(DES MOINES) -  Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to
President Obama requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for
six Iowa counties.  The six counties in the request are Fremont, Harrison, Mills,
Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury.

The Governor is making the request in response to the ongoing flooding along the
Missouri River in Iowa.  Local and state agencies have been actively preparing for
and responding to flooding conditions along the Missouri River since May 25, 2011.

“Iowans need to remain vigilant as this flood is unlike any other that Iowa has
experienced," said Branstad. "This is a very serious situation. The flooding is
going to continue for several months. This is why I have requested the President to
sign a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa.”

A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion
long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs,
and designed to help  public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance
funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of
disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective
measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for
essential government functions and grants for public schools.

Gov. Branstad is also asking for Direct Federal Assistance, to include, sheltering,
temporary housing and swift-water rescue teams if the need arises.

For more information, please visit www.Governor.Iowa.gov.

AMES, Iowa – June 18, 2011; 4:35 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will be closing Iowa 2 from Interstate 29 in Iowa to Nebraska City, Neb., this (Saturday) evening due to rising flood and ground water. All east- and westbound lanes will be closed. This is expected to be a long-term closure.

The Iowa DOT is attempting to keep the road open as long as possible today, but it will be closed tonight. No further advance warning will be possible.  The public will be notified when the road is closed.

Suggested alternative route…
· Starting at the I-29/Iowa 2 interchange in Fremont County, Iowa (exit 10)
· Take Iowa 2 east to U.S. 59
· Take U.S. 59 north to Iowa 92
· Take Iowa 92 west to U.S. 275 at Council Bluffs
· Continue west on U.S. 275 to Nebraska Highway 50
· Go south on Nebraska Highway 50 to Nebraska Highway 2
· Go east on Nebraska Highway 2 to Nebraska City, Neb.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is urging motorists not to travel on Highway Two in southwest Iowa, between Iowa and Nebraska. The DOT said Saturday, that traffic is limited to one lane in each direction on the bridge over the Missouri River.

Earlier, only one lane was open. Drivers had been waiting for more than an hour for the bridge to clear so that traffic from their side of the river could cross.

Highway 2 is just north of Hamburg, which has built a second levee to contain floodwaters. Officials say Interstate 29 near Hamburg, remains closed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $14.8 million in grants to help Iowa communities and agencies make repairs. A release from U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office says six Public Assistance Grants were awarded. They range in amount from just over $1 million to $4.5 million.

The grants were given to the communities of Des Moines and Lake View, as well as the Corn Belt Power Cooperative, the Nishnabotna Valley Rural Rural Electric Cooperative, the Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative and the Western Iowa Power Cooperative.

Under the terms of the grants, FEMA contributes 75 percent of the repair costs. The rest must come from state or local entities.

(updated 1-p.m.)

An official with Mid-American Energy says more than 3,300 homes and businesses in Council Bluffs were without power Saturday morning. Company spokesperson Ann Thelen said the outage was reported at 7:40 a.m., and the power was restored by around 9:30-a.m.

The outage, she said, was caused by a storm that passed through the area, and affected customers in the south part of Council Bluffs.

There are at least five local government and/or school board meetings set to take place Monday, in the immediate KJAN listening area. At 7:30-a.m., the City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will meet in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, to hold a public hearings on requests for a Conditional Use Permit and Height Variance for a cell phone tower, and, to receive public comment on an updating of the Zoning Ordinance.

During the Public Hearing, the board will discuss a request from Paul Wrablica, of Prairie Village, Kansas, for a Conditional Use Permit on behalf of I-Wireless, to allow for the construction of a wireless telecommunication facility in an R-2 (low density single family) zone. The proposed location for the cell phone tower is at the Atlantic Community High School. Wrablica has also requested a Height Variance for the 150-foot monopole tower, which, does not currently conform to the zoning ordinance.

The Board is also requesting any and all constructive input on updating the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which has not had a comprehensive review since 1995. The Planning and Zoning Commission tried to address the issue in 2005 and 2006, but no progress was made. The Board hopes public input will allow them to revise the ordinance, so it reflects the needs of Atlantic in 2011 and beyond.

At 5:15-p.m., the City of Atlantic’s Park and Recreation Board will meet at City Hall, to take action on matters pertaining to: the repair of water hydrants at the softball field and Cedar Park; and, the repair of a fishing dock at the Schildberg Quarry. They’ll also discuss Day Care Provider Pass and Pool Fees for next year, along with Schildberg Quarry maintenance planning, & cooperative utilization of equipment with the City.

Also meeting on Monday, at 7:15-p.m., is the CAM Community School District’s Interim Board of Education. During the special session, the board will act on approving an Apple Computer lease, and contract. The meeting takes place in Anita, at the CAM High School Media Center. At 7:30-p.m., the Anita School Board is set to meet, and act on approving some administrative matters, also in the CAM High School Media Center.

And, at 7-p.m., the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will meet in the Family and Consumer Science Room at the High School in Elk Horn. They are expected to approve resignations, including those of the football coach, Junior High Boy’s Basketball Coach, and two para-educators. They’ll also act on approving contracts for: High School English Instructor Theresa Christensen; Special Ed teacher Kevin Pitzen; and, a shared contract with Exira for Scott Yates, Cross-Country Coach. Other discussion and/or action items include: Bus routes for the coming school year, and the purchase of a scoreboard for the softball field.

The EHK Board will move into a closed session at the end of new business, to conduct negotiations on Principal’s salaries, followed by approval of the related contracts.

No injuries were reported after a vehicle driven by an allegedly intoxicated driver slammed into a home Friday night, in Bedford. According to Taylor County Sheriff Joshua Weed, a 1970 Chevy El Camino driven by 26-year-old Anthony James Coverdale, of Bedford, crashed into the living room of a home at 405 Randolph Street, at around 11:15-p.m., Friday.

The home was occupied, but no one was injured. Coverdale faces charges that include OWI, Reckless Driving, having no proof of insurance, and criminal mischief. Bedford Police and Fire assisted sheriff’s officials in the investigation.

A similar incident happened early this (Saturday) morning, in Clearfield. Sheriff Weed reports a 1998 Suzuki Sidekick driven by 24-year-old Christopher Cameron, of Clearfield, ran into a garage located at 200 Monroe Street. Cameron took-off on foot following the crash, but was found later, by a Taylor County deputy.

The man reportedly resisted arrest, but was eventually taken into custody. He was charged with public intoxication, interference with official acts, OWI, reckless driving and criminal mischief. No injuries were reported as a result of the accident. Deputies with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office assisted Taylor County in handling the investigation.

Both men were brought to the Taylor County jail.

Two people were shot early Friday morning in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker 48-year old Patricia Harker, of rural Minden, suffered serious or critical injuries, after she was allegedly shot by her recent, former boyfriend. Danker says Harker and 27-year old Benjamin Shimmin, of Omaha, arrived at Harker’s home at around 2-a.m. Friday, after leaving a bar. 

50-year old Craig Finney, of Macedonia, who recently had a romantic relationship with Harker, arrived at her home and knocked on the door, at around 2:20-a.m. Danker says Harker told Shimmin to lock himself in the bathroom and call 911. Finney broke into the home and “a lot of yelling” ensued, including Finney demanding that Shimmin leave the bathroom. He allegedly fired a shotgun into the bathroom, but missed Shimmin.

Shimmin told authorities he then heard two other gunshots. One struck Harker in the shoulder. A third and final shot by Finney, apparently to his shoulder, was self-inflicted. Finney’s 25-year old son, Cody, told Pottawattamie County sheriff’s investigators that he saw his father after the incident and witnessed “a lot of blood.” Sheriff Danker says Finney fled from the scene after the shooting occurred.

The 2005 silver, Mercury Mountaineer he left in is owned by Evans & Evans, a soybean farming business in Oakland. Danker was unsure if Finney had a connection to the business.

Harker was critically injured and taken to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, before being transferred to the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, where she remained late Friday night. A report on her condition is not available.

Iowa court records indicate that a restraining order had been issued in July 2004 against Finney at the request of  Harker.  The order was rescinded four months later, and Finney received a deferred judgment on domestic abuse-aggravated assault charges in December 2004.

Finney may be armed. His whereabouts are currently unknown. If you see the SUV he was driving, with Iowa license plate 784-CJL, or come across a man with a severe shoulder wound, do not approach him. Instead, you should call 9-1-1. Finney is described as being a 5-foot 9-inch tall, 250-pound white male.