DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials at MidAmerican Energy Co. and the state of Iowa are set to make a major announcement regarding a new wind energy development.  Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to discuss the project at his morning news conference Monday and release further details with company officials at a 1 p.m. news conference to be held at the Siemens Energy wind blade factory near Fort Madison.

In August MidAmerican Energy received approval from the Iowa Utilities Board for a $1.9 billion project to install hundreds of wind turbines by the end of 2015.  More than 448 turbines are to be installed in Grundy, Madison, Marshall, O’Brien, and Webster counties.

MidAmerican, Iowa’s largest energy company began building wind turbines in 2004, and it currently has more than 1,200 wind turbines in Iowa.

The Griswold School District’s Board of Education is slated to meet this (Monday) evening, beginning at 5:45. On their agenda is: A presentation by officials with Estes Construction with regard to new and existing projects; The appointment of members to SIAC (The School Improvement Advisory Committee), and the first reading of a 400- and numerous 900-series Board Policies.

The meeting takes place in the Central Office Board Room at the Griswold Middle School/High School Building.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors is slated to meet this (Monday) evening, in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. The meeting begins at 5:15-p.m.

Action/New Business items on their agenda include: Updates on the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA) Lake #1 fishery development, SRA Boat Ramp and Campground area projects, as well as a Vision Iowa grant application for the Campground area; A review of the Sunnyside Park Tobacco Free Policy and proposed Ordinance; an update on the Buck Creek Dog Park, and a report on the Sunnyside Park Tree Replacement Plan.

Other, discussion items will include:Future plans for the older metal buildings at Sunnyside Park, and a reminder to the public that the Sunnyside Park roads were closed Dec. 10th, but the park is still open to walking, sledding, cross-country skiing, and other recreational activities. And, parking is still available on Sunnyside Drive for lunch if people wish to eat in their vehicles or shelters (Weather permitting), but no through traffic is being allowed, and no four-wheeling is allowed on the grassy areas of the Park.

Firefighters from Massena and other area departments are on the scene of a fully engulfed house fire southeast of Massena. According to a scanner report, the blaze was happening at 70082 760th Street. It was reported at 6:06-a.m.

Anita, Cumberland and Corning Fire have also been requested for their tanker trucks. No other details are currently available.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

APLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials are recommending that residents of Aplington boil their water until tests ensure it is safe to drink. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the advisory Saturday after a water main break in the Butler County city of about 1,100 people.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — Crews plan to renew a search for a man who fell through the ice of Lake Ponderosa in Poweshiek County. Montezuma Fire Chief Chris Widmer says the man had been fishing on the lake Saturday. A Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office official says he was riding an all-terrain vehicle when he fell through the ice around 6:30 p.m.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County supervisor and jail official is on paid administrative leave after he was arrested this weekend on suspicion of domestic assault. David Tripp is accused of firing a revolver into the air during an argument with his wife at their home on Saturday. No one was injured. The 43-year-old Tripp was charged with aggravated assault, a misdemeanor.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police are looking for a man who is accused of carjacking a couple in Council Bluffs and then hitting the woman as he drove away. Police say the couple left their vehicle running outside a Bucky’s convenience store in shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The couple told police that a man climbed into their car and started to drive off before running over the woman. She was taken to the hospital.

A Red Oak man arrested last Wednesday on an aggravated assault charge, is in trouble with the law, again. According to Red Oak Police, 31-year old Bill Joe Gillespie was arrested Sunday on multiple felony charges after authorities investigated numerous burglaries that took place early Sunday morning. Gillespie faces felony charges that include 2nd degree Burglary, five counts of 3rd degree Burglary, being a Felon in possession of a Firearm, 2nd degree Criminal Mischief and a Serious Misdemeanor charge of 4th degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Center on $10,000 bond.

Among the incidents under investigation which led to Gillespie’s arrest, was: A burglary at the Red Oak Shell store (400 E. Oak St), where numerous items were stolen and damage was done to the store; Two separate businesses in the 600 block of N. 3rd St., Hip Clips & Nails and Shear Design, were burglarized, and an attempted burglary occurred at an apartment on E. Hammond Street.

Officials say miscellaneous property was recovered and returned to their respective owners.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials say the next Mega Millions prize could surpass last year’s record $656 million jackpot. No one won the $425 million prize on Friday night. And officials Saturday raised the amount to $550 million for Tuesday’s drawing, the fourth-largest in U.S. history. The game’s lead director Paula Otto said Sunday that ticket sales were up by as much as 20 percent in states that reported their weekend numbers. Sales are expected to spike Tuesday.

Otto says lottery officials are in uncharted territory because there’s never been such a large jackpot in December, when tickets sales typically peak. It’s too early to know whether the jackpot will reach a record, but Otto says she expects it will come close.

Two people were injured during separate crashes Sunday evening in Pottawattamie County.The Iowa State Patrol says the first crash happened south of McClelland at around 5:20-p.m. on 270th Street, just south of Hickory Road. Officials say 1997 Chevy pickup driven by 29-year old Christopher T. Mahoney, of McClelland, was traveling north on 270th, when Mahoney fell asleep at the wheel. The pickup left the road and hit a utility pole. Mahoney, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported by Treynor Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. The accident remains under investigation.

The second crash happened at around 6:24-p.m. on Highway 59, near the Wings America Truck Stop just north of Avoca. Officials say a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta pulled out of the Wings parking lot onto Highway 59 and was struck by a northbound 2006 Infiniti QX-56. Both vehicles came to rest on the roadway.

The driver of the Infiniti, 43-year old Amber Quist, of Omaha, was transported by Avoca Rescue to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Officials say Quist was wearing her seat belt. The driver of the Jetta, 31-year old Lindsay Holmes of Anita, and a passenger in her car, were not injured.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police are looking for a man who is accused of carjacking a couple in Council Bluffs and then hitting the woman as he drove away. Police say the couple left their vehicle running outside a Bucky’s convenience store shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The couple told police that a man climbed into their car and started to drive off.

Authorities say the woman ran outside to stop the suspect, and he ran into her. The woman was taken to the hospital with lower leg injuries, but is expected to recover. Police in Omaha found the car on fire about an hour later. Authorities are still investigating.