For a Pottawattamie County woman, Christmas came early this year. Officials with the Iowa Lottery say 35-year old Kristina Barber, of Council Bluffs, won $30,000 on the Holiday Crossword scratch game after stopping for groceries at the No Frills Supermarket on Valley View Drive in Council Bluffs. Barber said by the time she got about five numbers, she started shaking and didn’t stop until she had finished the ticket.

Once she had finished the ticket, she went to her local gas station to verify what she believed was her $30,000 top prize ticket. She told the Iowa Lottery, “I started dancing around the gas station, and then I went home and called my husband.” Barber is a nurse at an Omaha doctor’s office and hasn’t made any plans for the money. She claimed her prize last Wednesday at the Iowa Lottery regional office in Council Bluffs. The Iowa Lottery says there are 31 top prizes of $30,000 still up for grabs in the “Holiday Crossword” game.

Directors of the Cass County Library Association presented their annual (Fiscal Year 2012) report to the County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning. The Directors also requested funding for fiscal year 2014 in the amount of $60,600, which is unchanged from the past two fiscal years. The funds, if approved during the budgeting process, would be divided among the County’s six libraries.  Griswold Library Director Cindy Miller told the Board that while the overall circulation numbers are down, that’s in-part because of changes in the way libraries are being used, and the increased use of technology.

The numbers show the libraries are keeping busy in many ways, with people using other services within the facilities, other than to check-out books and materials. Much of the focus has been on using technology to search for employment, update their resumes, conducting research for education and other, similar purposes. The level of service she says is nearly equal among the six libraries in the County, only the atmosphere and offerings differs. Miller said the challenge they face is keeping up with technology. So far, she says, they’ve able to do so. She said going digital has been a huge transformation for the since there is a demand for both printed and digital materials, so the libraries are doing their best to broaden technology to keep up with that demand.

Among the changes visitors to the area libraries will notice, is: In Atlantic, a digitization of the Genealogical records and related collections. In Addition, Library Director Carol Stanger is retiring, and will be succeeded by Meredith Scherb; In Cumberland, there’s a new addition to the library, with a new children’s and activity room; There’s a brand new library in Lewis. An open house will be held for the facility on November 3^rd, beginning at 1-p.,m.; In Massena, where there is also a nearly new building, they’ve been working on landscaping and the entryway. In Griswold, work has started on a new addition. It should be finished by the 1^st of next year. They’ve also installed new technology, with the aid of grants, and from donations.

Fire officials in Council Bluffs say one person was listed in critical condition following a house fire Wednesday morning. Fire Chief Alan Byers says 77-year old James L. Rayburn, of Council Bluffs, accidentally started the fire at 3126 Avenue E, when he carelessly discarded smoking materials. Crews were dispatched to the home at around 10:17-a.m.  Byers says the first fire department units on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from the single-story structure. Rayburn, who had attempted to extinguish the flames before becoming overcome by the smoke, was found just inside an exterior door to the home. He was transported to Alegent-Creighton Health Medical Center by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue. He was later transferred to the burn unit at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, NE. Assistant Fire Chief Larry Wohlers said Rayburn suffered burns on his face, scalp and left arm.

Chief Byers said neighbors who saw smoke coming from the home called 911 and used a garden hose on the flames from outside the structure. Council Bluffs Police Officer Dean Sharp was the first responder to the scene. Sharp and the man who tried to fight the fire, tried to enter the home by breaking out some door glass, but Rayburn’s body blocked their entry. By that time, firefighters had arrived on the scene.

Fire Chief Alan Byers said the incident should serve as as reminder to people not to try to put out a fire on their own. He said “We ask that everyone be reminded of the need to evacuate when you have a fire and to call 911 from a safe place.” Byers said also, that there were no working smoke detectors in the home. Council Bluffs residents who wish to have a smoke detector checked or have detectors installed can call the Fire Department at (712) 328-4672. Byers said detectors will be installed free of charge.