OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities were using boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least one person. The scramble to move people out of harm’s way was expected to subside going into the new week, as rivers and creeks in flooded eastern Nebraska and western Iowa were expected to crest Saturday and Sunday. That left officials downstream looking to prepare for likely flooding.

A man rescued from his stalled and flooded vehicle in western Iowa, Saturday, was flown to a hospital in Omaha. According to reports, the man called for help shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday and told emergency dispatchers he was stranded in a truck that was taking on water in Pacific Junction. Officials say it was almost an hour before rescue crews could reach him. He was flown to the hospital around an hour later. His name and medical condition have not been released.

The National Weather Service said the Missouri River at St. Joseph reached nearly 26 feet on Saturday, about a foot below what’s considered major flooding at the northwest Missouri city. But it’s expected to crest Wednesday or Thursday at 29.3 feet — more than two feet above major flooding level.

Evacuation efforts in eastern Nebraska and some spots in western Iowa on Saturday were hampered by reports of levee breaches and washouts of bridges and roads. In Mills County, authorities ordered people in some rural areas to evacuate after the Missouri River overtopped levees. Officials in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska were urging people not to drive unless necessary.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Abraham Schweers, of Lenox, was arrested Saturday in the 100 block of North Main Street, in Lenox. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct after allegedly sitting in his vehicle and sounding his horn for an extended period of time in the 200 block of West Grove.

Schweers was being held at the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office on $300 bond

One-person died and two others were injured when the vehicle they were in drove around a road barrier and into flood waters, Friday night, in southwest Iowa. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports Emergency personnel were called to the 3000 block of 250th street west of the town of Riverton, for two subjects who were trapped in the flood water hanging on to trees.

At approximately 9:50-p.m., the Fremont County Dispatch Center was called by a citizen that was checking the flood waters and could hear people yelling for help. The citizen called 911 and reported the information and emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. The responding units used a boat to get to the two subjects clinging to the trees and extracted them from the water.

55-year old Aleido Rojas Galan from Norfolk, NE was one of the subjects that were submerged in the water. Galan was flown by LifeFlight to a hospital in Lincoln, NE., where he died from injuries unknown. 50-year old Santiago Morosta also of Norfolk,NE., was able to pull himself out of the water and into a tree. He was being treated at a hospital in Omaha. A third man was located about one-half mile west of where Galan and Morosta were recovered. 52-year old Juan Luis Quennons of Norfolk,NE was located in a ditch near a residence trying to get warm. Quennons was picked up by a Deputy and then later transported by the Iowa State Patrol to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, to be treated for his injuries. He was later transferred a hospital in Omaha.

The investigation shows that the three males were traveling eastbound on 250th st and drove around a Road Closed barrier and continued until the hit the flood water, where at that time the current of the water swept the car away leaving the subjects no choice but to try and swim to safety. The three individuals were traveling from Norfolk to Florida to see family.

Fremont County Deputies were assisted by the following units: Iowa DNR, Sidney Fire and Rescue, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Riverton Fire and Rescue, LifeNET, Iowa State Patrol, and Montgomery County EMA.

The Iowa Department of Transportation, Saturday night, said the I-29/U.S. 34/U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34) had closed in Mills County, due to a levee breach. Several flood closures remain in place for Interstates 29 and 680 as well as many surrounding roads and others throughout Iowa. Travel in Missouri and Nebraska is also being impacted by flooding, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Interstate closures include:

• I-680 in both directions between the Nebraska border and I-29 near Crescent (Mormon Bridge).
• The North portion of I-680 between I-80 and I-29 remains open for northbound traffic.
• I-29 in both directions between the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) and North 25th Street in Council Bluffs.
• Northbound I-29 between U.S. 136 in Missouri (near Rock Port, MO) and the Iowa 92 interchange (in Council Bluffs).
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) has also been closed.
• Southbound I-29 between the I-80 interchange in Iowa (near Council Bluffs) and U.S. 136 in Missouri (near Rock Port, MO).

Local traffic is urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes. Detour routes and closures are changing rapidly, as levees continue to breach south of the Council Bluffs area.

Interstate 29 travelers are being detoured using the following route:

• Northbound I-29 traffic is being detoured at I-35 in Kansas City, MO where travelers will continue north on I-35 into Iowa. From Des Moines, travelers will drive west on I-80 and continue onto I-680 to connect back with northbound I-29 in Iowa.
• Southbound I-29 traffic will be detoured at Loveland onto eastbound I-680 where travelers will continue on to eastbound I-80 to Des Moines. From Des Moines, travelers will head south on I-35 into Missouri where travelers can connect with I-29 in Kansas City, MO.

Travelers should be aware that westbound I-680 on the detour route in Iowa is reduced to one lane due to damage from previous flood waters. Visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter.

Elsewhere, Highway 59, one-mile south of Harlan, is reduced to one-lane because of flooding. Temporary traffic lights are in-place.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

(RIVERTON, IA) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man died after the vehicle he was in was inundated by flood waters Friday night. Emergency personnel were called to the 3000 block of 250th street west of Riverton, for two subjects that were trapped in the flood water hanging on to trees. The responding units used a boat to get to the two subjects clinging to the trees and extracted them from the water, including 55-year old Aleido Rojas Galan from Norfolk, NE., who was flown to a hospital in Lincoln, where he died from unknown injuries. The second man was being treated at a hospital in Omaha. A third man was located later, about one-half mile west of the other victims. He was transported to the hospital in Hamburg. An investigation revealed that when the three men were in a vehicle that went around a Road Closed barrier, their vehicle ran into the flood water and was swept away, leaving the men with no choice but to try and swim to safety.

(GLENWOOD) – The Iowa Dept. of Transportation, Saturday night, said the I-29/U.S. 34/U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34) had now closed in Mills County due to a levee breach. Several flood closures remain in place for Interstates 29 and 680 as well as many surrounding roads and others throughout Iowa. Travel in Missouri and Nebraska is also being impacted by flooding, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — As rivers and creeks in flooded eastern Nebraska and western Iowa crest Saturday, officials have begun looking downstream at likely flooding further south along the Missouri River. The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson met with emergency management team members Friday to review and update flood-response plans. Some flooding of low-lying areas around the Missouri River in northwest Missouri had already been reported Saturday.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) — Authorities say a 33-year-old University of Iowa graduate student found dead at Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah apparently fell 500 feet from an overlook. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said Jonathan Hogue’s body was found Friday at the base over the Green River Overlook following a search that began Tuesday.

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential contender Beto O’Rourke is getting some early reminders that running for president can be a bumpy ride. He is acknowledging mistakes he made as a teen and as a candidate as he responds to criticism of his campaign rhetoric toward his wife as well as writings he produced online as a teenager. He made the comments while taping the “Political Party Live” podcast in Iowa.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) — Authorities say a 33-year-old University of Iowa graduate student found dead at Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah apparently fell 500 feet from an overlook.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said Jonathan Hogue‘s body was found Friday at the base over the Green River Overlook following a search that began Tuesday. His car was found near the overlook in the park’s Island in the Sky district.

Hogue was described as an avid hiker known for going off trail and traveling long distances.

A man rescued from his stalled and flooded vehicle in western Iowa has been flown to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha television station KETV reports the man called for help shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday and told emergency dispatchers he was stranded in a truck that was taking on water in Pacific Junction. Officials say it was almost an hour before rescue crews could reach him. He was flown to Nebraska Medicine around 8 a.m.

His name and medical condition have not been released. Authorities urged people to stay off the roads near rivers and creeks and warned motorists not to drive onto water-covered roads.

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Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in rural areas of Mills County in southwestern Iowa as the Missouri River overtopped levees there. Mills County Emergency Management officials issued the order Saturday, noting the river wasn’t done rising.

Residents in the evacuation area are required to leave as soon as possible but no later than 4 p.m. Saturday. An emergency shelter has been established north of the area at Salem United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs.

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Travel in western Iowa is still hampered by flooding, and officials there and in eastern Nebraska are urging people not to drive if they don’t need to. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s website says northbound Interstate 29 from the Missouri state line to about 40 miles north near the Pacific Junction exit remains closed due to flooding. Drivers on I-29 are being rerouted onto Interstate 35 in Kansas City, Missouri, north to Des Moines, Iowa, then over I-80 back to I-29 at Council Bluffs.

The detour takes drivers almost 140 miles out of the way.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests throughout the day on Friday.

At 12:39am Adams County Deputies arrested Keshav Kathikar of Wausu, WI for Violation of a No Contact Order.

At 9:55pm Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 148 and Hunter Trail for a vehicle’s failure to display license plates. It was then determined that the driver Janet Marie Scuturio was wanted in Douglas County, NE for Child Neglect. During the stop Deputies noticed an overwhelming marijuana smell coming from the vehicle. Scuturio admitted that she had marijuana in the truck that she had just purchased. Two children under the age of 18 were in the vehicle. Scuturio was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense and 2 Counts of Child Endangerment. She was being held awaiting extradition to Douglas County, NE.

An hour later at 10:55pm Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Highway 34 and Mulberry Avenue for a speeding vehicle that had no rear lights. The driver of the vehicle, Justin Horne of Plattsmouth, NE, did not have a valid driver’s license. K9 Baxo was deployed at the scene and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Horne was found to be in possession of marijuana and a marijuana pipe. He admitted to Deputies that he was under the influence of marijuana and had also taken a few shots of alcohol. He was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and 6 Counts of Child Endangerment.

Then at 11:45pm Adams County Deputies arrested Joleeen Most on Adams County Warrants for Violation of a No Contact Order and Harassment 3rd Degree.

A Red Oak woman was injured following a two-vehicle accident on Friday night. Red Oak Police responded to the accident at 11:36pm at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. 4th Street. After investigation it was determined that a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by 17-year-old Bryan Johnathon Erp of Red Oak was traveling north on N. 4th Street and stopped at the intersection with Highway 34. Erp and his two passengers stated they stopped at the intersection and proceeded but did not see a 2008 Buick Enclave that was traveling westbound on Highway 34. The Explorer struck the Enclave in the front driver’s side causing the Explorer to spin around 180 degrees and eventually stop after being put into park. The Enclave was driven by 67-year-old Betty Jean Blackwell of Red Oak and her vehicle came to rest in the north lane side of the highway facing west.

Blackwell was trapped in her vehicle but Red Oak Fire was able to pry the door open and get her out of the vehicle. She was taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital with a suspected head injury. Erp and his two passengers said they were fine and were released to their parents.

Erp was issued citations for Failure to obey stop sign and yield right of way and Violation of a minor’s restricted license. Damage to the Ford was estimated at $5,000 and damage to the Buick was estimated at $8,500.

Red Oak Police were assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Red Oak Fire Department.