The Mills County Sheriff’s Department today (Thursday) released a cumulative report on arrests and incidents which took place over the past couple of weeks.  Arrests made this week include: On Wednesday…36-year old Markus Eugene Johnson, of Red Oak, for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and altering a VIN. Johnson was arrested at the Hastings Co-Op. His bond was set at $5,300, and, 47-year old Steven Jon Rumussen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

On Tuesday, authorities in Mills County arrested 35-year old Julia Hong Vogel on a warrant out of Amarillo, TX, for being a Fugitive from Justice/Probation Violation. Vogel was being held without bond. She was taken into custody at an Interstate 29 rest stop in Mills County.

On Labor Day, Mills County deputies arrested 35-year old Orrie Lee Gordon, of Malvern, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000. And, on Sunday, deputies arrested:37-year old Matthew Scott Bessigner, of Omaha, on Public Intoxication and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. His bond was set at $600; 41-year old Daniel Kenneth Vanderpool II, of Malvern, was also arrested Sunday, on OWI/1st offense, Driving Under Suspension, Violation of a Protective Order, and Harassment in the 1st degree charges, as well as on two counts of Child Endangerment, and a charge of Domestic Abuse with Intent to Cause Serious Injury. Vanderpool was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail on the latter charge, while his bond for the other offenses was set at $7,566.

Sheriff’s Deputies also investigated four incidents of theft and/or burglary between August 28th and September 4th, and one incident each of trespassing and fraud.

For over one hundred years the Missouri River kept the steamboat Bertrand hidden away.  Last year the raging river almost claimed it a second time.

A model of the Steamboat “Bertrand”

On  Sunday, September 16th, the Historical Society of Pottawattamie county will present “Almost Lost a Second Time: The Rescue of the Bertrand Collection in 2011.”  The audio/visual program examines the evacuation of the Bertrand artifacts during last year’s devastating flood.

Bertrand Museum curator Dean Knudsen will explain plans for the new exhibits and answer questions about the Bertrand.  The presentation will be held at 2pm in the auditorium of the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Avenue in Council Bluffs.  The program is free and open to the public.

The steamboat Bertrand was bound for Virginia City, Montana Territory, when it hit a submerged log and sank April 1, 1885.  There were no fatalities but all cargo was lost.  Salvagers located the ship in 1968.  The recovered contents makes up the largest intact collection of Civil War era artifacts in existence today.  The Bertrand Museum at the DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge told the story of the ill-fated steamboat but has been closed since the Missouri River flooded the refuge last summer.

For more information contact the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County at 323-2509 or visit www.TheHistoricalSociety.org.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has announced a short term road closure will be in effect from today (Thursday), through Friday, and possibly through the weekend. The Secondary Roads Department in Shelby County  has closed a portion of Street F-58 ( east of the intersection with Road M-56, and west of Woodland Road), to all traffic. The Shelby County EMA will advise the media when the road is officially open, and we’ll pass that information along to you.

The 5^th Annual “Fields of Flight” Hot Air Balloon Festival will welcome more than 20 hot air balloonists from across the country this weekend.  Area residents can enjoy the floating works of art as they grace the skies of Pottawattamie County on Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th, beginning at 5:00pm.  The hot air balloons and their pilots will light up the evening skies at the nightly balloon glows, held both evenings.

Net proceeds from the annual event will go to purchase food for MICAH House, an emergency shelter in Council Bluffs serving families and individuals who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness. The funds will support services for more than 760 individuals annually, half of whom are children. For over 26 years, MICAH House has been a haven of shelter and support services for those who are homeless and is the only family shelter in the metro area.

Guests enjoy admission for just $1.00, $5.00 parking (per car), and fun entertainment featuring something for every member of your family including competition and fun flights, balloon glows, live music, kids activities, apples, a wide variety of food items unique to the orchard/vineyard, and wine. Spread out your blanket and enjoy a truly memorable experience in one of Council Bluffs most beautiful settings, Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard, located at 19475 225^th Street.

For more information on this special event or to learn more about MICAH House, please contact Lisa Emken at 712-323-4416

* All balloon flights and displays are weather permitting.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said today (Thursday), that the Fire Danger Index will remain in the “Extreme” category in Shelby County. Seivert says his office will continue to monitor any rain that falls over the weekend, to see if there is any impact on reducing the fire danger. Farmers in the area are working on bringing in their crops, and as the amount of available fuel for explosive fire growth…corn, beans, and tall grasses.. are removed from the equation, the threat of uncontrolled fires will continue to diminish as well. The next scheduled update on the fire conditions, is expected on Monday, Sept. 10th.

In the meantime, extra precautions should be taken while farmers are out in the field, to ensure their machines are free of debris and that fires are not started behind those implements while the harvest is underway.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Due to a lack of water pressure at the Middle School building in Exira, no students will report to that building today.  All other students that attend the EHK building will still report for classes today.

The Atlantic City Council unanimously approved a new School Bus Loading Zone ordinance, which takes effect immediately. Their action means parking is prohibited on the east side of Linn Street, from 8^th Street north 100-feet, from 7:45-a.m. to 3:15-p.m., for the purpose of loading buses when school is in session. The affected area is by the Ann Wickman Center in Atlantic. Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green and School Bus Superintendent Dave Eckles had requested the change for the safety of the children.

In other business, the Council Wednesday voted 6-to-1 against an expanded tobacco free policy,  that would have prohibited city employees from using tobacco during company paid time while on the job site, building, or contiguous city owned grounds. The policy also prohibited smoking in an employees’ own vehicle parked on city property. Councilman Shawn Shouse cast the only yes vote. A Tobacco Free Policy for City Hall was originally enacted in February of 2007. The expanded version would have also included a tobacco cessation program for City employees.

Police in Red Oak report a man wanted on several warrants was arrested Wednesday afternoon. 25-year-old Kyle Jacob Campbell was taken into custody on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County for a Parole Violation, and a Nodaway County, Missouri, Warrant for Driving While his License was suspended. Campbell was taken into custody without incident. He was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.