COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Council Bluffs Fire Department says its new hovercraft has already aided its rescue capabilities, and should come in handy this winter. The Daily Nonpareil reports the department purchased the hovercraft for about $60,000 last summer. According to department Technical Services Captain Jason Sorenson, the hovercraft can fly 9 inches off the ground and can travel over water, grass, ice and snow.

The department was able to rescue a 23-year-old man trapped in the West Nodaway River in Clarinda due to flooding less than a month after acquiring the vehicle. According to department officials, the hovercraft will be an asset when ice begins to appear in Lake Manawa. Department chief Justin James says it’s difficult to deploy rescuers through bad ice on the lake due its large size.

Authorities in Council Bluffs say an investigation into a report of a man bleeding and a female screaming in the parking lot of the Ameristar Casino early this (Monday) morning, resulted in the arrest of two people. Officers determined that that the victim, identified as Jose Castillo, had given a ride to 30-year-old Latisha Medina and 25-year-old Austin Brown.

Once the three arrived in the area of the casino, Brown and Medina allegedly attacked Castillo by punching him. Brown then allegedly attacked Castillo with a machete that Castillo uses for work that Brown had found in the vehicle. Castillo was able to bring the vehicle to stop in the parking lot where he was able to flee on foot. He flagged down a passerby and asked them to notify police. The incident happened at around 1:25-a.m.

Police say Castillo suffered non-life threatening lacerations to both hands and his left leg. He was treated and released at the scene by Council Bluffs Fire Department paramedics. Brown and Medina were arrested at the scene and transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections for processing.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the driver of an accident that took place this (Monday) morning at approximately 7:30. The accident happened at the intersection of 25th and Broadway. Officials say a 17-year old female was crossing the intersection southbound on the west side of the intersection, in the crosswalk. A red, crossover-type SUV vehicle, driven by a white female, was facing north on 25th street and attempted a left turn to go west onto Broadway. The vehicle struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

The driver of the vehicle stopped and made contact the pedestrian, and remained on scene until the Fire Dept arrived. Paramedics transported the pedestrian to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

The driver of the vehicle left the scene before police arrived to investigate the crash. Authorities are asking the driver, or anyone who knows who the driver is, to contact the Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit at 712-328-4948. Any assistance would be appreciated.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Greenfield man was arrested on drug charges, last week. 43-year old Robert Lee Reeves was taken into custody Nov. 9th, by Greenfield Police, following the execution of a search warrant at his home in the 300 block of Public Square, in Greenfield. Authorities recovered drugs and drug paraphernalia, including marijuana, and a crystallized substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Reeves was charged with two counts of Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense. He was later released on $5,000 bond.

Last Wednesday, deputies in Adair County arrested 39-year old Donathon Eugene Ebrecht, of Adair, on a warrant for Harassment in the 2nd degree. Ebrecht was sentenced to time served. On Thursday, Greenfield Police arrested 33-year old John Robert Lemon, of Greenfield, for Public Intoxication, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, and Interference with Official Acts. He was cited for the offenses and released.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. Assistant Director Seth Staashelm reports that the Atlantic Parks and Recreation department started the construction of the New Kiddie Korral Shelter at Sunnyside Park last Saturday, with the help of the Young Professionals of Atlantic. The Young Professionals, he says, were a tremendous help with providing plenty of volunteers to the event to help the City raise the new shelter.

Kiddie Korrall skeleton

On behalf of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board and the Staff, Staashelm said they would like to give a special thanks to: The Young Professionals for providing  volunteers; Chris O’Brien, of Iron Specilities, for his building expertise, and Don Sontag, for the use of his lift.

The shelter, he says, would have never been completed if it wasn’t for their help. Staashelm said also, “We appreciate all the help and support and hope that the community will enjoy this shelter for many years to come once it is completed. We hope to have a ribbon cutting of the shelter in the spring/summer of 2016!”

The Audubon Police Department, today (Monday) issued a report on recent arrests. Police Chief Matt Starmer said on Sunday, his officers arrested 25 year old Elizabeth Renee Melby, of Moorhead, on a warrant out of Crawford County. Moorhead was subsequently released to Crawford County authorities.

Last Friday, Audubon Police arrested 44 year old Lynn Allen Frohlich and 41 year old Tracy Lynn Frolich, both of Audubon, for Child Endangerment and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate.

On Nov. 9th, 19 year old Tyler John Eugene Weitzel, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. Weitzel was transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate.

And, on Nov. 4th, Audubon Police arrested 42 year old Chad William Darrow, of Audubon, on a warrant from Shelby County. Darrow was then turned over to Shelby County authorities.

Thanksgiving is ten days away and Iowans will likely be paying a little more for the centerpiece of the feast, according to poultry science expert Ron Kean. “Turkey prices will be up slightly this year,” Kean says. “We’re still suffering some effects from the avian influenza outbreak. Probably, prices will be up 10 to 15% from last year.”

Prices will be even higher, he says, for fresh turkeys or organic turkeys. “For frozen turkeys, the typical price will be maybe $1.15 to $1.20 a pound, would be my expectation,” Kean says. “And again, there will always be sales and some stores will cut that price to get you in the store.”

The bird flu wiped out about 10% of nation’s turkey production this spring. Iowa had more than 70 outbreaks of bird flu in 18 counties, which led to some 32-million turkeys and chickens being euthanized. There is concern migrating wild birds — ducks and geese — will bring another round of avian flu as they make their way south this fall but, so far, so good.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet this (Monday) evening in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. The meeting begins at 5:15-p.m.

New Business/Action items on their agenda include: an update on a meeting with City Administrator John Lund, with regard to the Parks and Rec Department’s 5-year plan; Updates on – the Kiddie Korral Project at Sunnyside Park and Boat ramp near the Wastewater Treatment Plant; The Schildberg Campground project; and, the Bull Creek/Schuler Elementary School walking/biking trail project. Other discussion, under Old Business, will pertain to the Nishna Valley Connector Trail Project.

In their report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm will discuss the City of Atlantic’s Website and related Parks and Rec Dept. pages on the site, the upcoming Harvest Festival, and closure of the park restrooms and the closure of Sunnyside Park for the season.

A trio of area school board meetings are set to take place this (Monday) evening. In Anita, the CAM School Board will gather for their 6:30-p.m. session in the CAM High School Media Center. On their agenda is approval of the time for the 2016 graduation ceremony, discussion and consideration pertaining to the purchase of an oven for the north elementary school kitchen as well as a bid on a 1999 Chevy Suburban, and, discussion and/or possible action on renewal of the voter approved PPEL (“Peppel”) election.

In Audubon, the School meeting at the High School gets underway at 7-p.m. Among the items on their agenda this evening is action: on Policy Review Committee recommendations; a Swimming Cooperative agreement for Fiscal Year 2017; and, Approval of a SINA (School In Need of Assistance) Plan. The Audubon School Board will also discuss: a preliminary three-year building and grounds plan, and a Football classification change.

The Exira-EHK School Board meeting also gets underway at 7-p.m. During the session at the High School in Exira, the board will act on the resignation of District Superintendent/High School Principal, Dean Schnoes. Schnoes, who has served as Superintendent for the past six-years, announced last month that he would be retiring at the end of the 2015-16 school year. He plans on moving to northwest Iowa to help his son farm.

The Exira-EHK Board will also discuss and/or act on the following:
Approving the changing of Parent Teacher Conferences from March 15th to March 14th; Approval of a bid for snow removal at the Middle School; Approve a Resolution for Land Removal; and, approval of the 1st reading of 200 Board Polices for review.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City officials are preparing to vote on a pledge for the city to provide $2 million and 12 acres for an agriculture exposition and learning center near the former site of a food manufacturing facility. The Sioux City Journal reports the city council will be asked Monday to vote on the pledge, which will be contingent on a $1 million pledge from Missouri River Historical Development and a $2 million pledge from Woodbury County.

The city’s commitment would take $200,000 annually for 10 years from the capital improvement plan budget. The proposed project at the site of the former John Morrell Plant will cost about $11 million to $14 million total. Member of the Ag Expo and Learning Center Board, Dennis Gann, says the facility could open as early as 2017 if all the funding is secured.