Residents of Sioux City are finally seeing some positive signs that the flooding Missouri River is going back down. Woodbury County Emergency Management Director, Gary Brown, says the Missouri dropped below flood stage late Wednesday. “It’s been 81 days since the Missouri River has been below flood stage in Sioux City, Iowa,” Brown said.

The river crested on July 21st, and Brown says it is now almost five feet lower. The receding waters are showing how much work is ahead in the recovery. Brown says they are seeing damage to property in collapsed sidewalks, farm fields damaged, and trees toppled over. “So we’re seeing what we expected we would when the water started going back down,” Brown says.

He says the race is on now to get as much cleaned up as they can before winter sets in. He says they’re starting to clean up some of the mud and muck cleaned up. Brown says they really hope to get a main intersection at Hamilton Boulevard and I-29 re-opened as quickly as they possibly can so businesses in the area can get running again.

While the floodwaters are going down, Brown is warning residents to stay away from flooded areas as they are still dangerous.

(Radio Iowa)

View from north side of restaurant, looking west

View from North side looking southeast

Dinner time at a popular restaurant in Elk Horn was disrupted this (Thursday) evening, when a car crashed into the building, injuring three people, two women and a man. The accident happened at around 5:40-p.m. Vern Kline owner of the Danish Inn, told KJAN News it was a normal night, when all of the sudden there was a crash.

Kline said he heard a loud noise, and turned to see a red Toyota Solara crashing into the north side of the building. He says three people were knocked to the ground. The car entered past the driver’s side door into the structure.

Kline said there were two people in the vehicle. He said they appeared to be fine, but three patrons in the restaurant were injured. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known, but Kline says they were taken away on stretchers. One of the patrons was nearly directly in front of the vehicle at a table, when it crashed. Two others were seated off to the side. None of the restaurant’s staff were injured.

The restaurant was closed for the rest of the evening, and it was unclear when it would reopen. Kline said he and his staff are still in shock over the event.  Additional details on the injured and what caused the crash are currently not available.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an western Iowa man died after a collision on Interstate 80 near Omaha that happened as traffic was backed up from an earlier accident.  29-year-old Andrew Shutters, of Council Bluffs, died when his car hit the back of a pickup truck about 6:45 a.m. on Thursday.

The Sarpy County sheriff’s office says the truck was stopped because traffic was still tied up from a collision between two semitrailers that happened around 6 a.m. The impact caused a fire in Shutters’ car. Witnesses removed both drivers before the fire spread. Shutters died at an Omaha hospital.

The driver of the pickup was taken to an Omaha hospital. Officials say his injuries were not considered life threating.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – State leaders are interested in hearing directly from the public on the impacts of flooding and how the Missouri River can be effectively managed at a meeting scheduled for Sept. 9 in Council Bluffs.  The meeting of the State of Iowa Missouri River Authority (SIMRA) is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Looft Conference Center at Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road in Council Bluffs. The agenda, which includes participation by Gov. Terry Branstad, includes updates on the flooding impacts and recovery efforts as well as a panel discussion.

The public comment and question period is scheduled from 2:15-3:05 p.m. and all comments will be distributed to the relevant state personnel in the departments/agencies involved in the SIMRA organization for further consideration. Agencies included in SIMRA are the Iowa Governor’s Office, natural resources, economic development, transportation, the Iowa Utilities Board and agriculture.

Those unable to attend the meeting in person can also provide written comments by fax at 202-624-8189 or by email at Christine.bartel@iowa.gov.

ATLANTIC – Dr. Seann Atkinson will be joining Atlantic Medical Center (AMC) in October 2011.  Dr. Atkinson is a board-certified family practice physician, currently practicing in Sturgis, SD.

Dr. Seann Atkinson and family

He will provide comprehensive family medicine services. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Atkinson join our practice,” said Dr. Angela Weppler, AMC Family Medicine Physician.  “He and his family will be a wonderful asset to our clinic, hospital and community.” In addition to caring for patients at Atlantic Medical Center, Dr. Atkinson will be on staff at Cass County Memorial Hospital.  “Dr. Atkinson comes to us with seven years of experience and outstanding recommendations,” noted Pat Markham, CCMH Administrator. “We are very pleased to add another such well-qualified physician to care for our patients throughout Southwest Iowa.”

Dr. Atkinson grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, and received his zoology degree from Iowa State University.  He graduated from the Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center in 2001, and went on to the Rapid City Regional Hospital Family Practice Residency Program, Rapid City, SD.  Since completing his residency in 2004 he has practiced with the Regional Health Physicians in Sturgis, SD, providing inpatient, outpatient and emergency room care.  “From my first visit, the medical professionals and staff in Atlantic have been very welcoming,” Dr. Atkinson said.  “They are a wonderful group of people, and I’m looking forward to joining them.”

Dr. Atkinson and his wife, Shelly, have three children – Tyler (9), Brayden (7), and Kayla (4).   “We fell in love with Atlantic – the people, community and lifestyle,” Dr. Atkinson continued.  “It’s just what we were looking for!”

Pending approval of his Iowa medical license, Dr. Atkinson will begin seeing patients at Atlantic Medical Center and Cass County Memorial Hospital in late October.

Police in Harlan report numerous arrests were made this week. On Sunday: 18-year old Brandon Allen, of Harlan, was arrested on charges including four-counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, prohibited acts penalties, and ongoing criminal conduct; 21-year old Dane Dodge, of Harlan, was arrested for interference with official acts, driving with defective equipment, and failure to prove proof of insurance; 29-year old Tacy Bruck of Panama, was arrested on a charge of public intoxication, and 29-year old Bruce Spray, of Harlan, was arrested on a charge of 2^nd offense OWI, driving while revoked, and failure to obey a stop sign; and, 55-year old Jeron Henscheid, of Harlan, was arrested Monday, on a Shelby County warrant for contempt of court related to child support.

Each of those individuals were brought to the Shelby County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate. The Harlan P-D said also, after officers checked on a vehicle parked on the west side of the courthouse, Monday, it was determined the 1992 Buick Century had been reported stolen out of Harrison County. Officials in that county were notified, and the vehicle was returned to its owner.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently recognized Century and Heritage Farm families. The event took place August 16^th, during the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines. To qualify, a family must have owned at least 40-acres for 100-years or more, in the case of Century Farms, and 150-years or more, for a Heritage Farm.

This year, 341 Century Farms and 56 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among the Century Farms was: In Adair County – The Norman Kading, Incorporated, E. Eldon Eversull, and Bob Condon farms; In Adams County, the Tanner and Brittina Lund farm; in Audubon County, the Anthony P. Anthofer and Merle and Muryl Vokt farms; in Cass County, the LaVerne and Karen Ackerman farm; in Guthrie County, the Randy and Cynthia Ruth farm; in Montgomery County, the Terry Regan and Michael M. Anderson farms; in Pottawattamie County, the Ronald R. Paasch farm; and, in Shelby County, the Phyllis M. Allen, Joseph and Patricia Michels, and Mary Ann S. Schwery farms.

The Heritage Farm Program began in 2006, on the 30^th Anniversary of the Century Farm Program. To date, more than 500 farms have been recognized. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has partnered with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation since 1976, to recognize families that have owned and worked a farm for 100-years or more. Including this year’s recipients, more than 17,000 farms across the state have been recognized.

Don Johnson, Assistant Administrator for Human Resources, is shown congratulating Claire on her award.

The 2011 Cass County Health System scholarship was awarded to Claire Markham of Atlantic.  Claire received her bachelor’s degree in Medical Mathematics from Creighton University last May.  She is currently enrolled  in the Creighton University School of Medicine.

w/ Ric Hanson

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