Ames, Iowa – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) brought home two major honors from the 2024 Iowa Public Transit Association Annual Awards last week. SWITA was named the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Regional Transit System of the Year and received the FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence. The awards were handed out on Thursday, June 6th at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.

The Iowa DOT Award is based on several factors meant to represent ridership and efficiency. SWITA has earned this award again due to record ridership all while being the most cost-efficient system in the state. The FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence is derived from the best year-over-year ridership percentage and number increase from 2021-2022. SWITA also received this award in 2021 with 377,547 rides provided that fiscal year. 2022 ridership went up to 480,229 rides, resulting in the award presented this year. SWITA will hold this honor for the 2023 year as well with 526,300 rides provided.

SWITA Transit Director Mark Lander said, “SWITA continues to see growth with all our services. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women at SWITA that work day in and day out to get the people of Southwest Iowa where they need to go. This takes everyone from the board, the office, the shop, and the drivers.”

SWITA accepting the FTA Region 7 Rural Transit Systems Award of Excellence. (L-R: FTA Deputy Regional Administrator Mark Bechtel, SWITA Transit Director Mark Lander, SWITA Transit Scheduler Tracy Clark, FTA Operations and Program Management Director William Kalt. (Photos and info. courtesy Chris Parks)

SWITA accepting the Iowa DOT Regional Transit System of the Year Award (L-R: Amy Colwell, Iowa DOT; Emma Simmons, Iowa DOT; Jamie Wingert, Iowa DOT; Laura Lutz-Zimmerman, Iowa DOT; Mark Lander, SWITA Transit Director; Tracy Clark, SWITA Transit Scheduler; Kristin Haar, Iowa DOT; Matthew Oetker, Iowa DOT

SWITA transportation is accessible to everyone in the eight-county region, including the disabled and elderly. SWITA offers several transportation options including work routes, medical trips, student transportation, taxi service in six communities, and special/charter trips. SWITA vehicles are equipped with wheelchair accessibility and one personal attendant rides free.

Southwest Iowa Planning Council Executive Director John McCurdy said, “At SWITA we’re lucky to have the best staff and drivers anywhere who go the extra mile to get our clients where they need to go. Public transportation means freedom of movement for our riders and adds fuel to our local economy. Many take for granted being able to hop in a car and go somewhere but not everyone has that luxury. These awards recognize the fact that Southwest Iowa has one of the best public transit systems in the state, which makes all aspects of life more accessible to our residents, whether they have a car or not.”

You can find out more about SWITA by visiting our website SWITA.com and you can follow us on
Facebook for regular updates. For questions or to request a ride, contact SWITA at 712-243-2518 or
1-800-842-8065.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announces the approval of twenty-eight (28) additional counties for Public Assistance under the previously approved Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA DR-4784-IA, for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from tornados, severe storms, and widespread flooding that occurred between May 20, 2024 – May 31, 2024. 

In addition to Adair County the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program has been activated for the following counties:  Adams, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Cedar, Cherokee, Clay, Dallas, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Iowa, Jackson, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Shelby, Story, Tama and Wright. The additional counties have been approved for funding for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures. 

Adair County has also been approved for Public Assistance funding for permanent work. 

Iowa was approved for another Presidential Disaster Declaration on June 24, 2024 in response to flooding in northwest Iowa. Information on the second Presidential Disaster Declaration can be found here. 

Kyle Kreykes

(Radio Iowa) – A man who had been missing is now confirmed to have died in the flooding in northwest Iowa. Rock Valley Police Chief Monte Warburton says 52-year-old Kyle Kreykes, of Rock Valley, died as a result of flooding in Rock Valley over the weekend. Kreykes was listed as a missing person during the flooding, and Warburton says they found him late Monday afternoon.

According to the chief, Kreykes succumbed to injuries after the foundation of his house caved in and a wall fell on him. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning at 11 a-m at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. It’s the second confirmed flood-related death in the area. An Illinois man died when a pickup he was driving was swept away by flood waters on the east side of Spencer Saturday.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Red Oak was arrested this (Thursday) morning. 53-year-old Anthony Edward Decker was arrested at around 9:42-a.m. for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Decker was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

DES MOINES — While some parts of Iowa continue to experience high and rising flood waters, other communities are in recovery and clean-up mode. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages people to put safety first and avoid flood waters until after they recede. Many rivers and lakes in Iowa are unsafe for swimming or boating due to fast currents, floating debris, hidden obstacles, and the potential of bacteria. Boaters and paddlers should plan ahead as additional areas may become unsafe as flood waters move downstream.

State Park Impacts

Several Iowa state parks have alerts and closures due to high waters, including:

• Dolliver Memorial State Park – the entire park is closed due to the Des Moines River flooding.
• Fairport State Recreation Area – the campground and boat ramp are closed due to high water on the Mississippi River.
• Fort Defiance State Park – trails are closed due to flood debris and damage to bridges.
• George Wyth State Park – the entire park is closed due to high water.
• Great Lakes area – several state park beaches, docks and ramps are still underwater. Gull Point park and campground are closed. Existing campground reservations at Emerson Bay, Elinor Bedell, and Marble Beach are being honored, but new reservations or walk-in camping are unavailable through at least July 7. All other parks in the region remain open but caution is advised.
• Lake Manawa State Park – the park is open but Catfish Road is closed due to high water.
• Ledges State Park – the park is open but the Canyon Road, Lower Ledges Road, the Des Moines River boat ramp and Flood Pole parking lot are closed.
• Stone State Park – the west entrance is currently closed while park staff clean up debris left behind by receding floodwaters. The east entrance is open.
• Wilson Island State Recreation Area – the park is closed due to Missouri River flooding.

For latest updates, visit the DNR’s state park alerts and closure web page.

Recovery Assistance and Clean Up

For recovery assistance, visit Iowa Homeland Security’s disaster recovery web page or local emergency management teams, which should have resources to help with immediate needs. The Iowa DNR provides disaster assistance on debris management and other environmental impacts to communities, businesses and citizens. Visit DNR’s disaster recovery web page for information. Some important considerations:

Private Well Testing

Homeowners with private wells impacted by floodwaters can visit the DNR’s private well flood information web page for information on testing.

Debris and Hazardous Materials

Sorting disaster debris after flooding is important—both to keep cleanup teams safe and to ensure debris is disposed properly. Depending upon the community, household waste from a disaster may be collected at curbside or through drop-off. Either way, it’s important to separate wastes into:

• Household hazardous waste such as paints, solvents, cleaners, household chemicals and lawn and garden chemicals
• White and electronic goods including appliances, TVs and computers
• Scrap metals
• Garbage including mattresses, or plastic furniture, etc.
• Tree limbs and trimmings

Stay safe during cleanup activities. Find more information on DNR’s disaster assistance webpage, including a list of materials likely to contain asbestos and how to manage waste disposal. For general assistance, contact the local DNR field office. For questions regarding asbestos requirements, contact Tom Wuehr, DNR environmental specialist at Tom.Wuehr@dnr.iowa.gov.

Displaced Containers

Recent flooding scattered tanks, drums, cylinders and barrels onto properties adjacent to the Missouri River and its Iowa tributaries. These items may contain hazardous materials such as propane and industrial chemicals and should only be handled by trained professionals. Iowa residents are encouraged to report displaced (“orphaned”) tanks, drums or other containers found in flood debris using the online form located on the Iowa DNR Disaster Assistance website.