Dry and windy conditions have prompted Emergency Management officials in Montgomery and Taylor Counties to issue a Burn Ban. The ban on opening burn in Montgomery County is in effect from Noon today (Monday), until further notice. The ban in Taylor County was ordered Friday and becomes effective today, as well.

A Red Flag warning is in effect for all of southwest and western Iowa this afternoon and this evening, for critical fire conditions (low humidity and high winds) that could create explosive fire growth.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County arrested 20-year old Gage Stewart Boles, of Glenwood, Friday evening on Locust Street, in Glenwood. Boles was wanted on a warrant for Gathering where marijuana is used. His bond was set at $1,000.

With Ric Hanson.

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One person died during a rollover accident early this (Monday) morning, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling north on Highway 141 near mile marker 140, at around 5:35-a.m., when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car left the road and entered a ditch before rolling twice, ejecting the driver. The victim, whose name was not released pending notification of family, was not wearing a seat belt.

Three people were arrested recently, in Creston. According to the Police report, 40-year old Darwin Michael Ripperger, of Afton, was arrested at around 5:30-p.m. Sunday at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Ripperger was charged with Simple Assault and later released on $300 bond.

At around Noon, Saturday, Creston Police arrested 25-year old Quentin Allen Smith, of Des Moines, on a Taylor County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Smith, who was taken into custody at 701 N. Cherry St., in Creston, was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond, plus $300 bond for the Taylor County warrant.

Early Saturday morning, the Creston P-D arrested 20-year old Steven Dennis Richardson, of Creston, for allegedly committing a burglary in the 1st Degree, while persons were present, and, for Possession/Display and/or Use of a Dangerous Weapon. His bond was set at $25,000.

Last Friday evening, Creston Police cited 64-year old Dennis Lee Miller, of Creston, for Simple Assault. Miller was released on $300 bond.

And, officials in Creston says a woman who resides at an apartment on N. Pine Street reported Friday morning, someone had used her credit card without permission. The card was used to make multiple purchases amounting to $464. The incident remains under investigation.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SOLDIER, Iowa (AP) – A body recovered from a lake in western Iowa is believed to be that of a farmer reported missing in November. The body was pulled from a lake at Oldham Recreation Area near Soldier on Saturday. Officials say the body likely is that of 66-year-old Walter Ordway.

In December hunters found a pickup owned by Ordway near the recreation area. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office says it’s believed that Ordway took his dog for an outing to the recreation area on Nov. 17 and that the dog fell through lake ice into the freezing water. The Sheriff’s Office says Ordway may have fallen into the water while trying to rescue his dog. The dog’s body was found nearby.

The 66-year-old Ordway lived in Soldier.

A rental home in Tabor was destroyed by fire Sunday evening. According to reports, the fire started on a porch at 804 Main Street, at around 5-p.m. Six area fire departments responded to the blaze, which was fanned by strong winds and quickly spread from the porch to the roof. It’s believed no one was home at the home, and all the pets inside were saved. No injuries were reported. Firefighters remained on the scene for about 5-hours. The cause remains unknown. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called-in to investigate.

The Red Cross was assisting the Samantha Bowers family with their immediate needs. The home was owned by Mike Perkins.

DERBY, Iowa – The latest figures show the number of farms in Iowa continues to fall, but that isn’t slowing down a new crop of beginning farmers looking to reverse the trend. About two years ago, Angela Johnson, co-owner of Lucky George Farm, and her husband quit their corporate jobs, cashed out a 401-K and began a conservancy livestock operation outside the town of Derby, in southern Iowa. Johnson says they did so to be able to provide a legacy along with good, healthy food for their children.

“What we’re trying to do is just do everything as natural as possible that would’ve been done in a way with – about 100 years ago or so, our great-great-greats would’ve farmed the way that we do,” says Johnson. “We wanted to do it because we see that that’s the future for our family.”

The Johnsons raise endangered breeds of livestock across multiple species and one of their Large Black pigs was used by a chef who recently won a regional cooking competition. There are many challenges to getting a start in agriculture, from finances to marketing and more. Johnson says key to their growing operation has been the advice and help from other producers and groups, including Practical Farmers of Iowa.

“We have found a network of individuals who are like-minded and willing to accept the challenges through PFI,” Johnson says. “We have networked with other market farmers so that we can learn from them, learn from their mistakes. Our social network has really been the thing that’s helped us along.” According to the USDA, the number of farms in Iowa fell by 500 last year to 88,000, although that is still the third-highest in the country, behind only Missouri and Texas.

(Iowa News Service)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An effort to improve teen drivers’ road safety by limiting their number of passengers is having little impact, because most parents are signing waivers to opt their 16- or 17-year-olds out of the requirement. For the first six months of an intermediate license, drivers can’t have more than one unrelated minor passenger when driving without adult supervision. But the 2013 law allows parents to make the decision on whether to exempt the child. The Iowa Department of Transportation says about 90 percent of parents signed waivers in 2014.

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) – Officials say a towboat operator inadvertently pumped about 50 gallons of an oil and water mix into the Mississippi River, but the spill has been cleaned up. Moline Fire Department Captain Brian Vyncke tells the Quad-City Times the U.S. Coast Guard determined that oil somehow got mixed in water that was being pumped out of a towboat owned by the Celebration Belle excursion boat Friday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Summers will be a steamier in neighborhoods across the country as crews cut down millions of trees in an effort to stay ahead of a small, shiny bug. In cities like Waterloo, Iowa, workers are in the midst of taking out 4,000 ash trees that tower over homes and shade city streets.

ALGONA, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa couple is donating $5 million to build Algona High School’s new performing arts center and auditorium. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports Ed and Betty Wilcox agreed to donate the money over the next five years.