Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones

The Omaha World-Herald reports in today’s (Tuesday’s) edition, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones faces two misdemeanor charges associated with illegal dumping of items into the Missouri River floodwaters. The 63-year old is accused of setting fire to items from a flood-damaged Nebraska cabin and dumping them into Missouri River floodwaters on September 24^th, near Tekamah, Nebraska. Jones and Burt County, Neb., Attorney Daniel Smith told the paper the matter could be resolved with a plea deal as early as today (Tuesday).

According to Smith, the law requires a burn permit, and tossing debris into the river means someone else downstream will have to deal with the items later. He emphasized that the offenses fall short of meriting jail time or probation, saying instead a fine would be an appropriate penalty.

Jones said he didn’t realize he was breaking any laws but accepts responsibility. He told the newspaper – quote – “I need to pay for my stupidity.” Jones, who has served as the Mayor of Atlantic since 2009, said he and his wife purchased the roughly 1,100-square-foot cabin at Harbor 671 near Tekamah last August. It is located about 250 yards from the river, next to a slough or inlet. During this summer’s flooding, the cabin had four feet of water in it for three months.

On the morning of September 24th, while cleaning the cabin, Jones and friends and family members piled up flood-ruined mattresses and furniture and burned them. Jones said he placed the pile next to the water so if the fire got out of control the items could be pushed into the slough with a friend’s Bobcat. Some debris from the fire, including charred parts of furniture, slid off into the inlet — most likely when the remains of the fire were doused, Jones said. The parts that fell into the river were unsafe to retrieve, he said.

A neighbor called the Burt County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office, which ticketed Jones that afternoon.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two Atlantic men were arrested last week. On Tuesday, 42-year old Troy Christian Baker was taken into custody on a charge of OWI 3rd offense, and Driving While Revoked. And, last Thursday, 30-year old Dylan Ron Drake was arrested for a Parole Violation. Drake was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held pending a hearing before a District Court Judge. Baker was released from custody October 5th, on $6,000 bond.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says charges are pending completion of an investigation into an alleged assault. Officials said today (Monday), deputies were called to #10 Main Street in Coin last Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived they spoke with Jamie Gray, of Coin, and a witness to the incident.

Gray told deputies she had allegedly been assaulted by Bobbie Jo Kent, of Elmo, MO, and Cindy Jo Hamilton, of New Market, following an argument. Hamilton, Kent, and another witness denied responsibility for the alleged incident, which remains under investigation.

Eleven juveniles, eight-males and three-females, were arrested in Page County Saturday and cited for being Minor’s in Possession of Alcohol, following a tip to authorities. According to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, an anonymous tip from a female caller Friday night, indicated an underage party was occurring at 511 North 6th Street, in Coin.

When deputies arrived, they confirmed an underage party was in progress. They engaged in a short foot pursuit with some of the suspects, and arrested a total of 11 juveniles, who resided in southwest Iowa and across the state line in northwest Missouri. 18-year old Michael Dean Ribbey, of Blanchard, Iowa, was cited into magistrate court, and released.  The juveniles were cited into juvenile court and released to the custody of their parents.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs construction office says road construction work will cause traffic to be restricted to one lane in both directions of Interstate 29 between Harrison County Road F-50 (exit 82) and Iowa 127 (exit 89) near Modale beginning Monday, Octover 17th, and ending Monday, Oct. 24th, weather permitting.

And, road construction work currently underway in both directions of Interstate 29 between the Missouri state line and Iowa 2 (exit 10) north of Hamburg, will require motorists to share the roadway with opposing traffic beginning until Monday, Nov 14th, weather permitting. A 16-foot width lane restriction will be in place in the open lanes.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluff construction office reports bridge construction work will require closing U.S. 6 in both directions between Pottawattamie County roads L-52 and L-55 four miles east of Council Bluffs beginning Monday, October 17th, weather permitting.  Motorists will be asked to follow the detour signs during this closure. The bridge and U.S. 6 will be open by Oct. 31.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Traffic is moving again on Interstate 29 in southwest Iowa after four months of long detours because of flooding on the Missouri River. The Iowa Department of Transportation opened I-29 from near Pacific Junction to the Missouri border on Saturday. It ended a detour to Kansas City, Mo., that stretched hundreds of miles through central Iowa via Interstate 35. There are still a few traffic snarls around Hamburg to deal with, but drivers say it’s better than before. Georgia Wolt, of Sioux Falls, S.D., travels south to see her sons, and says her trip has been cut by about 1 1/2 hours. Road crews are focusing on repairing I-680 north of Council Bluffs, and hope to reopen a 3-mile stretch by late December.