endangerment causing serious injury, is now being held on an additional $25,000 cash bond. 23-year old Joslin Nicole Davies, of Red Oak, was also charged with two counts of Child Endangerment causing serious injury. The pair were arrested following an incident that allegedly took place July 14th, in Red Oak.

Joslin Davies was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man early this (Tuesday) morning, on a drug charge. 27-year old Jason Rolphe Aherns, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:15-a.m. on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. Aherns was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

And, at around 8-p.m. Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 54-year old Tony Joe Christensen, of Red Oak, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Christensen was later released on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Iowan Zach Johnson has won the British Open in a four-hole playoff over Lewis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. It’s the second major golf championship for the Cedar Rapids native. Johnson described himself as a “normal guy” from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when he won the Masters in 2007. And now? He says: “I’m a normal guy from Cedar Rapids … with a green jacket that has something that most guys don’t get to drink out of right now.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted former lottery security official Eddie Tipton of fraud. The Norwalk man accused of rigging a Hot Lotto game so he could win a $14 million jackpot in 2010 now faces up to 10 years in prison. He’ll be sentenced in September. His lawyer is planning an appeal.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is asking the Iowa National Guard to review security at its facilities in Iowa, in the wake of last week’s shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Branstad asked Iowa National Guard Maj. Gen Timothy Orr to assess the protection for those working at the Guard’s military facilities and recruitment sites. The Republican governor also plans to ask the federal government to review the protections at all military facilities.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former western Indiana man to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the slaying of a teenager nearly 17 years ago. Thirty-five-year-old Clinton Bryan Mackey was arrested in January 2014 and charged with killing 19-year-old Erika Case. She was found dead on Sept. 6, 1998, having been stabbed multiple times while house-sitting in West Terre Haute.

Large dog area (Click on photos to enlarge)

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, agreed to set Friday, July 31st as the date for the grand opening of the Buck Creek Dog Park, located on the northwest side of the Schildberg Recreation Area. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said fencing around the park is installed, and the Eagle Scout project for dog playground equipment is in-place.

Small dog area

Assistant Parks Director Seth Staashelm said the equipment, includes a tunnel on both sides (of the small and large dog areas) with scrap plastic by Plastics Professionals in Atlantic, and mulch, to prevent the growth of weeds. There’s weaving poles, an A-ramp for dogs to climb, hurdles for small and large dogs, among other things. Signs, both small and large have also arrived, stating the rules and regulations. Those are set to be installed, soon.

A pergola, or sun shade, will also be erected. The July 31st Grand Opening will be an all-day event, beginning with a ribbon cutting at 10-a.m. Other activities tentatively planned for the day may include dog vaccinations by area veterinarians, Animal Shelter staff on hand for dog registration tables set up for water bottle distribution to dog owners, and more.

The Parks Board reminds persons who use the Schildberg Rec Area, that dog droppings must be picked up by owners, even if the droppings are on the grass. The exception would be in tall grass areas. Bag stations are provided around the area for that purpose.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding the annual Road Race during
AtlanticFest Saturday, August 8th. The Road Race is available to all ages and offers a
2 and 5 mile run and a 2 mile walk. This year, the Road Race will offer a new route. The 5 mile run will include a loop around the Schildberg Recreation Area. Also, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is also excited to announce Chip Timing in 2015.

Road Race Participants have been requesting chip timing for several years and
Chamber officials say they are excited to be able to offer it all the runners, along with a new route. The pre-registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015. All pre-registered runners and walkers will receive a high performance t- shirt and runners swag bag, including a water bottle.

You can register on-line at  www.atlanticiowa.com. For questions, please call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712-243-3017.

The contractor for the Highway 6/7th Street construction project in Atlantic, is expected to begin paving work Tuesday, beginning at 6-a.m. Scott Suhr, IA Dept. of Transportation Planning Coordinator in Atlantic, said in his weekly update today (Monday), that as of July 10th, the contractor had worked a total of 22.5 working days out of 59 charged.

Work scheduled for this week include: Continue main line (North 25′-feet wide) Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) paving to Cherry Street; Subgrade preparation/Subdrain trenching and install/Modified Base/CD Baskets from Cherry to Plum; and Pouring the north side of the intersection atSpruce and Pine Street.

Work last week progressed until rain fell mid-week, causing a delay in the amount of work that could be accomplished, until the sub-grade work could dry out.

Police in Glenwood arrested a Montgomery County woman Saturday on drug and theft charges. 49-year old Stephanie Hightshoe, of Villisca, was charged with Theft in the 4th degree, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was also wanted on a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. Her bond was set at $2,300 altogether.

Also arrested Saturday, was 34-year old John Adams, of Glenwood, who was charged with Driving Under suspension. His bond was set at $300 cash. Glenwood Police arrested two people on Sunday. 37-year old Steven Dimauro, of Gretna, NE., was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Child Endangerment, his total bond set at $3000. 26-year old Seth Peters, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for Domestic
Abuse Assault, with bond set at $1,000.