(Atlantic, Iowa) – Firefighters, Police and EMS responded to a house fire late Monday night, in Atlantic. Fire Chief  Tom Cappel says crews were paged-out to 706 Olive Street, at around 10-p.m. Cappel says “when we arrived on scene we had heavy flames in the basement of the house.  Nobody was living there at the time so we have no injuries. We were on scene for over 2 hours getting all the hot-spots put out.”

The Chief said also the fire remains under investigation, and that he has been in contact with the  State fire Marshal. Cappel thanks Cass EMS, Atlantic Police, the Cass County sheriff’s Department and Iowa State Patrol for assisting with traffic control during the event, as they had to shut down the highway at 7th and Olive street , in order to connect with a hydrant.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM Community School District’s Board of Education met Monday evening, and acted on approving one resignation and a one contract. Superintendent Paul Croghan said the Board accepted the resignation of School Business Official Lindsay Jahde.

The Board discussed, but took no action on the SIACC (School Improvement Advisory Committee) recommendations. Part of the discussion was with regard to supporting the District’s staff and getting them the things they need to provide their students with an education.

The Board will continue to follow-up with the recommendation beginning with the next school year. In other business, the CAM School Board agreed to move their meeting to the High School Media Center, beginning next month.

They also approved: a bid for storm drain repair, various board policies, and the disposal of three District vehicles on the Purple Wave auction site. The final order of business was continued discussions with regard to the District’s facilities. The Board heard Monday from representatives the SITELOGIQ Architectural Firm.

He said they will enter into a contract with SITELOGIQ next month.

That’s the earliest they can attempt a bond referendum. The long-term goal is to streamline the District’s facilities into one.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue reports nine people were arrested between last Friday (June 9) and Monday (June 13).

Today, (Tuesday, June 13), 30-year-old Morgan Humbert, of Cumberland, was arrested for Attempted Burglary, Assault with Bodily Injury, Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, Assault on person(s) in a certain occupations, Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct.

There were three arrests Monday, in Atlantic:

• 27-year-old Vazquez-Cendejas, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of Probation.
• 19-year-old Tarzan Kochiro, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Public Intoxication and Possession of Alcohol Under Legal Age.
• And, 59-year-old Brenda Buboltz, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct.

On Sunday, Atlantic Police arrested 33-year-old Andrew Nowell, of Atlantic, for Disorderly Conduct. There were three arrests this past Saturday:

• 36-year-old Jeffery Knight, and 21-year-old Sitson Sapong, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Public Intoxication.
• 21-year-old Kius Esa, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for Public Intoxication and Possession of Controlled Substance (marijuana).

And, on Friday, June 9th, 35-year-old Lisa Squibbs, of Anita, was arrested by Atlantic Police, for Disorderly Conduct.

(Radio Iowa) – The Des Moines Register has announced it’s dropping plans to shoot for a world record number of cyclists during the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa next month. The event is known as RAGBRAI and this is the 50th year bicyclists will make the week long, statewide trek from the Missouri River to the Mississippi. RAGBRAI organizers had hoped to set a Guinness World Record mark for largest parade of bicycles on the day riders bike from Ames to Des Moines. However, the newspaper says new criteria from the publisher of Guinness World Records make it impossible. Planners do expect as many as 100-thousand riders to be on RAGBRAI’s Wednesday, July 26th route from Ames to Des Moines. RAGBRAI will start in Sioux City on Sunday, July 23rd and end 500 miles later in Davenport on Saturday, July 29th.

Axios Des Moines is reporting Gannett, which owns The Register, has sent a cease and desist letter to a former RAGBRAI director and a long-time RAGBRAI rider who’ve posted an alternative route online for riders to make their way from Ames to Des Moines. The man told Axios he’s concerned about having so many riders on the same path on July 26th. The letter from Gannett suggests the alternate route will not be as safe since it will not be staffed by law enforcement.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) approved by a vote of three-to-one, entering into an agreement between the County and three other agencies, to support a Wellness Coordinator’s position through 2025. Supervisors Bernard Pettinger was opposed to the agreement, which calls for the County to contribute $7,000 from the LOST fund and $25,000 from the ARPA fund in 2024, and $8,000 LOST/$35,000 ARPA funding in 2025.

In his report to the Board, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said the Secondary Roads Department is still running contract rock in the Atlantic District.

He also updated the Board on various construction projects underway in Cass County.

In other business, the Supervisors approved the County’s Zoning Commission recommendation to change a zoning classification from General Ag District to Business District, for Schmidt & Schmidt Properties, LLC, as allowed under the County Zoning Ordinance

Jon Schmidt with Schmidt Family Funeral Homes said they bought part of a hay field from Jo Ann and Lee Poeppe along the edge of town in Anita to build a funeral chapel. Schmidt said they plan on petitioning for annexation into the City of Anita, and draw from the City utilities. He said they hope to break ground sometime in the fall, with a planned opening in the Spring of 2024.

The Supervisors also held a public hearing on a proposed amendment of the FY2023 Budget to account for the National Opioid Settlement funds. Hearing no comments, the Board approved the amendment as presented, along with related appropriations.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors heard from individuals opposed to the Sumitt Carbon Solutions pipeline project that’s expected to take place in the western third of the County. Persons who spoke in opposition to the pipeline had two minutes to voice their concerns. Among those who spoke, was Maggie McQuown, from Red Oak, who is also a member of the County’s board of adjustment. She said while they aren’t likely to “pump the brakes” on the pipeline project, the County does have jurisdiction over land use and siting.

She said Summitt continues to try and take away those jurisdictional powers throughout the State. McQouwn said “We need to fight hard to be able to say we we think a structure should be sited, and what the allowed use of the land is.”

A man from Imogene whose property borders Montgomery County, spoke about the “poor information” and “scare tactics,”with regard to the price of corn, if the carbon pipeline isn’t built. He called the information “Highly suspect.” Supervisors Board Chair Mike Olsen, became noticeably irritated over those and other comments, with regard to what the County can and cannot do about the pipeline project.

Barb Nelson said “No one is here saying we can stop the pipeline, but we can make it safer for everyone involved.”

The Board and audience also heard from Riley Gibson, Relationship Manager with Turnkey Logistics – representing Summitt Carbon Solutions. TurnKey Logistics provides logistics planning and execution for energy and infrastructure projects. Gibson they are still waiting for a final date for their appearance before the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) before action can be expected on approving the pipeline route through Iowa.

He said it appears that may take place sometime in October. He said also, since he last appeared before the Supervisors in February, Summitt has partnered with two ethanol plants – one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions is partnering with more than 30 ethanol plants across a five-state region that includes Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Their plan is to capture carbon dioxide from the fermentation process of biorefineries such as ethanol plants, compress the captured CO2, and channel it to North Dakota where it will be permanently stored in deep underground storage locations.

Gibson said they currently have 75-percent voluntary easement acquisitions from Montgomery County landowners, which is up from the 58-percent. He said “So far in the County we’ve made $4.6-million in easement payments.” He then proceeded to address some “misconceptions” and questions, with regard to the project and other DOT projects in general, including concerns over regulations. The Iowa Utilities Board and DNR are among the entities that regulate such energy projects.

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors received a report and quote with regard to tuck-pointing for the courthouse and clock tower.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies Tuesday (today), arrested 29-year-old Levi Oathoudt, of Griswold, on a Controlled Substance Violation warrant.  Oathoudt was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

And, last Thursday (June 8), Deputies in Cass County arrested 27-year-old Matthew Paulsen, of Adair, on the charge of Driving While Barred.  Paulsen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Cass County, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier post and report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), said a man from Adair suffered from apparent minor injuries, when the dump truck he was operating rolled over Monday afternoon, near Anita. The accident happened at around 4:41-p.m. in the area of 76oth and Fairview Road.

An investigation determined a 2019 Volvo dump truck operated by Walter Starkey, of Adair, was traveling west on Fairview Road, when the vehicle got to close to the edge of the road, and slid down a ditch before rolling onto its side in an adjacent property. Starkey was alert and conscious following the accident. He was taken to a local hospital to be checked-out and treated as necessary.

Photo courtesy Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Director Mike Kennon.

AMES, Iowa – June 13, 2023 – The Iowa Transportation Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program at its meeting today (Tuesday). The program documents investments in Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system covering aviation, public transit, railroads, trails, and highways. The transportation system you use every day is constantly being evaluated and data is collected and analyzed to determine how to best invest your tax dollars into making the system even better.

Each year, based on guidance and direction from the Commission, the Iowa Department of Transportation prepares a detailed list of transportation projects to be accomplished in the next five years. This list, called the Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program, was approved today by the Commission. The program provides details about proposed investments in Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system covering aviation, public transit, railroads, trails, and highways.

The program includes specific highway and bridge projects anticipated to be constructed over the next five years on the state highway system made up of all Interstate, U.S., and Iowa-signed routes. All other roads in the state are under the jurisdiction of individual cities and counties and each local jurisdiction develops its own program of highway, road, street, and bridge construction projects.

Program overview

The highway and bridge projects included in this program are funded with approximately $4.3 billion of state and federal funding forecast to be available over the next five years. Projects included in the program are consistent with the goals and objectives of the State Long-Range Transportation Plan and are determined by using safety, traffic, congestion, condition, and other data. This assures the projects are those necessary to provide modern, safe, and efficient transportation of goods and the traveling public.

The cost to construct roads and bridges has continued to increase significantly over the last year. During the same time, the money available to fund those construction projects has largely remained the same. Because of the cost increases, the Commission had to take steps including proposing to delay several projects by no more than one year to keep the program balanced. Through these actions, the Commission was able to develop this year’s program without removing any projects from last year’s program.

When reviewing the projects, the Commission prioritizes projects that improve the safety and condition of existing state highways and bridges, and this program includes more than $3.5 billion of investments in that area. Significant investments in bridges have been made over the last 17 years, dropping the number of poor-condition bridges on the state highway system from 256 in 2006 to 26 in 2023. This program includes more than $1.3 billion of additional bridge investments.

The interstate system connects all transportation systems in Iowa and facilitates the efficient movement of freight within, to/from, and through Iowa. This program includes projects to add lanes for more vehicles where necessary, replace major river crossings, and modernize interchanges to improve safety and handle future traffic demands such as:

• I-80 Middle Road Interchange reconstruction in Bettendorf
• I-80 Mississippi River bridge replacement
• I-35/80/235 Southwest Mixmaster modernization in Polk County
• I-380 widening from 120th Street to U.S. 30 (including Wright Brothers interchange reconstruction) in Linn County
• I-35 bridge replacement and widening at the U.S. 30 interchange in Ames
• I-35 widening between Ankeny and Iowa 210
• I-29 Madison Avenue interchange reconstruction in Council Bluffs
• I-29 interchange construction in Woodbury County
• Addition of more than 100 truck parking spots

Projects in this program that address safety and improve the way the roads function include:

• Iowa 21 near Belle Plaine and Iowa 333 in Hamburg to improve access during times of flooding
• U.S. 75 north of Sioux Center to the south junction of U.S. 18 to replace aging pavement
• Iowa 149 Des Moines River Bridge to Woodland Avenue in Ottumwa to replace aging pavement
• Iowa 12 Gordon Drive Bridge in Sioux City to replace an aging viaduct
• Iowa 58 Greenhill Road Interchange in Waterloo to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• U.S. 151 Interchange with Linn County Road X-20 at Springville to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• U.S. 30 Interchange at 610th Avenue at Nevada to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• Super-2 improvements on U.S. 63 in Tama County to provide more passing opportunities
• Iowa 9 Mississippi River Bridge replacement at Lansing

The Program is posted on the Iowa DOT’s website https://iowadot.gov/program_management/Five-Year-Program.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Griswold Rescue and Cass EMS crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident this (Tuesday) morning, in Griswold. The collision occurred at the intersection of Highwaya 92 & 48. The crash happened at around 8:24-a.m. One person was said to have suffered unknown/possible injuries. Additional details are currently unavailable.