Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with Iowa Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino today (Monday), announced the designation of three new Iowa Byways and the modification of three existing byways in the state. The three include: Bridges Byway in Madison County; White Pole Road Byway between Adair and Dexter, and, Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway between Northwood and Lamoni.

The byway changes come following the review of proposed routes for designation as Iowa Byways conducted by the Iowa Byways Advisory Council led by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Three organizations responded to a call for applications in 2014 for new byways.  Proposals were also submitted on behalf of four existing Iowa Byways for route extensions or modifications.

The White Pole Road Byway between Adair and Dexter, just north of Interstate 80 along old U.S. Highway 6, is a piece of transportation history linking “five small towns” and events from wagon ruts and train robbery to present day. The roughly 26-mile route was formerly a part of the route known as the Great White Way is lined with 700 white painted telephone poles. It was submitted by the White Pole Road Development Corporation.

The Bridges Byway in Madison County focused on the iconic and widely known covered bridges located throughout Madison County, the 82-mile route will also feature scenic natural areas, the John Wayne birthplace, and other unique destinations.  It was submitted by the Madison County Conservation Board with the support of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the Interim Madison County Scenic Byway Committee.

The Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway between Northwood and Lamoni, roughly along U.S. Highways 65 and 69, is an historic north-south U.S. border-to-border route, that was originally envisioned in 1916 as part of a national corridor for car and freight travel as the auto age developed and before the Interstate system was initiated.  It was submitted by Loring Miller (Leon) and the Jefferson Highway Association on behalf of Decatur County.

The Iowa DOT will work with the new byway applicants over the next several months to assist initiating the byway organization, finalizing the signed byway route, and creating a unique route brand that will be featured on signage to be installed along the route by the 2018 tourist season.

To learn more about Iowa Byways and to order a free Byways Travel Guide or Byway brand poster, visit www.iowabyways.org.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two, recent arrests. On Sunday, 18-year old Morgan Wooton, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Her bond was set at $1,000. And, on Friday, 41-year old Amy Osthus, of Glenwood, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree. Her bond was set at $1,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a teenager was injured and transported to a hospital, while another teen suffered possible injuries, during a rollover accident Friday afternoon. Officials say 15-year old Haley Ann Hagen, of Afton, was transported by Medic 1 ambulance to the hospital in Creston, after she lost control of the 2002 Ford Taurus she was driving. The car entered the south ditch off of eastbound 205th Street and rolled several times.

The accident happened at around 1:55-p.m., Friday. Hagen, who was wearing her seat belt, suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries. Her passenger, 15-year old Brody Glen Grandfield, of Afton, complained of pain but was not transported to the hospital. Grandfield was also wearing his seat belt.

Damage from the crash amounted to $5,300.

The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office has released information about a drug bust that took place back on August 21st. Officials say at around 8:30-p.m., a Toyota was stopped for a minor traffic violation on Interstate 35 by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office at mile marker 19. Ringgold County Deputy Landon White and his K9 partner “Heky” were requested and responded to the scene.

A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of three pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $33,000.

A Missouri resident was arrested and charged. An investigation into the narcotics distribution is ongoing.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. During the session, the Council will act on an approving a change order amounting to $3,450, for the Bull Creek Improvement Project. The first aspect of the change order pertains to the removal of five trees along the route, prior to the installation of a storm sewer pipe. The second is with regard to a pipe and connection to an existing driveway draining gate. During removal of the old pipe, the connection was discovered and had to be replaced.

The Council will also act on an order approving the Fiscal Year 2016 Urban Renewal Report to the State of Iowa.

City of Atlantic Urban Renewal District geographic boundaries

The Urban Renewal Areas (URA’s) are zones established by the City that allows for the creation of TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts. Atlantic has three area: North, Southwest and Southeast. A fourth area, the Eastridge URA, is no longer active.

And, the Atlantic City Council is expected to act on approving the second reading of an Ordinance that calls for “Deleting property from [a] Tax Increment Financing District for Urban Renewal Area,” and the establishment of a new URA for the Whitney Inn. City Administrator John Lund says Iowa Statute requires the URA to be established before a TIF or other economic development benefits are granted to the property. The Ordinance would separate the Whitney Inn properties from the Northern URA so that it can eventually become its own Urban Renewal Area. The City’s finance attorney has recommended the Northern URA be reviewed at a later date, as it may technically be expired.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports four arrests took place over the past few weeks. On Thursday, 26-year old Cole Jacob Benton, of Audubon, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (shoplifting). On Oct. 17th, 25-year old Tyler Lee Carter, of Audubon, was arrested for Child Endangerment. On Oct. 8th, 23-year old Caine William Hedrick, of Audubon, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. That same day, 21-year old Andrew Jason Holmes, of Audubon, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.

Two Creston residents have reported recent incidents of theft. Creston Police say a resident in the 600 block of W. Mills Street reported Thursday that sometime between 7-a.m. and 7-p.m. that day, someone took a tote from the back of a vehicle parked outside the residence. The tote contained camouflage bibs, a camo jacket, other miscellaneous hunting apparel, calls and hunting knives. The loss was estimated at $420.

And, Friday morning, a resident of the 1300 block of W. Mills Street told police sometime on Oct. 11th, someone took a prepaid Motorola cell phone, a Samsung cell phone, Toshiba laptop computer, and prescription medication from her home. The loss was estimated at $250.

Police in Creston say five people were arrested over the past four days. Early this (Monday) morning, 39-year old Jeremy King, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:12-a.m. on Cromwell Road, for Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Meth. King was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond. He was also served two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear, on Domestic Abuse Assault and Violation of a Protection Order. King was being held in the Jail while awaiting a bond hearing on those charges.

Also arrested at the same time and location, was 37-year old Michael Waddingham, of Orient. He was charged with Driving Under Suspension and later released on $300 bond.

At around 4:50-a.m. Sunday, Creston Police arrested 50-year old Robert Embree, of Urbandale, for OWI/2nd offense. He was later released on $2,000 bond. Saturday night, 28-year old Christopher DeBoard, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested in Creston for Driving While Revoked. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. Earlier in the day, Saturday, officers with the Creston P-D arrested 46-year old Parrish Ellis, of Shenandoah, on Taylor County warrants for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of Driving while Denied, Suspended or Revoked. Ellis was later released on $300 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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