COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of trees damaged or killed by floodwater from the Missouri River will be removed in the next few months along Interstate 29. Most of the trees are between U.S. Highway 30 and the north side of Council Bluffs. The Iowa DOT says the removal of the trees will cost about $150,000. Nebraska Forest Service expert Graham Herbst says debris in the floodwater caused damage to trees that led to decay. In other cases, floodwater choked off oxygen to tree roots. The Iowa DOT says it will wait for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine how it will manage the Missouri River in the future before deciding when to replant trees.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former federal union official has been sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of being confined to her home, for embezzling $33,000. U.S. District Judge John Jarvey issued the sentence Wednesday to Ann Kelly, the former treasurer-secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees in Council Bluffs. The retired federal railroad inspector had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for using union funds between 2002 and 2007 to make payments to personal credit cards and write checks to family members.

Kelly had asked Jarvey to show leniency and let her avoid prison. She had argued the theft was motivated to help her family out of a series of financial crises and that she’d already cashed out her retirement savings to pay the money back.

The increasing popularity of electronic book readers such as the Amazon Kindle, has not had an adverse effect on the use of libraries. Carole Stanger, Director of the Atlantic Public Library, says the trends they’ve seen at the library over the past 5-years have been amazing, especially with regard to the “technology explosion.” That includes e-books.

Stanger held up a Kindle e-book reader during her periodic report at the City Council meeting Wednesday evening, The device had 23 different books in it, including a dictionary, but it can hold hundreds of books. She says those who have e-book readers can download books from the Atlantic Library. She says up until a few weeks ago, you couldn’t download books for free, but now you can. The result, is a massive increase in the amount of reading material available through the local library. Another technology feature available at the library in Atlantic, is free Wi-Fi. She says it extends into the parking lot, and on more than one occasion, she’s seen people in their vehicles at night, using the service.

Stanger says the facility is in the process of changing over their telephone system, so it’s tied-into their computer network. That will enable patrons to better utilize the many services available from the library, including the genealogy department. Carole says they typically have 300 visits per day from patrons, to the library. Much of those visits are from people who use the internet to look for work, and those looking to experience e-books for the first time. She says more people from different countries are coming to use the library, as well.

Stanger says some of the financial aspects which will affect the 108-year old library in the near future, include government mandates, such as taking care of hidden, lead-based paint. She says they are also making sure the facility is “going green.” That means being energy-efficient, and environmentally aware. Stanger says they’re doing their best to try and meet those requirements.

The Atlantic Police Department says some minor injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday afternoon at 7th and Walnut Streets. Offcials say vehicles driven by Dillon Cox and Laura Champlin, both of Atlantic, collided at around 2:40-p.m.  The accident happened as both vehicle were traveling south on Walnut Street.  According to the police report, Champlin had stopped to wait for traffic before making a left-hand turn. Cox failed to stop in-time, and rear-ended Champlin’s vehicle. Cox was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and subsquently cited for Following too close. Damage from the mishap totaled $4,500.