United Group Insurance

Propane leak blamed for vacant house explosion in Council Bluffs

News

November 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Investigators say an explosion that destroyed a vacant house in Council Bluffs earlier this week, was caused by a ruptured propane line that let the gas leak into the basement. Tuesday afternoon’s explosion in a neighborhood just south of Interstate 80 blew the house 60-feet into the air and spread debris blocks away. No one was injured. Council Bluffs Fire Chief Alan Byers says the extent of the damage has made the investigation difficult. “Somehow, propane was leaked into the basement, filled the house and there was an ignition source. With the amount of damage and the way the debris was spread out, we’re probably never going to know exactly what happened,” Byers said. Although the house was vacant, there was still propane in a tank and electric service hooked up to the home.

Byers said the last known occupant vacated the home three weeks ago. “We don’t know if someone got in the house and was using it, was trying to steal something, broke the (propane) line…we’re just not going to know,” Byers said. “Again, we had debris 60 foot up in the trees and scattered out over an almost 2,000 foot diameter area, so it’s just going to be impossible to tell.” The house was in foreclosure and just passed a city inspection in recent weeks. Byers said neighbors were asked about activity at the home.

“We had reports of cars in the area the night before, but no license numbers or anything like that,” Byers said. “We’re probably never going to figure out what really happened.” The loud blast led to numerous 911 calls. Officials locked down the nearby Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School for about 20 minutes as a precaution because the source of the explosion was not immediately known.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic City Council hears from upset resident & adopts Min. Maintenance Ordinance

News

November 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, heard from one city resident who is not happy with the way people in his part of the community are being treated by road construction crews working in the area. Steve Green told the Council crews from Western Engineering working on resurfacing Redwood Drive, were very rude Tuesday evening as he and some of his neighbors were turning onto Redwood Drive after coming home from work. He says the workers were yelling at the motorists and making rude gestures. Green asked with 22nd Street being torn up at the same time, how were the residents supposed to make their way home? He said one resident had to drive through a field off of Ash Street to get to their home because of the construction.

Green says he wanted the Council to know the workers were being rude, and don’t need to act that way, when the residents are little with very few options on how they can make it home and into work. Mayor Dave Jones asked if the residents had access via one lane of the street. Green said they do, but the road crews weren’t happy with them being there. He says they had no choice but to traverse the street.  City Administrator Doug Harris said a lot of people are frustrated with the pace of road construction and repairs, but progress is being made. Harris said he would follow-up on Green’s complaint and talk with Great Western Engineering officials.

In other business, the Council Wednesday tabled action on a Resolution to approve the method of disposition of certain City-owned property located northwest of the intersection of Olive and Commerce Streets, until the land is surveyed, fact-finding is complete, and the property lines clearly marked on City maps. The move was designed to eliminate confusion over who has the rights to lease and or buy the land, and an adjacent property owner’s concerns about the legal description of the land. 

The Council also adopted by a 5-to-1 vote, on the 2nd reading, an Ordinance establishing a Minimum Maintenance Code, which requires residents to keep structures on their properties in reasonably good repair. Councilman Kern Miller was the lone nay vote, saying afterward, he questioned how the rule would be enforced. And, the Council unanimously passed a Resolution adopting a City records retention schedule, which will spell out how long certain documents should be kept.

DIANA GLENN, 54, of Guthrie Center (Svcs 11-4-11)

Obituaries

November 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DIANA GLENN, 54, of Guthrie Center, died Tue., Nov. 1st, at her home. Funeral services for DIANA GLENN will be held 3-p.m. Fri., Nov. 4th, at the Twigg Funeral Home in Panora, followed by cremation.

Visitation will take place from 2-to 3-pm Friday, at the funeral home.

Burial of cremains will be in the Panther Creek Cemetery in rural Adel.

CAROLYN UHLMAN, 80, of Adair (Svcs 11-5-11)

Obituaries

November 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

CAROLYN UHLMAN, 80, of Adair, died Tue.,  Nov. 1st, at her home. Funeral services for CAROLYN UHLMAN will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., Nov. 5th, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be from 6-8pm Fri., Nov. 4th, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Adair.

CAROLYN UHLMAN is survived by:

Her daughter – Debra (Daniel) Lemke, of Adair.

Her son – Phil Uhlman, of Adair.

Her brother – Rex (Kim) Phillips, of TX.

5 grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren.

Villisca man arrested on sex abuse charges

News

November 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on sexual abuse charges. 21-year old Benjamin Wyatt Barnes faces three felony counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. Barnes was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $10,000 bond.

Walnut City Council to meet Thursday

News

November 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The City Council in Walnut is set to meet Thursday evening. Among the matters on their agenda, is: discussion of the creation of a possible 3-way stop on Antique City Drive, in front of the Walnut Community School; the resignation of Zoning Administrator Jim Tooley; the possible acquisition of 308 Atlantic Street in Walnut; discussion with regard to solid waste disposal, and, garbage collection during the week of Thanksgiving.

The Walnut City Council meeting begins at 5-p.m., Thursday.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Weather

November 2nd, 2011 by Jim Field

Let it Snow…….on November 2nd!?!

Accident snarls traffic on Hwy 6 by Walnut

News

November 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An accident on westbound Highway 6 by the Walnut exit has closed that lane of traffic earlyt his afternoon. Expect delays. No other information is currently available.

DOROTHY LUCILLE LIDDELL, 94, of Harlan (Svcs 11-11-11)

Obituaries

November 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DOROTHY LUCILLE LIDDELL, 94, of Harlan, died Wed., Nov. 2nd, at the Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan. Funeral services for DOROTHY LIDDELL will be held 11-a.m. Friday, Nov. 11th at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

There is no public viewing.

Burial will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland.

DOROTHY LIDDELL is survived by:

Her daughters – Pat Gaer, of Harlan; Sharon (Ron) Higginbotham, of Moorpark, CA; Judy  Cochran, of Harlan, and Donna Dewey, of Elma, WA.

Her sister – Charlotte Woods, of Council Bluffs.

Her brother – Doyle Lembke, of Carson, IA.

Groundbreaking for “Eagle of Honor” this weekend in Council Bluffs

News

November 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Neola artist Russell Christensen works on a clay Eagle sculpture

Supporters of the Eagle of Honor project in Council Bluffs say a groundbreaking ceremony will take place this weekend for the Council Bluffs Eagle of Honor project titled “Freedom with Honor.”  The public is invited to the Saturday, November 5, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. at the RailsWest museum lawn at 16th and Main St.  The Veterans Day parade begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Council Bluffs and the groundbreaking will follow the parade. Refreshments will be served. 

The Eagle of Honor project is a county-wide project to honor all Veterans of the Armed forces of the United States.  The Veterans memorial is designed to pay homage to the valor and bravery of Veterans and their families, who have served, are serving and will serve in the future.  

The eagle is a bronze American Eagle statue, 42 inches high, designed by artist Russell Christensen of Neola.  Every city within Pottawattamie County will have a different Eagle monument surrounded by a unique plaza or welcoming area. Council Bluffs is one of the last cities in the county to have an Eagle memorial built.  

For more information on the Eagle of Honor project, log onto www.eaglesofhonorproject.com