DES MOINES – Effective immediately, Iowans can call 211 with questions or concerns about the massive flooding and what steps they can take toward recovery. The Flood Hotline is open 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. In addition, Governor Kim Reynolds also launched an easy-to-navigate website at floods2019.iowa.gov.

The 2019 Iowa Floods website includes sections on:

·         Recovery resources- Grant programs, housing, rebuilding, staying safe, farming and agriculture resources, and replacing documents.

·         Travel information

·         Latest news

·         Social media information

·         Additional resources and information will be added to the website on a continuing basis

The Iowa Department of Transportation, reports this (Saturday) morning, that in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has reopened southbound I-29 from the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood). This location was previously closed due to flooding.

Interstate re-openings at this time:

• Southbound I-29: Between the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood)
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) is only open to southbound I-29 traffic exiting to go east on U.S. 34 toward Glenwood.

Interstate closures remain in place for:

• 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. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO) and the Iowa 92/U.S. 275 interchange (in Council Bluffs).
• Southbound I-29 between the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood, IA) and U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO)

Several road closures remain in western Iowa and throughout the state. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest on drug charges Friday afternoon, of 26-year old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak. Marsden was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m. following an investigation into an incident that took place Thursday evening. Authorities say at around 6:10-p.m. Thursday, Marsden was at a convenience store in Red Oak, when he accidentally dropped a baggie onto the counter in front of the clerk. The baggie allegedly contained a considerable amount of methamphetamine. Marsden ran out of the store, but was apprehended Friday and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/meth, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $1,000.

A traffic stop Friday afternoon in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Colbie Jo Sue Hunter, from Red Oak. Hunter was taken into custody for Driving While Barred, after officers — who knew she had a barred driver’s license – saw her driving on a public highway. Hunter was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Police said there were two, injury accidents Friday. The first happened at around 10:50-a.m., in the 400 block of E. Hammond Street. Officials say upon further investigation, it was determined a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by 44-year old David Fussell, of Red Oak, was traveling eastbound, when Fussell suffered from an apparent, unknown medical event that caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The SUV struck the left side of a legally parked 2003 Saturn Ion, and the front of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, before coming to rest in a yard. Fussell was transported by ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Damage from the collisions amounted to $9,000. No citations were issued.

The second accident took place at around 5:30-p.m., Friday, at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. 8th Street, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2004 Dodge Durango driven by 30-year old Krista Lynn Straight, of Red Oak, was stopped at the intersection and waiting to turn south onto N. 8th Street, when her SUV was struck on the passenger side rear, by a 2014 Buick Enclave that was driven by 28-year old Brittany Dawn Eberly, from Gravity. The accident happened when Eberly failed to notice the stopped Dodge. She swerved to avoid a collision, but was unsuccessful. Eberly was transported to MCMH after complaining of pain.  She was cited for Following too Close. Damage from the collision amounted to $28,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:48 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s deputy labor commissioner says she is retiring, the latest shakeup after months of turmoil at the state agency that protects workers. Pam Conner told Division of Labor employees in an email Friday afternoon that she will retire next week. Her longtime boss, Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro, announced last month that he is retiring April 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that expands the availability of grant funding for seriously injured veterans to provide money so that family members may be with the veteran during a lengthy recovery. The bill, which lawmakers passed unanimously, also allows the spouse of an active duty soldier to get expedited professional licensing in Iowa if the spouse was licensed in another state and the requirements were substantially the same.

WASHINGTON (AP) — GOP congressman Steve King says he was told that victims of Hurricane Katrina only asked for help, unlike Iowans. King told his constituents Thursday that as New Orleans recovered from the 2005 storm, someone from FEMA told him “everybody’s looking around saying, ‘Who’s gonna help me, who’s gonna help me?'” In contrast, King said, “Iowans take care of each other.” New Orleans is mostly black. GOP Rep. Steve Scalise, who represents part of the city, called King’s comments “absurd and offensive.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — This year’s round of Midwestern flooding is the worst ever at three locations in Nebraska. National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Low said during a conference call on Friday that the Missouri River reached record levels at Plattsmouth, Nebraska City and Brownville. Crests are still coming further south and east on the Missouri, but flooding in Kansas City and other points in Missouri isn’t expected to be nearly as severe.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced her appointment of Amy Zacharias, from Harrison County, as district court judge in the Fourth Judicial District.  Zacharias, who is from Persia, Iowa, received her undergraduate and law degrees from Creighton University. She currently serves as a district associate judge in the Fourth Judicial District.

The Fourth Judicial District includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports today (Friday) was the deadline to request ballots be sent by mail for the April 2nd Special Election pertaining to the Atlantic Community School District Bond Measure.

And, while ballots by mail are no longer allowed to be sent to you, you may still choose to vote absentee at the courthouse in Atlantic during regular Auditor’s Office hours Monday through Friday, up through 11-a.m. on the day of the election.

The polls are open on April 2nd from Noon until 8-p.m. On the ballot is the following  PUBLIC MEASURE A:

“Shall the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District, in the Counties of Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding $9,500,000 for the purpose of furnishing, equipping, constructing, improving, repairing and renovating school buildings and improving the sites therefor at the school district’s existing school buildings located in Atlantic, Iowa, including without limitation: (a) renovating, equipping and improving the football field/track/stadium, team building, concession and related buildings/site improvements, (b) renovating, equipping and improving the softball/baseball fields and related buildings/site improvements, (c) constructing, relocating, equipping and improving tennis courts and related buildings/site improvements, and (d) improving and realigning a roadway for smoother access to the elementary school and connection to the middle school?”

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests and/or incidents recorded from March 15th through the 21st.

March 15^th – Matthew Ross, of Marne, was arrested for Violation of Conditions of Pre-Trial Release. His original charges were Sexual Abuse in the 2^nd Degree. Ross is being held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond. This case was investigated by the Stuart Police Department.

March 16^th – Mayugi Shabani, of Clive, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense following a traffic stop in Bagley. Shabani posted $1,000 cash bond and was released.

March 17^th – Anthony Fields, Jr., of Carroll,was arrested for Providing False Information. Fields Jr. pled guilty to the Guthrie County Magistrate the following morning and was released from jail.

March 19^th – Bruce Blanchard, of Casey, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a jail sentence for Violation of Probation. Blanchard was released from custody on March 21^st.

March 21^st – Terri Caraher, of Guthrie Center, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol following a traffic stop. Caraher was charged with Operating w/o an Ignition Interlock Device and Operating While Intoxicated 2^nd Offense. Caraher posted a $200.00 cash bond and was released from jail.

March 21^st – Christopher Warner, of Bayard, was arrested following a disturbance at his residence. Warner was charged with (2) counts of Child Endangerment W/O Injury, (1) count of Child Endangerment with Injury, and Domestic Abuse Assault 2^nd Offense. Warner appeared before the Guthrie County Magistrate and was held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Warner later posted a $5,000 surety bond and was released.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Steve King says he was told that victims of Hurricane Katrina only asked for help, unlike people in his home state of Iowa, who “take care of each other.” The Iowa congressman told a town hall meeting in Charter Oak he visited New Orleans multiple times after the deadly 2005 storm.

Referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said, “Here’s what FEMA tells me: We go to a place like New Orleans and everybody’s looking around saying, ‘Who’s gonna help me, who’s gonna help me?’ When FEMA responds to problems in Iowa, they’re just always gratified when they come and see how Iowans take care of each other.”

King has been under fire from his party for remarks about race. New Orleans is mostly black.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that expands the availability of grant funding for seriously injured veterans to provide money so that family members may be with the veteran during a lengthy recovery.

The bill, which lawmakers passed unanimously, also allows the spouse of an active duty soldier to get expedited professional licensing in Iowa if the spouse was licensed in another state and the requirements were substantially the same.

At Reynolds’ invitation U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson attended the bill signing Friday at the 132nd Wing Iowa Air National Guard base in Des Moines.

She says allowing spouses who must frequently transfer from one state to another to get licensed in professions including financial planning, health care and real estate is an important priority for military families.

Officials with the Cass County Health System say several scholarships are available to area students through CCHS and its affiliate organizations:

• Cass County Health System offers a $1,000 scholarship to southwest Iowa students pursuing a four-year degree in a health-related career. Deadline is April 1, 2019.
• Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary provides grant-in-aid scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career. Deadline is April 1, 2019.
• Cass County Health System Foundation is offering $10,000 in scholarships to students who are enrolled and have been accepted into a nursing or medical doctor educational program.

The scholarships were established by a bequest from Louie and Elsie Hansen. Deadline is April 1, 2019. Applications are available on the Cass County Health System website, www.casshealth.org, and can be turned in to the Human Resources Office or the guidance office at any Cass County high school by the respective deadlines listed above.