(Radio Iowa)- Iowans who are bundled up in their winter coats, hats and gloves today (Monday) may be back in shorts and t-shirts to wrap up their yard work by the weekend. Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service, says we’re in for a big warmup soon, but it follows a weekend during which most Iowans saw at least some snowfall, with accumulation in several areas. “We had places that saw between two and five inches of snow over the weekend,” Hagenhoff says. “Really far northwest Iowa saw the most. Between Estherville to Okoboji saw between that four to five inch amounts, and then we had places that saw two to four surrounding that.” After a weekend of below-freezing temperatures, much of the state will only have highs in the 30s today, but Hagenhoff says that’ll quickly change.

“We’ve got one more chilly day here today, and then we definitely see a big swing starting tomorrow, mid 50s across the area,” Hagenhoff says. “By the time we get to Friday, we’re looking at mid to upper 60s, especially across central to southern Iowa.” While it likely won’t be warm enough this weekend to need the air conditioner, she says it’ll be a good bet you can turn off the furnace, at least temporarily. “Normal highs for this time of year are right around 50 to 52°, in that range for this week, so we’re going to go from about 15° below normal to 15 to 20° above normal for this time of year,” Hagenhoff says, “so a big swing here coming up after what was a really cool weekend and our first shot of winter.”

Weekend snowfall graphic from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet via the National Weather Service)

We’re still more than a month from the start of winter, which officially arrives December 21st.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to act Wednesday, on approving a contribution of $500 to ISAC (The Iowa State Association of Counties), for an Amicus Brief presentation to the U-S Supreme Court. The presentation is with regard to a case over local control of carbon pipeline projects.

In October, Shelby and Story County officials filed a petition in their case against Summit Carbon Solutions, seeking to appeal the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in June that upheld a lower court’s ruling barring counties from implementing ordinances regulating carbon sequestration projects–such as the proposed Midwest Express CO2 pipeline.

Several Iowa counties have already approved a $500 contribution for the Amicus Brief presentation to the high court. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will acknowledge the receipt of recommendations from the Cass County Zoning Commission, with regard to:

An application for a zoning change by Robert and Karen Davis, from Suburban Rural- to Agricultural, and an application for a zoning change from Kelly Wise, from Agricultural- to Business. Following acknowledgement of the applications, the Board will set the dates for Public Hearings on both, as December 2nd, and 9:05- and 9:10-a.m., respectively.

Cass County Courthouse

The Board will consider and possibly approve a lease request for 601 Walnut, Suite 1, from the Department of Corrections/4th Judicial District. They will also consider and act on approving promotions and pay raises for County Treasurer’s Clerks Stacie Linfor and Amanda Darrow.

A quarterly report is expected from Cass County Veterans Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes, and a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. The Board’s final order of business is passage of a resolution certifying the results of the Nov. 4th City/School elections in Cass County.

The Supervisors’ meeting begins at 9-a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12th, inside their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Deputies Kyle Quist and Sawyer Ocheltree with K9 “Chase” will be at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory) this Sunday, November 16 beginning at 2-p.m.  Together, the trio will present a program about the selection and training necessary to develop a dog into a useful part of a K9 Unit.

Proper training is essential for police dogs to perform their duties effective. Untrained or poorly trained dogs can become liabilities, endangering themselves, their handlers and the public. Training ensures these dogs can handle high-stress situations, follow commands precisely, and execute their task efficiently. It also builds a strong bond between the handler and the dog.

Pictured: K9 “Chase” and Deputy Ocheltree (Cass Co. S/O photo)

Earlier this fall, the Deputies, including “Chase,” were at Produce in the Park offering an opportunity to get acquainted. This Sunday you can get more information and your questions answered. The program is sponsored by ARISE and held at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory) at 201 Poplar, Atlantic. There is no fee and everyone is welcome.

(Radio Iowa) – A Department of Natural Resources expert says they’re getting more data on a study of the decline of gray fox numbers. Furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says they’ve been putting collars on the elusive animals when they are found in live traps. “We’re up to three collared gray foxes since the start of this project two years ago. So, it’s a low and slow burn with this project, we knew it would be,” he says. “That’s why it started off as a pilot project.” He says it is encouraging that trappers and others have stepped up to help them collect data. “We’re getting more and more folks engaged with giving us reports of sightings. And so we’re going to continue trying to collar more gray foxes here this fall and winter,” he says.

Evelsizer says the tracking data and sightings are helping them track habitat and habits so they can get a picture of what is happening to the animals. “We have some pretty strong hypotheses or ideas about what may be leading to their decline, but we need to know what those are better. We need to , you know, have a better understanding of that,” Evelsizer says. He says they’ve enjoyed working with the animals. “The gray fox has been a really interesting animal to work with. They’re fairly small — adults weigh ten to12 pounds — so they generally are very easy to work with compared to some other species of wildlife,” he says.

Evelsizer says the public, trappers and partner groups such as the Iowa Wildlife Federation have also become really interested in finding out what is happening with the animals.

(Radio Iowa) – The annual Gold Star ceremony is scheduled for this (Monday) afternoon to honor the memory of Iowa State University students who died while serving in the U-S military. I-S-U spokeswoman Megan Moore says four veterans will be spotlighted at the solemn service on this day before Veterans Day. “We have two World War 2 veterans, Navy Lieutenant Thomas Smith of Boone, and Army Lieutenant Eugene Armstrong of Jefferson,” Moore says. “And then we’ll be honoring two Vietnam veterans, Army Captain Myron Poock of Sumner, and Marine Corps Captain David Myers of Albion, Nebraska.” Moore says the program will include stories about each veteran’s courage, service and sacrifices.

“We’re very, very privileged and honored to have family members of theirs in attendance this year,” Moore says, “and it’ll be a great event as we hear their narratives and honor their legacy.” Organizers say Gold Star Hall connects current students with former students as a living memorial. A team from I-S-U does extensive research on each of the veterans being featured, including their academic pursuits and other accomplishments.

ISU Goldstar Hall (Photo credit Iowa State Univ.)

“Two of them this year were very, very heavily involved in sports,” Moore says. “Eugene Armstrong was very much into swimming, he was a decorated swimmer, and then Thomas Smith, who was actually highlighted in the Iowa Stater magazine by the alumni association. He was a very, very good football player.”

The ceremony at the I-S-U Memorial Union is scheduled to begin at 4:15 P-M, with a reception and refreshments afterwards.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Sunday night, arrested a man for 3rd offense Trespassing. Authorities say 49-year-old Michael Lee LaFollette, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1600 block of E. Summit Street at around 10:15-p.m. He was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $300 bond.

GENESEO, Illinois — An eastern Iowa woman was arrested last Wednesday, Nov. 5^th, after police say she was found in between the walls of a business. Officials with the Geneseo, IL, Police Department, said in a press release, a business owner in the 100 block of South State Street reported hearing a loud noise coming from the ceiling or attic area of their business at about 5:24 p.m.

Officers searched the building’s interior for about 17 minutes, and also heard a noise while they were searching but could not determine its exact source. Officers cleared the scene at 5:52 p.m. after no other noises could be heard. About 15 minutes later, the business owner reported hearing more suspicious noises coming from a different area of the business. Officers returned and began checking not only the complainant’s business, but also other businesses in that same block, a press release said.

Caleigh A. Gottsche

Police say they heard whispering and movement coming from inside the building around them while they were searching. About 6:36 p.m., officers spoke with a person they determined was between the interior walls of a business. Geneseo firefighters responded and helped remove the person from between the walls.

An investigation showed that businesses in the South State Street area sustained damage to potential access points on their shared roof structures. After an investigation, including reviewing witness statements and physical evidence, officers arrested Caleigh A. Gottsche, 26 of Davenport, on charges of burglary, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

Geneseo Police were still investigating the incident to determine whether other people may be involved.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Falls police are investigating a shooting Sunday morning that claimed three lives. The Hardin County dispatch center received a 911 call from a person who found multiple people unresponsive at a residence on Willow Lane in Iowa Falls. When authorities arrived, the bodies of three people from apparent gunshot injuries were discovered. Another person inside the residence was transported to a local hospital with non-fatal gunshot injuries.

Officials said there is no ongoing threat to the community. Names of the individuals have not been released with the investigation continuing by authorities. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting in the case.