COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of trees damaged or killed by floodwater from the Missouri River will be removed in the next few months along Interstate 29. Most of the trees are between U.S. Highway 30 and the north side of Council Bluffs. The Iowa DOT says the removal of the trees will cost about $150,000. Nebraska Forest Service expert Graham Herbst says debris in the floodwater caused damage to trees that led to decay. In other cases, floodwater choked off oxygen to tree roots. The Iowa DOT says it will wait for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine how it will manage the Missouri River in the future before deciding when to replant trees.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – Federal regulators have fined an Iowa grain processor more than $96,000 for its failure to develop a facility response plan as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that Omaha-Neb.-based Ag Processing Inc. agreed to pay the fine for its failure to develop and implement a response plan for its soybean processing facility in Mason City.

The EPA says the Mason City facility is near a stream which flows into two small lakes and eventually into the Winnebago River and that without a response plan the facility was not prepared for a worst-case discharge into nearby waters and the potential impact to wetland and wildlife habitats.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former federal union official has been sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of being confined to her home, for embezzling $33,000. U.S. District Judge John Jarvey issued the sentence Wednesday to Ann Kelly, the former treasurer-secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees in Council Bluffs. The retired federal railroad inspector had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for using union funds between 2002 and 2007 to make payments to personal credit cards and write checks to family members.

Kelly had asked Jarvey to show leniency and let her avoid prison. She had argued the theft was motivated to help her family out of a series of financial crises and that she’d already cashed out her retirement savings to pay the money back.

The increasing popularity of electronic book readers such as the Amazon Kindle, has not had an adverse effect on the use of libraries. Carole Stanger, Director of the Atlantic Public Library, says the trends they’ve seen at the library over the past 5-years have been amazing, especially with regard to the “technology explosion.” That includes e-books.

Stanger held up a Kindle e-book reader during her periodic report at the City Council meeting Wednesday evening, The device had 23 different books in it, including a dictionary, but it can hold hundreds of books. She says those who have e-book readers can download books from the Atlantic Library. She says up until a few weeks ago, you couldn’t download books for free, but now you can. The result, is a massive increase in the amount of reading material available through the local library. Another technology feature available at the library in Atlantic, is free Wi-Fi. She says it extends into the parking lot, and on more than one occasion, she’s seen people in their vehicles at night, using the service.

Stanger says the facility is in the process of changing over their telephone system, so it’s tied-into their computer network. That will enable patrons to better utilize the many services available from the library, including the genealogy department. Carole says they typically have 300 visits per day from patrons, to the library. Much of those visits are from people who use the internet to look for work, and those looking to experience e-books for the first time. She says more people from different countries are coming to use the library, as well.

Stanger says some of the financial aspects which will affect the 108-year old library in the near future, include government mandates, such as taking care of hidden, lead-based paint. She says they are also making sure the facility is “going green.” That means being energy-efficient, and environmentally aware. Stanger says they’re doing their best to try and meet those requirements.

The Atlantic Police Department says some minor injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday afternoon at 7th and Walnut Streets. Offcials say vehicles driven by Dillon Cox and Laura Champlin, both of Atlantic, collided at around 2:40-p.m.  The accident happened as both vehicle were traveling south on Walnut Street.  According to the police report, Champlin had stopped to wait for traffic before making a left-hand turn. Cox failed to stop in-time, and rear-ended Champlin’s vehicle. Cox was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and subsquently cited for Following too close. Damage from the mishap totaled $4,500.

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ORRVILLE, Ohio (AP) – J.M. Smucker Co. is recalling some 16-ounce jars of its Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky sold in several states (including Iowa),  because of possible salmonella contamination. The Ohio-based company says the jars covered in the recall would have been purchased in the last week or so. They have “Best if Used By” dates of Aug. 3, 2012 and Aug. 4, 2012, plus the production codes 1307004 and 1308004.

Salmonella is bacteria resulting in fever, cramps and diarrhea that lasts for several days and can require hospitalization. Smucker says no illnesses have been reported. The product was distributed in 24 states, and the District of Columbia.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved on a 6-to-1 vote, the adding of a chapter to the City’s Code of Ordinances. Chapter 144 establishes a Minimum Maintenance Code for properties. The Code is expected to provide an effective tool to preserve the quality of buildings in Atlantic, help preserve property values, and prevent the spread of “Urban blight.” It will require property owners to keep structures in reasonably good repair. Councilman Kern Miller provided the lone “Nay” vote.

In other business, the Council voted 6-to-1, with Kern Miller again providing the “No” vote, to award the sale of property at 706 Walnut Street to the Dave Jones Agency for $801.  The insurance company is owned by Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, and his was the lone bid for the lot. During their meeting on October 5th, the Council voted 4-to-2 in favor of a resolution terminating a purchase agreement the City had with resident Ed Leistad for the parcel.

Last August, Leistad had asked the Council to consider terminating a contract he signed earlier in the Summer, when he paid $5,000 for the property. Leistad claimed he misunderstood how small the property was, and that it would not serve his needs as he anticipated. The termination was in exchange for his making $1,000 payment to the City as a penalty.

At Wednesday, night’s meeting, Miller brought up the fact the City had $5,000 in its pocket for the property, and should not have accepted the agreement to terminate the contract with Leistad. Councilman Shawn Shouse who voted in October to terminate the agreement with Leisted, conceded that fact, but Councilman Steve Livengood said mistakes will happen because the Council is not in the real estate business.

The Council Wednesday, set December 7th as the date for a public hearing on the disposition of other, City-owned property, at the northwest corner of Olive and Commerce Streets, and passed a motion allowing for the advertisement of bids for a three-year agricultural lease of a 12.93-acre parcel of land located east of Lake #2 in the Schildberg Recreation Area.  Mayor Dave Jones said the City is required by the Code of Iowa to lease the land for “Fair market value,” and not allow it to be farmed for free, as has been previous practice.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a Menlo woman was seriously injured Wednesday evening when the car she was driving collided with a train, in Guthrie County. 41-year old Amanda Powell was driving a 2003 Chevy Malibu at around 7:40-p.m., when she became distracted while crossing a set of railroad tracks. Her car hit a set of parked railroad cars, which were being prepared for hook-up to an engine. The rail cars and train are owned by Iowa Interstate Railroad.

The woman was flown from the scene by helicopter to a Des Moines hospital. There was no word on the extent of Powell’s injuries, but officials said while they were serious, the injuries did not appear to be life threatening. Assisting the Iowa State Patrol at the scene of the crash, were personnel from Menlo Fire and Rescue, and the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.