The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved approximately $4.6 million for the fiscal year 2015 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms. Included among the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) projects is:
The Corning Airport – $102,000 toward the total project cost of $120,000, for replacement of a fuel system; The Harlan Airport – $22,100 toward the $26,000 total cost of obstruction removal; The Red Oak Airport – $167,000 toward the $232,000 cost for the construction of a new T-hangar and hangar taxi-lanes; and the Winterset Airport, $56,248 toward the $66,175 cost of the Runway 32 end runway protection zone and 20-foot building restriction line navigation easements.

In addition, the General Aviation Vetical Infrastructure Projects include the construction of a hangar at the Atlantic Municipal Airport. The state will pay $150,000 toward the $298,300 cost.

In all, the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will fund $2.4 million for aviation safety, planning and airport development projects at 21 airports throughout Iowa. Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $2.3 million for projects at nine general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person named Josey Janssen. Janssen is a 33 year old white male, 5-8, 160 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was reported missing by his family on September 3rd.

Josey Janssen

Janssen was last seen leaving work on August 29th at 5:00 P.M.  He does not own a car and doesn’t drive. Council Bluffs Police have found no evidence of foul play, however, Janssen’s family has indicated that this type of behavior is out of character for him.

Anyone with information on Janssen is urged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 328-STOP.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 2014, to honor those who perished in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The Young Professionals of Atlantic will host their annual scavenger sponsored by Dolly Bergmann, Longaberger Consultant, S. F. Martin House and Subway. The hunt will include 15 Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Businesses. Social Committee Co-Chair Lora Kanning says “This is a great annual event incorporating chamber businesses and young professionals with lots of fun.”

YPA logo

Teams of four will be challenged to find the Chamber businesses with photo clues. Points will be earned by successfully identifying and taking a picture of each business. Bonus points will be awarded for creativity. Teams will start at the Rock Island Depot and have an hour and half to complete the search.

The winners will be announced and awarded Atlanticash and other prizes at the S.F. Martin House during the wrap-up party. Appetizers and drinks are included in the registration fee and will be available, as well. The event is open to all Young Professionals in the Atlantic Area.

For more details and to register for this event go to www.atlanticiowa.com or contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712.243.2017.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report officers made seven arrests over the course of the past couple of weeks.  The most recent arrest took place Monday. 25-year old Damion Selders, of Atlantic, was arrested on a shoplifting charge (5th degree theft). Last Wednesday (Sept. 3rd), officers with the Atlantic P-D arrested 36-year old Rose Peters, of Atlantic, for violating a No Contact Order.

On Sept. 2nd, 27-year old Aaron Macias, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI and Driving While Suspended. The previous day, 18-year old Nathan Sandbothe, of Atlantic, and 21-year old Joseph Riesberg, of Audubon, were arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Sandbothe faces an addition Minor in Possession, charge, while Riesberg was also charged with Providing Alcohol to Minors. Reisberg was also arrested Aug. 28th,  on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree (shoplifting).

And on Aug. 27th, 27-year old Alan Kennedy, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree.

Each of the subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

Officials with the Conservation Districts of Iowa report Alan Peterson, Assistant Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Commissioner in Cass County, received the Ruth Wagner Award on September 3, 2014 at the 68th Annual Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts Commissioners Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines.

The Ruth Wagner Award is an award started in 2001 to honor Soil and Water Conservation District Assistant Commissioners. Johnson SWCD gives the award in memory and honor of Ruth Wagner, who served the Johnson SWCD for 53 years.

Clare Lindahl, Executive Director with Conservation Districts of Iowa, says Peterson is a very dedicated assistant commissioner who attends all of the district, regional and annual meetings. He had been actively participating in federal and state conservation programs even before he showed interest in serving as an assistant commissioner.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska and Iowa Army National Guard units have delayed drills this month because of a federal funding shortage that has affected thousands of Army National Guard units across the country.  Nebraska National Guard spokesman Kevin Hynes said Tuesday that the delays affect about 20 Nebraska Army Guard units – about half of the state’s total. The state has about 3,500 soldiers in the Army Guard.

Col. Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard says the delays affect most of the state’s 7,200 Army National Guard members. The states’ Air National Guard units are not affected.

A $101 million funding gap has led to postponed Guard drills nationwide. Efforts are underway in Congress to get funding reallocated so drills can be held and National Guard members can get paid.

In a delayed report, Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County said today (Tuesday), two Audubon County residents were injured during a motorcycle accident in Pott. County Saturday afternoon. The cycle, operating by 61-year old Ronnie Riesgaard, of Exira, was traveling east on Magnolia Road when the cycle went out of control near a curve and came to rest in the middle of the roadway.

Riesgaard was airlifted to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha. A passenger on the cycle, 54-year-old Lorena Riesgaard, also from Exira, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs by Underwood Rescue. A report on their conditions is not available

The accident remains under investigation.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa will seek approval from the Board of Regents for an institute dedicated to driverless cars and other automated vehicles. The institute would be based on a partnership with a private company, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. The university’s proposal cites its own National Advanced Driving Simulator, along with the state’s open spaces, as ideal for testing and commercializing the driverless technology.

“It’s bold but well thought out, and it’s perfectly timed for where the university is at and where the industry is at,” said Mark Nolte, president of the Iowa City Area Development Group. “So I hope the regents are supportive.” The Board of Regents is set to consider the proposal Wednesday.

Supporters of the Autonomous, Intelligent Machines and Systems Institute, a proposed nonprofit funded primarily through federal grants, are asking the board’s approval for $3 million over a three-year period. The institute would have a governing body comprised of industry and university officials.

David Conrad is the university’s assistant vice president for economic development. He said initial funding would be used for personnel, equipment and infrastructure costs for the institute. Conrad said it would be ideally located at the university’s Research Park. Last week, Carnegie Mellon University engineers successfully transported a Pennsylvania congressman in a driverless 2011 Cadillac SRX more than 30 miles to an airport.  “So there’s a lot of work that has yet to be done, but the technology is there and it’s getting better every day,” Nolte said.