(Update! 11:18-a.m.)

A child scheduled to be born at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs couldn’t wait to see the world, and was instead delivered on an westbound Interstate off-ramp, near Marne, in Cass County. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering told KJAN News the baby made its appearance a little after 7-a.m. today [Tuesday] at Exit 51 off of I-80. The healthy, 8-pound 11-ounce baby girl was born to Chris and Erica Bengel, who named their daughter Brinley Nicole. The couple have lived in Atlantic for most of their lives.

Chris and Erica Bengel. (Photo from the Around Atlantic Facebook page)

Westering says by the time law enforcement arrived on the scene, the baby was already out and being taken care by the mother and father. Emergency responders provided the mother and baby with blankets before they were transported to the hospital in Atlantic.

Westering said Chris was understandably a bit jittery afterward, but both new parents handled the situation well.

While emergency personnel on the way to the scene, the Cass County Communications Center provided updates from the couple with regard to the baby’s progress. Cass County 911 Coordinator Rob Koppert gives a special shout out to the 911 dispatchers at Shelby County 911 in Harlan.

Koppert says the original 911 call was routed to Shelby County instead of Cass County (which frequently happens in that coverage area) and Shelby County dispatchers were able to provide delivery instructions to the family and relay updated information to Cass County 911 for the responders.

An Iowa State Patrol Trooper in the area was first on the scene, followed by an Iowa DOT employee, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, other emergency personnel, and an ambulance.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad today (Tuesday) ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 and sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 1st, to honor Des Moines Police Officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales, who were killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours of March 26th.  Officer Farrell will be laid to rest on Wednesday, March 30 and Officer Puente-Morales, Friday, April 1st.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state.  Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a central Iowa man was arrested Monday night on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. 31-year old Mitchell Kenneth Venteicher, of Boone, was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center.  Venteicher was being held in the Union County Jail on $5,000.00 bond.

And, a resident of Arispee reported Monday evening, that while his semi was parked in Lorimor, someone stole a tire, chain and padlock.  The loss was estimated at $635.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Construction crews have unearthed fossilized coral reefs and animals at the University of Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KGAN reports that the fossils recently were found during work on the Seaman’s Center Annex on the university campus in Iowa City.

Experts say the marine fossils reflect life and nature of what was a shallow sea 385 million years ago that became what now is Iowa. Geologist Ryan Clark says “there’s probably half a dozen or more different animals fossilized in this particular rock.”  Some of the fossil samples will be used for research at the university’s Paleontology Depository.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently brought back Zach McCool to the Atlantic area over spring break.  Trevor’s mom/spokesperson Melanie Petty says while Zach was here, he held a pitching clinic for pitchers in the 4th through 7th grade.  Trevor was a left handed pitcher and played first base from little league through high school.  Petty says the fund is pleased to have helped with the pitching clinic again this year.

Plans are in full swing for the 8th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament which will be held on Saturday, August 13th.  This is the only fundraiser to raise money to give back to the community in Trevor’s honor.  Follow the event through the media and on Facebook for updates throughout the year on what they are doing and how you can help.

Grant Petty is shown presenting the check to Zach along with two of the sessions participants.

(Chamber issued correction for date of the event)

Coca-Cola Days, presented by Atlantic Bottling Company, will be held September 23rd and 24th in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second biggest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbeque open to the public, a Show Swap & Sell, “Discover Atlantic Raffle” and many more activities for all ages. This year’s feature theme is “Coca-Cola- The Right Choice.”

Coca Cola days’ committee chair, Dolly Bergmann says “The theme is created by a volunteer committee each year.” “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice,” was chosen according to Bergmann, because they wanted to tie into the election season. T-Shirts for the 2016 Coca-Cola Days Celebration will feature the theme, “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice”

The event will feature Bottles and Cans on Parade this year, a continuation of last year’s Bottles on Parade. Participating businesses will receive a 4-foot tall plastic Coca-Cola bottle or can to decorate highlighting their business, recognizing civic organizations or highlighting local artists in the community. The bottles will be displayed 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after Coca-Cola Days and be voted on by the community. The winners will take home AtlantiCash.

The event will encourage Atlantic Residents and Coca-Cola Collectors to stop into businesses to vote on their favorite bottle.  The activity has three confirmed sponsors, including: Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum, Cappel’s Ace Hardware and China Buffett. Sponsorships are still available for Chamber members interested in supporting the Coca-Cola Days event in 2016.“

For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

State tax credits will soon be available to Iowa companies that make new products from what’s left over after ethanol and biodiesel are made from “biomass” like corn and soybeans. Governor Terry Branstad supports the concept and the Iowa House gave it final legislative approval Monday afternoon.  Representative Mary Ann Hanusa, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says “This bill incentivizes new start-up companies in Iowa and other ventures to take the biomass feedstocks currently produced in Iowa and manufacture these new building block chemicals.”

Bill backers envision companies developing new products from the starches, sugars and oils that are the left-overs of biofuel production. “The federal Department of Energy has identified approximately 30 chemicals which provide that greatest market potential,” Hanusa says. The bill is “made to order” for Iowa, according to Hanusa, because the state leads the country in biofuel production.

“This bill will create new opportunities for research and development and has the potential for creating new businesses and new product lines,” Hanusa says. “…This legislation will open new horizons in industry, economic development and education across Iowa.” Companies that develop new products from biofuel production left-overs will apply to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the tax credits.

The bill calls for a 10 million dollar cap on these tax credits each year. The 10 million will come from the Economic Development Authority’s already existing 170 million dollar account for a series of refundable state tax credits.

(Radio Iowa)

Nearly half of all disabled Iowa adults are working. Only two other states have a higher percentage of their disabled citizens in the workforce. Heather Link is the human resources manager at Owner Revolution in Atlantic and Adair. She says companies like hers in rural Iowa are finding it more difficult to find employees with “a good work ethic.”

“What we have found with employing people with disabilities…is they tend to have a much higher work ethic because they want to be there,” Link says. “They have better listening skills. They’re more trainable due to their desire to succeed and, overall, they are more content with their work.” Her company has used federal and state grants to help make workplace accommodations for disabled employees.

“It’s really a great opportunity for businesses to take advantage of the underutilized, but awesome workforce there is in people with disabilities,” Link says. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says with nearly “full employment” in Iowa, it’s important to help physically or mentally disabled youth transition into the workforce.

“We believe that every Iowan can learn and every Iowan can work and every Iowan can have, most importantly, a rewarding career,” Reynolds says. Nearly 47 percent of adult Iowans who have a disability were employed in 2014. Officials estimate about 12-and-a-half percent of all Americans have some sort of disability, but only a third of them had a job.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on drug charges, Monday night. 46-year old Misty McKinney, and 21-year old Jameson Cox, both of Creston, were arrested at an apartment in the 400 block of N. Oak Street in Creston, at around 10:35-p.m. McKinney was charged with Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was also charged with Providing False Information. Cox faces charges that include Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Cox was being held in the Union County Jail, while McKinney was being held in the Ringgold County Jail. Their bonds were set at $1,000, each.

And, a Creston business — Eby’s Auto – reported to police Monday evening, that someone had taken a Dealer license plate from one of the vehicles in their sales lot. The plate number is D2477-033. The loss was estimated at $25.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man from Nebraska early this (Tuesday) morning, after he backed into a police cruiser. Authorities say 33-year old Elvin Morales-Gutierrez, of Omaha, was arrested on an OWI charge following the incident that took place at around 2:18-a.m.

Officials say Council Bluffs Police officers were called to 808 S. 23rd St in reference to a male at the door of the residence refusing to leave. Upon officers’ arrival, they observed a white Nissan truck in the driveway with the lights on. As the officer was exiting his vehicle, the suspect vehicle began to back out of the driveway and into the marked police car.

Officers’ were able to get the attention of the driver (identified as Morales-Gutierrez), who pulled back into the driveway. The officer spoke with Moralas-Gutierrez, and immediately observed signs of intoxication. A second officer arrived on scene and placed Moralas-Gutierrez under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated. The man was transported to Pottawattamie County jail.

No injuries were reported and both vehicles sustained only minor damage.