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Large snowstorm to drop 4-6″ on much of Iowa today

Weather

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Heavy snow is already falling in parts of northwest Iowa and soon, much of the state will be covered with a new blanket of white. Roger Vachalek (vah-HAUL-ick), a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says this latest winter storm system is going to drop a lot of snow across most of Iowa today. “It will be spreading moderate-to-heavy at times snowfall across the region throughout the daytime hours and into the early evening,” Vachalek says. “This will be a quick-moving system but it is expected to drop anywhere from four to five inches of snow over a wide area.”

The heavy snow could cause challenges for anyone who has to be outside, especially motorists. “We don’t have a lot of wind with this snow but we are going to see about an inch per hour at times,” Vachalek says. “That means your visibility will be down to a half-mile, maybe less. If you’re traveling on area roads and interstates, be extremely cautious because the visibilities may impair your vision.” Both of Iowa’s major political parties are having their precinct caucuses tonight, putting more people on the roads than on a typical Monday night. The snow should be done falling in northwest Iowa by midday and in central Iowa by late afternoon, but eastern Iowa could have a difficult late-day commute due to the falling flakes. “For the early evening, there may be some impacts,” Vachalek says. “The big thing by that time is, the roads may be in rough shape in a few areas. The plows and state crews will be out working on area roads today and this evening but people should allow a little extra time to get to those caucuses tonight to be on the safe side.”

A wide area of east-central Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the Quad Cities, may get six inches of snow today, or more. A Winter Weather Advisory is posted for most of Iowa. It covers all but 16 counties in southwest and south-central Iowa. “Following the snow tonight, it’s going to be rather cold,” Vachalek says. “We are expecting low temperatures across northern Iowa to be down to about ten-below and here in central Iowa, right around zero. Tomorrow morning, another shot of cold winter air following the system that’s going to be with us today.”

Keep up to date with the changing forecast on KJAN.

(Radio Iowa)

THOMAS M. PATTISON, 60, of Woodbine (Svcs. 02/09/2018)

Obituaries

February 5th, 2018 by admin

THOMAS M. PATTISON, 60, of Woodbine died Saturday, February 3rd at Rose Vista Home, Inc. Memorial services for THOMAS M. PATTISON will be held Friday, February 9th at 2:00pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 9th from 12:00pm-2:00pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan.

THOMAS M. PATTISON is survived by:

Mother: Ruthe I. (Hetzler) Pattison, of Harlan.

Father: Wilbur “Pat” A. Pattison, of Harlan.

Brother: Brad (Lisa) Pattison, of Doniphan, NE.

Nieces: Megan Pattison, of Chicago, and Courtney (Johnny) Venegas, of Omaha, and his Uncle, Robert Hetzler, of Manhatten, KS.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (2/5): Harlan man arrested during Theft investigation

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a search warrant executed Friday at 211 Court Street, in Harlan during a Theft investigation, resulted in the arrest of 35-year old William Joseph Bullock, of Harlan. Bullock was taken into custody at around 11-a.m. on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was brought to the Pott. County Jail and booked-in.

At around 2:25-a.m. Saturday, Sheriff’s Deputies in Pottawattamie County arrested 35-year old Nicholas Jon Edison, of Crescent, for Aggravated assault. The arrest was the result of a call to a residence in the 800 block of Valley Drive in Crescent, following a reported disturbance. Edison allegedly assaulted his 39-year old girlfriend, causing apparent, minor injury. Alcohol was believed to be a contributing factor toward the incident.

And, at around 9:40-p.m. Saturday, 57-year old Joel Leon Peters, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact and/or Protective Order. Peters was taken into custody after Pott. County Deputies were called to a residence in the 600 block of Oakland Avenue, in Oakland, for a report of a possible wanted subject who was in the residence, “hanging out” with another male in the living room. Deputies arrived on the scene and spoke with Peters, who knew he was wanted on a warrant for his arrest. Authorities noted Peters was somewhat confrontational during their initial contact with him, but was transported to the Pott. County Jail and booked-in without incident.

Sioux City to consider new bike-sharing service

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City may work with a bike-sharing service that could bring up to 250 bicycles to the city’s downtown this spring. The Sioux City Journal reports that the City Council will vote Monday on a service agreement with LimeBike, an app that commuters use to locate “smart bikes” and rent them with a credit card or PayPal. The service could bring 250 free-standing and self-locking bicycles by March.

City Parks and Recreation Manager Angel Wallace says LimeBike is intriguing because it doesn’t require the installation of docks, which could be expensive. Wallace says it could provide affordable transportation and recreation opportunities. Gabriel Scheer is LimeBike’s strategic development director. Scheer says the city has the demographics and multiple colleges to make it a successful location to launch.

“STEM Kids”after school program offered in East Pott. County

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The East Pottawattamie County Extension and Outreach and 4-H program offered “STEM Kids” after school program on Tuesdays in January from 3:30- to 5-p.m., at the United Church of Avoca. The program was for all 4th grade youth.  Extension officials report “Excited youth spent Tuesday afternoons leaning about science, technology, engineering and math through hands on activities, teamwork and experiments. Throughout the month of January, youth learned about the engineering design process by making their own “machines” to move and sort candy; force and energy through making their own rollercoasters with loops and hills out of pool noodles; did experiments with popcorn, and learned why bubbles are round along with different bubble experiments.”

Kaden Jorgensen, Tyler Bramblett, Collin Harder, Austin Bramblett, Anna Showers-Pape

Kaden Jorgensen & Collin Harder working together to create a rollercoaster.

The STEM Kids program is being offered to 4th graders attending the Riverside Schools on Wednesday early releases during the month of February.

Pursuit and crash – update with name

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Police Department has provided an update to a report we posted online Sunday night and our broadcast reports this (Monday) morning. Authorities say at around 5-p.m. Sunday, officers with the Harlan PD and Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies were made aware of a vehicle in Shelby County that may have been involved in pursuits with at least two other law enforcement agencies. At 5:23-p.m., a Harlan officer saw a vehicle that matched the description as it was eastbound on Highway 44, leaving Harlan. A Harlan Officer attempted to stop the vehicle pursuant to a traffic violation. The vehicle sped up and a pursuit ensued with speeds reaching 120 mph.

The vehicle made numerous traffic violations and at one point was in a field in an attempt to elude law enforcement. Eventually the vehicle was stopped in a ditch approximately ½ mile west of Highway 173 on Highway 83, in Cass County. The pursuit lasted approximately 43 minutes. The suspect, who was identified as 39-year old Myron Lee Brandon, of Council Bluffs, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital and subsequently flown by helicopter to Nebraska Medical Center in an unknown condition.

Brandon faces charges that include Felony Eluding, possession of methamphetamine, Prohibited Acts, and no fewer than 8 traffic violations. He remains at the Nebraska Medical Center. Warrants will be issued and served upon his release. The case remains under investigation and more charges are possible. The H-PD was assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Police, Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Atlantic Medivac, and Marne Fire and Rescue.

Atlantic Business and Professional Women of Iowa offer scholarships again this year

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Business and Professional Women of Iowa are once again offering scholarships this year to persons pursing a college career. There are several different applications for you to choose from:

1. A $500 Collen Scholarship which is available to any female resident of Cass, Shelby, or Audubon County Iowa, who is pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Computer Systems Management, Chemistry, or Engineering. The student may attend school full or part time and may be of any age. Applications must be submitted by April 1.

2. Two $1,000 scholarships to a non-traditional (not a recent high school graduate) male or female student who is a United States citizen, has been out of the work force and wants or needs to go back to work but needs additional education, has completed high school five or more years ago and wanting to start or resume their college education and demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills and career goals for one or more of the following: (1) To gain additional education to enhance their career or re-enter the work force; (2) To continue education that was interrupted for family or other reasons.

3. A $1,000 Bev Mendenhall Nursing Scholarship honoring the memory of a long-time active member. Applicant must be a resident of Cass County, Iowa and a non-traditional student who (1) Is a United States citizen; (2) Has been out of the workforce and wants/needs to go back to work but needs additional education; (3) Completed high school five or more years ago and now wants to start or resume their college education; (4) Demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills and career goals.

4. A $1,000 Margaret Sonntag educational Scholarship honoring the memory of an active member. Applicant much be a resident of Cass County, Iowa and a non-traditional student who (1) Is a US citizen; (2) Has been out of the workforce and wants/needs to go back to work but needs additional education (3) Completed high school five or more years ago and now wants to start or resume their college education; (4) Demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills and career goals.

Please contact Jolene Roecker at 712-249-7700 for a scholarship application, or email jolene.roecker@greatwesternbank.com . Applications must be postmarked by April 1.

Woman arrested on a Theft charge in Union County

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Lorimor was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Saturday afternoon. 35-year old Katie Loraine Campbell was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Campbell was being held for Union County, in the Ringgold County Jail.

And, the Sheriff’s Office says no citations were issued, following an accident that happened at around 2-p.m. Sunday, at Highway 169 and 167th Street. Officials say a 2017 Ford F-250 pickup driven by 85-year old Richard James Ide, of Shannon City, was pulling an empty hay rack and had turned left onto 167th Street. The driver of a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van, 55-year old David Donald Thomas, of Lorimor, told deputies that he saw the pickup & trailer slowing down, and decided to pass on the left. Ide claimed he was going to slow down and flip on his turn signal, when his pickup was struck by the van. A passenger in Thomas’s van, 43-year old Jamie Rene Thomas, of Lorimor, said she could not see the blinker because of the empty hay rack, yet when the deputy sat in the same seat, he could tell the hay rack was not blocking view of the turn signal. Jamie Thomas complained of pain and was transported by private vehicle to the Winterset Hospital, to be evaluated and treated, as necessary.

Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000 for the pickup/trailer, and $5,000 for the van.

(Update) Suspect in pursuit flown to a hospital in NE

News

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

In an update to our earlier reports, Shelby County Sheriff Neil Gross told KJAN News this morning, that while he doesn’t have a whole lot of information, he was confident the subject of a pursuit that ended northwest of Atlantic Sunday evening, was wanted for a Controlled Substance Violation, and out of Nebraska for possessing a stolen vehicle. The Sheriff says it’s his understanding a pursuit of the unidentified subject began near Manning, Harlan Police picked up the chase just before 5-p.m., and Shelby County Deputies, along with the Iowa State Patrol engaged in a chase that wound its way through Shelby County and into Cass County, where deputies deployed stop sticks to slowly deflate the vehicles’ tires.

The vehicle went toward Marne, before (according to dispatch reports), driving through a field, and finally ending up in a ditch off of Highway 83, about two-miles west of Highway 173. The chase ended with the suspect taken into custody shortly after 6-p.m. The driver was brought to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, and later flown by helicopter to a hospital in Nebraska. Also assisting during the chase, was the Iowa State Patrol. Marne Fire and Rescue and Atlantic Fire were dispatched to the accident scene, as well.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

HARLEY EDWIN PLOEN, 93, of Earling (Celebration of Life, 2/10/18)

Obituaries

February 5th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

HARLEY EDWIN PLOEN, 93, of Earling, died Thursday, Feb. 1st, at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home. A Celebration of Life Open House for HARLEY PLOEN will be held from 1-until 3-p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10th, in the Chapel at the Little Flower Haven, in Earling. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

Burial will be in the Shelby Cemetery.

HARLEY PLOEN is survived by:

His sons – Jack (Judy) Ploen, of Avoca; Chuck (Linda) Ploen, of Walnut, and Vince (Tamera) Ploen, of Harlan.

His daughter – Peggy (Dan) Manhart, of Neola.

His sister – Lois Kahler, of Avoca.

and 8 grandchildren.