A Blizzard Warning is posted for more than 30 counties across Iowa’s northern half, while much of the rest of the state is under a Winter Weather Advisory. While the term “blizzard” conjures thoughts of deep snow drifts for many Iowans, National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Small says that won’t be the case today.

“People think of blizzards, probably the common definition is associated with a lot of snow,” Small says, “but technically, all it means is that you can’t see where you’re going because of strong winds and low visibilities.” To be a blizzard, winds need to be howling at 35-miles an hour or greater and visibilities need to be at a quarter-mile or less due to blowing snow. Small says new snowfall today will be minimal.

Blizzard Warning for counties in red. Winter Weather and/or Wind Advisories for counties in lavender.

“It’s really difficult to measure,” Small says. “Probably an inch is a very common snow amount so far, of what we’ve seen. The snow amounts are not going to be the problem with this storm. It’s definitely going to be the visibilities, especially in rural and open areas.” Another hazard in this latest weather event is the bitter cold.

“We’ll have wind chills across the state in single digits above and below zero,” Small says. “Conditions will improve later today and into the night but we’ll see lows in the single digits above zero north and maybe around 10 south. Wind chills will be well into the teens below zero toward the Minnesota border by daybreak Tuesday.”

A frosty week is ahead. The forecast calls for low temperatures to remain mostly in the single digits and teens through the weekend, with highs only in the teens and 20s. See more at weather-dot-gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Gronewold, Bell & Kyhnn & Company, PC., have released on audit report on the Cass County Environmental Control Agency. The agency had total revenues of $874,229 for the year ending June 30, 2015. Revenues included solid waste fee of $812,179, and recyclables fees of $55,874.

Expenses totaled $937,843 for the year ending June 30, 2015. They included $59,377 for administration, $129,228 for recycling, and $169, 517 for cover, compacting and scale expense, as well as $56,700 for closure and post-closure costs. In addition, the Agency expended $145,397 for the purchase of equipment and $216,930 to service existing debt.

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the office of the Auditor of State, and the Cass County Environmental Control Agency.

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

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Police in Creston report three arrests took place last Friday. 54-year old Clifford Mark Williams, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Williams was being held at the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. 41-year old Carrie Ann Johns, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for OWI/Interference with Official Acts. Johns was being held without bond, in the Ringgold County Jail. And, 18-year old Emily Nichole Stults, of Creston, was arrested Friday for violating a No Contact Order. Stults was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 300 block of Oak Street reported Friday that his vehicle was vandalized while parked in his apartment complex parking lot. The incident, which happened sometime between 6-pm and 11-p.m. Friday, resulted in a loss of about $250.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a collision east of Red Oak, Sunday afternoon. Authorities say s 2008 Chevy Suburban owned by Jackie Porter, of Red Oak, and driven by 17-year old Murphy Porter, of Red Oak, was stopped at the intersection of Highway 34 and Avenue K at around 12:15-p.m., and was pulling away from the intersection, when the vehicle struck an eastbound 2012 Dodge Caravan, driven by 38-year old John McDonald, of Stanton. Porter told deputies he didn’t see the approaching van before he proceeded into the intersection.

After the Suburban hit the van on its left front side, the van entered the southeast ditch, while Porter’s vehicle came to rest on Avenue K, just south of Highway 34. Damage from the collision amounted to $8,500. Porter was cited for a stop sign violation.

Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted at the scene, by Red Oak Police.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City police officer is recovering after being wounded by a suspect who also shot and wounded himself before his arrest. The Sioux City Journal reports the incident happened Saturday morning when officers were following up on a number of reported robberies and burglaries. While at an apartment, an 18-year-old man shot and wounded a 13-year veteran of the police force. The man also hurt himself. The wounded officer was treated at a local hospital and released. The 18-year-old suspect remained in custody Sunday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are working to identify a body found inside a Council Bluffs home after firefighters extinguished a fire. The fire was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Another former big box retail store in Davenport has been converted into a self-service storage center. The Quad-City Times reports converting existing retail buildings into storage centers is becoming increasingly popular nationwide. One of the latest examples is a former Kmart store in Davenport that will eventually hold 651 storage units in a climate-controlled environment. The U-Haul Moving and Storage business opened in West Davenport last June, and the final units are expected to be ready later this month.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Peter Jok scored 23 points and Jarrod Uthoff added 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Number 5 Iowa past Illinois 77-65 Sunday. Iowa outrebounded the Illini 43-32 in Champaign.

Deputies in Fremont County arrested one person following an investigation early this (Monday) morning into a possible fight in progress, in Hamburg. The Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies responded to the 1700 block of Argyle Street just before 1-a.m.  After they arrived, and upon further investigation, 22-year old Blake Kennell, of Hamburg, was arrested. He was charged with Interference with official acts, and Disorderly Conduct (Threatening). Kennell was brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and held on $600 bond.

As Valentine’s Day approaches many turn to online florists for their loved one’s bouquets. The convenience of ordering flowers online may be hard to resist. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa warns consumers to be very careful when choosing an online florist. BBB gets many complaints from those who have been disappointed by their digital flower shopping experiences. Last year it is estimated that Americans spent $18.9 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts – much of it for flowers. Numbers like that are bound to attract scammers.

Complaints to BBB range from issues with late deliveries to no delivery at all, and from wrong arrangements being sent to unexpected charges being added to their credit cards. The Federal Trade Commission even has a name for unscrupulous online florists – “petal pushers.”

The FTC says that disreputable businesses sometimes place fake listings in local phone directories, making it appear as though they are a local shop. Consumers who call their number are unknowingly forwarded to an out-of-town telemarketing operation. That means an extra processing fee, since this third party in the transaction requires compensation. The telemarketer takes your order and forwards to a local florist. From this point anything is possible – late delivery or no delivery, different arrangements from your order and almost always: extra charges.

Here are some tips to lessen your chance of having a disappointing florist experience:

• Ask around. Check with friends, coworkers or family about florists they have had good experiences with. Nothing beats a personal recommendation.
• Check out the business with the BBB’s business reviews. Look at their history of complaints at bbb.org.
• Find out what sort of satisfaction guarantee and refund policy they have. Reputable florists stand behind their products. See if they are part of FTD or Teleflora, both of which have good guarantees.
• Consider checking with local florists when ordering flowers for another city or town. They will have a list of reputable businesses.
• Order as early as possible. Some florists may offer reduction in price for those who order ahead of the rush.
• Get a specified delivery date. Ask if it’s guaranteed and be sure someone will be present on that date to receive the flowers.
• Be sure the florist has your contact information. Last minute address questions are not uncommon and you need to be able to clarify something with them.
• Pay with a credit card. It’s your best method should there be a dispute later needing resolution.
• Watch out for super low prices. As BBB constantly says, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.
• Be aware of a common scam used around holidays when crooks know many people are ordering things online. You could receive an email asking you to verify your credit card account number “regarding your recent order.” These scammers are counting on instant panic on your part causing you to be less cautious than usual, and resulting in your compliance with their request.
• Don’t click on any links in such emails. Instead, contact the florist independently and ask them if there was a problem.

If you have questions or concerns, contact your BBB by calling 800-649-6814 or visit our website at bbbinc.org.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City police officer is recovering after being wounded by a suspect who also shot and wounded himself before his arrest. The Sioux City Journal reports the incident happened Saturday morning when officers were following up on a number of reported robberies and burglaries.

While at an apartment, an 18-year-old man shot and wounded a 13-year veteran of the police force. The man also hurt himself. The wounded officer was treated at a local hospital and released. The 18-year-old suspect remained in custody Sunday. He hadn’t yet appeared in court to be formally charged, so he doesn’t have a lawyer representing him yet.

The last time a Sioux City officer was shot and wounded in the line of duty was October 2014.