An elementary school in Council Bluffs was placed on “lockdown” status late this (Thursday) morning. According to Council Bluffs Police, shortly after 11-a.m.,the Pottawattamie County 9-1-1 Center received a single call of gunshots being heard in the area of Longfellow Elementary School, 2011 South 10th Street.

As a precaution, the school was notified and was placed into “lockdown.” Several CBPD officers responded and checked the area. Authorities found no evidence of any gunfire in the area. Officers again made contact with the school staff, informing them that normal activities could resume.

The “lockdown” was in effect for approximately 15 minutes.

Scott Suhr, Transportation Planner for the Iowa DOT’s District 4 Office in Atlantic, issued a statement Thursday afternoon clarifying the start date for the Highway 6/7th Street Atlantic Construction Project. Suhr said at the preconstruction meeting held Wednesday, May 6th, the contractor stated that they are shooting for a May 26th start date, however, they are waiting on a sub contractor’s milling machine. That machine may be delayed on another project due to rain.

Suhr says at this time, it appears likely the contractor will start work on the road AFTER the Memorial Day weekend. Official information concerning the project will come from the DOT office in Atlantic, and will be conveyed by the media to the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Millions of dead chickens and turkeys lie in stinking, fly-swarmed piles near dozens of large Iowa farms due to the H5N2 bird flu virus.
Neighbors say they understand the challenge in disposing of more than 20 million bird carcasses, but are eager for quick action, especially as temperatures rise and create more decomposition odor and flies.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental supervisor Ken Hessenius says the state must look at “all methods of disposal” and called the virus a “crisis.” Some of the birds are piled up and covered with dirt or other material, turkeys are often composted inside barns and at least one chicken farm is burying them in trenches. Portable incinerators have been set up and state officials are working with landfills.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to keep their home address private through a mail-forwarding program. Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It takes effect in January.

The law will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to have their mail sent to an address managed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. The mail will then be forwarded to the victim’s home address. The system allows victims to keep their home address confidential from an abuser or potential abuser.

Rep. Dean Fisher, a Republican from Garwin, sponsored the bill. He says it could help between 300 and 500 people in Iowa. More than 30 other states have similar laws.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers are trying to move toward a compromise deal on education funding that could help them resolve the budget for the next fiscal year. Legislative leaders said Thursday they are talking about education funding, which has been a key sticking point in the budget process. A deal may include a budget increase in basic aid for K-12 schools, as well as a one-time payment.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican, said conversations were underway. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, said lawmakers were “making progress.”

The potential compromise could work because schools would get the overall funding sought by Democrats but because some of the money is a one-time appropriation, the Republican-controlled House would be sticking to a pledge to contain ongoing costs.

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have issued an Amber alert for the 5-year-old sibling of an infant found in a dumpster near a suburban Omaha apartment complex.
Thursday’s alert says the older child was abducted from Omaha and is believed to be in danger. Omaha police say they think a woman’s body found a little before 8 p.m. Wednesday is that of the boys’ mother, 45-year-old Jesus I. Marinero. Police say they hope to make a positive ID once autopsy results are known.

The boy being sought is Jose Ramirez-Marinero. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and sweatpants and may be traveling in a silver Jeep Cherokee with Nebraska plates SRH941.  Jose’s brother was wearing only a diaper when he was found in the dumpster Wednesday evening and taken to a hospital.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Veterinarians have confirmed the first known case of a rare, deadly dog disease in Iowa. KCRG-TV reports a 4-month-old black lab named Shadow from Independence was diagnosed with canine dysautonomia, an illness that attacks the part of a dog’s nervous system that regulates many body organs, including the heart and digestive tract. The diagnosis means Iowa now joins a handful of other Midwestern states where canine dysautonomia has been confirmed.

Kathy Finholt, the dog’s owner, says Shadow began displaying symptoms in February, and her condition quickly deteriorated. Shadow was euthanized following a nearly month-long battle with the disease.

Vets say they don’t believe the disease is contagious, yet its exact cause remains unclear. University of Wyoming researchers are exploring a theory that consumption of certain soil is to blame.

Authorities in Union County report a Creston man was arrested today (Thursday), on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. 35-year old Ryan Wayne Feldhacker was arrested at 12:30-a.m., at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Feldhacker was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office is spreading the word and asking for your help, in finding the mother and sibling of a toddler who was found abandoned in a Nebraska dumpster. Officials say on Wednesday, May 6th, at approximately 5:44-p.m. LaVista (NE) Police Officers responded to 7115 South 86th St. where an 11 month old child had been located in a dumpster.

The child was identified, and through the course of this investigation, information was obtained that this victim has a five-year-old sibling. Officers are requesting the assistance of the public in an attempt to locate this 5 year old child and the mother of the children. The mother is: Jesus Ismenia Marinero. The 5-year old child has been identified as Josue Ramirez. 

Officers are also requesting assistance in locating a vehicle in connection with this ongoing investigation. The vehicle is described as a silver 2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4dr., Nebraska license plate SRH941.