An Iowa-based hospitality company is making its first venture into Nebraska. Hawkeye Hotels, headquartered in Coralville, is set to break ground on a new hotel on a busy corner of the Old Market area in Omaha. Hawkeye’s chief development officer Raj Patel says the structure was originally going to rise eight stories.

“Through working with city planners and historic preservation committees, we learned six stories would really be a better fit for the neighborhood so we took our height down to six stories,” Patel says. “We also took a lot of design inspiration from around the Old Market and our entire facade is going to be brick.” Patel says “The Moxy” is an affordable boutique hotel line that is designed to bring guests together.

“The room sizes are smaller,” he says. “That’s the trend of hotels is to do more fresh-design rooms but more immersive social spaces where guests can be more encouraged to hang out in the lobby or at the bar.” The 105-room hotel will cater to the design trends and preferences of millennial and business travelers. Patel says it’s an honor to be selected to build in the historic district.

“For our guests and anyone staying at the hotel, you’ll walk out of the front doors and within footsteps you’ll having dining, entertainment, live music,” Patel says. “That’s really a perfect fit for The Moxy brand as well as our company, Hawkeye Hotels, to be able to have that kind of location in Omaha.” Ground will be broken in August.

The hotel will add 40 jobs to the labor market in Omaha. Founded in 1982, Hawkeye Hotels is one of America’s fastest growing privately-owned hospitality firms with over $750 million in assets across the country.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating two separate robberies that took place Friday afternoon. Around 3:10-p.m., officers were dispatched to the bike trail north of Interstate 29 near the 55 mile marker. Upon arrival, they made contact with a woman who said she was robbed at gunpoint while running on the bike path by an unknown black male. The suspect, she said, grabbed her from behind, pointed a handgun at her and threatened to harm her. During the struggle, a round was fired out of the gun. The victim suffered minor injuries. The suspect stole some of her belongings then left the area eastbound towards North 25th Street on the bicycle. The suspect was described as a black male, in his late 20’s or early 30’s, with some facial hair, wearing a black shirt and black shorts, and riding a black mountain bike.

A little less than 90-minutes later (4:30-p.m.), officers were dispatched to 801 N 35th St. for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, they made contact with a woman who said she was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot by two black males. She suffered minor injuries. Officers in the area located four possible suspects in the neighboring apartment complex (Featherstone Apartments).

Two were taken into custody right away; the other two were taken into custody after a brief negotiation through one of the apartments. After all parties were interviewed, two juvenile males (ages 16 and 17) were placed under arrest for Robbery 1st for today’s incident. Two juvenile males (ages 16 and 17) were arrested for warrants from an incident that took place earlier in the week.

Authorities say they do not think the two incidents are related. An investigation continues into both incidents. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (712)328-4765, or Crimestoppers at (712)328-7867, to remain anonymous.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a Grant man has been located in good condition after concerned family members were searching for him on Friday night. Family reported 76-year-old John Giefing of Grant had left his residence on Friday at 4:43pm and had talked about going to Kansas City, MO. Giefing has Alzheimers and family was concerned about his knowledge of where he was heading. About 7 hours later the Sheriff’s Office reported that Giefing had been located in good condition. The Sherrif’s Office thanked the public for their assistance.