COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Officials with a Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs say they soon expect to reach a milestone in the number of its visitors.
Museum and collections manager Patricia LaBounty told the Daily Nonpareil on Friday that the museum was more than 450 people away from reaching its 300,000th visitor mark. She says that several big tours are scheduled for Tuesday.
The 300,000th visitor to the museum will receive several items, including a one-year Patron Membership worth $100.

The museum formally opened in May 2003. Visitors can explore a collection of artifacts, photographs and documents from the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and settlement of the West. LaBounty said the museum saw its attendance dip in 2011, but has since seen an increase in the number of visitors.

A vehicle pursuit shortly after 9-a.m. today (Monday) in Shelby County, ended with an accident near the intersection Quince and Nishna Avenues. According to scanner traffic, two young men took off on foot from the vehicle, following the crash. They have since been apprehended.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, K-9 Jax, Harlan Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and Audubon Sheriff’s Department, Harlan Fire Department and Kirkman Fire Department were called to the scene to assist. No other information is available at this time.

A dedication ceremony was held Saturday afternoon in Lewis, for the Cass County Freedom Rock.

Cass County Freedom Rock site in Lewis. (Image from the Cass County Freedom Rock Facebook page)

The 15,000-pound, eight-foot tall, nearly 5-foot wide boulder painted by Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, sits on a concrete pad on the northeast corner of the Lewis City Park. It was set in place in November 2013, with the painting have been completed by Sorensen earlier this year.

The Cass County Freedom Rock features images unique to Cass County, including Major Belle Macomber Reynolds, who traveled with her husband during the Civil War, attending to wounded and dying soldiers. She later became a doctor, worked for the Red Cross and early in her career, was the first professionally trained teacher in Cass County. Another image on the rock is the 23rd Regiment, Iowa Volunteers, Company I, which was comprised mostly of men from Cass County during the Civil War. The final image is that of the Hitchcock House, which served as a station on the Underground Railroad and is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as a National Landmark.

Sorensen said the Hitchcock House provided him with the inspiration for his Civil War-inspired painting. Sorensen said the setting for the Cass County rock is among the most unique he’s seen in Counties where he has worked on other Freedom Rock projects. That’s because the cement slab the rock sits on is in the shape of the State of Iowa, and there are paving bricks honoring veterans.

Sorensen gained fame and attention for his work, when he created the first Freedom Rock north of Greenfield, in Adair County, more than 17-years ago. He’s painted the original, 12-foot tall, nearly 60-ton boulder each year before Memorial Day, as a tribute to military men and women.

He’s on his third Freedom Rock Tour, painting and dedicating boulders commissioned by local and County officials across Iowa. For a list of complete counties booked for the Tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks, visit www.thefreedomrock.com.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released more information on a crash that happened south of Atlantic Friday morning. Authorities say deputies and rescue personnel were called to the scene of a multiple-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 71 (630th Street) and Oxford Road, at around 7:30-a.m.

Upon arrival, it was determined that there were two vehicles involved with five persons  injured.  In today’s (Monday’s) update, the Sheriff’s Office identified the driver of a 2000 Oldsmobile as 22-year old Marli Burcham, and her passenger, 49-year old Katherine Moore. Burcham is reported to be in serious condition at Creighton University Hospital, while Moore was listed in critical condition, also at Creighton University Hospital.

The driver of a 2008 Ford owned by Henningsen Construction was identified as 54-year old Marlan “Bart” Feltner. His passengers included 58-year old James Mickelson and 32-year-old Zachary Frank. All three men were treated at CCMH and released.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, and the Department of Transportation Road Maintenance Staff. The injured were treated by area Fire and Rescue Departments from Cumberland, Massena, Lewis, and Atlantic Medivac. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

A man from Guthrie County died Sunday morning, following an accident not far from his home. Details of the crash are currently not available from the Iowa State Patrol, but according to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 24-year old Colton Pulver, of Bayard, died following the single-vehicle crash that happened at around 7:15-a.m., on 150th Street.

Bayard Fire and Rescue, Panora EMS, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol all responded to the scene.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Jason Lee Johnson, of Lenox, was arrested Saturday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center in Creston. Johnson was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant for parole violation. He was being held in the jail without bond.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports two arrests this past weekend. On Saturday, 45-year old Shawn Patrick McAndrews, of rural Clarinda, was arrested for Simple Assault, following an altercation that allegedly took place at around 10:30-p.m., at 2136 Tahoe Place (just east of Clarinda). McAndrews was transported to the Page County Jail where he posted bond and was released pending further court hearings.

And, Sunday afternoon, 71-year old Carol Lee Harvey, of Braddyville, was arrested by deputies in Page County at Ross Park. Harvey was taken into custody for Public Intoxication. He later posted bond, and was released.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Image Committee has presented Schroeder Family Dental with a Community Improvement Award.

Pictured: Image Builder Committee Members: Gene Fischer, Gerald Brink and Ouida Wymer.; Schroeder Family Dental Team: Barb Hogberg, Amy Walker, Taylor Schroeder, Allison Shaw & Melissa Mueller.

The award recognizes the successful efforts to improve a property in the Atlantic Area.

The Community Improvement Award is given to a business that takes pride in making Atlantic a welcoming and beautiful community by continuing to improve its appearance.

If you would like to nominate a business or community member for a Community Improvement Award please contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: 712-243-3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Officials with the Professional Photographers of Iowa (PPI) have announced an Atlantic woman was recently sworn-in as the 70th President of the organization. Sue Fischer, with Fischer Photography in Atlantic, will serve as the group’s President for the 2015-16 term. Fischer previously served as the associations Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.

Fischer Photography is one of the largest studios in southwestern Iowa and voted best studio in Cass County. Fischer holds the prestigious Master of Photography Degree, Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and is also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP). She has also won many awards over the years, and was named one of Iowa’s top ten photographers ten times and Iowa’s top master photographer in 2008.

The Professional Photographers of Iowa is a statewide association of professional photographers whose mission is to provide opportunities for education and fellowship for members. It was founded in Des Moines, in 1946. Learn more at ppiowa.com.

Progress continues on the Highway 6/7th Street construction project, in Atlantic. Bluffs Paving has informed Iowa District 4 Dept. of Transportation Planner Scott Suhr, the contractor intends to finish Sanitary Sewer work this week, with the Plum Street sanitary sewer work expected to be completed by Tuesday. AMU and the contractor will work on the Plum Street Water Line Tuesday and Wednesday.

The contractor also intends to set the grade steel and concrete forms today (Monday), for a Tuesday pour, and possibly pour Main Line Paving from Olive to Pine Street, on Tuesday.

Wednesday through Friday, the contractor intends to grade & sub-drain the modified base from Pine to Cherry Streets. Last week: work was done on the Sanitary Sewer at Plum Street and a manhole set; driveway and sidewalk removals took place on the south side of Pine to Cherry Streets, along with grading of the 7th Street from Pine to Cherry. Work was also accomplished on the sub-drain and modified base, from Olive to Pine Streets.