Following a number of days of increasing responses to the current Missouri River flooding, Lynn Grobe, Chairman of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday signed a local disaster declaration for Pottawattamie County including the Cities of Carter Lake and Council Bluffs. This allows for those two cities, as well as Pottawattamie County, to request  additional assistance if needed from outside resources and entities as the flood crisis continues.

Flooding continues on the low level areas near the river and City and County crews are monitoring closed areas and the levee system. Officials anticipate an increasing rise in the level of the Missouri River and are making efforts to anticipate any needs that may be required.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management continues to facilitate calls between the State of Iowa Department of Homeland Security, the Army Corp of Engineers, and many citizens
and business partners that may be affected by this event. Planning sessions continued over the Memorial Day weekend and operations meetings with key responders will continue on a
daily basis.

A Nebraska girl suffered minor injuries in Griswold Sunday afternoon, after she was struck by a car. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says Ellie Howard, of LaVista, NE, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, after she was hit as she was trying to cross the street at around 4-p.m., Sunday.
The accident happened at the intersection of Whitney and Park Streets in Griswold. Officials say 21-year old Eve Alexandria Kwiatkowski, of Griswold, was traveling westbound on Whitney Street when her 2008 Chevy Impala made contact with the girl, who is believed to be under the age of 10.
No citations were issued.

Three people were arrested on separate charges over the past week, here in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Department says 46-year old Tracy Joe Lane, of Griswold, was arrested May 24th on charges of OWI/3rd offense, Child Endangerment, and Driving While Revoked. Lane was brought to the Cass County Jail and released May 28th, on $10,000 bond.
Last Sunday, sheriff’s deputies arrested 34-year old Shawn Michael Egging, of Omaha, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Egging was released later that day on $1,000 bond.
And, on Friday, 36-year old Thomas Jordan Fredrickson, of Atlantic,  turned himself in to the Cass County Jail on a Cass County Sheriff’s warrant for OWI 2nd Offense. Fredericksen was released later that day on his own recognizance.

An Exira man was arrested early Friday morning on an OWI charge, following a traffic stop in Exira. 23-year old Brock Daniel Knapp faces a charge of Operating While Intoxicated/1^st offense, and Driving Under Suspension. He was taken into custody at around 2:30-a.m. Friday and brought to the Audubon County Jail.

Knapp was later released after appearing before the magistrate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Republican state senator plans to announce a new advocacy group to build conservative support for gay marriage in Iowa. Jeff Angelo of Creston is expected to appear outside the Capitol in Des Moines on Wednesday to launch Iowa Republicans for Freedom.

He’ll make stops at Green Square Park in Cedar Rapids and at the Davenport Public Library on Thursday.

According to a media release, the group will “give voice to Iowans who believe that conservative values of smaller government should keep government out of the private lives of all Iowans.”

Angelo served in the Senate, but did not run for re-election in 2008. His position puts him at odds with many Republicans, who have sought to overturn the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to legalize gay marriage in 2009.

Police in Glenwood are asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen, custom Harley Davidson motorcycle. The cycle was reported stolen from a garage at 116 Hillcrest Avenue in Glenwood, Sunday morning. It was likely taken sometime Saturday night or early Sunday.

Officials say the keys to the cycle were previously stolen. The bike is described as being an orange, 2010 Harley with green flames. It has Iowa license plate 403-8MX.

If you see the motorcycle, call Glenwood Police at 712-527-9920 or 712-527-4844.

Governor Terry Branstad says a program that distributes state grants and loans to businesses which promise to locate or expand in Iowa will survive. Republicans in the Iowa House had voted to shut-down what has been known as the Grow Iowa Values Fund, criticizing it as a government program that picks winners and losers, but Branstad says it will continue.

“It’s going to be by a different name and there will be funds available for economic development projects,” Branstad says.

Senate Democrats had embraced the continuation of the Grow Iowa Values Fund, a name established during former Governor Tom Vilsack’s tenure. Branstad says the name’s not that important, but the ability to use state grants and loans to encourage businesses to choose Iowa as a place to expand or locate is important.

“It’s gone through many name changes over the years and I don’t think people are focused on what the name of it is,” Branstad says. “It’s more: Does the state have some resources to help with forgivable loans or grants…that can help in an economic development project?”

Branstad says House Republicans have agreed to set aside 15-million dollars for such state grants and loans. Branstad and Senate Democrats had originally proposed 25-million, although Democrats had dedicated a portion of that to community college programs that’re related to economic development. Under the plan Branstad announced today, all 15-million dollars would be controlled and distributed by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

(Radio Iowa – on the web at www.radioiowa.com)

Governor Branstad’s aides have begun drawing up plans for a state government shutdown. Branstad and his fellow Republicans in the Iowa House have been unable to strike an agreement on state spending with Democrats in the Iowa Senate. Dave Roederer (ROH-der) — Branstad’s budget director — says the contingency plans will ensure state workers get paid and prisoners stay in prison if there’s no deal by July 1st when the new state fiscal year begins.

“We have plans for all types of emergencies and this would be no different,” Roederer says. “But we’re not focusing on that. We’re focusing on getting the budget done.”

Democrats in the Senate are urging Branstad to release more details to the public about what would happen if state government does shut down.

“The governor has emergency powers whenever there’s an emergency. I am not anticipating an emergency,” Branstad says. “I will deal with it if I have to, but I think they need to get serious about doing the job and I have cancelled my trip so I will be available to do whatever I have to do.”

Branstad has canceled his participation in an 11-day trade mission to China and South Korea in mid-June so he can stay for budget negotiations.

“There’s been virtually no action in the legislature for the last several weeks,” Branstad says. “I intend to stay here and hold their feet to the fire because I believe the people of Iowa deserve a budget that is sustainable for the long-term and one that protects the taxpayers against a massive tax increase.”

Democrats in the Senate sent Branstad a letter this morning (Tuesday), urging him to strike a “middle-ground” compromise on the budget that would include proposals that neither side supports 100 percent. Branstad’s not budging, though.

“The bottom line is the people of Iowa elected a new governor and they elected a new governor and they elected a new governor because they were not satisfied with the direction the state was going and the financial mess that had been created by the previous governor and the legislature,” Branstad says. “Somehow they haven’t gotten that message yet.”

Branstad says Democrat are making “reckless and irresponsible” demands for additional spending in education and other areas. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds likens Democrats to children demanding their parents spend money on frivolities that should be spent instead on the family’s mortgage. Reynolds will lead the state trade mission to China and South Korea.

(Radio Iowa)