SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Several northwest Iowa colleges have turned to their communities to find families offering seats at their dinner tables for international students who can’t make it home for the holidays. The Sioux City Journal reports that students are frequently able to find a home away from home through a host-family program, a campus-sponsored dinner or local students offering a seat at their own table.

Briar Cliff University has offered the “Friend Family” program, which matches international students with a local family. Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, also offers a host family program, so students can stay overnight with families while the university is closed for the holidays. Some students, including those who are not international students, stay on campus, organize their own festivities and share customs and cuisines.

The Denison Police Department, today (Wednesday), issued a public THANK YOU  to a couple from Denison who aided and comforted an accident victim. Authorities say Mr. and Mrs. Larry Goering stopped to render aid during an accident that happened near the intersection of Highways 39/141 and 59.

Officers responding at around 10-a.m. Saturday discovered that an occupant of one of the vehicles in the accident had been injured. According to their report, the Goering’s stopped to render aid and were tending to the injured woman. The couple wrapped the woman in a blanket and were attempting to comfort her until help arrived.

Denison police say “It is people like Mr. and Mrs. Larry Goering that make Denison a great place to live. They had absolutely no obligation to stop at this scene and probably had other matters to attend to, but instead they stopped to help a complete stranger in their time of need.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The National Weather Service says dangerous traveling conditions are likely to develop over southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa on Thanksgiving Day.

On Wednesday the service issued a winter storm watch. The service says a mix of freezing rain and sleet will move across the area late Thursday morning into Thursday evening. Any accumulation of snow likely will occur north of Interstate 80.

The service says up to a quarter inch of ice could mount from the freezing rain.

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

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Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and some retailers have already announced several of their deals. Though more and more stores are opening their doors to shoppers on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday will remain one of the biggest shopping days of the year, both online and in stores. BBB offers advice for consumers who plan to shop on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and intend to make charitable donations on Giving Tuesday.

BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty says “Falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, on November 28th, can be a fun part of your holiday weekend. By staying local, you’ll support the small businesses that helped create the identity of your community. This annual event is a great way to show your support for these local shops.”

As always, retailers will compete feverishly to get shoppers to visit their stores and their websites! The National Retail Federation (NRF) “expects sales in November and December (excluding autos, gas and restaurant sales) to increase a solid 3.7 percent to $630.5 billion – significantly higher than the 10-year average of 2.5 percent. Holiday sales in 2015 are expected to represent approximately 19 percent of the retail industry’s annual sales of $3.2 trillion. Additionally, NRF is forecasting online sales to increase between 6 and 8 percent to as much as $105 billion.”

BBB Tips for shopping on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Small Business Saturday to help ensure a satisfactory experience:

• Beware of pop-up shops that show up around the holidays, as these stores can disappear before you know it. Also, before you decide to purchase products online, visit bbbinc.org to check out a business. Make sure the website you’re browsing is reputable.
• When making an online purchase, look for the SSL encryption. You can recognize it by the “s” in https:// of the URL or the lock symbol; both ensure that the information you’re about to give out is encrypted for your safety.
• When shopping online and in stores, be sure to make purchases with your credit card, not a debit card. Credit cards give you significant protection against fraud, and even if your information falls into the wrong hands, you’ll be more likely to get all of your money back with your credit card company. If using a debit card, once the funds are drawn, they’re gone.
• Gift cards can be tricky purchases when bought online. Sometimes, gift cards purchased from a third-party seller can turn out to be used or missing the correct amount of funds. If you’re interested in buying a gift card, order it from a verified store or seller.
• Be sure to review all refund policies and warranty information. In the event that something goes wrong with your purchase, you’ll also want to have proof of your transaction. Save all receipts, email confirmations, or invoices you receive from retailers and if shopping online, be sure to screenshot the final confirmation screen as proof.
• When you’ve finished shopping both in store and online, you should remain vigilant. Stay updated on your accounts and statements, as well as any orders you completed online. Make sure only the charges you’ve approved appear on your statement, and if you see something suspicious, contact your financial institution.

Charities will also be seeking to capitalize on the holiday spirit by promoting “Giving Tuesday” on Dec. 1st as an opportune time to make donations. For many Americans, giving to charities is almost as important during the holidays as celebrating with family. As a result, mailboxes often are stuffed with charitable solicitations as well as catalogs this time of year. Whether you celebrate or not, giving before Jan. 1st means your gifts will be deductible on your 2015 tax return.

Giving Tuesday is an idea that began three years ago with the 92nd Street Y in New York. Since then, it has grown to include more than 27,000 partners nationwide. Last year, more than $26.1 million was given online through Blackbaud, a company that processes online donations of charities listed on the Giving Tuesday website.

BBB tips to increase your confidence that your donation will be used wisely:

• If you are unfamiliar with an organization, don’t hesitate to ask the charity for written information about its programs and finances.
• Don’t succumb to pressure to give money on the spot. A charity that can use your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow. Watch out for appeals that bring tears to your eyes, but tell you nothing about how your donation will be used.
• Before making online donations, determine whether the charity’s website is secure and that it has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal facts. (Secure site URLs begin with https://.)
• When considering support for a cause-related marketing campaign, find the answers to these questions: What portion of the purchase price will benefit the charity? What is the duration of the campaign? What is the maximum or minimum total contribution? If the information is not on the item, check the organization’s website.
• Before donating used items, make sure they are in good shape to reuse. Donating junk puts an undue burden on the charity and could do more harm than good. You may want to consider selling the item and donating the proceeds to a charity.
• Seek professional advice if you are in doubt about the deductibility of contributions.

Other helpful tips for making donations are posted on give.org. The IRS website at irs.gov has information on the deductibility of donations on tax returns.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Iowa Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, the chair of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, and Senate Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs will take  a private tour the Glenwood Resource Center on Monday, November 30th.

Senator Hogg said he looks forward to “Learning how the people working here help Iowa individuals and their families.” The Glenwood Resource Center provides residential services for individuals who have struggled to be successful in their local communities. It also provides in-home support for residents transitioning back to their communities. The Center helps community-based providers by providing assessments, training and other technical support.

Mike Gronstal says “All of the services at Glenwood have the goal of helping individuals become successful in their own communities. In times of trouble, Iowa families in more than half of our state’s counties count on Glenwood for services unavailable elsewhere.”

The two senators are touring Glenwood in the aftermath of Governor Branstad’s unilateral decisions to close the Iowa Juvenile Home and mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. Iowa’s Governor is also fighting to hand over the administration of Medicaid services to four out-of-state, for-profit companies.

Hogg said “Many family advocates and health care providers believe Governor Branstad’s hasty decisions are weakening Iowa’s safety net. Glenwood is an important part of the safety net. When hit by very serious health care challenges, Iowa families often depend on the services provided by the professionals working at Glenwood.”

Police in Harlan say three residents were charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, after officers were called Nov. 12th to the 1000 block of 7th Street for Christmas decorations that were damaged by three persons. As a result of the investigation, 31-year old Andrew Smith, 35-year old Emily Labenz, and 25-year old Paige Lee,  all of Harlan, were charged.

An investigation in Harlan resulted in the execution of search warrants last week at residences located at 502 Willow Street and 606 Tarkington. Harlan Police say as a result, 25-year old Ashley McWilliams, of Harlan, was arrested Nov. 17th and charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs and violation of a no contact order. Complaints were also filed with the clerk of court charging 29-year old Zachary Scheffler,  also of Harlan, with delivery of a controlled substance and violation of a no contact order.

Also as a result of a drug investigation, 29-year old Charles Hayes and 59-year old Daniel Hayes, both of Harlan, were charged with drug offenses. Charles Hayes, who was already in the Shelby County jail, was charged Nov. 19th with delivery of a controlled substance, while Daniel Hayes was arrested November 23rd on a charge of aiding and abetting in the delivery of a controlled substance.

Complaints, also as a result of a drug investigation, were filed with the Shelby County clerk of court charging 35-year old Terry Fields, of Harlan, with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and ongoing criminal conduct. Fields was later arrested on the warrant that resulted from the complaints filed. At the time of his arrest, he was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. Complaints were filed as well on 29-year old Zachary Scheffler, for allegedly aiding and abetting in the delivery of a controlled substance and ongoing criminal conduct.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — An inmate convicted of a 1985 killing in Dallas County has died of liver disease. The Iowa Department of Corrections announced that 58-year-old Estel Wade Dunsmore died Tuesday at a prison hospice care unit in Coralville.

KCCI-TV reports Dunsmore was sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of first-degree murder in the death of Stephanie Vargas of Council Bluffs. Her body was found near Earlham.