AMES, Iowa – July 7, 2011: 11:50 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting that flooding has closed the ramp from northbound U.S. 75/Iowa 376 to westbound U.S. 20/Gordon Drive. Pumping of flood water allowed the ramp to open briefly on Thursday, but additional flood and ground water has forced it closed again.

Key traveler information resources

· Iowa DOT’s flood information call center 866-452-8510, open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; speak to an operator for travel assistance

· Road condition information 24 hours a day call 511 (in Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (anywhere in the United States) for a recorded message of road closures

· Iowa DOT on Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/iowadot/

· View the flooded Iowa roads map for road closures, detours and areas at risk of flooding – http://tinyurl.com/3o2mtlp

Due to ongoing flood concerns in Mills County, officials say there is a need for additional sandbags for use by the Levee and Drainage Districts and to stockpile for needs by the City of Pacific Junction, City of Glenwood and Mills County. We would like to request your help in meeting this need. Please consider volunteering to help fill sandbags on any of the next 3 Saturdays.

Dates and locations are listed below:

Saturday, July 9, 2011 – 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Mills County Engineer’s Office, 403 Railroad Ave., Glenwood, Iowa.

Saturday, July 16, 2011 – 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Pacific Junction Fire Station

Saturday, July 23, 2011 – 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Pacific Junction Fire Station

To assist the county in scheduling and tracking volunteers,  a new method will be used, requiring an on-line sign-up for all volunteers as well as registration for each volunteer event you are interested in participating in. Those without computer access can call 712- 527-4231 for assistance.

To complete your volunteer sign-up and activity registration, please access the website as follows:

1) www.millscoia.us

2) “Flood 2011”

3) “Click here to register for and view Volunteer opportunities for flooding in Mills County”.

At this point, you can select what day/shift you would like to help with and register. You will be prompted to enter your contact information as part of this process. Please remember that sandbag volunteers need to be able bodied, wear close toed shoes and bring the following items – gloves, water, bug repellent and sunscreen. Extra shovels would also be appreciated. Each of our locations will have restrooms, air-conditioned break areas, beverages and food; however, all sandbags are filled outside.

Youth under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult to assure safety. Please call 712-527-4231 for additional information.

The Adair County Assessor’s Office will be closed on Friday July 8, 2011 due
to continued construction.  They will be open for business on Monday July
11, 2011.

Two women were cited following a non-injury accident Wednesday evening, in Atlantic. According to Atlantic Police, Samantha Christensen, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and reduce speed, and Christel Buskirk, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to have proof of insurance.

The citations were issued after police investigated a crash at the intersection of 7^th and Olive Streets at around 5:25-p.m, Wednesday. Officials say Christensen was traveling west on 7^th and approaching Olive Street, when she failed to stop, and rear-ended the Buskirk vehicle, as it was stopped at the red light.

Damages from the crash amounted to $5,000.

Two western Iowa men were arrested today (Thursday, July 7^th), on theft charges associated with missing livestock and Ag machinery. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Benjamin Lee Petersen, of Audubon, and 20-year old Christopher Joe Groninga, of Dunlap, were arrested as the result of an investigation into the theft of livestock on June 6^th from the 2900 Block of Goldfinch Avenue, and the theft of machinery June 23^rd from the 1600 Block of 315^th Street in Audubon County.

Petersen and Groninga both faces charges of Theft in the 2^nd degree. Groninga faces an additional possible charge of Aiding and Abetting theft in the 2^nd degree. Petersen was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $5,000 bond, while Groninga was seen by the magistrate and released, with orders to appear for his preliminary hearing on July 25^th.

The thefts remain under investigation.

Officials say also, 48-year old Alan Kenneth Bramer, of Perry, was arrested Wednesday on an outstanding Audubon County warrant charging him with a burglary that occurred on April 2010, in Ross. Bramer was taken into custody immediately upon his release from the Clarinda Correctional Facility. He was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, 29-year old Joseph Mark Zaiger, of Audubon, was arrested Wednesday on an outstanding Audubon County warrant charging him with theft in the 5^th degree, in connection with a check written to an Audubon business in March. Zaiger appeared before a judge and was released from custody.

An Exira woman was arrested early this (Thursday) morning on an OWI charge. Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say 34-year old Claudette May Jayne, of Exira, faces charges of Operating While Intoxicated, 1^st offense, and Driving While barred. The charges are the result of a traffic stop on Jay Avenue, near 320^th Street.

Jayne was brought to the Audubon County Jail, appeared before the magistrate and has since been released. Her preliminary hearing was set for July 25^th.

Officials with Snyder and Associates’ Engineers in Atlantic report construction will begin Monday on a Portland Cement Concrete paving and storm sewer improvement project. The work will be conducted on 22nd Street, between Olive Street and U-S Highway 71, and on Sycamore Street just south of 18th Street within the City of Atlantic.

The contractor intends to close the roads to thru traffic on Monday, July 11th. The existing roadway surfacing will be removed, so access will be limited to local residents only on 22nd Street and Sycamore Street will be closed entirely.

A West Des Moines man has entered a written plea of not guilty, to a felony 1^st degree theft charge, in connection with an incident reported in Shelby County. According to Sheriff’s officials and on-line court records, 57-year old Jon Peter DePhillips is accused of asking a Harlan customer of D-C Associates in West Des Moines, to write a personal check to him in the amount of $11,500, for payment of windows he sold a few months after he was dismissed from the company for alleged misconduct related to fraud.

The complaint against DePhillips dates back to October, 2009, when he contacted a Harlan homeowner about having their windows replaced, and made financial arrangements for them to pay for the windows. DePhillips would later allegedly tell the homeowner D-C Associates was no longer in business, that he was the CEO of a new company in Clive that had taken over as creditor. He told the homeowner they could write him a check for amount still owed. The resident’s check was immediately cashed by DePhillips.

A Sheriff’s investigation however, revealed D-C Associates, was still in business, and has been for more than four decades. The company says DePhillips was fired after an internal investigation indicated he had interfered with the sale of $30,000 by another company salesperson.

The scam involving the Harlan resident came unraveled, after the homeowner questioned why they were receiving statements from a creditor who had financed the purchase said their account was delinquent. The creditor, G.E. Money, was notified of the ongoing criminal investigation, and DePhillips was arrested by West Des Moines Police. At the time of his arrest, he was also allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle.

DePhillips is set to be arraigned on the theft charge July 18^th. His trial was set for August 30^th.