An old scam is making a comeback. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is making the public aware of a scam that is currently going around in our area.

The scam involves a person who — in most cases — calls, claiming to be a grandchild or another relative. The individuals claims they are in jail and need money.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone receiving a call of that nature to be extremely suspicious, and to ask questions of the caller, that only your grandchild or other relative would know the answers to.

In addition, before offering any financial help or information, you should to attempt to contact your grandchild or other relative yourself, to verify the story being told to you. You may recall, a year or so ago, we told you an area resident received a similar call from a person claiming to be a man’s grandson who was in jail in Canada.

When the resident asked the caller a question only his grandson could answer, the person on the other end of the phone became upset and eventually hung-up. The man later called his grandson to confirm he was NOT in trouble with the law.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A company that operates long-term care facilities is selling nine centers in Nebraska and Iowa, including the Beatrice Manor.

Careage Management LLC of Sioux City, Iowa, has reached an agreement to sell the facilities to The Ensign Group, which operates 87 skilled nursing, assisted living, home health and hospice services in eight western states.

Beatrice Manor is an 87-bed facility and employs nearly 100 people.

The other Nebraska centers being acquired are in Falls City, Randolph and Wayne. The Iowa facilities are in Fort Dodge, Clarion, Hawarden, West Bend and Cherokee.

Dan Myers, the president of CEO of Careage, says the new company plans to retain current employees.

The sale is expected to close July 1.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Flooding along the Missouri River in the Omaha area is forcing Amtrak to disrupt its California Zephyr passenger train, which travels between San Francisco and Chicago.

Amtrak says Tuesday that service will be temporarily suspended between Denver and Chicago for at least six days because of predicted flood crests and additional closures of Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks in the Omaha area.

Amtrak says in a statement the suspension of service is effective with an eastbound train on Thursday from Emeryville, Calif., and a westbound train on Friday from Chicago. The disruption is expected to continue through at least June 14.

There will be no Amtrak service in Iowa, except in Fort Madison, Nebraska, and in Fort Morgan, Colo. Daily service will continue between Chicago and Galesburg, Ill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State transportation officials say Interstate 29 in western Iowa is in the path of the rising Missouri River, and parts could be closed within days.

The Department of Transportation on Tuesday released an initial assessment of the state and federal highways most at risk.

It includes I-29, U.S. 275 and Iowa 333 in Hamburg, where a massive sandbagging operation is under way to protect the town. Other parts of I-29 are on the list, including north of Council Bluffs, near Crescent and near Loveland. A section of Interstate 680 in Council Bluffs is also at risk.

Officials have also included Iowa Highway 2 in Fremont County and state Highway 127 near Mondamin (mahn-DAY’-min) in Harrison County.

The DOT says it will update the list as the river rises.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – June 7, 2011 – Nighttime construction work will cause lane closures on eastbound Interstate 80 between Madison Avenue (exit 5) and U.S. 6 (exit 8) near Council Bluffs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Tuesday, June 7, until Saturday, June 11, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs construction office. 

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.