The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs Construction office reports work to replace a dynamic message sign will require restricting lanes on eastbound Interstate 80 at the Missouri River bridge (milepost 0.0) near Council Bluffs to one lane at 9- p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15th, until 3-a.m. Friday, Nov. 16th, weather permitting.  Officials say there will be a complete closure of eastbound I-80 for 20 minutes between 12:30- and 1:30-a.m. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen today (Wednesday) announced a series of community conversations featuring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and economic development that will take place across the state in November and December. This series of community conversations is the second installment. The pair held 14 town hall meetings in September and October seeking feedback on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council priorities as the STEM initiative continues to build across Iowa.

Locally, a Cass County Community Conversation on STEM will be held in Atlantic Tue., Dec. 11th, beginning at 11-a.m., at the Rock Island Depot at 102 Chestnut Street, and, later that afternoon at 2:30, in Council Bluffs, in the auditorium of Looft Hall at Iowa Western Community College.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cumberland man was arrested last week on an assault charge. Officials said Wednesday, 53-year old Jerry Lee Edwards was taken into custody November 8th on a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Edwards was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $5000 bond. That same day, 54-year old Timothy Dayle Meyer,  of Cumberland, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. Meyer was released the following day on $300 bond.

This past Tuesday (November 13th), deputies in Cass County arrested 23-year old Andrew Gaston Nickum, of Atlantic, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Nickum pled guilty to the charge the following day. On Wednesday (Nov. 14th), 52-year old Mark David Carroll, of Griswold, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. Carroll was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was being held on $1000 bond.

The family of a southwest Iowa soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month has issued a statement, saying Brandon Buttry’s childhood dream was “to be a U.S. soldier.”

Pfc. Brandon Buttry, U-S Army (Photo courtesy Col. Greg Hapgood)

Private First Class Brandon Buttry of Shenandoah was 19 years old when he was killed on November 5th. He enlisted in the Army in 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan this past July. Buttry had eight sisters and five brothers and his siblings, along with his mother and father. The family says Buttry had “an infectious smile” and enjoyed playing board games with his family. The family’s written statement says Buttry “had a big heart for others” and “was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in.” A visitation will be held this evening (Wednesday) at the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah. His family says “Brandon was a born-again Christian and loved the Lord.” His funeral will be held Thursday at the same church.   Governor Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-mast Thursday in honor of Buttry. Rows of American flags already line several streets in Shenandoah, as a tribute to the fallen soldier. People in the community also are bracing for the arrival of a family from a Kansas church who stage protests at military funerals. A group of motorcyclists called “The Patriot Guard Riders” have assembled at other military funerals in the state, to shield soldiers’ families from the protest.