OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says having more space free in the Missouri River’s reservoirs would have reduced but not eliminated last year’s flooding.  The corps says in a new report released Friday that flooding still would have caused widespread damage along the Missouri last year because of the massive volume of water that moved through the river.  And any increase in the amount of flood storage space in the reservoirs would reduce the economic benefits the river offers through barge traffic, recreation and hydropower. The corps says increasing flood storage space in reservoirs is only one option to reduce flood risk. It says officials may need to consider increasing the capacity of the Missouri River channel and reducing development in the flood plain.

Western Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King, of Kiron, criticized the Corps’ reports, saying in a statement today (Friday) that their report is “incomplete.” King says “In an analysis that purports to analyze the impact of increased flood storage on other authorized purposes like navigation, hydropower generation, and recreation, there is no consideration of the benefits that additional flood protection would have had on these activities during last year’s historic flood. This is a significant hole in the Corp’s analysis.” 

He said “We know, for example, that last year’s flooding virtually shut down navigation on the River – yet the Corps’ analysis here give us no indication of how increased storage capacity might have helped to address this.” King went on to say “This report says, ‘Flood control is the only one of these authorized purposes that requires empty space in the reservoirs’ and that therefore the other purposes, ‘which all require water-in-storage to maximize benefits, would experience negative impacts with additional flood control storage.’ This premise is substantially flawed for a number of reasons.” According to King, “If 2011 taught us one thing, it’s that there is a point at which additional flood control benefits everyone on the river. There is no recognition of this basic fact in the report.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluff officials say fireworks are to the blame for a house explosion that injured a man. Fire Chief Alan Byers says 38-year-old James Aherns was making fireworks when the blast happened Thursday night. The house then caught fire.             Neighbors reported seeing a burned man run down the street with his clothes torn off, seeking help.  Aherns was taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition. Another person in the house wasn’t hurt.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety today (Friday) announced Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Bartholomew, Iowa State Patrol Trooper James Bullington and ISP Sgt. Martin McCreedy were recognized during the annual Governor’s Highway Traffic Safety Conference held April 10th and 11th, in Sioux City.

Deputy Bartholomew was recognized for his efforts in apprehending impaired drivers. Trooper Bullington and Sgt. McCreedy both work out of the Patrol’s District 3 office in Council Bluffs. Bullington was presented with the Public Safety Commissioner’s Special Award for Traffic Safety, while Sgt. McCreedy was presented with the Kipton Hayward Award for his efforts in increasing compliance with impaired drivers, and reducing traffic deaths and injuries. The award was named in honor of Kip Hayward, who was killed in 1993 by a drug and alcohol impaired driver. Hayward served with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department.

Good news today from the Council Bluffs Police Department: During a recent check of retail outlets selling tobacco, no illegal sales were made to underage customers. The P-D reports the compliance checks were conducted Thursday night with the use of an underage customer, who attempted to buy tobacco at local retailers.

The Police Department says officials have made a pledge to keep tobacco out of the hands of Council Bluffs youth, and have been working with local retailers to educate them about Iowa’s tobacco laws and enforcement, in association with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.

Bluffs Police are grateful to the area retailers and their staff for their efforts to card tobacco buyers and make sure they are of legal age.