Monroe, IOWA — An Iowa State Patrol Trooper assigned to Governor Branstad’s security detail discovered a house fire Wednesday afternoon while driving the Governor back to Des Moines from an event in Eddyville.

Trooper Greg Steffen and Governor Branstad were driving through Monroe, Iowa on Hwy 163 on Wednesday around 1:50 pm when Trooper Steffen notice black smoke coming from east of the highway.  Trooper Steffen could not tell what the source of the smoke was and decided to investigate the situation further.  Trooper Steffen turned onto County Road F62 and a short time later, located a house fully engulfed in flames.  Trooper Steffen stopped his vehicle a safe distance from the fire and went to check if anyone was in the burning house.

Emergency crews had not arrived, so Trooper Steffen located the occupant of the home, an elderly woman who had escaped the fire, but had suffered multiple burns.  Trooper Steffen confirmed there were no other individuals in the home and noticed a propane tank behind the house.  Trooper Steffen moved the elderly woman and other bystanders to a safe location away from the house and rendered first aid until emergency fire crews arrived.

“Serving on the Executive Protection Unit, our priority is the security of the Governor and his family,” stated Captain Mark Logsdon.  “And as a Trooper, our priority is the public safety of all Iowans. Trooper Steffen demonstrated a great example of public service by making sure the Governor was safe and also a citizen of Iowa.”

The Iowa State Patrol reports that Governor Branstad did not exit the vehicle during the incident and remained a safe distance from the fire at all times.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County report three recent arrests. On Wednesday (July 17th), 63-year old William Eugene Kelsay, of Glenwood, was arrested at a location on Devore Avenue, on two counts of Lascivious Acts and two counts of Indecent Exposure. Kelsay was being held in the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond.

On Tuesday, 25-year old Jon Geoffrey Pitts, of Glenwood, was arrested on Interstate 29 for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, on Monday, a homeless man, 20-year old Robert Eugene Cabello, was arrested at Folsom Lake for Violating his probation. Cabello was being held in the Mills County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said today (Thursday), they continue to receive reports of confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection and interview those who are ill, but numbers are decreasing. Officials say the investigation will now focus primarily on determining the source of the contamination. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) is leading the Iowa investigation. IDPH and DIA will continue to update their federal partners as the Iowa epidemiologic investigation continues. Daily case counts will continue to be posted to the IDPH web site.

DPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “Through interviews with those who have been ill and by mapping the onset of illness (mid-June), we have a very good indication the source of contamination was most likely a vegetable that has probably already been consumed or discarded (because of the limited shelf life of fresh produce).”  She says at no time was an Iowa-grown fruit or vegetable suspected to be the cause of the outbreak and IDPH continues to encourage Iowans to include fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their daily diet.

As of today (July 18th), 102 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH; almost all have been identified through testing at the State Hygienic Lab (SHL), including:

• Linn County – 34 cases (the most in Iowa)
• Pottawattamie County – 8 cases (2 more than reported Wednesday)
• Dallas County – 5 cases
• Woodbury County – 4 cases
• Mills County – 2 cases
• Monona County – 1 case
• Montgomery County – 1 case

At least six people have been hospitalized. Many people report still being ill with diarrhea and some have had relapses. Specific treatment is available (but it is not typically used for more common diarrheal illnesses). Also, very specific laboratory testing (not commonly ordered) must be done to detect Cyclospora.

People become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite, which causes a watery diarrhea that lasts an average of 57 days if untreated.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set August 7th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing, with regard to the 2013 Bull Creek Storm Sewer Improvement Project. The Council authorized the letting of bids as well. They will be received and opened on August 6th, and presented to the Council on the 7th.

City Administrator Doug Harris reminded the Council, that last year, several members of the Council and City staff inspected the underground Bull Creek Storm Sewer System, along with Engineers Dave Sturm and Tim Teig. The tunnel, which is comprised of old limestone archways, and crosses the downtown area, and is in need of significant repairs. A special seal mixture forming an inner liner, or shell, will be installed at some of the worst points along the tunnel, and a mortar shell will encompassing all surfaces of a box culvert.

In other business, the Council authorized Mayor Dave Jones to sign an Airport Planning and Zoning Agreement between the City, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Doug Harris said the agreement is necessary if the City is to receive future grants for the development and/or improvement, of the airport. Harris said the City has been working with SWIPCO to apply for a grant that will cover 85-percent of the cost of updating the Airport Land Use and Zoning Ordinance.

Under the terms of the agreement, the City must begin development of the ordinance no later than 12 months after the agreement is signed. The DOT has agreed to reimburse the City 85-percent of the eligible project costs, not to exceed $14,100. The total cost is expected to come in at $16,600, with the City picking up the remaining $2,500.

Councilman Shaun Shouse said it makes sense to update the City’s Planning and Zoning ordinance for the airport, to make use of the DOT’s assistance for future projects, but he questioned a section of the agreement entitled “Sponsor Assurances.” It stipulates the City will maintain and operate safe and serviceable conditions at the facility, but will not permit any activity which interferes with its use for airport purposes. Shouse said shutting the airport down for special events – such as the fireworks display – would violate the agreement.

The Atlantic Municipal Airport is normally closed during those types of events, however, and pilots are required to file flight plans to accommodate those closures. The Council asked the City Attorney and Harris to contact the Iowa DOT for clarification, even though they went ahead and approved the agreement.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports two men were arrested today (Thursday) on charges connected to the theft of copper. Deputies responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle along the railroad tracks near 225th Avenue and Dike Road in Fremont County, determined the vehicle was used in connection with the theft of copper from a nearby irrigation pivot.

As a result of the investigation, 41-year old Phillip Smith, of Council Bluffs, and 38-year old Robert Greenwood, of Omaha, were taken into custody on felony charges of2nd degree Theft and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree. They also face a simple misdemeanor charge of Trespassing on railroad property. Both men were being held without bond in the Fremont County Jail. Sheriff deputies were assisted in their investigation, by the Iowa State Patrol and Sidney Police Department.

Two people were arrested this (Thursday) morning, in Red Oak. The Red Oak P-D says  29-year-old Dale Lee Demont, III, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, and 17-year-old Luis Alfredo Rodriguez-Lopez, of Red Oak, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Officials say Rodriquez-Lopez was transported to the Montgomery County Law enforcement center and subsequently released to a legal guardian, while Demont was released on a citation.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation (CCCF), a countywide community foundation, want to remind nonprofit organizations in Cass County, that the fall grant program is now beginning.  The deadline to apply for funds through the online grant application process is September 1st.  Hunt says $23, 400 is available to be allocated for the fall grant cycle.  Of the funds available, $2,000 is from the Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund, and $500 is from the Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County.

Only organizations providing services in Cass County are eligible.  They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.  Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.  The CCCF’s mission is to provide funds to those nonprofit and governmental agencies that are involved in community betterment through their organizations.

Application procedures and grant guidelines can be obtained online at www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/casscef.  Click on the Grant Information tab or contact any board member for additional information.  Detailed instructions are provided in a downloadable form, as well as a link to the online application.  Only online applications will be considered.

The grant funds are made possible by the generosity of the Cass County Community Foundation donors.  To inquire about donating to the CCCF, please contact a Board member.   Community Foundations in Southwest Iowa are particularly attractive charities because donations to these funds may be eligible for a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org with grant application specific questions.   All completed applications will be considered at the October board meeting with notification of results the end of October.

Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, 243-5485; Vice Chair, Gary Maas, of Anita, 762-3434; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic, 243-1663; Royal Bierbaum of rural Griswold, 778-2586; Beulah Follmann of Massena, 779-3457; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic, 243-1800.