A team of more than 70 Iowans and Nebraskans from the Omaha District of the Army Corps of Engineers has returned from a lengthy hurricane recovery mission in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Most of them spent eight weeks or more offering emergency assistance. Michael Welch, power plant superintendent at Gavins Point Dam, headed up the “Blue Roof Mission” which helped secure temporary covers of blue tarps atop damaged homes.

“Some houses were absolutely destroyed and the Blue Roof Mission could not be applied to those homes,” Welch says. “I would say the Corps of Engineers’ disaster response to the blue roof people was like the infantry. They’re actually boots on the ground, canvassing neighborhoods, directly talking people to people.”

Welch and his team were initially sent to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he says they saw near total destruction. “It was also amazing how positive the people were,” he says. “It’s like any natural disaster. People realize it’s the basics of life that are important, that they’re alive and that all of the possessions they had can be replaced and that their family is safe. Those are the things that I’m reminded of when I go on a disaster response.”

Welch says the team members saw signs of recovery as they got ready to leave. “There were no leaves on any plants when we got there,” he says. “I got to St. Croix on the 24th of September and by the time we were leaving at the end of October, the trees had sprouted leaves and it was turning green again. It was amazing how fast nature can start the recovery process.”

Welch says the Corps will continue to rotate people into the hurricane areas as long as they are needed.

(Radio Iowa)

This Sunday (Nov. 12th), Fred Hubbell, Democratic candidate for governor of Iowa, will begin a four-day statewide mental health tour. One of his stops takes him to Harlan, he will be joined by rural mental health expert Dr. Michael Rosmann, former President of the National Sheriffs Association and current Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, along with local community mental health stakeholders. His “Harlan Rural Mental Health Roundtable Discussion” take place at the Milk & Honey Restaurant, (1101 7th St.), beginning at 3-p.m., Sunday.

Hubble is a lifelong progressive and fifth-generation Iowan, holds vast experience in both the public and private sector, who successfully ran several large companies like Younkers Department Chain and Equitable of Iowa. His 10-stop trip across the state includes discussions in both Sioux City and Harlan, on Sunday.

Along the way, he will be joined by county sheriffs, mental health professionals, and community leaders to hear about Iowa’s mental health crisis and discuss solutions to restore care and support to the mental health community. At each stop, Hubble will discuss his vision to revitalize Iowa’s mental health care.

More information about him and his campaign, can be found at FredHubbell.com.

ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a grandson of an 84-year-old man whose body was found by firefighters in northwest Iowa. The Rock Valley Police Department said in a news release Friday that 19-year-old Santos Rodriguez Jr. is charged with first-degree murder and arson in the slaying of Luis Luevanos. The older man’s body was found Oct. 29 after firefighters extinguished the blaze at the home he shared with Rodriguez. Investigators have since learned that Luevanos had been stabbed several times.

Police say Rodriguez left for Utah after the fire and was taken into custody there. Iowa investigators went to Utah to interview him, and police say Rodriguez admitted stabbing his grandfather and setting the fire. Court records don’t list an attorney who could comment for Rodriguez, who remains for now in Utah.

Events are taking place today (Friday) across the state in advance of Veteran’s Day, which in tomorrow (Saturday). In Sioux City, sailors from the soon to be commissioned U-S-S Sioux City are spending the weekend in the town for which their combat ship is named. This marks the second straight year that Command Master Chief Timothy Hardin has spent Veteran’s Day weekend in Sioux City. “This year, we wanted to do it again but bring different people. So, me and the commanding officer and the executive officer brought seven different people here so they visit and kind of connect the link between the ship Sioux City and the City of Sioux City,” Hardin said. The crew members, on Thursday, set up flags at Graceland Cemetery and along Lakeport Avenue. This morning (Friday-11am), they took part in a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Sioux City Public Museum. On Saturday, the crew will attend two Veterans Day breakfasts, serve lunch at the Gospel Mission and attend a Sioux City Musketeers hockey game Saturday night. Hardin, who has served in the Navy for 25 years, said this weekend will be a great experience for his crew.

USS Sioux City Crew in SXC 11-9-17

“You get to meet the people and learn the history of the town named for the ship,” Hardin said. The crew’s training is wrapping up at the U-S-S Sioux City’s current port of Marinette (mair-uh-net), Wisconsin. The ship will be launched in the summer of 2018 with a week-long celebration in Maryland. Nearly 100 sailors are expected to be assigned to the ship. The U-S-S Sioux City is part of a class of vessels that will be deployed close to shore for combat and security missions.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s Deputies in Audubon County, Wednesday, arrested a Guthrie County man wanted on an outstanding Audubon County warrant. 35-year old Jason Dean Smits, of Jamaica, was picked up from the Greene County Jail and transported to the Audubon County Jail, were he was charged with Failure to Appear for an Order to Show Cause for Child Support. Smits posted a $1,000 bond and was released. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Nov. 13th.

And, 27-year old Cole Jacob Benton, of Hamlin, was arrested Thursday afternoon on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. The charge was the result of an investigation into an incident at Benton’s residence. He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted a $300 cash bond before being released. His court date was also set for Monday.