CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Poweshiek Water Association (PWA) is calling on thousands of people to rein in their water use for the next several months. The following communities are affected: Barnes City, Brooklyn, Buckingham, Chelsea, Clutier, Conroy, Dinsdale, Deep River, Dysart, Elberon, Gibson, Guernsey, Hartwick, Irving, Luzerne, Malcom, Millersburg, Parnell, Searsboro, Thornburg, and Vining. Every household impacted should have received a letter which said because of “an extreme drought that is over 200 weeks old” the PWA cannot get the water in their system to a sustainable level. They are asking customers to, if possible, use private wells for livestock and outside use. They ask people to use it for human consumption if it is safe. Car washing is prohibited, along with filling swimming pools. Water cannot be used for any nonessential cleaning of commercial or industrial equipment or spaces. Also, people can’t wash streets, driveways, or the outside of buildings. Three new wells should be operational by June 1 of this year, at which point the PWA will reevaluate.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG/KCCI) -43-year-old Michael Lawrence Powell was arrested on Saturday night after being accused of firing a gun in the direction of Johnny’s Hall of Fame in Des Moines. Des Moines Police say officers heard gunfire just after 11:00 p.m. in the area of Third Street and Court Avenue. The shots came from a parking garage’s second floor. According to witnesses, Powell was sitting in a vehicle. Police found a .44 caliber at the scene. Police arrested Powell without any problems. Powell has been charged with public intoxication, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, going armed with intent, and first-degree harassment. After investigating, police learned that Powell was at Johnny’s Hall of Fame before the shooting took place. According to the staff at Johnny’s Hall of Fame, Powell was kicked out of the bar after pepper-spraying employees. Powell also threatened to “cut their throats”. No one was injured during the incident.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCRG/KCCI) – Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown is the home of Blossom The Goose and her mate Frankie. However, the cemetery’s pond, where the geese live, is in danger since the cemetery doesn’t have a good way to get water into the pond. The couple has called Riverside home over the last year, but since the city’s lease that funded water for the pond is drying up, they’re worried that Frankie and Blossom might need to look for a new home. David Shearer, Riverside’s general manager, takes care of Frankie, Blossom, and the cemetery. Shearer says that he’d hoped to build a well to pump water into the pond. However, the Iowa DNR said they can’t dig a well within 200 feet of a burial ground. Therefore, the new plan is to pump water from the Iowa River, but Shearer is having trouble finding a contractor for the job. Shearer said that pumping the water from the River would be no easy task, but would like a contractor to at least provide an estimate for the project. If you know of a contractor who’d be willing to give an estimate to Riverside Cemetery, call 641-753-7891.
FORT DODGE, Iowa (KXEL) — A man armed with two knives was killed by police in Fort Dodge Saturday morning. Police say he ran at officers who had responded to a distress call at a home around 8:40 a.m. Police were told a man had injured a dog and was acting “out of control,” according to a department news release. While at the scene, they learned there was an outstanding warrant for the man for violating his probation. When officers entered the home, the man ran toward them carrying knives, and one officer fatally shot him. The names of the deceased and the officers involved have not been released. In accordance with protocol, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is reviewing the shooting.
