The just ended month of November is entering the records books as unusually warm and wet. Harry Hillaker is the state climatologist. He says preliminary figure show last month was the 8th wettest and 10th warmest November in Iowa over 143 years of record keeping. The statewide average temperature for the month was 41.7 degrees, 5.1 degrees warmer than normal. The warmest temperatures were recorded on November 2nd.

“Des Moines, Glenwood, and Shenandoah all reached 79 degrees,” Hillaker said. “On the cold end of things, we had a couple of dates where we got down below zero. Spencer was the first to do that, minus-four degrees on the 21st. On the very next morning, Waterloo and Stanley…got down to minus-five degrees.” The first 10 days of November were extremely dry, but the remainder of the month involved a lot of rain and snow.

The statewide average snowfall total for the month was 6.1 inches, more than double usual amount for November. Last month enters the record books as Iowa’s 13th snowiest November. “In fact, that one big storm we had on November 20-21 brought more snow than any other single November back to 1991,” Hillaker said. Rock Rapids, in far northwest Iowa, received over 15 inches of snow in that storm. The other unusual weather event during the month involved 13 tornadoes touching down across south-central and southeast Iowa on Veteran’s Day.

“If those numbers hold up, that looks to be a record for the month of November,” Hillaker said. “Ten years ago, in 2005, we had 12 tornadoes recorded on almost the same day, November 12.”

(Radio Iowa/KJAN)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says more than $173,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants have recently been awarded to 74 of Iowa’s rural fire departments to aid their efforts in protecting Iowan’s and their property from wildfires. The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression, personal protective and communications equipment.

Among the fire departments that have received or will receive 2015 VFA grants, are those in: Creston, Elk Horn, Harlan, Irwin, Menlo, Onawa, Sidney, Stanton, and Stuart. The grants are made possible through the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with US Forest Service – State and Private Forestry.

Gail Kantak, fire supervisor with the DNR’s Forestry Bureau, reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland fire reporting forms are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire.

Departments returning the reports receive priority points when the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant applications are scored. The wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has retired from the Iowa Army National Guard after more than 23 years of military service. “Today is my first day as a full-fledged civilian,” Ernst says, with a laugh. Ernst, a lieutenant colonel who is the first female combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate, officially retired yesterday (Monday).

“It was really hard to step away from the National Guard, but it was a commitment that I had made in the campaign and I’m ready to move forward and separate from the Guard,” Ernst said. “It’s been such an honor to serving in the National Guard. I really truly served with some of the finest men and women in uniform. I will continue to serve them as a United States Senator.” Ernst was the commander of a battalion of 150 soldiers who did a 14-month tour of duty in Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 and 2004. After her election in 2014, she shifted to duty at Camp Dodge as the assistant to the Iowa Army National Guard chief of staff.

“Obviously serving as a United States Senator does take a lot of time, a lot of energy and I, of course, want to continue serving Iowans, but it will be in a much different capacity here in the United States Senate,” Ernst says, “and, of course, I would love to spend more time with my family as well.” Ernst in the past year has kept up her duty and training requirements.

“That’s where we do run into time constraints and I think my family has been on the short end of that,” Ernst says. “…I will spend more time, of course, with my family and more time out on the road focusing on the senate as well. I did the 99 county tour, was able to do that this past year, but this will allow a little bit more flexibility with that schedule.” Her husband is a retired soldier and the couple’s daughter attends Stanton High School. Ernst joined the Army R-O-T-C at Iowa State University when she was 19 years old, so she’s been in the military her entire adult life.

“And it is very difficult for me to step away because of the great people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” Ernst says. Ernst discussed her retirement with Iowa reporters during a conference call this morning (Tuesday). Ernst, who is 45, will receive a military pension when she reaches the age of 59.

(Radio Iowa)

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Anthony John Lesatz, of Audubon, was arrested Monday night on a outstanding felony warrant for providing false information on a permit to acquire firearms.

The charge is the result of an investigation into an application Lesatz submitted to the Sheriff’s Office. Lesatz was brought to the Audubon County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer, today (Tuesday), said his officers made six arrests over the past few weeks. On Sunday, 20-year old Angel Nicole Knowles, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Knowles was later released on promise to appear in court.

Last Friday, officers with the Audubon Police Department arrested 21-year old Kaz Ryan Cozad, of Lamoni, for Disorderly Conduct. Cozad was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he was held to appear before a magistrate.

On Nov. 26th, 30-year old Scott Joseph Meislahn, of Dubuque, was arrested in Audubon for OWI – 3rd offense. Meislahn was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he posted $5000 bond.

On Nov. 25th, 27-year old Jessica Lynn Pedrin and 25-year old Heather Eileen Runkis, both of Audubon, were arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Both were released later on promise to appear in court.

And on Nov. 12th, Audubon Police arrested 56-year old Karla Jo Anderson of Audubon, on a warrant for Theft – 5th degree. Anderson appeared, and pled guilty, before a magistrate.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released the results of a special checkpoint held earlier this month at the southbound Interstate 29 weigh station south of Sioux City. D-N-R Conservation officer Chad Morrow set up the checkpoint. Morrow says there are a lot of hunters and fishermen traveling at this time of year and they tried to do as many compliance checks that they could for proper licenses and game limits. The 60 state and county officers involved interviewed 620 people traveling on the interstate between noon and 5 p-m. Morrow says they ended up with 35 wildlife citations and one traffic citation.

“But we also addressed probably hundreds of other violations with written warnings, verbal warnings, along with citations as well,” Morrow says. He says one issue stood out. “Probably being the transportation of pheasants without the attached foot, wing or head so we can I-D for sex and wether they are a rooster or not. That was probably the most common violation,” according to Morrow. There were a variety of other violations too.

“Firearms uncased, loaded, we had some illegal deer cases that we investigated and turned over to other state,” Morrow says. Morrow says the results of the operation are good reminder for all hunters and fishermen to read up on the rules and regulations before going out. He says you should know the transportation and license requirements along with the bag limits and daily possession limits. “There’s quite a few details to know there, so you have to be prepared before you take a trip to another state or go out on a hunting trip or on any hunting, fishing, trapping type activity,” Morrow says.

The citations issued carry a fine and court costs totaling 195 dollars. Officials seized 166 pheasants and nine ducks during the operation which was held on November 15th.

(Radio Iowa)

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man wanted by U-S Marshal’s was arrested Monday, in Glenwood. 37-year old Steven Horton, of Glenwood, was arrested on a warrant and was being held without bail in the Mills County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A trial date has been set for the former city clerk for the City of Casey who is facing federal charges alleging she used city funds for personal use and burned down City Hall the night before state auditors were to arrive to investigate missing money. Dorothy Dillinger was indicted in federal court in Des Moines last month on five counts of mail fraud and one count of malicious use of fire.

She pleaded not guilty at a Nov. 30 court appearance where a judge set a Feb. 1st trial date. Dillinger served as the city clerk for 30 years in Casey. She has admitted to misusing city funds and apologized. She’s free on bond until trial.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past week. At around 9-p.m. on November 24th, Adams County Deputies arrested Jeff Mendenhall on an Adams County Arrest Warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

At around 10:30-p.m. on November 27th, Adams County Deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Jordan Perrin. Upon further investigation, Perrin was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated.

And at around 11:15-p.m. on November 28th, Adams County Deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Todd Kimpson. After further investigation, Kimpson was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated.

No other details were made available concerning the arrests.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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