COUNCIL BLUFFS – On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, officials with the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a joint preliminary damage assessment throughout the county. Their focus will be to validate residential damages and impacts reported by the public and those preliminary local damages assessment made by the local damage assessment teams.

Doug Reed, Director of Emergency Management for Pottawattamie County, says “This assessment will be used to validate identified damages to residential properties and to make determination on our agency’s request to be included in the Individual Assistance portion of the Major Disaster Declaration issued by President Trump.”

If approved by FEMA, the addition of Pottawattamie County in the Individual Assistance Program will allow residents throughout the county, impacted by the recent flooding of March 12th and continuing, to apply for potential assistance from FEMA. The program would also provide access to programs available from the Small Business Administration for residential property owners, renters, and businesses.

Reed said the original declaration issued by President Trump approved the county for emergency work under the Public Assistance Program to allow government entities and qualifying non-profits to recover certain costs associated with the disaster. Last week, additional approvals for the county were issued for permanent work under the program that aid jurisdictions in repairing and restoring damaged infrastructure such as streets, highways, bridges, parks, water control facilities, and other damaged public property.

Residents are still encouraged to report their damages on the emergency management flood page that can be found at https://pottcounty-ia.gov/departments/emergency-management/flood-2019-march-12th-continuing/. Once a determination is made on the request for inclusion in Individual Assistance, residents will be advised how they can apply to FEMA for assistance.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday night, released a report on recent arrests. Three people were arrested on separate charges or warrants, March 26th:

• 19-year old Shane Michael Phillips, of Burlington (IA) was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol, on an Adair County warrant for Theft in the 1st Degree. Phillips was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
• 29-year old Brandon Michael Luke, of Anita, was arrested March 26th by the State Patrol following a traffic stop for speeding. Luke was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, after a small bag of meth was found on him. He was being held in the Adair County Jail. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000 (w/10% acceptable).
• And, 20-year old Justice Guy Myers, of Villisca, was arrested March 26th on an Adair County warrants for Felony Probation Violation ($5,000 bond) and  Harassment in the 3rd Degree (No bond until seen by a judge).

On March 25th, 20-year old Morgan Sebastian Lukenbill, of Adair, was arrested for Driving While Barred. The charge was summarily dismissed at his initial appearance and Lukenbill was released by the Magistrate’s orders.

(Radio Iowa) — As floodwaters in southwest Iowa slowly recede, forecasters fear large storms could develop soon that would make a bad situation worse. Kevin Low, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Missouri Basin Forecast Center, says they’re watching the development of a potentially large storm system that could arrive late next week, roughly April 10th through the 13th.

“Of course, the impacts, amounts, timing for this second week of April event is undeterminable at this moment,” Low says. “It’s just very preliminary. We wanted to give you a heads up the second week of April looks to be fairly active across the Missouri basin.” Record flooding was already recorded on the Missouri River and many of its tributaries in the past few weeks. With the heavy snowmelt, the U-S Army Corps of Engineers is increasing releases this week from Gavins Point Dam into the Missouri River.

John Remus, chief of the Corps’ Water Management Office in Omaha, says two of the big southern-most water storage reservoirs are already getting full.  “I realize these higher system releases will add water to the lower river,” Remus says, “However, maintaining high pools at Fort Randall and Oahe increases the risk of even higher — possibly flood-level — releases if we were to get a large rainfall event over the central Great Plains.”

Remus says flows from Gavins Point Dam will be increasing all week in hopes of avoiding more damaging flows later on. “We want to remind everyone that we are at the beginning of the flood season,” Remus says, “and having very high pools in the lower reservoirs at this time of year severely limits our ability to respond to rainfall events that may occur anywhere in the basin.”

Remus says the mountain snow pack is still increasing and normally melts and runs off in May and June. Flood damage this spring in Iowa and Nebraska combined is nearly three-billion dollars.

AMES, Iowa – April 1, 2019 – Western Iowa roads are still feeling the impact of the last few weeks of flooding. Even though most of the water has receded and much of the debris has been removed, several roads remain closed to allow the Iowa Department of Transportation to test for structural damage and make needed repairs.

Depending on the extent of damage caused by floodwaters, the recovery process may take anywhere from a few days to several months. As soon as floodwaters recede, the Iowa DOT is working as diligently as possible to move through the recovery process and reopen the roadway.

(3-31-19) I-680_east-of-Mormon-Bridge

The following southwest Iowa roads are still closed and are in Stage 3 (Testing and inspecting the ability of roadways and structures to handle traffic.):

• I-29 in both directions between the Missouri State Line (near Hamburg) and the U-S 34 interchange (Near Glenwood)
• I-29 in both directions between N. 25th St. in Council Bluffs and Loveland.
• I-680 in both directions between the I-29 interchange (Old Morman Bridge Road Near Crescent) and I-680 in Nebraska (Mormon Bridge).
• U-S Highway 34 between the Nebraska State line and I-29 (near Pacific Junction).
• U-S Highway 275 in both directions between the Missouri State line and Iowa Highway 333 near Hamburg
• and, Iowa 333 in both directions, between I-29 and Fremont County Road J-64 (Near Hamburg).

(3-28-19) IA Hwy 2 near the I-29 interchange

One stretch of road on Iowa Hwy 2 between the Missouri River Bridge and the Nebraska State line and US HWY 275/Fremont County Road J-64 (near Sidney), remains under water.  Barriers blocking access to roads will remain in place until the road has been deemed safe for traffic. If you see a barricade, don’t drive around it.

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.