A special, one-time showing of an HBO documentary that demonstrates what the producers say is the precariousness of the U-S economy, will be held next week in Red Oak. The Grand Movie Theater and Organizing For America-Southwest Iowa, will hold “American Winter,” beginning at 7-pm on April 24th. Admission is your free-will donation, either cash or canned goods, with the proceeds supporting local charities, such as food banks and the Southwest Iowa Free Medical Clinic.

Diedre Melson, who appears in the documentary,  says “[We] are not the people we see in the media — people taking advantage of the system — we’re the working poor. We’re people who get up every day, and try to pay our fair share, and try to pay our dues. But despite our efforts, we’re sinking.”

After the movie, local poverty experts will hold a brief panel discussion. The movies’ sponsor Organizing for Action (OFA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the policies that Americans voted for in 2012. As a grassroots funded social advocacy group, OFA says it is committed to tipping the scales of power back to the American people instead of special interests in Washington.

Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following an accident this (Monday) morning at the intersection of  North 8th and East Oak Streets. The collision occurred just before 8-a.m.  Officials say a vehicle driven by 18-year old Christopher Allison, of Red Oak, was traveling north on North 8th Street and approaching the intersection behind a vehicle driven by 44-year old Felisha Wingfield, of Red Oak.

Due to icy conditions, Allison was unable to stop. The 2000 Chevy pickup he was driving rear-ended Wingfield’s 2006 Dodge Caravan, causing a total of $1,900 damage. Officers said Allison was driving too fast for conditions, but because of the road conditions, he was not cited.

It was a wild weather weekend for many Iowans, with a little something for everyone, including near-record high temperatures, thunderstorms, flooding, high winds, hail and snow. A tornado touched down around 6 P-M Sunday near Lone Tree in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County, but no damage was reported. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says it went from balmy to frigid pretty quickly.

“On Saturday, we saw highs in the state well into the 70s and up into the mid 80s,” Cogil says. “Since that time, it’s been downhill to where temperatures in the state this morning are anywhere from the mid 30s in the southeast to mid 20s in the northwest, so a good 50-degree drop in some locations.”

Some Iowans awoke today (Monday) to see their newly-sprouted green grass and tulip leaves covered with a white blanket of snow.  “We’ve had some reports of a half-inch to an inch-and-a-half in various locations in central and northern Iowa,” Cogil says. “It is sticking this morning however, I don’t anticipate it’ll last too long.” He expects temperatures to warm up very gradually this week.

“Today is going to be well below normal,” Cogil says. “We’re going to remain relatively cloudy in most locations with highs only rebounding up into the mid to upper-30s across the state. We’re not going to see better moderation until we get into Tuesday and Wednesday.” Highs on Tuesday are mostly expected in the 40s statewide, with 50s likely on Wednesday. There may be another chance for snow on Thursday.

(Radio Iowa)

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports the arrest Saturday evening, of a Clarinda man on drug charges. 21-year old Devin Ray Wallace, of Clarinda, was taken into custody at around 7:20-p.m., following a traffic stop. He faces a felony charge of Possession with the Intent to Deliver more than 5 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, and a Possession of Drug paraphernalia charge.

Wallace was being held in the Page County Jail on $100,000 bail or bond.

A podcast of the 7-am News & funeral announcements with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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An eastern Iowa woman with ties to western Iowa, and her husband, died Friday, when the car they were in collided with an agricultural sprayer Friday night on the west side of Van Horne, in eastern Iowa’s Benton County. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2009 VW Jetta driven by 42-year old Paul Hofmeyer, of Iowa City, crossed the center line of 70^th street and hit the eastbound sprayer driven by 42-year old Jeffrey Selk, of Keystone. Selk was injured and transported to a Cedar Rapids hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries and was expected to survive. Hofmeyer, and his wife, 44-year old Dr. Stacy Lynn Thompson, also of Iowa City, died in the crash. The couple were not wearing their seat belts.

Dr. Stacy Lynn Thompson

Dr. Thompson was born in Atlantic, and graduated from the Exira High School before earning her undergraduate degree and medical degree in ophthalmology, graduating with high honors, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

She is survived by her parents, Mick and Judy Thompson of Exira, her brother, Zachary & wife Kelli, of Austin, TX. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for Dr. Thompson will be held 3-p.m. Wednesday, at the Exira Fellowship Church.

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The Iowa State Patrol says four people, including two from western Iowa were injured and another person was killed, during a crash Sunday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County. The injured were identified as 50-year old Husen Jagir and 34-year old Afa Gella, both of Denison, as well as 27-year old Onkel Dide, of Ottumwa, and 38-year old Salim Gulay, of Des Moines. Jagir, Gulay and Gella were passengers in a 2003 Toyota Corolla driven by Dide. The name of the person who died in the crash was not released.

The Patrol says the Corolla was westbound on Interstate 80 at around  2:05-p.m., when it went out of control and hit the south wall of I-80 before coming to rest partially on the traveled portion of the road. The car was then hit from behind by a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup, driven by 50-year old Mark McClain, of Russell, IA.

The injured were transported by Johnson County Ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. The accident remains under investigation.

The Audubon City Council is set to meet this evening. During their 7-p.m. session at City Hall, the Council will receive a project update from the Stage Committee. They’ll also act on approving the Stipulation of the Bargaining Unit and hear from Councilman Jason Hocker, with regard to the City Clerk’s Job Description and City Organizational Design.

Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton and Atlantic School District Boards of Education will hold separate meetings this evening. In Elk Horn, the EHK Board will gather at 5:30-p.m. for a regular session in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School, during which they will discuss and take action on: Summer 2014 Driver’s Education Fees; Driver’s Education Teachers; Early Retirement Applications and, Approval of a list of seniors for graduation.

In Atlantic, the Board of Education meets at 7:30-p.m. in the High School Media Center. During their meeting, the Board will hear Special Presentations from Frank Spillers, with regard to the “Scary Guy” program, and with regard to graduation credits at A.H.S.

The Board is also expected to act on General Education, Special Ed., and Amended contracts and/or Letters of Assignment, as well as approve volunteer coaching positions and any resignations. In other, Administrative matters, the Board will appoint a Board Treasurer, and  approve: A sponsor name change; Early retirement applications and resignations; A 1-to-1 Computer proposal; The 2014 Summer School program; The 1st or 2nd readings of various Board Policies, and a recommendation to adjust graduation rate credits to 48.

Discussion items include District Cost Reductions, and the Capital Projects Plan.