OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The list of landowners suing the federal government over major flooding along the Missouri River since 2006 has grown considerably. The lawsuit filed against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in March was amended Thursday to include 436 plaintiffs. The latest additions to the lawsuit include 38 North Dakota landowners and the Omaha and Winnebago tribes of Nebraska.

The landowners argue that the Corps’ decisions since 2006 have contributed to flooding especially during the extended 2011 flooding that devastated hundreds of thousands of acres of mostly farmland in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

The federal government has denied the allegations and says the Corps shouldn’t be blamed. Landowners say the recurring flooding deprived them of their land, so they should be compensated.

A joint investigation by authorities in two western Iowa counties has resulted in the recovery of stolen property, three arrests and the discovery of illegal drugs along with drug paraphernalia. Sheriff’s deputies in Shelby and Crawford Counties executed a search warrant at 258 5th Street in Earling Thursday afternoon.

Arrested at the residence was 27-year old Nicole McClure, of Earling, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance/methamphetamine. McClure was being held in Shelby County on$100,000 bond.  24-year old Elizabeth Melby, of Moorhead, who arrested at the home on a Monona County warrant for possession of a controlled substance. She was transported to Monona County from the Shelby County Jail.

And, 46-year old Daniel Welsh, of Denison, was arrested on three counts of 3rd degree burglary. He was being held at the Crawford County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Officials says there is a possibility of more arrests being made in the near future as the investigation is continuing.

Officials with the Cass County/ISU Extension Office report the Extension is looking for persons to work with residents through the VITA Program. For several years, ISU Extension in Cass County has served as a host site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Now, organizers are looking for local volunteers to keep the program going strong. VITA is an IRS-sponsored program that certifies community volunteers to prepare and e-file basic tax returns at no cost for low to moderate income individuals and families.

Volunteers are needed in Cass County to prepare 2014 taxes and should have a basic understanding of income tax laws, an interest in helping others, and basic computer skills.

VITA volunteers are provided free training, self study materials, and software necessary to prepare basic income tax returns including Forms 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040. Taxpayers schedule appointments and taxes are prepared by the volunteers at a central location with equipment provided. Volunteers must complete a certification exam and the IRS waives liability for volunteers if they prepare returns within the scope of their certification.

To find out more about the VITA program contact Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu. Interested persons will need to complete a one page application and background screening.

The VITA program provides free tax preparation to low and moderate income families so they can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Care Tax Credits. In Cass County, the program is coordinated by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with funding and support from the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Human Services, and Iowans for Social and Economic Development (ISED).

Two Central Iowa men were arrested on drug charges this (Thursday) morning, in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Department says 20-year old Eduardo Luis Gomez Baeza, and 21-year old Braulio Moreno, both of Marshalltown, were arrested following a traffic stop at around 1:30-a.m. in the 3100 block of Highway 71.

Baeza and Moreno were charged with Possession of Marijuana. Morena was hit with an additional charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The men were transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate.

Shelby County Emergency Service Officials, including Fire Chiefs, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Management will begin twice weekly updates on local fire danger conditions. Signs placed strategically in each community, primarily at the fire Stations will indicate what the fire danger is for any particular day.

This program, implemented in 2010, resulted in a reduction of fire responses countywide. The continuous bi weekly fire danger assessments are provided by email to the media, Fire Chiefs, and others who support the program on their web pages, through radio, and cable TV information pages. This has, at times, reduced the need for our county to implement a complete burn ban.

When someone has the need to burn a pile of brush, debris, or buildings, they are asked to contact the Emergency Management Agency at 755-2124. The dispatchers will obtain the location and nature of the planned burn and will provide the caller with the Fire Chiefs contact information. Through this expanded communication process, we have found some burns can be rescheduled to a different time of day, where wind and moistures are more acceptable. The Fire Chiefs can have input as to how the burn can be conducted safely and be aware of the activity should it become unmanageable.

Shelby County has four color coded distinct levels:

LOW – You are asked to call in and report your burning projects to dispatch at 712-755-2124, and notify your local Fire Chief.
Moderate – You are asked to call in and report your burning projects to dispatch at 712-755-2124, and notify your local Fire Chief. Timing for burns should be morning, or evening hours and extinguished by dark unless authorized by Fire Chief due to possible impacts to roads and health from smoke. Burns must be monitored at all times.
High – Burning of any kind is restricted unless approval is received from local Fire Chief. Controlled burns that are not reported will result in Fire Department being dispatched, and fires extinguished if determined to be un-safe. Please call 712-755-2124 with questions.
Extreme – Burning is prohibited, unless you have a signed permit from the local Fire Chief. Fires on Extreme days can grow rapidly and pose a risk to the Health and Safety of the Community.

If you have any questions please call 712-755-2124.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will campaign for Iowa Republicans next week.  A spokesman for congressional candidate Rod Blum says Paul will appear Wednesday at a Cedar Falls rally for Blum, who is seeking the open 1st district seat. A news release from the Iowa Republican Party says Paul will attend a fundraiser for state Rep. Bobby Kaufman in Wilton that night. U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst will also appear in Wilton.

U.S. Rep. Steve King says Christie will attend the luncheon part of his annual pheasant hunt fundraiser Oct. 25. Christie is appearing at a fundraiser for Gov. Terry Branstad that evening. An Ernst spokeswoman says Huckabee will hold Tuesday events for Ernst in Sioux City and Council Bluffs.

An Atlantic teen was arrested Wednesday, on a drug charge. The Atlantic Police Dept. reports 17-year old Logan Nielsen was arrested for Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Nielsen was cited and released to his parent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican Joni Ernst has three times as much cash as Democrat Bruce Braley going in to the final days of the competitive Iowa Senate race.  Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Ernst raised $6 million between July 1 and Sept. 30 and ended that period with $3.6 million in cash. Braley raised $2.8 million during that time and ended the financial quarter with $1.2 million.

Braley, a four-term congressman from Waterloo, and Ernst, a state lawmaker and officer in the Iowa National Guard from Red Oak, are locked in one of the nation’s closest races. They are vying for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Republicans hope to win in Iowa in their drive for the six-seat gain they need for a Senate majority.

Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds will honor five Iowa firefighters with the 2014 Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor. The award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 2:00PM in the Governor’s Office.

This year, the Governor and Lt. Governor will honor the following professionals with the Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor:

Captain Russ Bell, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Doug Heller, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Josh Lieb, Milford Fire Department
Firefighter Casey Carpenter, Milford Fire Department
Chief Bill Hook, Cambridge & Union Township Fire and Rescue Department

Every day, men and women in uniform quietly serve, sacrificing their safety to keep our Iowa communities safe and secure. The Sullivan Brother’s Award of Valor is given to peace officers and firefighters who, while serving in an official capacity, distinguished themselves by the performance of a heroic act in excess of normal demands of police or fire service, where the person was fully aware of the threat to his or her personal safety.

The Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences has reinstated the license of a salon owner in Carroll, after the owner agreed to a settlement with the state over unsanitary practices resulting from an inspection in March, 2014. Duy Quang Dau, owner of “Pretty Nails,” in Carroll agreed to pay a fine of $500, and as a result, Dau’s nail technologist licenses will be returned and all restrictions removed.

Investigators had determined on March 11th, 2014, Dau engaged in unsanitary practices in violation of Iowa Code, by: failing to provide biohazard disposal; failing to post a copy of the most recent sanitation rules; having a product containing liquid methyl methacrylate on the premises; failing to properly disinfect and record a cleaning of the spa’s tubs; permitting licensed individuals to practice outside the scope of their license, and having a chamois buffer on the premises.