The meeting to present the proposed waterfowl season and zone structure for the 2021-2015 season originally scheduled for Oct. 16, has been moved to Oct. 17, due to a scheduling conflict.

At the meeting, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will present information including the results from the statewide hunter survey, the federal rules and guidelines that govern waterfowl hunting and its proposed season and zone structure for 2021-2025.

All meetings are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Meetings are scheduled for:

Oct. 14, Three Mile Lake Lodge, near Afton
Oct. 15, Washington County Conservation Education Center, near Ainsworth
Oct. 17, Oelwein Community Plaza, in Oelwein
Oct. 22, Story County Conservation Center, McFarland Park, near Ames
Oct. 23, Alta Community Center, in Alta
Feedback collected at these meetings will be reviewed before an official proposal is submitted to the Natural Resource Commission for consideration. If approved, the rule would have an open comment period before going in front of the commission again for a final vote.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows states to make changes to their waterfowl zones and boundaries once every five years. Any changes will be reflected in the 2021-2025 waterfowl seasons.

Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 24, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation was able to reopen southbound Interstate 29 from the Crescent area south into Council Bluffs this morning. This area was closed late last week due to flooding. Continued flooding in the area may cause the roadway to close again with very short notice.

Northbound I-29 between exit 71 (near Loveland) and exit 55 (N. 25th Street in Council Bluffs) remains closed. Traffic is being detoured using I-80 and I-680. The southern segment of I-680 from the Missouri River to I-29 remains closed as well.

Relying on phone or in-vehicle navigation systems may not be reliable as closure changes happen rapidly and navigation systems can route traffic through areas not designed for heavy or some types of traffic.

The best source of information on state and U.S. highways and interstate roadway closures during uncertain weather events is www.511ia.org. You can stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device. (Note: for information on county or local roads, please check the county 511 system at https://www.iowacountyroads.org/connections#county-511-map) or contact your local county engineer’s office.

To receive email or text alerts about traffic incidents, road closures, traffic delays, and other restrictions that affect this highway route or other routes you travel, the Iowa DOT offers the “Your 511” option on 511ia.org. It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive the email/text alerts. Visit https://iowadot.gov/511/511-full-feature-website-help/how-to-videos for simple, step-by-step instructions.

The Harlan Police Department reports three recent arrests.

On Thursday, September 19th Harlan Police arrested 34-year-old Eric Jon Wilds of Shelby on an active Shelby County Warrant. He was booked into the Shelby County Jail.

Also on September 19th Harlan Police arrested 52-year-old William James Ballard of Irwin following a call for service. He was charged with Public Intoxication and booked into the Shelby County Jail.

On Friday, September 20th Harlan Police arrested 29-year-old Benjamin Allen Sommer of Harlan following a traffic stop. He was charged with OWI, Open Container, and turning from an improper lane. Sommer was booked into the Shelby County Jail.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released further details on a fatal accident Monday night near Oakland. The accident occurred around 9:24pm in the area of Highway 6 and 340th Street.

Upon arrival Deputies located two semi tractor-trailers and one passenger car involved in the accident. Investigation indicated that a 2015 Toyota Camry driven by 22-year-old Zachary Crombie Presberg of Appleton, WI was eastbound on Highway 6 and attempted to pass a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by 55-year-old Scott Dayton of Missouri Valley. While attempting the pass, a 2018 Kenworth semi driven by 26-year-old William Zoellner of Logan, IA crest a hill going westbound. Crombie Presberg attempted to get back into the eastbound lane behind the Dayton semi but struck the rear of his trailer. This caused Crombie Presberg to lose control and the Zoellner semi collided with the Toyota in the passenger side door area. Zachary Crombie Presberg was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday at the board room at the Cass County Courthouse. The board addressed just a couple of items during the short session.

The board approved an updated agreement for tower use with NISHNANET for wireless internet equipment on the tower. Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company has their equipment on the tower now and sold their wireless internet division to NISHNANET. The previous agreement was non-transferable, so a new agreement had to be signed. NISHNANET owner Scott Bennett appeared before the board to explain his business and said the new equipment will be very similar in size and weight. The previous agreement called for Marne Elk Horn Telephone to trade services as a backup internet provider for use of the tower. NISHNANET is planning to provide a fiber connection for the courthouse, and replace Mediacom as the primary provider for the courthouse, in exchange for tower use. The board unanimously approved the agreement effective today and signed the new documents.

The board then set a hearing date for the sale of a county owned parcel in Cumberland for October 8th. Darrin Hardisty owns the surrounding property and requested to buy the parcel from the County. After the board discussed what would be the best option to execute the sale, they decided that the parcel would be sold by an auction session following the hearing on October 8th. Supervisor Steve Green suggested they process the sale in that matter so there would be no argument from others on the process. The notice of hearing will be published in the Anita and Atlantic newspapers on October 3rd.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The West Des Moines Community School District has stopped a high school football team’s volunteer chaplain from praying with players before and after games.

West Des Moines Superintendent Lisa Remy said Monday the district received written concerns from parents that the prayers were a violation of the First Amendment.

The district then asked the self-described chaplain, Chris Barr, to stop working with the Valley High School team while the concerns are reviewed by the district’s legal counsel.

The Des Moines Register reports that Barr did not pray with players Friday night when Valley played Waukee.

Barr doesn’t work for the district. He works with West Des Moines Community Schools Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an independent organization that works with Christian students enrolled in West Des Moines schools.

w/ Chris Parks

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One person was killed in a two-vehicle accident late Monday evening west of Oakland. According to KETV in Omaha the accident occurred on Highway 6 after 9:00pm. Oakland Fire and Rescue responded to the scene involving a tanker truck and another vehicle.

Highway 6 near 340th street was closed for at least 4 hours after the crash. The road reportedly opened back up at about 1:30am.

No one else was reported injured as result of the crash and it is still under investigation. No names have been released.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet this morning at 9:00am in the board room at the Cass County Courthouse.

On their agenda is approval of a tower use agreement with NISHNANET for wireless internet equipment. NISHNANET recently bought the wireless internet division of Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company.

The board will also set a hearing date for the disposal of a lot of County owned property in Cumberland.

The board is also expected to hear reports from the County Attorney and a Secondary Roads Update. They will also hold discussion on the employee handbook and safety policy.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Monday of 45-year-old Jason Lee Gilleland of Red Oak for Domestic Assault, an aggravated misdemeanor, and Simple Assault, a simple misdemeanor. Gilleland was arrested at 9:15pm on Elm Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond, awaiting an appearance before a Magistrate.