DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Transportation officials say it will take months to repair major roads in western Iowa damaged by spring flooding. The Des Moines Register reports that state transportation official Scott Suhr says crews were on site Thursday to inspect some of the worst damages on parts of Interstate’s 29 and 680, Highway 34 and state highway 2. Suhr says around 25 miles of interstate in southwest Iowa and roughly 14 miles of roads north of Council Bluffs remain closed Thursday afternoon due to washed away shoulders, eroded pavement and scattered waste.

Suhr noted his chief concern is state Highway 2, since portions are still submerged. Suhr added getting construction equipment into the area will be challenging because the ground is drenched, saying that inescapable spring downpours could muddy things.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), approved the appointment of Chris Heuton, from rural Wiota, as Franklin Township Trustee. The appointment was made to fill a vacancy created by the death earlier this month of Ray Zellmer, and it is effective through the remainder of the term, ending 12/31/2020.

The Board also approved, after some minor editing by the Cass County Attorney, a partnership agreement for the purpose of creating, funding and overseeing a Wellness Coordinator position to serve the residents of Cass County. Board Chair Steve Baier said the agreement was between the County/Board of Supervisors, Cass County Agricultural Extension, CCMH, and the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. The agreement is for a period of 15 months, ending July 1, 2020. The County’s share of the cost will be paid for through the Local Option Sales Tax/Community Betterment Development.

In other business, the Board approved the renewal of a lease between the County and Partnership 4 Progress, for the Willow Heights building. And, they approved an agreement with the Iowa Dept. of Transportation for a Highway Safety Improvement Program as part of a Secondary Federal Aid Swap Project, and a related amendment for FY 2019.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon report cities in Cass County will conduct their outdoor warning siren tests at noon today (March 29th). And, siren tests will occur each Friday at noon throughout the summer season, except if there is an actual threat of severe weather.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report 62-year old Charles Roger Berner, Jr., appeared at the sheriff’s office Thursday morning, to turn himself-in. Berner was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Criminal Trespass/1st offense. He was transported to the jail and turned over to Corrections Staff. Thursday afternoon, 38-year old Robert Edward Benedict, of Council Bluffs, who was an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a warrant out of Nebraska, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Benedict was then returned to his cell. And, 30-year old Jeffrey Earl Ratliff, of Council Bluffs, who was also being held in the jail, was presented with a warrant out of Council Bluffs, for Violation of Parole.

And, 39-year old Bobby Lewis Burr, Jr. of Shenandoah, was transported from the Page County Jail to the Pott. County Jail, Thursday. Burr was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury/1st offense. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Another person has been charged with killing a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. Authorities say 30-year-old Caesar “CJ” Davison, of Chicago, was served Thursday with an Iowa murder warrant as he was returned from Illinois. He’d been held in Illinois for a parole violation, and he denied while being questioned there that he was involved in the Iowa slaying.

Prosecutors say Davison conspired with four other people to kill Demarcus “Peanut” Chew, who was fatally shot in a car outside his mother’s Burlington apartment on Sept. 10, 2017. One of them, Antoine Spann, pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced to 20 years in prison after making a deal with prosecutors. Spann’s plea agreement says he must testify against any others charged in the slaying.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson today (Friday), reports three recent arrests. On Wednesday, 35-year old Matthew J. Bruns, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment in the 1st Degree. And there were two arrests March 20th: 32-year old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order, and 39-year old Melissa Wheeler, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.

All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail. Castillo and Bruns remained in the Cass County Jail as of the latest report. Wheeler was subsequently released from custody.

Police in Creston report a man wanted on a warrant for Forgery (Unlawful use of credit cards & Identity Theft), was arrested Thursday evening. 44-year old Matthew Lee Brummett, of Creston, was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center at around 6:45-p.m., and was being held on a $10,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Closing arguments have been scheduled for Monday in the fourth Iowa trial of an Illinois man accused of killing a 9-year-old girl in 1990. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the defense rested its case for 57-year-old Stanley Liggins on Thursday in Black Hawk County District Court in Waterloo. Jurors were dismissed until Monday.

He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jennifer Lewis, of Rock Island, Illinois. Her burned remains were found in September 1990 near a school in neighboring Davenport, Iowa, which is just across the Mississippi River.

Liggins has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison twice in the death of Lewis. Both convictions were overturned. His third trial was moved to Black Hawk County because of extensive pretrial publicity in Scott County. It ended in a mistrial in September 2018 because jurors couldn’t reach a verdict.