(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Coordinator Doug Reed, Thursday (today) said in a new release that “An open burning ban will be in effect immediately for all areas and jurisdictions in Pottawattamie County. The ban prohibits all open and controlled burning in Pottawattamie County, including all incorporated city limits within the county.”

With the lack of sufficient ground moisture and precipitation, fire departments have responded to several grass/field fires requiring the need for multiple fire departments to respond to fight these fires. The current dry conditions and dead vegetative fuels create the perfect conditions for fires to spread rapidly.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw cigarettes out from moving vehicles and discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, and grass/agricultural ground during the ban. The ban will remain in effect until the county receives sufficient precipitation to alleviate the increased fire threat.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to criminal penalties as well as civil liabilities for any damages, losses, or injuries resulting from the fire.

Visit https://pcema-ia.org for more information on burn bans and the law. All residents are also encouraged to sign up for Alert Iowa at the website to receive alerts for fire danger, evacuation notices, severe weather threats, and community emergency notifications.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests over the past three-weeks.

• On October 26th, 48-year-old Angela Glade, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance (methamphetamine). Glade was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked in and held.
• On October 28th, 26-year-old Christopher Martin, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was taken into custody and transported to Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.
• On 29th of October, Atlantic Police arrested 41-year-old Leslie Wiston Altamirano, for Operating While the Under the Influence. She was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked in and held.
• The next day (October 30), 34-year-old Edward Davenport, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault and Harassment 3rd Degree. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.
• On November 3rd, Atlantic Police arrested 33-year-old Tyler Mills, of Atlantic, for Disorderly Conduct. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held. And, 41-year-old Matthew Ives, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.
• November 4th, Atlantic Police arrested 40-year-old Michelle Mahan, of Atlantic, for Simple Assault. She was cited into court and released. And, 42-year-old Ruben Sepio, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.

Atlantic Police report the arrest on November 3rd, of 33-year-old Tyler Mills, of Atlantic. Mills was arrested for Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Interference with Official Acts, and Violation of a No Contact Order. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held. On the 5th of November, 20-year-old Beau Dickerson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.

27-year-old Megan Magers, of Atlantic, was arrested November 7th, for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting).  She was cited into court and released. 40-year-old Zachary Frank, of Atlantic, was arrested November 9th, for Criminal Mischief 1st, Burglary 3rd Degree and Theft 2nd Degree. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held. On the 11th, 25-year-old Joseph Atoliph, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief 4th Degree & Public Intoxication and two Cass County Warrants for Public Intoxication and Criminal Mischief. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.

And, on November 14th, 27-year-old G Love Kovac, of Atlantic, was arrested  for Public Intoxication. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released information with regard to a non-injury, rollover accident that occurred November 1st. Authorities say a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a reported vehicle in the ditch just west of Dogwood Road, on 170th Street in Union County. When Deputy Noah Fargo arrived, he located a 2006 Chevy Malibu in the ditch, totaled (estimated $8,000 damage). The sheriff’s report said the vehicle appeared to be empty, with open beer cans and an open case of beer in the back seat.

An investigation determined the car hit the south side of a bridge and slid against it, causing the car to roll into the ditch and come to rest in a field just south of the road. A piece of the car was stuck on the bridge. Damage to the Union County-owned bridge railing was estimated at $2,500. The driver was subsequently identified as 58-year-old Christopher Lynn Franklin, of Creston. Franklin told authorities he struck a deer on his way home the night of November 1st. He claimed he wasn’t drinking at the time.

The report however, said evidence at the scene made it look different than Franklin described, because there was no evidence a deer had impacted the vehicle, and there was no deer carcass in the area. Franklin admitted to driven without a valid driver’s license. He was issued a citation for failure to show proof of security and liability. The citation amounted to nearly $797.00.