The Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program today (Tuesday) released its 2016 Annual Report highlighting progress made on construction and design projects over the last year, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office.

Iowa DOT District 4 Engineer Scott Schram said “The program was very busy over the last year completing the railroad relocation project and building structures for the east system interchange. The annual report provides a high-level overview of all of the work and design engineering that occurred in 2016 to provide the public with a summary of how Iowa DOT is working to deliver this important highway improvement project.”

To view the annual report featuring information about completed and active projects, public outreach, program status, statistics for work completed in 2016, and 2017 key projects, visit http://councilbluffsinterstate.iowadot.gov/2016annualreport/. To request a hard copy of the report, or for general information regarding the program, contact the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program office by phone at 712-216-3339 or email info@CouncilBluffsInterstate.com.

The Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing interstates 29, 80, and 480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time while this interstate improvement takes effect.

The Audubon Police Department reports the arrest on Monday of 20-year old Kira Spring Eng, of Irwin, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. Eng was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

And on Saturday, 27 year old Carl Joseph Musser, of Hamlin, was arrested in Audubon for Driving Under Suspension.  Musser was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released on promise to appear in court.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A pickup driver has been charged in the traffic death last summer of a Florida man who was participating in a cross-Iowa bicycle ride. Mills County Attorney Naeda Elliott said in a news release Tuesday that 34-year old Robb Philippus, of Glenwood, committed a misdemeanor traffic violation.

The Iowa State Patrol says 72-year-old Wayne Ezell, of Jacksonville, Florida, and his bicycle were hit from behind by Philippus’ truck while heading west July 24, 2016 on U.S. Highway 34. The Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa set out from Glenwood that morning.

Investigators found no evidence that Philippus was under the influence of alcohol or any drugs that day. Investigators say Philippus stopped immediately and rendered aid to Ezell.

A charge of “Actions Against Bicyclists” means Philippus could face up to 30 days in jail and a fine between $65-to $625.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. On Sunday, 55-year old Albino Sanchez, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And, on Saturday, 26-year old Cory David Cleveland, of Glenwood, was arrested for Trespassing. Cleveland’s bond was set at $300, while the bond for Sanchez was set at $1,000.

The leader of the Iowa National Guard says the nine-thousand soldiers under his command are serving during the “longest, most challenging period of war and domestic emergencies” in the state’s history. “Nearly 40 percent of our currently-serving soldiers and airmen are combat veterans, the highest percentage in this organization’s modern history.”

Adjutant General Timothy Orr delivered his “Condition of the Guard” address this morning at the statehouse. Today, 425 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen are on active duty.  “Today’s evolving nature of warfare demands an evolving warrior,” Orr said, “one that is highly-educated, physically-fit, technologically-savvy and globally-aware.”

Eighty soldiers from two Iowa Guard units currently are serving in Afghanistan. Orr says guard units deployed to “more than a dozen locations around the globe” this past year. “We’ve executed every mission assigned,” Orr said. “We’ve served our state and our nation here at home and we’ve rapidly deployed wherever needed.”

Orr notes Camp Dodge — the Guard’s home base in Johnston — is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. More than 118-thousand World War One soldiers were trained at Camp Dodge.  “The one thing that has not changed is Camp Dodge’s reputation as a major training base preparing our soldiers and airmen for mobilization,” Orr says. “Today, Camp Dodge in Johnston is the third-busiest National Guard training base in the United States.”

Camp Dodge is undergoing a 20 million dollar upgrade. Orr says the importance of “rigorous training…cannot be overstated.” “We cannot afford to lose what we’ve worked so hard to achieve,” Orr said, “which is the best trained, equipped, led and battle-tested National Guard in our 178-year history in Iowa.”

Nearly 12-and-a-half million will be spent in Sioux City on a new structure to consolidate operations for the 185th Refueling Wing. “Readiness Centers” in Carroll and Fairfield will be remodeled this year. In late 2017, construction will begin on a new armory in Davenport. It will replace the oldest armory currently being used by the Iowa National Guard.  “Every armory and every wing in this state has been remodeled, refurbished or rebuilt within the last 25 years,” Orr says.

Ninety-seven percent of the Guard’s budget is financed by federal tax dollars. Orr used his annual address to thank legislators and Iowans for their “steadfast” and “phenomenal” support of the Iowa National Guard.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an Underwood man was arrested Monday afternoon, for Driving While Barred. 34-year old Brian James Hiltabidel was taken into custody following a traffic stop. And, 41-year old Angela Dawn Noel, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday night for OWI/1st Offense, following a traffic stop for an unreadable license plate.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say a Pottawattamie County woman turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday). 39-year old Julie Ann Luetje, of Walnut, was wanted on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for Probation Violation. The charge is the result of Luetje allegedly violating the terms of her probation related to an OWI conviction in 2016. Luetje posted a cash bond and was released. She’s scheduled to appear in court, Feb. 13th.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A bell that tolled for Council Bluffs fire calls as early as the 1800s is again hanging outside a city fire station after years in storage. Fire Chief Justin James tells The Daily Nonpareil that the bell is now hanging from a newly constructed Centennial Bell Tower at a fire station in the center of the city. It was placed in its new home Monday.

Jim and Kelly Salvo of Salvo’s Construction provided the heavy equipment needed to hang the 1,300 pound brass bell with a crane. The Salvos are also Council Bluffs firefighters. James says the $200,000 cost to construct the tower and restore the bell was funded by donations. He says the fire department’s next task is working on the roof and the plaza below.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a resident of the 2200 block of S. Cherry Road in Creston, reported Monday morning, that a man and woman had broken into her home and fled when she discovered them. The pair got away with property valued at $1,575. The items included a Sony laptop computer, meat slicer, wallet, DeWalt drill and bits, and a Cannon camera.

Police in Glenwood report officers with the Glenwood Police Department, Monday evening, assisted U-S Marshals Service Deputies, the State of Iowa Probation Office, and Mills County Sheriff’s Office, in apprehending a Nebraska man wanted on a U-S Marshals warrant. 59-year old Lloyd Thomas, of Omaha, was apprehended for Violating terms of his Federal Probation.

Thomas was located in Glenwood, after authorities received a tip, and searched two homes in the community. He was found by Sgt. Aaron Johansen in the vicinity of 3rd and Walnut Streets, in Glenwood.