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.