The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents in the County not to give out their personal information to unfamiliar callers and/or in response to mail solicitations. Giving out that information may lead to identity theft. The Sheriff’s Office says you should never give out your personal information over the phone, and never send your personal information to any requestor that you do not know and trust. That includes bank information, credit information, social security numbers, and family information. They advise you not to respond to any mailings of doubtful origin, and to hang up on callers requesting personal information.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Investigators say an explosion that destroyed a vacant house in Council Bluffs earlier this week, was caused by a ruptured propane line that let the gas leak into the basement. Tuesday afternoon’s explosion in a neighborhood just south of Interstate 80 blew the house 60-feet into the air and spread debris blocks away. No one was injured. Council Bluffs Fire Chief Alan Byers says the extent of the damage has made the investigation difficult. “Somehow, propane was leaked into the basement, filled the house and there was an ignition source. With the amount of damage and the way the debris was spread out, we’re probably never going to know exactly what happened,” Byers said. Although the house was vacant, there was still propane in a tank and electric service hooked up to the home.

Byers said the last known occupant vacated the home three weeks ago. “We don’t know if someone got in the house and was using it, was trying to steal something, broke the (propane) line…we’re just not going to know,” Byers said. “Again, we had debris 60 foot up in the trees and scattered out over an almost 2,000 foot diameter area, so it’s just going to be impossible to tell.” The house was in foreclosure and just passed a city inspection in recent weeks. Byers said neighbors were asked about activity at the home.

“We had reports of cars in the area the night before, but no license numbers or anything like that,” Byers said. “We’re probably never going to figure out what really happened.” The loud blast led to numerous 911 calls. Officials locked down the nearby Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School for about 20 minutes as a precaution because the source of the explosion was not immediately known.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, heard from one city resident who is not happy with the way people in his part of the community are being treated by road construction crews working in the area. Steve Green told the Council crews from Western Engineering working on resurfacing Redwood Drive, were very rude Tuesday evening as he and some of his neighbors were turning onto Redwood Drive after coming home from work. He says the workers were yelling at the motorists and making rude gestures. Green asked with 22^nd Street being torn up at the same time, how were the residents supposed to make their way home? He said one resident had to drive through a field off of Ash Street to get to their home because of the construction.

Green says he wanted the Council to know the workers were being rude, and don’t need to act that way, when the residents are little with very few options on how they can make it home and into work. Mayor Dave Jones asked if the residents had access via one lane of the street. Green said they do, but the road crews weren’t happy with them being there. He says they had no choice but to traverse the street.  City Administrator Doug Harris said a lot of people are frustrated with the pace of road construction and repairs, but progress is being made. Harris said he would follow-up on Green’s complaint and talk with Great Western Engineering officials.

In other business, the Council Wednesday tabled action on a Resolution to approve the method of disposition of certain City-owned property located northwest of the intersection of Olive and Commerce Streets, until the land is surveyed, fact-finding is complete, and the property lines clearly marked on City maps. The move was designed to eliminate confusion over who has the rights to lease and or buy the land, and an adjacent property owner’s concerns about the legal description of the land. 

The Council also adopted by a 5-to-1 vote, on the 2^nd reading, an Ordinance establishing a Minimum Maintenance Code, which requires residents to keep structures on their properties in reasonably good repair. Councilman Kern Miller was the lone nay vote, saying afterward, he questioned how the rule would be enforced. And, the Council unanimously passed a Resolution adopting a City records retention schedule, which will spell out how long certain documents should be kept.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on sexual abuse charges. 21-year old Benjamin Wyatt Barnes faces three felony counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. Barnes was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $10,000 bond.

The City Council in Walnut is set to meet Thursday evening. Among the matters on their agenda, is: discussion of the creation of a possible 3-way stop on Antique City Drive, in front of the Walnut Community School; the resignation of Zoning Administrator Jim Tooley; the possible acquisition of 308 Atlantic Street in Walnut; discussion with regard to solid waste disposal, and, garbage collection during the week of Thanksgiving.

The Walnut City Council meeting begins at 5-p.m., Thursday.

An accident on westbound Highway 6 by the Walnut exit has closed that lane of traffic earlyt his afternoon. Expect delays. No other information is currently available.

Neola artist Russell Christensen works on a clay Eagle sculpture

Supporters of the Eagle of Honor project in Council Bluffs say a groundbreaking ceremony will take place this weekend for the Council Bluffs Eagle of Honor project titled “Freedom with Honor.”  The public is invited to the Saturday, November 5, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. at the RailsWest museum lawn at 16^th and Main St.  The Veterans Day parade begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Council Bluffs and the groundbreaking will follow the parade. Refreshments will be served. 

The Eagle of Honor project is a county-wide project to honor all Veterans of the Armed forces of the United States.  The Veterans memorial is designed to pay homage to the valor and bravery of Veterans and their families, who have served, are serving and will serve in the future.  

The eagle is a bronze American Eagle statue, 42 inches high, designed by artist Russell Christensen of Neola.  Every city within Pottawattamie County will have a different Eagle monument surrounded by a unique plaza or welcoming area. Council Bluffs is one of the last cities in the county to have an Eagle memorial built.  

For more information on the Eagle of Honor project, log onto www.eaglesofhonorproject.com

Graphic of gunshot detection system from shotspotter.com

Omaha-Council Bluffs is the first community in the region to begin installing a new type of technology that will pinpoint where gunshots ring out in the metro area. Omaha Police Officer Jacob Bettin says the gunfire detection system uses sensors that are being placed all over town in undisclosed locations. “The system identifies the fact that shots have been fired and then notifies law enforcement and informs them of where to go,” Bettin says. 

It can apparently differentiate between gunshots and other loud noises — from fireworks to engine backfires. Much like satellites in the GPS system triangulate a location, this system will use the same technique to let police know the exact location of gunshots. He says, “That allows us to get to the area more efficiently than waiting for the public and allows us to know with greater detail where that incident is occurring and how to safely respond.” 

Bettin says the technology is called the Shot Spotter and it’s being installed following the awarding of a 900-thousand dollar grant from the U-S Department of Justice. “Now, we’re going to have the ability to get there sooner and potentially be able to make an arrest,” he says, “regardless of if it’s a simple shots fired or destruction of property or even a homicide.”

Bettin believes they can make more arrests and help reduce gun crime by using this technology. The system, once operational, will detect where a shot is fired more quickly and accurately than someone who calls 9-1-1. The system should go online later this month. 

(Radio Iowa)

Judi Nelson (center), Registered Nurse at Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCMH), was honored as a Hospital Hero at the Iowa Hospital Association’s (IHA) annual meeting this fall. Presenting the award to Judi are Gary Riedmann, IHA Board Chair, and Pat Markham, CCMH Administrator.

A Registered Nurse at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, was recently honored by the Iowa Hospital Association as one of 10 Hospital Heroes from across the state of Iowa.  Judi Nelson was selected for her efforts in organizing the Every 15 Minutes program for students at Atlantic High School last spring. Every 15 Minutes is a two-day unique educational experience designed to teach students the dangers and consequences of driving while drinking or distracted. 

Nelson organized over 100 volunteers to provide this life-saving educational program, including CCMH staff, community and business volunteers.  After a successful first year, she’s now working to provide the program for Griswold High School in the spring of 2012, and hopes to bring it to CAM High School and back to Atlantic in the future.

Judi was nominated by her co-workers, with letters of support from Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay and Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green.  The Hospital Heroes were recognized at a special presentation program during the IHA’s annual meeting in Des Moines.