COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluff officials say fireworks are to the blame for a house explosion that injured a man. Fire Chief Alan Byers says 38-year-old James Aherns was making fireworks when the blast happened Thursday night. The house then caught fire.             Neighbors reported seeing a burned man run down the street with his clothes torn off, seeking help.  Aherns was taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition. Another person in the house wasn’t hurt.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety today (Friday) announced Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Bartholomew, Iowa State Patrol Trooper James Bullington and ISP Sgt. Martin McCreedy were recognized during the annual Governor’s Highway Traffic Safety Conference held April 10th and 11th, in Sioux City.

Deputy Bartholomew was recognized for his efforts in apprehending impaired drivers. Trooper Bullington and Sgt. McCreedy both work out of the Patrol’s District 3 office in Council Bluffs. Bullington was presented with the Public Safety Commissioner’s Special Award for Traffic Safety, while Sgt. McCreedy was presented with the Kipton Hayward Award for his efforts in increasing compliance with impaired drivers, and reducing traffic deaths and injuries. The award was named in honor of Kip Hayward, who was killed in 1993 by a drug and alcohol impaired driver. Hayward served with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department.

Good news today from the Council Bluffs Police Department: During a recent check of retail outlets selling tobacco, no illegal sales were made to underage customers. The P-D reports the compliance checks were conducted Thursday night with the use of an underage customer, who attempted to buy tobacco at local retailers.

The Police Department says officials have made a pledge to keep tobacco out of the hands of Council Bluffs youth, and have been working with local retailers to educate them about Iowa’s tobacco laws and enforcement, in association with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.

Bluffs Police are grateful to the area retailers and their staff for their efforts to card tobacco buyers and make sure they are of legal age.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were arrested this (Friday) morning on separate charges. 30-year old Josh Turner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. And, 30-year old Sharlene Killion, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Turner and Killion were brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Forecasters say some parts of Iowa may be in for rough weather this weekend, including thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain. Meteorologist Kevin Skow, at the National Weather Service, says it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the sky and an ear to the radio. “The best threat for severe weather looks to be on Saturday,” Skow says. “We have a warm front lifting north through the state and this could trigger some severe weather.” He says there’s a larger threat for severe weather to the southwest in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

After a mild winter and the warmest March on record, Iowans have been spoiled by the unseasonable temperatures, but in the past week, reality has returned with Freeze Warnings three nights in a row. Skow says warmer temp are heading back to the state, but just for a few days. “Temperatures should rebound,” he says. “Winds will switch to the south. Temperatures on Saturday will be rising up into the low to mid-70s and then that’ll be the same for Sunday.” He expects a cold front to move in Sunday night that’ll bring chilly temperatures to start next week, with highs again in the 50s.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports a public information meeting will be held Thursday, April 26th, to discuss three proposed bridge replacements on Iowa 141 in Guthrie County. The public is invited to attend the meeting anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Coon Rapids City Hall, Council Chambers, 123 S. Third Ave., in Coon Rapids. 

Officials say one of the bridges is located over the Middle Raccoon River, 0.4 mile east of the Carroll County line and near the east city limits of Coon Rapids. The second bridge is over Willow Creek, 1.6 miles west of Bayard. The third bridge is over a tributary of Mosquito Creek, 1.2 miles west of Guthrie County Road P-18. 

During construction of the Middle Raccoon River bridge, traffic would be detoured using Carroll County Road N-44 (Velvet Avenue) starting at the junction of Iowa 141 and continuing north into Coon Rapids. The detour would continue through Coon Rapids on West Street to Elm Street, and then to Sumpter Avenue (becomes Carroll County Road E-63). East of Coon Rapids, the detour would continue two miles on Carroll County Road E-63 and then turn south on Carroll/Greene County Road N-58 to the junction of Iowa 141. For the Willow Creek bridge project, traffic would be detoured using Guthrie/Carroll/Greene County Road N-58, Greene County Road E-63 and Iowa 25. Traffic would be maintained during construction over the tributary of Mosquito Creek.

The public information meeting will be conducted in an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements, but no formal presentation will be made. For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting, contact Tony Gustafson, assistant district engineer, Iowa DOT District 1 Office, 1020 S. Fourth St., Ames, Iowa  50010, telephone 515-239-1635 or 800-899-0623, email tony.gustafson@dot.iowa.gov. Visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim for information about scheduled public meetings and hearings, and opportunities to offer input to the Iowa DOT during the development of certain projects.

Authorities in Mills County said Thursday, a Malvern man was arrested Wednesday night on drug charges. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 51-year old Daniel Keith Vanderpool II was taken into custody at around 9:30 pm, on a felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver/Methamphetamine and a drug tax stamp violation, along with charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, and for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Vanderpool’s initial appearance in court took place Thursday, after which his bond was reduced from $62,300 to $22,000. He remains in the Mills County Jail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 23rd.

w/ Ric Hanson

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 An unannounced visit by three K-9 teams at the Red Oak High School Thursday resulted in a temporary lock down of the school, but no illegal substances were found. The teams searched the school building and parking lot. According to Red Oak Superintendent Terry Schmidt, there was no advance notice to parents or students the searches would be conducted. It wasn’t until the K-9 teams showed up that notices were sent to parents about the lockdown, to ease any fears they may have had by their children texting them about the lockdown.