A Council Bluffs man faces numerous charges after allegedly stealing a pickup truck, leading an Iowa State Patrol Trooper on a high-speed chase, and then collided with the Trooper’s car. The Patrol says 25-year old Jesse Charles Adams was charged with Reckless Driving, Eluding and speeding, with numerous other charges not listed.

Officials say 43-year old Trooper James Bullington pursued a stolen 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup with an attached stolen camper southbound, on Interstate 29 in northwestern Mills County at around 12:45-a.m., Friday. Both the pickup and camper were taken from a man in Council Bluffs. At one-point, the pickup was clocked doing 104-miles per hour in a 70-mile per hour zone.

When the vehicles exited the interstate heading east on Bungee Avenue, the Trooper drove along side the pickup in his 2009 Dodge Charger in an attempt to prevent Adams from re-entering the interstate northbound. As he did so, Adams turned the pickup left as if to head onto the I-29 northbound ramp, and collided with the Patrol vehicle.

After the Charger became lodged between the truck and camper, both vehicles came to rest on the on-ramp. The pickup sustained minor damage. The camper sustained $1,000 damage, and the Patrol car sustained what was termed “Functional Damage.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Farmers, businessmen and local officials affected by this year’s record Missouri River flooding recounted the damages they suffered and urged Iowa officials to make rebuilding a priority. Gov. Terry Branstad and an assortment of top state officials gathered in Council Bluffs Friday afternoon to hear about millions of dollars of damage caused by the flood. The people who live and work along the river say they want to know how soon repairs will be made and what will be done to limit future flooding.

Doug Palmer had to shut down his barge and rail terminal business in Sioux City in June. He says the flood has been economically painful. Several other business leaders said they hope they won’t have to remove expensive levees they built to protect their facilities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been sentenced to up to 140 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in Omaha. 46-year-old Todd Mills, of Shelby, was sentenced on two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of using a weapon to commit a felony. He pleaded no contest in June. Authorities say the attacks took place in September 2008 and August 2010. A Douglas County judge sentenced Mills to 110 to 140 years in prison.

Police say Mills, a father of five children, picked up women in his car, assaulted them at gunpoint and left them in remote areas. Mills is suspected in similar attacks in Pottawattamie County in Iowa.

Police in Harlan say a Guthrie Center man was arrested September 1^st on a warrant out of Des Moines. 55-year old Milton Sheeder was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding. He was also cited for failure to provide proof of insurance.

And, 14-year old Joshua Hytrek, of Panama, was cited August 30^th for simple assault, for an incident that allegedly took place at the Harlan Community High School. Hytrek’s case will be turned over to juvenile court for disposition.

Police in Harlan say two men were arrested over the past week on drug charges. This past Tuesday, 24-year old John Cox, of Harlan, was arrested after officers with the Harlan Police Department assisted the Denison and Woodbine Police Departments, in executing a search warrant at 2014 Garfield Avenue. Cox was subsequently charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts. Cox has plead not guilt to the Possession charge. He’s scheduled to appear in court September 15^th on the other charges.

And, on September 3^rd, 49-year old Mardy Miller, of Harlan, was taken into custody on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He was also charged with Driving While Revoked, and cited for having improper tail lamps on his vehicle. Miller posted a $1,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court on September 13^th.

Police in Atlantic report today (Friday), the arrest Thursday of 21-year old Stewart Andersen, of Atlantic. Andersen was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree, after allegedly breaking a window. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

An arrest was made Thursday, in connection with incidents of arson and theft which occurred early last month, in Audubon County. Sheriff Todd Johnson reports 20-year old Mackenzie Jacob Belnap, of Ottumwa, faces 1st- and 2nd-degree Arson charges, along with two counts of burglary in the 3rd degree and two-counts of theft in the 2nd degree. His arrest stems from an investigation into a pickup that was stolen and burned in the 2900 block of Falcon Avenue , and an ATV that was stolen and burned in the 1500 block of 260th Street, during the evening hours on August 5th and early morning hours on August 6th.

Belnap is being held in the Audubon County Jail on $25,000 bond. The incidents remain under investigation, and additional charges are pending.

w/ Ric Hanson

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Food banks serving eastern Nebraska and western Iowa are in danger of closing their doors as ever-increasing demand leaves their shelves bare. The Food Bank for the Heartland, which serves 93 counties in the region, has been hurt by high demand, a sour economy and federal budget cuts. Another program, Angel Food Ministries which sells food at a slashed prices, has suspended orders for the rest of September.

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle says there is a plan in place to increase donations and financial help. City libraries and ministry groups are accepting food donations to help stock the shelves, and food banks are also accepting money. Donations can be made online at www.togetheromaha.org and www.foodbankheartland.org.

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 9, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is stepping up security measures to prevent persons from entering flood-damaged roadways in western Iowa. Locked gates and other barrier devices are being installed at strategic highway locations to secure areas unsafe for motor vehicle or pedestrian travel.

Individuals have been disregarding traditional road closure devices, such as barricades and fence, by driving over and around them, or removing them. These actions place persons at significant risk due to damage to the roadways and bridges, unexpected pavement failures and heavy equipment at work.

In addition, ignoring road closure devices prolongs the recovery effort by disrupting the work of contractors.

Residents of Percival seeking access to their community for cleanup and rebuilding, should contact the Fremont County Emergency Coordinator who will coordinate access to and from the town using Interstate 29. Access will be provided through the gate located on Iowa 2, east of I-29.

The Iowa DOT reminds all persons to never enter a roadway blocked by barricades; not only is it illegal, but your safety is a risk.