ANKENY, Iowa – Updated, April 1, 2019 – In response to flooding emergencies in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska, the Iowa Department of Transportation is temporarily waiving some requirements for motor carriers engaged in flood response and recovery activities.

NEW: Motor carriers delivering relief supplies for flood recovery efforts can now obtain free permits to travel on the interstate system with overweight divisible loads. Travel on the interstate system will only be allowed using a permit issued by Iowa DOT, and permits are required for overweight loads greater than 80,000 pounds. Oversize divisible loads continue to be restricted from the interstates.

To expedite disaster relief and recovery in Iowa and Nebraska, some rules related to trip permits required by the International Registration Plan and fuel permits required by the International Fuel Tax Agreement have been temporarily waived for motor carriers transporting equipment, supplies, materials, and storm debris in conjunction with response and recovery efforts in Iowa and Nebraska.

These waivers apply to commercial vehicles traveling in and through the state of Iowa for the purpose of providing direct assistance to disaster areas in the states of Iowa and Nebraska. These waivers are effective immediately and will end on April 24, 2019, in concurrence with the expiration of the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency dated March 25, 2019, as amended.

Additionally, on March 22, 2019, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in which certain state regulations were waived relating to size and weight permitting requirements for commercial vehicles providing disaster repair and recovery in this state.

For more information on flood resources and recovery efforts, go to https://floods2019.iowa.gov/

Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2019 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for education or donation, and/or improve local communities.

The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public.

To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2018 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2018. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important factor in selection.

Applications must be received by Wednesday, April 24 for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by May 6. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact Master Gardener Donna Reimers. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

Two incidents of Theft were reported in Union County, recently. On Thursday, a woman from Newton said that sometime between December 20th, 2018 and March 28th, 2019, someone entered her storage unit at 1659 E Lucas in Creston and took a stereo system, consisting of a tuner, amp, tape deck, turn table and speakers.  The loss was estimated at $300.

And a man from Kent, reported March 31st,  that sometime between March 30th and 31st, someone took the radiator out of his skid loader on his property.  The loss was estimated at $1000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests. On Sunday, 20-year old Selena Jo Marie Hernandez, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 12:07-a.m., on charges that include Burglary in the 3rd degree, Criminal Mischief in the 1st, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd, three counts of Child Endangerment, OWI 1st, Reckless Driving, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, Operating Non-Registered Vehicle, Littering and Minor In Possession. Her bond was set at $19,300.

Also arrested in connection with her arrest, was 19-year old Sophia Marie Kroll, and 18-year old Alejandro Hernandez, Jr. of both of Council Bluffs. Kroll and Hernandez, Jr., were taken into custody for Burglary 3rd, Criminal Mischief 1st, MIP and Littering. Bond for Kroll and Hernandez, Jr., was set at $10,000 each.

And, last Thursday, 79-year old Sherrill Dee Dashner, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at around 8:35-p.m., in Pacific Junction, for Public Intoxication.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Corrections has suspended a prison guard for giving an interview to his hometown newspaper for a positive feature story about his life and work.

The Bloomfield Democrat, a weekly paper in southern Iowa, featured John Cox in a front-page story about how he inspires and teaches inmates at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility.

The newspaper publisher, Karen Spurgeon, had taught Cox music in his youth and was impressed by his passion for prison work after bumping into him in December. Cox agreed to an interview.

Prison leaders put Cox under investigation after the article was published, saying he violated work rules that require prior authorization for media interviews. Ultimately, they gave him a three-day suspension. Cox and his union are appealing, arguing the discipline is an infringement on his free speech.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN data) — Rain in March added to the snowmelt and caused flooding in the state — but state climatologist Justin Glisan says there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in the overall weather picture.”Typically we expect about two-point-one-five inches — and we were right around two-point-zero-five inches — so almost average,” Glisan says. “Snow wise, we were below average also. We had on average two-point-two inches of snow across the state, where we typically expect almost five inches.”

In Atlantic, precipitation for the month (rain and melted snow) was 2.19 inches, which was .19 less than normal. Snowfall amounted to 2.1-inches. Snowfall for the season (Oct. 2018-March 2019) was 43.5-inches, in Atlantic. Temperatures on average across the state were not normal. “We were cooler than average by about five degrees. Normally we expect an average temperature around 36. We were about 31 degrees,” according to Glisan. “Now there are parts of the state that were near normal.”

In Atlantic, the Average High for the month was 43.8-degrees (4.5 degrees cooler than normal). The Average Low was 21.8 (4.4 degrees cooler than the norm). Glisan says it’s likely April will be warmer than last year — and overall precipitation will continue to be above normal.  “Last April was the coldest April on record, so this would be a welcome change from last April at least. Precipitation wise, we are trending a tad bit above average across the state. Typically during April we get about three-and-half inches of rainfall,” Glisan says.

Last April saw some heavy snow in the northern counties with 10 to 15 inches being reported. Looking ahead to the Month of April in Atlantic, the average High is 62.2, the average Low is 37.4, and precipitation typically amounts to 3.43 inches.

Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Monday), announced her appointments of Gina Badding and Amy Moore as district court judges in Judicial Election District 2B.  Badding, of Carroll, Iowa, received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa. She currently practices law with Neu, Minnich, Comito, Halbur, Neu & Badding, P.C. in Carroll.

Moore, of Ames, Iowa, received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and her law degree from the Creighton University School of Law. She currently serves as a part-time judicial magistrate in Story County and practices law with Mid-Iowa Mediation and Law PLLC.

Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and awareness will be on display throughout Cass County. The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council is working with Cass County School districts to place murals around the county.

Council members Melanie Stoural and Rhonda Stanley were in downtown Atlantic on Monday morning to hang a mural in the old Hawkeye Bowl window. They hope the community keeps the effort in mind.

Stanley said there will also be some decorated pinwheels that will be put up around the county that students have colored as part of a contest.

Stoural said they just want people to know that there are people available to help and April 5th will be a big awareness day nationwide.

If you are in need of help in a child abuse situation Stanley said there are ways to get started reaching out.

You can find out more about local efforts on the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council facebook page.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were injured in a central Iowa house fire that one of them reported by running to an emergency center. Firefighters were sent around 4:30 a.m. Monday to the home in Boone and soon had the flames under control. A fire official told station KCCI that a man ran from the burning house to the dispatch center less than a block away to report the fire. The man and a woman who lived in the home were taken to a hospital.

Names and other details haven’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer has issued a report detailing four arrests. On March 30th, 66-year old Gary Paul Kennedy, and 39-year old Kilie Ray Kennedy, both of Omaha, Nebraska,  were arrested on an active Audubon Police Department warrant for Theft – 3rd degree.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. On March 29th, 20-year old Jacob Hoyt Way, of Guthrie Center, was arrested on multiple active warrants, and released to Cass County authorities. And on March 12th, 35-year old Eddie Ray Mack Jr., of Audubon, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure to Pay Child Support.