Construction work will continue to restrict lanes on eastbound Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs through the weekend. The Iowa Department of Transportation will be closing the left lane of eastbound I-80 between exit 1 (I-29) and exit 1B (South 24th Street) from Friday at 10 PM until Monday at 6 AM weather permitting.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

The West Pottawattamie Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) in partnership with Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) has received a $20,900.00 DNR-REAP Conservation Education Program Grant to host Rainscaping Loess Soils and Sustainable Living classes. Cass County Conservation is partnered with them to bring the classes to the Atlantic Campus of IWCC. The Intro to Rainscaping Workshop is free to the public.  It will be held November 3, 2012. Topics covered at the Atlantic IWCC workshop include Green Roofs, Permeable Paving Systems, Rain Gardens, Worm Composting, and after a lunch break Rain Barrel Class. This workshop will be held at the Atlantic IWCC, Saturday November 3 from 9 AM to Noon. If you would like to build a Rain Barrel there is a $40/barrel fee.

To register for classes go to http://www.iwcc.edu/continuing_education/

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrests of three people the past few days.

On Thursday at about 1:20 AM, 31-year-old Kevin Scott Peteren of Glenwood was arrested on Hazel Street in Glenwood for 3rd degree burglary, 3rd degree attempted burglary, 5th degree theft, and public intoxication.  He was held on $3,600 bond.

On Tuesday at about 9 AM, 36-year-old Charles Curtis Kephart of Glenwood was arrested for 3rd degree sexual abuse.  He was held on $20,000 bond.

On Monday, 22-year-old Patrick Neil Jack of Malvern was arrested for violation of probation.  He was hld on $5,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today said that more than fifteen cattle herds primarily in western Iowa have had animals contract the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) virus.

EHD is a virus that is spread by biting midges and primarily affects deer.  A hard freeze kills midges and will stop the spread of the virus.

EHD can cause illness in cattle, including fever, ulcers in the mouth and gums, swollen tongue, excessive salivation, and lameness or stiffness when walking.  Death loss is uncommon in cattle and there is no evidence that the EHD virus can infect humans.

EHD rarely affects cattle, but the wild whitetail deer population in southern and western areas of Iowa and surrounding states is seeing the disease at high levels.  EHD is common in whitetail and other deer in some years and can be fatal in these deer.

Cattle farmers are advised to use insect control as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of having cattle that become infected.  Farmers who notice signs of illness in cattle are encouraged to immediately contact their veterinarian.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet Friday morning, in Atlantic. During the 9-a.m. session at the Courthouse, the Board will discuss appointing a Safety Coordinator, with regard to a recommendation from the Iowa Municipal Worker’s Compensation Association (IMWCA).

Board Chair Duane McFadden reviewed the IMWCA workers’ compensation safety review onsite visit by Loss Control representative Ed Morrison.  Following his September 11th visit, Morrison said he finds the workplace to be generally safe and compliant.  However, he recommended that Cass County “appoint a safety coordinator to assess the state of safety in the workplace, promote safety and ensure compliance with established safety programs and policies.”  The matter was taken under advisement during the Board’s meeting last week.

The Supervisors, Friday, will also discuss and/or possibly act on, a valuation exemption agreement for an Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area (URA) parcel or parcels.

Check your numbers, as your net worth may’ve jumped overnight by several digits. A Powerball ticket sold somewhere in Iowa won the jackpot in last (Wednesday) night’s drawing worth 202-million dollars. But that’s not all, according to the Iowa Lottery’s Mary Neubauer, who says it may have been the “winningest” night in Iowa lottery history.

There were four big prize winners last night here in Iowa including both Powerball and Iowa’s $100,000 Cash Game,” Neubauer says. In addition to the 202-million dollar Powerball jackpot, there were also one-million-dollar and ten-thousand dollar winners in the Powerball last night. Plus, there was a grand prize winner in Iowa’s Hundred-Thousand Dollar Cash Game. Neubauer can’t say yet where any of the winning tickets were sold.

“This was such an unusual evening, we need to sort through all of these details,” she says. “Lottery security was working on it last night and is already working on it this morning. It certainly does not appear that there was anything amiss but we just need to review all of these details and we hope to have that information ready to release later this morning.” Neubauer says it’s the second time this year a Powerball ticket sold in Iowa has won the monster jackpot.

This 202-million dollar winner is Iowa’s second-largest jackpot winner, right behind the 241-million dollar “Shipping 20” prize claimed in June by a group of Quaker Oats factory workers in Cedar Rapids. Neubauer says September 26th of 2012 may go down in Iowa Lottery history.

“We think this may have been Iowa lottery players’ winningest night ever, or luckiest night or whatever you want to call it,” she says. “We can’t remember a time when we ever had this many big winners all in one night. It certainly is unusual news.” Last night’s jackpot winning ticket for Powerball had the numbers: 13, 26, 39, 41, 42 and the Powerball number 10. Learn more at: www.ialottery.com

A Cumberland woman was cited after crashing her pickup into a dump truck performing maintenance on Wednesday in Harlan.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports that at about 1:20 PM, Sylvia Hoffman of Cumberland was driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup north on highway 59 about two miles south of Harlan.  Keith Myers of Oakland was operating an Iowa DOT dump truck on the east shoulder performing maintenance.  Hoffman lost control of her pick up and struck the rear of the dump truck.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene.  Neither driver sustained injuries.  Hoffman was cited for failure to maintain control.

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Shelby County Emergency Manager Bob Seivert says today (Thursday), that the Fire Danger level will remain in the “HIGH” category until further notice. Seivert cites wind conditions and low relative humidity.  The Fire Danger rating in Shelby County is based on input from local fire chiefs and the Emergency Manager, and weather factors.

Controlled Burns should only be conducted with the knowledge of the local Fire Chief.  Open burning is discouraged.

Seivert says the local farmers have done an extremely good job during harvest.  He says not one combine fire was reported during the month of September.  Only one hay bailer caught fire.

The next update from Shelby County regarding fire danger is scheduled for Monday.  Seivert says he expects the Fire Danger to remain high into the month of October.

w/ Brett Johnson

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