DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation today (Friday) for 15 more counties, in response to flooding and flash flooding beginning March 13 and continuing. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for the 15 counties, which includes Adair, Dallas, Guthrie and Shelby.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim (April 29, 2019).

Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

Yesterday, the governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center and issued a proclamation to allow state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather across the entire state. The proclamation also made the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program available in 21 counties, including Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Woodbury.

Residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

AMES, Iowa – Due to multiple flood closures on I-29 from the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) to the Iowa/Missouri border, the Iowa Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has established the following detour route for Interstate travelers using I-29:

Northbound I-29 traffic is being detoured at I-35 in Kansas City, 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 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 Missouri.

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. Several roads surrounding I-29 and others throughout the state are also being impacted by flood waters creating difficulty for local traffic to navigate the area. This is a rapidly changing situation, and travelers are urged to check 511 for current flood-related closures and detour routes.

Visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

To receive email or text alerts about traffic incidents, road closures, traffic delays, and other restrictions that affect this highway route or other routes you travel, the Iowa DOT offers the “Your 511” option on 511ia.org. It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive the email/text alerts. Visit https://iowadot.gov/511/511-full-feature-website-help/how-to-videos for simple, step-by-step instructions.

Missouri traveler information: http://traveler.modot.org/map/

Nebraska traveler information: https://www.511.nebraska.gov/

CARSON – Iowa DNR field office staff have been working with an animal feeding operation to address high levels of water in two earthen manure storage basins located about 20 miles east of Council Bluffs. On March 11th, DNR staff observed effluent flowing over the top of one basin when visiting Russell Keast, owner of Cyclone Cattle, located at 36488 Beechnut Road, near Carson. Keast confirmed he had stopped the discharge by March 12th.

However, upon follow-up on March 15th, DNR staff discovered both on-site basins overflowing with effluent, or diluted manure-laden water, flowing into two different unnamed streams. Iowa DNR is requiring Keast to stop both discharges. The investigation is ongoing.

No dead fish were observed. DNR staff collected water samples for analysis. The Iowa DNR will continue to monitor the situation and consider appropriate enforcement action.

A Nebraska County man faces charges of 1st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment causing death, in connection with the death of a child. 31-year old Larry Murphy, of Omaha, was arrested for the death of 2-year old Oakland Oburu, of Council Bluffs.

Suspect Larry Murphy

Council Bluffs Police say at around 11:17-a.m. today (Friday), officers were called to the Casey’s Store at 510 23^rd Avenue, to assist Medics for an unresponsive male child at that location.  Officers arrived and spoke to Larry Murphy and his sister.  At this time Murphy stated that he and the victim’s mother had been staying at the American Inn, in Council Bluffs.  Murphy said that he found the child unresponsive and called his sister.  She then came from Bellevue NE. and both started to take the victim to the hospital.

When they reached Casey’s they decided to call 9-1-1.  The child was treated at the scene and then transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During their investigation detectives received information that in an attempt to calm the child down, Murphy sat on the child, who was laying on the bed, for a period of 20 to 30 seconds and then left the room.  Upon returning, Murphy found the child unresponsive and then called his sister. Detectives believe that Murphy’s actions caused the death of the child.

Murphy was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and booked on the charges mentioned.

The Creston Police Department reports one man suffered possible injuries during a two-vehicle collision on US Highway 34 on Thursday. The accident happened at approximately 4:39pm when a 2012 Ford F150 driven by 64-year-old Mark Richard Williams of Creston was traveling westbound on Highway 34 when he attempted to change lanes and didn’t see another pickup in the other lane. The back half of his truck struck a 2007 Dodge Dakota Quadcab driven by 30-year-old James Michael Snyder of Ankeny in the front driver’s side. The collision caused the Dodge to lose control and enter the north ditch and into a creek. Snyder was trapped by the embankments on both sides of the vehicle and had to be extricated by mechanical means. Snyder complained of severe back and neck pain after the accident and was taken to a hospital by EMS.

Williams was uninjured and was  issued a citation for Improper or Erratic Lane Change and released from the scene. The Ford sustained an estimated $100 damage, while the Dodge sustained an estimated $10,000 damage.

Three people were arrested after a small child was found walking alone in Adams County on Friday.  At approximately 11:15am Adams County Deputies noticed a small child walking up Benton Avenue alone. They were able to determine where the child resided and transported the child back home.

Upon getting to the residence Deputies could smell a strong odor believed to be marijuana coming from the home. After further investigation Deputies arrested three people found inside the home. 24-year-old Abigail Longfellow of Corning was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, Gathering Where a Controlled Substance Unlawfully Used, and Child Endangerment. 32-year-old Juan Gonzalez of Bridgewater was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana (3rd Offense), Gathering Where a Controlled Substance Unlawfully Used, and Child Endangerment. 26-year-old Zachary Utterback of Greenfield was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, Gathering Where a Controlled Substance Unlawfully Used, and Child Endangerment.

All three parties were taken to the Adams County Jail and held pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

The U.S. Coast Guard says all traffic on the Missouri River from about 50 miles south of Omaha, Nebraska, downstream to St. Joseph, Missouri, has been shut down due to the river’s high water levels. The order came Friday. The Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also requested all river vessel operators create as little wake as possible between St. Joseph downstream to Kansas City to minimize levee damage.

Officials say the restrictions will be lifted as soon as flooding conditions improve. The restrictions come as the river reached moderate flood stage at nearly 32 feet on Friday at Omaha, where it’s expected to crest at nearly 34 feet on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The river is expected to crest at St. Joseph on Tuesday at just over 30 feet. Major flood stage at St. Joseph is 27 feet.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports a Grinnell man, Jason Leroy Arends, was arrested Thursday in Poweshiek County, on an active warrant out of Taylor County. Charges were filed on Arends back in September after law enforcement attempted to make a traffic stop on Arends. Arends was charged with Eluding, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Weapons violations after he led law enforcement on a pursuit. Arends was being held at the Taylor County Jail on no bond until being seen by the Magistrate where a bond will be set.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The father of an Iowa man accused of fatally shooting his mother in 2015 for financial gain testified that his life was forever changed the moment his daughter called to say his wife of five decades had been found dead on the kitchen floor. Bill Carter, 73, said Thursday that he immediately rushed home and kissed the forehead of his wife, Shirley Carter, who had been shot twice with a rifle, The Des Moines Register reported. The two met at high school and had married when he was 17 and she was 16. “They say your life can change in an instance — and it did,” Carter tearfully told the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. “It changed, and it’ll never be the same.”

The couple’s 46-year-old son, Jason Carter of Knoxville, is charged with first-degree murder in the June 19, 2015, shooting at their Marion County farm. Marion County Attorney Ed Bull said in his opening statement at the court in Council Bluffs that Jason Carter was struggling financially and killed his mother so he could work more closely with his father on the farm. His attorney, Christine Branstad, said the defendant was in a better financial position than initially thought. She said investigators failed to follow up on significant pieces of evidence that pointed to another suspect. Bill Carter’s testimony helped establish a timeline in the killing.

He said he learned of his wife’s death through the phone call from his daughter, who told him Jason Carter had discovered the body in the kitchen but hadn’t yet called 911. When he arrived home, Bill Carter said, his wife’s blood was still pooled and wet, and the hogs were still eating, indicating she had recently fed them. Carter said his son initially suggested his mother died during a violent robbery. But investigators found many valuables untouched, which prosecutors said indicated it wasn’t a burglary.

In 2016, Bill Carter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his son. The following year, a jury held Jason Carter responsible for the shooting death and ordered him to pay $10 million in damages to her estate.