With many people taking to Iowa’s roadways for a July 4th holiday weekend, the Iowa Department of Transportation and the state’s counties and cities want to remind travelers to use extra caution in work zones now in place to improve Iowa’s transportation system.

In Pottawattamie County, that includes:
I-29/I-80 from the Missouri River bridge in Council Bluffs east approximately 3 miles to the Lake Manawa/South Expressway interchange, which is being graded and paved as part of the bridge construction work. Through traffic is maintained. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.
The I-29 from north of Council Bluffs to the Missouri Valley (U.S. 30) interchange is being resurfaced at several locations. Through traffic is maintained in a single lane.
And, the Southbound I-29 from the Mills County line to Iowa 92 interchange is being reconstructed. Traffic is maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the northbound lanes.

In Cass County….
The eastbound I-80 bridge over Indian Creek at milepost 50 (west of the Marne interchange) is being replaced. Traffic is maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the westbound lanes.
Iowa Highway 83 Traffic on the bridge between Wiota and Anita is restricted to one lane using temporary traffic signals for replacement of bridge approaches.

In Harrison County…
A deck overlay project is being performed on the bridge over the Boyer River in Logan on Highway 30. Traffic is maintained in a single lane with temporary traffic signals.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports 900th Street, between Maple and Oak Roads, will be closed from now (July 3rd), through July 7th, for utility work. Persons and emergency crews who normally traverse that section of road should plan to take an alternate route.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details about a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred Tuesday evening, north of Council Bluffs. Sheriff Jeff Danker reports at around 8:12-p.m., deputies were dispatched to 19885 Old Lincoln Highway in reference an Injury Accident involving multiple vehicles.

Upon arrival witnesses advised that a black 2009 Buel motorcycle was north bound on Old Lincoln Highway. While passing another north bound vehicle, the operator of the Buel lost control of the motorcycle resulting in both the operator and passenger being ejected from the bike. The operator of the Buel was identified as 18-year old John Harter.The passenger was identified as 18-year old Joseph Goodwin. Goodwin was pronounced dead at the scene. Harter was taken to University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) by ambulance.

After the driver and passenger were ejected from the motorcycle, the Buel continued into the path of a south bound 2005 Harley Davidson operated by 67-year old Kathryn Kennon. The Buel struck Kennon’s Harley Davidson causing Kennon to crash. The woman was transported to UNMC by ambulance. A third party who was said to have been in shock, was transported by ambulance to the hospital.  An investigation into the accident continues.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning voted to table action on a request from the CountyHistoricalMuseum for $20,000 in funding. Supervisor Chuck Rieken motioned for the move, so that museum representatives could appear before the Board during next week’s meeting, to make a case for the funding. If approved, the County would make the payment in two installments of $10,000 each, with the money likely to come from the Local Option Sales Tax fund. 

In other business, the Board approved two requests for fireworks display permits. Both events would be held this Saturday (July 6^th). The first came from the Lyle Marsh family, which is holding a reunion this weekend. The event will be held south of Atlantic, with 40 people in attendance, 30 adults and 10 under the age of 12. The other fireworks display is for the Abild/Alexander family reunion. The event will take place just west of the Highway 71 and 92 east intersections. 

The requests were approved based on the requirements of the Iowa Code. Auditor Dale Sunderman reminds families who wish to hold fireworks displays next year, that they must receive the approval of the Board of Supervisors, if the event is being held outside the city limits of communities within the County. Receiving approval of your local fire chief is not sufficient to receive a permit for fireworks. 

The Supervisors also tabled action on appointing two members to the County Compensation Board, because they feel not enough notice was given to the public as to gather both male and female applicants that would gender balance the board. The Supervisors instead approved placing an advertisement in local newspapers to inform the public about the current Compensation Board and other, future CountyBoard positions that will become available for applicants.

A pursuit early this (Wednesday) morning in Mills County resulted in a non-injury accident. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Mills County deputy was engaged in the pursuit of an unplated 2000 Chevy Malibu at around 4:25-a.m., southbound on County Road L-55. During the pursuit, the driver of the car, identified as 27-year old Billy George Cates, of Council Bluffs, lost control of the vehicle, which then entered the east ditch and hit a culvert/field drive, before coming to rest upright in the east ditch.

Cates was arrested without further incident, and cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Violation of Financial Liability Coverage.

Police in Red Oak report two people have been arrested. Officials sayJoe Lewis Welch, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday, on a warrant. After he was taken into custody, Welch was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a total of $11,000 bond. 

And early this (Wednesday) morning, 43-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was arrested in Red Oak on a charge of  5^th degree theft. Olivares was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.