Officials with the USDA report the Atlantic Food Pantry and Hamburg area will receive a total of 1,176-pounds of non-perishable goods, thanks to the efforts of the local  FSA, NRCS and Rural Development area offices. Cass/Audubon County Management Unit District Conservationist David York says half of the food collected (588-pounds) will go to the Atlantic Food Pantry, the other half will be delivered to the Hamburg area by Rural Development Employees. Those items will be distributed to victims of the Missouri River flood.

The goods were collected as part of the recently concluded “Feds Feed Families” event. USDA agencies across the nation were asked to participate in the event and collect non-perishable food items to donate to their local food pantries. Items collected include non-perishable food items such as fruits and vegetables, baby food, personal care items such as shampoo and soap, diapers, and bottled water.

Monica Robinson, program technician with FSA, and Kara Conn, RH technician with Rural Development were the leaders of this effort.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Amtrak is getting ready to resume part of its service between California and Chicago after last week’s derailment in southwest Nebraska. The railroad said Thursday that it would restart service between Denver and Emeryville, Calif., on Saturday, but Amtrak won’t resume carrying passengers across Nebraska and Iowa until sometime later this month. Amtrak says its California Zephyr will depart California on Saturday, and a westbound train will leave Denver on Sunday.

Amtrak suspended service after last Friday’s derailment near Benkelman, Neb. Two locomotives and three passenger cars were forced after the rails when the train struck a crane but no major injuries were reported. Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, which owns the tracks Amtrak uses in Nebraska, is still repairing flood damage near Omaha that forced long detours for Amtrak.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a brutally hot July and a relatively dry summer have caused a moderate to severe drought in about a third of Iowa and have lowered expectations for the state’s corn crop. Crop yield predictions are down, and some lawns, particularly in southeast Iowa, have yellowed without adequate rain. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted early last month that Iowa would average 177 bushels of corn per acre, down from 182 bushels in 2009 but higher than the 165 bushels per acre last year. But the continued lack of rain has prompted some private forecasters to drop the projection for Iowa’s corn yields to as low as 164 bushels per acre.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Iowa’s request for more time to appeal the agency’s decision rejecting flood aid to five counties along the Missouri River. Gov. Terry Branstad says he received word Thursday that the deadline has been extended to Oct. 7. FEMA notified the state on Aug. 4 that activation of the Federal Individual Assistance Program for Fremont, Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties was denied. The program helps homeowners, renters and businesses by providing grants and loans.

Iowa had 30 days to appeal. Branstad asked for an extension because the flood water is slowing recede and more damage will surface.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An interchange on Interstate 29 in Sioux City has reopened, nearly three months after it was closed because of flooding on the Missouri River. The Iowa Department of Transportation says in a news release Thursday that the I-29 and Hamilton Blvd. interchange has fully reopened to traffic. Transportation officials say the roadway has been cleaned and repainted, and all traffic control devices restored. The ramps on the south side of the interchange had been closed since June 4.

ATLANTIC – Cass County Health System will be hosting a Women’s Health Expo on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.  The free event is open to the public and will be held in the Cass County Memorial Hospital Atrium from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  Light refreshments will be served, and there will be several doorprize drawings.

Historically, women have been the primary healthcare decision makers for families, but often don’t take time to maintain their own health.  Throughout the country, hospitals are developing women’s health programs to address a broad spectrum of health issues.  The CCHS event will feature over 20 women’s health services, all provided either at CCHS or within the Cass County community.  The event is designed as an open house, so participants can come and go at their own pace. There are two scheduled events during the evening, hospital tours (6:00 and 6:45 pm) and bra fitting demonstrations (5:45 and 6:30 pm).

“Some people don’t realize that we offer most of the major women’s health services right here at home,” noted Diann McLaren, RN, Co-Coordinator for Women’s Health Services.  “We’re working to correct that by providing more community outreach on these important health concerns.”

In an effort to address a wide range of women’s health needs, the CCHS women’s health team has invited several community partners to participate in this event to showcase some of the non-medical services available for women.  “We really are interested in addressing the broad definition of health,” Diann noted.  “It is well known that stress and lifestyle habits affect our physical health, so it is important to look at all aspects of health together.”

Atlantic Police said today (Thursday), no injuries were reported following a two-vehicle collision Wednesday afternoon, near the intersection of 8^th and Cedar Streets. Officials say a vehicle driven by William Bennett, of Kimballton, struck the door of a legally parked car registered to Paige Boken, of Atlantic, as Bennett was traveling south on Cedar. The accident happened at around 2:20-p.m.

Damage from the mishap amounted to $7,000. No citations were issued.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Branstad today released two letters he has sent to United States Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe regarding the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) plan to close rural post offices and processing centers in Iowa. Gov. Branstad has asked Postmaster General Donahoe to consider numerous options as they seek to overcome financial challenges.

“Under the USPS’s current plan, Iowa would see 17.9 percent of our state’s post offices closed, compared to 11 percent of proposed closures nationally,” said Branstad. “I am concerned that the Postal Service’s current plan is disproportionate and puts too much of the burden on rural Iowans.”  

Branstad suggests there are many options to close the USPS budget shortfall, like having postmasters serve multiple locations, reducing service hours or permitting the Postal Service to sell non-postal products. Many of the rural communities, their citizens and their business owners rely on the services of the Post Offices. Closing the Post Offices would put the communities at an economic disadvantage, stated Branstad.

Gov. Branstad and Lohrville Mayor Donny Hobbs co-wrote a letter to Postmaster General Donahoe requesting a meeting with senior USPS officials. They also encouraged the creation of a commission to reconsider closure recommendations and called for a moratorium on closure of postal facilities.

Additionally, Gov. Branstad co-authored a letter with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn requesting a meeting to explore all cost saving options that both fits the USPS’s business model and serves Iowa and Illinois’ rural citizens.

“I would like to personally thank Iowa’s entire congressional delegation for voicing their constituents’ concerns to federal leaders,” said Branstad. “Iowans understand the need for fiscal discipline and a balanced budget, but they also believe the Postal Service should consider reasonable alternatives suggested by the people and communities affected by the closures.”

For more on information, please visit www.governor.iowa.gov.

The Missouri River is falling back into its banks after months of flooding, yet the high water is still causing problems. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the flooded waterway has caused the temporary shutdown of an Omaha fuel distribution terminal that provides gasoline to many retailers in the region. White says some gas stations have run out of certain blends and gas prices have jumped up a dime-a-gallon.

“This is expected to be short-term and we’re hoping that the problem will be resolved within the next week,” White says. “In the meantime, they seem to be getting product from other suppliers so it is getting into the metro area as needed.” However, White says those oil tankers are being forced to drive to Des Moines and other locations to get fuel. White says there is no shortage of gas, so hording is not necessary.

“The one thing we do not want to do is create any type of panic situation,” White says. “There is plenty of a supply available so we do encourage all motorists to just buy your supply as needed as you normally do.” Since the gasoline is being transported from more distant locations, White says gas stations in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area may not have some fuel blends available. She says, “Some stations may experience temporary outages of certain blends of fuel due to delivery delays but the problem is not expected to be long-term or widespread.”

Once the terminal in Omaha is running again, White says gas prices should start to drop.
“When the supplies resume back to normal and with the summer travel season coming to an end, the combination of the two will hopefully help to drive down prices,” she says.

The statewide average price for gasoline is now three-63, a penny higher than the national average.

(Radio Iowa)

An Exira woman was arrested this (Thursday) morning on a charge of 2^nd degree theft, in connection with the theft of more than $5,000 from her employer. Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports 43-year old Sherri Lynn Jorgensen was taken into custody at around 8:30-a.m.

Johnson says the charges stem from an investigation to money allegedly taken from an unidentified Exira business, where Jorgensen was an employee. The funds were allegedly misappropriated over the course of the past year.

The incident remains under investigation. The sheriff says Jorgensen made an appearance before the magistrate, and was released from custody. Her preliminary hearing was set for September 19^th.