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Branstad requests extended timeframe to appeal for Individual Assistance

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad has requested an extension of the time period
to appeal FEMA's decision to deny Individual Assistance to five Iowa counties
impacted by Missouri River flooding.

On August 4, 2011, Gov. Branstad received notification that FEMA had denied his
request to make the Individual Assistance Program available to residents of Fremont,
Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties. The State of Iowa has 30 days
to appeal FEMA's denial of the Individual Assistance Program. However, since the
flood water will recede slowly, the Governor is asking FEMA for an extension of the
appeal to November 15, 2011, so it may include damages that surface beyond that
30-day time period.

The appeal of the decision by FEMA will be coordinated by the Iowa Homeland Security
and Emergency Management Division, which will work closely with the local emergency
management agencies to determine additional damages and impacts caused by the
ongoing flooding.

The FEMA Individual Assistance Program is made available to homeowners, renters and
businesses and can include grants and low-interest loans to help pay for temporary
housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance
or other aid programs.

In addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced that
low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Iowa residents and business
owners affected by the severe storms and flash flooding that occurred July 27 and
28, 2011.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the Iowa counties of
Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones.

(Press Release - Office of the Governor)

Iowa and Nebraska officials discuss future reopening of Missouri River toll bridge

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2011 – Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation 
(DOT), Nebraska Department of Roads, Federal Highway Administration, and Burt County
(Nebraska) Bridge Commission met this week to discuss strategies that will lead to 
the eventual reopening of the toll bridge carrying Iowa 175/Nebraska 51 over the
Missouri River at Decatur, Neb.

The bridge is owned and operated by the Burt County Bridge Commission. It has been
closed since June due the Missouri River flooding, which caused severe embankment
erosion and material loss on the Iowa side of the bridge, as well as deep scouring
around the east bridge abutment and pier. Recognizing the importance of this bridge
to communities in both states, all parties involved are anxious to get the bridge 
reopened to traffic as quickly as possible. With this goal and public safety in mind,
the agencies outlined a plan of action. 

Because the flood waters have not yet started to recede, there remain many unknowns
regarding the condition of the bridge and surrounding area. Thus, the agencies 
outlined a plan with the necessary flexibility to adjust to any new discoveries. 
In addition to discussing what actions can be taken and tentative timing,
participants in the meeting received information about the federal Emergency Relief
funding that may be able to assist with the costs of previous work, as well as the
additional work that will be needed. 
Several problems are readily apparent at the bridge site that will require corrective 
action when the waters recede. Those problems include slope instability, substructure
concerns and major scour around the critical structural elements of the bridge and 
roadway approach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ current schedule is to reduce the
output of water from Gavins Point Dam to approximately 90,000 cfs by the end of August.
Barring additional rain that would change this schedule, it is possible that the engineers
may able to perform a more detailed analysis of the problems at that time.

Once the analysis is complete, the next step will be to quickly develop a corrective 
action plan and issue emergency contracts to perform the work. The amount of time that
will be required to complete the work hinges on the extent of the damage. Anything that
can be done to expedite the work will be considered. The Iowa DOT will continue to provide 
regular updates regarding this situation as new information becomes available. 

(IA-DOT News Release) 

BILLIE EUGENE RUTHERFORD, 69, of Guthrie Center (Mem.svcs 8-15-11)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BILLIE EUGENE RUTHERFORD, 69, of Guthrie Center, died Thu., Aug. 11th, at his home. Memorial services for BILLIE RUTHERFORD will be held 11-a.m. Mon., Aug. 15th, at the Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center.

Visitation will take place at the funeral home, one-hour prior to the service on Monday.

Burial of cremains will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

MINNA SCHMELING, 84, of Atlantic (svcs 8-17-11)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

MINNA SCHMELING, 84, of Atlantic, died Fri., Aug. 12th, at her home.  Funeral services for MINNA SCHMELING will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Aug. 17th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic has the arrangements. (www.hockenberryfamilycare.com)

Visitation with the family of Minna Schemeling is from 6-8pm Tue., Aug. 16th, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

MINNA SCHMELING is survived by

Her son – Eugene (Julie) Schemeling, of Atlantic.

Her brother – Karl (Inge) Nathes, of Lich, Germany.

Her sister – Anna Lane, of Dixon, IL

2 grandchildren

LaBERTA LIVINGSTON, 85, of Atlantic (svcs 8-16-11)

Obituaries

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LaBERTA LIVINGSTON, 85, of Atlantic, died Thu., Aug. 11th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Funeral services for LaBERTA LIVINGSTON will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Aug. 16th, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 8am-Noon Sat., Aug. 13th; from 1-4pm Sun., Aug. 14th, & from 8am-5:30pm Mon., Aug. 15th.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

LaBerta Livingston is survived by:

Her sons – Dana (MarGe) Livingston;  Wayne (Diane) Livingston, of Lewis; & Glenn (Jane) Livingston, of Atlantic.

7 grandchildren & 13 great-grandchildren

City Elections will take place on November 8th, 2011

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports persons interested in running for various City offices in Cass County may circulate nomination papers now for those positions,, but your papers must be filed within a specified time period. Sunderman says serving as a city elected official is a challenging job that requires leadership, vision and dedication. An elected city official is entrusted with important responsibilities. The city clerk, the county auditor and Iowa Secretary of State can help candidates with basic information about running for a city office.

Any person who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the respective city (or city ward, as the case may be) and is eligible to be registered to vote, may become a candidate for city office. Nomination petitions for a city office must be filed with the respective city clerk not more than 71 nor less than 47 days prior to the regular election. (In 2011, the first day to file papers is August 29. The last day to file papers is September 22.) The process for filing nomination petitions is as follows:

Obtain an original nomination petition and candidate’s guide from the city clerk, county auditor or online from the Iowa Secretary of State at www.sos.state.ia.us. You must obtain the nomination signatures of the required number of eligible electors of the city or ward, as the case may be. A person may sign nomination petitions for more than one candidate for the same office. In addition, you will need to attach a notarized affidavit acknowledging the you or your candidate’s eligibility, and file the petition with the city clerk prior to 5 p.m. on September 22nd, 2011. Each candidate who successfully files a completed nomination petition is assured a place on the ballot.

In Cass County, Iowa the following offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities on November 8, 2011:

Anita

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Mitch Holmes

Two At Large Council seats (4 yr terms) – Incumbents: Linda Firebaugh and Marcia Hockenberry

Atlantic

Council Ward 1 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Kern Miller

Council Ward 3 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Pat Simmons

Council Ward 4 (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Linda Hartkopf

Council At Large (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Dana Halder

Parks & Recreation Board (6 yr term – term begins November 16) – Incumbent: Mary Strong and Nancy Fredrickson

Cumberland

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Virginia Coughlin

Two At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Lela Mae Lank and Steve Porter

Griswold

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Jerry Putnam

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Gary Bergstrom; Kevin Carlisle; and Philip Rink

Lewis

Mayor (4 yr term) – Incumbent: Don Cohrs

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Scott Anderson; Jon Mosier; and Traci Tyson-Steyer

Marne

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Randall I. Baxter

Five At Large Council (2 yr term) – Incumbents: James Hoffman; Dennis Preister; Lanny Kite; Mark Opbroek and Angela Redler

Massena

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Mike Cormack

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Lindsay Blaine; Bill Holaday; and Linda Reineke

Wiota

Mayor (2 yr term) – Incumbent: Ross Havens

Three At Large Council (4 yr term) – Incumbents: Kenneth Bishop and Lamar Spies

2011 Tournament of Champions – Friday Leaderboard

Sports

August 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

Championship Division
Barry Smith (Pine Knolls CC of Knoxville)            32 – 33 — 65 (-4)
Jason Reynolds (Griswold CC)                31 – 34 — 65 (-4)
Matt Weresch (Des Moines Golf & CC)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)
Jared Cochran (Terrace Hills Golf Course)            32 – 35 — 67 (-2)
Brad Hartkopf (Atlantic Golf & CC)                35 – 33 — 68 (-1)
Darby McLaren (Atlantic Golf & CC)            34 – 35 — 69 (E)
Derek Jacobsen (Atlantic Golf & CC)            36 – 34 — 70 (+1)
Nathan Elseman (Walton Club)                32 – 38 — 70 (+1)
Zach Christianson (Atlantic Golf & CC)            33 – 37 — 70 (+1)
David Akers (Pine Lake CC)                    34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Aaron Ahrendsen (Manning-Manilla)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Ryan Clark (Briarwood Club of Ankeny)            37 – 34 — 71 (+2)
Chad Dryden (Crestmoor)                    35 – 36 — 71 (+2)
Brett McGriff (Grinnell Golf & CC)                32 – 39 — 71 (+2)
Chris Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Matt Jennings (Gateway Recreation)                37 – 35 — 72 (+3)
Jeff Gude (Atlantic Golf & CC)                39 – 34 — 73 (+4)
Isaac Rodenberg (Woodward Golf & CC)            34 – 39 — 73 (+4)
Aaron King (Sac County CC)                    32 – 41 — 73 (+4)
Brian Gargano (Humboldt CC)                37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Steve Davie (Dunlap Golf Course)                32 – 41 — 73 (+4)
Manuel Smith (Copper Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)
Ron Peterson (Des Moines Golf & CC)            36 – 38 — 74 (+5)
Chad Speer (Greenfield CC)                    37 – 37 — 74 (+5)
Rob Langfelt (Crestwood Hills)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)
Matt Haley (Happy Hollow CC)                37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Carl Eckenrod (Mason City CC)                38 – 37 — 75 (+6)
Jim Brown (Urbandale Golf & CC)                35 – 40 — 75 (+6)
Dan Conaway (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            37 – 38 — 75 (+6)
Johnny Schwaller (Coon Rapids Golf Course)        36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Andrew Martin (Nishna Hills)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Wade Voith (Twin Lakes Golf Club)                37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
John Costello (Jester Park)                    37 – 39 — 76 (+7)
Andy Kuhr (Fremont County Golf Course)            36 – 40 — 76 (+7)
Nolan Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                35 – 42 — 77 (+8)
Darron Baker (Eagle Grove Golf Course)            39 – 38 — 77 (+8)
Adam Hart (Legacy Golf Club of Norwalk)            41 – 36 — 77 (+8)
Mason Ross (Indian Hills Gold Course of Wapello)        39 – 38 — 77 (+8)
Kyle Pieper (5 x 80 Club)                    41 – 37 — 78 (+9)
Jim Wood (Red Oak CC)                    38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Lance Halverson (Osceola CC)                38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Jared Koch (Majestic Hills Golf Course)            40 – 38 — 78 (+9)
Steve Chapman (Treynor CC)                    39 – 40 — 79 (+10)
Todd Sewick (River Road Golf Course)            35 – 44 — 79 (+10)
Jeremy Perkins (Oakland Golf Club)                38 – 41 — 79 (+10)
Sam Weeks (Ballard Golf & CC)                40 – 39 — 79 (+10)
Alex Van Dorpe (Toad Valley Golf Course)            36 – 44 — 80 (+11)
Jason Branham (Quail Run)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Nick Beyer (Diamond Trail Golf Course)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Brad Fabian (Greenbriar)                    38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Jim Grieve (Waveland)                    41 – 39 — 80 (+11)
Shane Burmeister (Atlantic Golf & CC)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Mathews (Osceola CC)                42 – 38 — 80 (+11)
Jeff Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)            39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Dustin Burr (Audubon Golf & CC)                44 – 37 — 81 (+12)
Mitch Engelbarts (Gruis Recreation)                39 – 42 — 81 (+12)
Ken Harryman (Shelby County CC)                41 – 41 — 82 (+13)
Cody Cox (Leon Golf & CC)                    39 – 45 — 84 (+15)
Ben Knapp (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)                42 – 42 — 84 (+15)

Senior Division
Gene Capps (Indianola CC)                     34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
George Gartelos (Hunter Ridge Golf Course)         34 – 36 — 70 (+1)
Daryl Armstrong (Crestwood Hills)                 36 – 35 — 71 (+2)
Arnie Leistad (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 37 – 35 — 72 (+3)
Blair Hoegh (Otter Creek)                     35 – 37 — 72 (+3)
Rick Thompson (Fairfield Golf & CC)             35 – 37 — 72 (+3)
Jeff Morenz (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 36 — 72 (+3)
Del Miller (West Liberty Golf & CC)             34 – 39 — 73 (+4)
John Wilmore (Des Moines Golf & CC)             37 – 36 — 73 (+4)
Chris Myers (Honey Creek Golf Club)            38 – 35 — 73 (+4)
Kirk Nelson (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Ken Portsche (Beaver Creek Golf Course)             36 – 39 — 75 (+6)
Mick Allen (Atlantic Golf & CC)                 39 – 36 — 75 (+6)
Jim Haub (Twin Lakes Golf & CC)                 38 – 40 — 78 (+9)
Dean Muhs (Shelby County CC)                 39 – 41 — 80 (+11)
Tony Petersen (Greenbriar Golf Course)             38 – 42 — 80 (+11)
Peter Schmidt (Avoca Golf & CC)                 38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Ken Hoogensen (Willow Creek)                 41 – 40 — 81 (+12)
Mike Martin (Nishna Hills)                     38 – 43 — 81 (+12)
Victor Garza (Gruis Recreation)                 44 – 38 — 82 (+13)
Jim Sachs (Gruis Recreation)                 41 – 42 — 83 (+14)
Paul Huddleson (Nishna Hills)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Don Perrin (Happy Hollow CC)                 41 – 43 — 84 (+15)
Frank Gunsolley (Mount Ayr Golf & CC)             42 – 43 — 85 (+16)
Jim Mullenix (Shadow Valley Golf & CC of Woodbine)    42 – 46 — 88 (+19)
Chuck Bunting (Bedford CC)                 44 – 45 — 89 (+20)
Frank Heimbaugh (Quail Run CC)                 41 – 48 — 89 (+20)
Steve Van Ryswick (Gateway Recreation)             51 – 50 — 101 (+32)
Don Bermel (Lagos Acres CC of Keota)             51 – 51 — 102 (+33)

Bluffs Man Sentenced to 200 months in prison

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday to more than 16-years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.  44-year old Scott Wendell Dilley, of Council Bluffs received the 200 month sentence from Judge John A. Jarvey, who also ordered Dilley to serve 10-years  in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The terms will be served concurrently. In addition, Dilley will have to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt says on March 3rd, 2011, Dilley entered guilty pleas to the two counts based on evidence that he was distributing methamphetamine, along with four other people, in the Council Bluffs area. On March 1st, 2010, law enforcement searched Dilley’s residence finding distribution quantities of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a loaded Colt .45 caliber pistol. Prior to March 1st, 2010, Dilley had been convicted of a felony drug offense.

The investigation which led to his arrest, was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office.

Court orders trial for injured inmate

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been ordered in a lawsuit filed by an inmate who claims the state didn’t protect him from being assaulted by another prisoner. The Iowa Supreme Court today (Friday) rejected the state’s request to have the lawsuit filed by Kevin Walker dismissed. Walker was knocked unconscious and his jaw broken during an assault at the Clarinda Correctional facility in 2005.

He claims prison staff knew of threats against him and violated prison rules by not taking action to protect him. Walker’s attorney says his client suffered severe depression and post traumatic stress because of the assault.

Sentinel Chickens test positive for West Nile virus in Council Bluffs

News

August 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Flooding along the Missouri River in western Iowa has created another problem. Officials with the Council Bluffs Health Department today (Friday) say tests on their sentinel chicken flocks have come up positive for the West Nile Virus. The virus is spread by mosquitoes, which typically breed in stagnant or slowly moving water.

In a report issued Thursday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said the virus was detected in four sentinel chickens located in Pottawattamie County. The State Hygienic Lab tests the blood drawn from chickens on a weekly basis, to determine whether they have been infected with the West Nile virus or other arboviruses.

Human cases of West Nile have been reported in Iowa every year, since 2002. Mosquitoes can get West Nile virus when feeding on infected birds. Mosquitoes can then spread the virus to people through a bite. West Nile virus cannot be spread by person-to-person contact such as kissing, touching, or caring for an infected person. West Nile virus can also rarely be transmitted to humans who receive infected organs by transplantation or who receive transfusions of infected blood or blood products.

The chance of a human getting infected with the virus if bitten by a mosquito is low. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus and not all mosquitoes can successfully transmit the virus. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus following a mosquito bite do not develop any symptoms.

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches before fully recovering. Some persons may develop a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. In <1% of infections, particularly in those persons over age 50, West Nile virus can cause serious disease, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). These conditions may result in permanent brain damage, or on rare occasions, can be fatal. Symptoms of severe disease can include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

For more information on the West Nile Virus and precautions you can take go to: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/WNV.aspx