Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources say the Smithfield Farmland plant in Denison reported a small spill Monday, at around 1:15-p.m. About 50 gallons of process wastewater from the plan flowed into a storm drain, which empties into the Boyer River after a small fire in the electrical room at 11
a.m. Plant operators shut down the power and pumps to prevent further potential damage.

The power outage caused the spillage of untreated wastewater. The DNR says it will follow up with the facility.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has pardoned two turkeys as part of a Thanksgiving tradition. Branstad read an official proclamation for the pardon of the birds, named Cranberry and Cinnamon, at Terrace Hill. Officials say the turkeys, from a farm near Ellsworth, will now live at Living History Farms in Urbandale instead of possibly becoming cold cuts.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Boy Scout troop has restored a barn-like structure used for many years as a nativity scene in Webster City. The structure was built as part of an Eagle Scout project by Brandon Hayes in 1989. Local organizations contributed to the 25-year-old project, which cost about $800.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Even as costs decline, many Iowa residents are having trouble paying their heating bills. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says Midwest consumers could see their bills decrease up to 38 percent depending on the fuel used to heat their homes. But many Iowa residents are still struggling based on notices provided to the state’s utilities board through Nov. 1. About 16,000 homes across the state didn’t have heat when cold temperatures hit the state last week.

CHURDAN, Iowa (AP) — A bottled water advisory has been issued for the city of Churdan in Greene County. The state Department of Natural Resources says the advisory was issued due to a loss of water pressure from a leaky valve. The city lost pressure for about a half hour. Officials say there is a high level of nitrites in the water supply. Boiling could be unsafe because it concentrates the nitrites in the water. Bottled water should be used for drinking, tooth washing, food preparation and other similar uses.

A Cass County man was arrested Friday on eluding, and other charges. The Sheriff’s Department reports 21-year old Zachariah Vincel Flathers, of Anita, faces Eluding, Public Intoxication, and Interference with Official Acts, charges. Flathers was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

And on Sunday, deputies in Cass County arrested 33-year old Jacob Allen Cochran, of Red Oak, on charges of Driving While Barred, two charges of Driving While Revoked, and three charges of Driving Under Suspension. Cochran was taken to the Cass County Jail. He was later served with a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Eluding, Driving While Barred, two charges of Driving While Revoked, and two charges of Driving Under Suspension. Cochran remains held at the Cass County Jail on $9,000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa man accused of sexually abusing his wife and forcing her to terminate pregnancies has pleaded not guilty to charges. The Sioux City Journal reports the 54-year-old man entered the written plea Monday in Buena Vista County District Court. He is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, five counts of forced consent to termination of human pregnancy, two counts of assault while participating in a felony and one count of tampering with a witness.

The Associated Press is not naming the man to protect the woman’s privacy. Police say the man forced his wife between October 2012 and April 2014 to take pills that resulted in the termination of two pregnancies. The woman told police her husband threatened her with a machete during sexual assaults.

The Atlantic Police Dept. reports the arrest on Friday of Aaron Macias, of Atlantic. The 27-year old was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear for his arraignment. Macias was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Many thousands of Iowans will be on the road this week and their Thanksgiving holiday travels could be hampered by wintery weather. Forecasters say up to three inches of snow is likely this (Monday) afternoon into tonight for a wide section of eastern Iowa, while more snow is predicted for much of the state tomorrow (Tuesday) night into Wednesday. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says travelers will have plenty of company.

“Forty-six-point-three million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving weekend which is the highest volume for the holiday since 2007,” White says. “It shows a 4.2%increase over last year.” Gasoline prices in Iowa have dropped to the lowest levels in many months, falling more than 30-cents a gallon from last Thanksgiving, while the cost to fly has risen slightly.

“Airfare prices are only up about 1%, fuel prices are down substantially,” White says, “but we are expecting hotel prices to be up about 8% and if you’re renting a car, prices are up about 10% more.” Some people prefer to rent a car for long trips so they don’t put the miles on their personal vehicles, but White notes it’s getting pricey.

“Ten percent is significant so you just need to budget more for car rental expenses,” White says. “Keep in mind though, you’ll incur the savings when you fill up that vehicle.” Regular unleaded gasoline is averaging two-81 a gallon in Iowa, the same as the national average. The Iowa price is down 32 cents a gallon from a year ago. White says travelers are expected to spend an average of $573 over the course of their Thanksgiving holiday travels.

(Radio Iowa)

An investigation and the execution of search warrants at two homes in Audubon have resulted in a local man being arrested on drug charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 39-year old Michael Larry Nielsen, of Audubon, was arrested at around 10-a.m. Sunday, on charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine, 2 counts of Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Nielsen was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $10,000 bond.

He was arrested after authorities executed search warrants at 307 Tracy Street and 403 1st Avenue, in Audubon. The incident remains under investigation.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Monday), announced Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County and the City of Marion have met the criteria to become designated as Home Base Iowa communities. They also announced all three Regents Institutions—University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa— Hawkeye Community College and University of Dubuque have become designated as Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs).

Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County and the City of Marion join the four existing communities – Greene County, Howard County, Clarke County and Floyd County – in becoming certified Home Base Iowa Communities. To become a Home Base Iowa Community, an area must meet the following criteria: 10% of its businesses sign on as Home Base Iowa Businesses; local government supports the effort; signage indicates the community is a Home Base Iowa Community and the community creates local incentives that offer additional benefits for Veterans and that complement those in the statewide Home Base Iowa Act.

The Union County Home Base Iowa Taskforce created a “Veterans Support Fund” in which a qualifying veteran can receive up to $2,000 to reside in Union County and be employed by a Union County Home Base Iowa Business. Additionally, qualifying veterans may receive up to $5,000 through the Southern Iowa Council of Governments Housing Trust Fund Military Homeownership Program, leveraging the state-wide incentive package.

With Ric Hanson.

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About twenty vendors are expected to come together this evening for the first-ever indoor Harvest Market, in Atlantic. The event takes place from 4-to 8 pm at the Cass County Community Center, next to the fairgrounds. Project Manager of Cass County Farmers Markets, Chelsea Amundson said the Harvest Market will feature a wide variety of Winter produce, including squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, a wide variety of onions, garlic and dried herbs. There’s also baked bread, pies and cakes.

There will also be a great variety of local, hand-made crafts and gifts to select from. Tasting samples available at the event include goat and sheep milk cheese, and related non-edible products, such as lotions and soaps. There’s also kettle corn available for you to take home, along with chocolate chip cookies, and even beer sampling.

The family-oriented Harvest Market features lots of activities for the kids, as well, including a face painter, music and more. A recipe judging contest starts at 4-pm, with the winners, including the People’s Choice Award, being announced at 5:30.

Funding for the project, sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Farmers Markets of Cass County, is provided by a USDA Rural Enterprise Grant, and is supported by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce as well as Cass County/ISU Extension.

For more information about the Harvest Market contact Chelsea Amundson at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.