OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Portions of interstates in Omaha and across the Missouri River in western Iowa have reopened after being closed for several days for flooding.

The Interstate 680 bridge spanning the Missouri River from Omaha to the Interstate 29 interchange in Iowa reopened Friday afternoon, as did I-29 in Iowa from Crescent to Council Bluffs.

The Iowa Department of Transportation tells the Omaha World-Herald that floodwaters have receded and cleanup is complete on the roadways.

The department cautioned that rainfall expected in the area could cause additional flooding that would require the exit and entrance ramps in the area to close again with little or no advance notice.

Flood-related closures continue on both directions of I-29 between the Crescent and the Loveland exits and on Iowa Highways 275 and 333 near Hamburg.

MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A former employee of women’s correctional facility in Mitchellville was arrested Friday morning after being accused of engaging in sexual acts with an inmate in exchange for tobacco products.

The Des Moines Register reports that 55-year-old Shawn William Durrell, of Urbandale, was arrested Friday and charged with sexual misconduct with an offender. He had been employed as the correctional food service coordinator at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women when the alleged sexual misconduct took place between July 4 and Aug. 9. He had been working at the facility for 16 years before resigning in August.

Court documents say Durrell was released $2,000 bond. His next court appearance is Oct. 7.

No attorney for Durrell appears in online court records. Durrell did not immediately return a message left Friday at a phone listing for him.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Friday at 3:30pm of 49-year-old Thomas Shawn Johnson of Red Oak on charges of Theft 4th Degree, False Reports to or Communications with Public Safety Entities, and Malicious Prosecution. The charges stem from an investigation done at a residence in the 200 block of North 5th Street in Red Oak on September 12th. Johnson was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (AP) — A businessman has become the fourth Republican challenger for the U.S. House seat held by fellow Republican Steve King.

Fifty-eight-year-old Steve Reeder, of Arnolds Park, said in announcing his candidacy Thursday that balancing the federal budget, revitalizing rural areas and improving access to quality health care are key issues for his campaign.

He says he wants to create “task teams from communities in the 4th District, so that concerns, ideas and solutions may be heard.”

The GOP field also includes state Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull; former state legislator Jeremy Taylor, of Sioux City; and Bret Richards, a former mayor of Irwin.

King was first elected in 2002 and is seeking another term. He’s known for his comments about race, immigration and abortion. In January he was stripped of his committee assignments and rebuked by the House in a 424-1 vote for comments about white supremacy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been scheduled for a Guatemala man accused of killing an Iowa woman and her two children.

Polk County District Court records say 31-year-old Marvin Escobar-Orellana is charged with three counts of first-degree murder under what authorities say was a false name he initially gave to police: Marvin Esquivel-Lopez. He’s pleaded not guilty.

Police say he fatally shot 29-year-old Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son on July 16 in a Des Moines home.

Court records show the new trial date of Jan. 27 will give attorneys for both sides more time to prepare. The original trial starting date was Oct. 28.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said Escobar-Orellana is in the United States illegally and had twice been deported before the shooting. He was convicted in 2010 of illegal entry into the U.S.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Des Moines man who already lost his license was driving drunk with his 8-year-old daughter as he tried to speed away from a state trooper.

Polk County court records say 37-year-old Kevin Dyer is charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense; felony eluding; child endangerment; and other crimes. Jail records say Dyer remained in custody Friday. The court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Dyer.

A court document says the chase early Thursday hit 115 mph (185 kph) in a 55 mph (88.5 kph) zone and 100 mph (160.9 kph) in residential areas. It also says Dyer drove on the wrong side of a highway, over a curb, through grass, over sidewalks and ran red lights.

The chase ended in Des Moines after Dyer’s care became disabled.

Creston Police report two separate arrest incidents on Thursday.

At 2:12pm Officers arrested 54-year-old Craig Allen Hauser of Creston at 900 Sumner Street for Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

At 7:06pm Officers arrested two individuals after a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 34 and Cherry Street. 36-year-old Maria Soledad Fuentes Rodriguez and 32-year-old Donald Drake, both of Creston, were arrested for Violation of a Protective Order. Drake was also charged with Driving While Suspended. Rodriguez was released on Promise to Appear and Drake was held in the Union County Jail on no bond.

RED OAK, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Montgomery County office will offer the Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site for the Oct. 24 CIC is the Montgomery County Extension Office. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before Oct. 17 and $45 after Oct. 17. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Katie Hart at the ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County office at (712) 623-2592.

The course will provide continuing instruction credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 7D (Community Insect Management), 8 (Public Health Pest Control), and 10 (Research and Demonstration). The course will cover topics such as: recognition of sensitive areas and other nontarget sites; pesticide labels including restricted entry intervals; pests, pest management, and pesticides, including a variety of environments; and specific factors which may lead to a hazardous condition.

Additional information about this and other courses offered through the Pesticide Safety Education Program may be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/psep.

w/ Chris Parks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A bid opening was held at the Atlantic High School Media Center on Thursday afternoon for the school district athletic facilities renovation project. School officials reported that six general contractors submitted base-bids for the project.

The highest bid came in at $9,741,000 and the low bid was $8,650,000. Some alternative bids were given for a few parts of the project at the Trojan Bowl as well. The opening bids are construction bids only and will have other costs added.

It appears that the project will be able to continue as expected with the lower bids coming within budget. Further details on the costs are expected to be released on Friday.

The Atlantic School Board is set to host a public hearing prior to officially awarding the contract.