A woman who has been an employee of the City of Atlantic for slightly more than  25-years, was recognized for her service during a Special City Council meeting, Wednesday evening. Chris Dvorak was presented with an award for her service by Mayor Dave Jones. In acknowledging her work in the Police Department as an Administrative Assistant/dispatcher, Jones said Dvorak was always a professional in “Coordinating with law enforcement to keep the people of Atlantic and our  officers safe from harm.”

Chris Dvorak receives a 25-year service award from Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Jones said what she does, essentially keeps the City from being sued, by making sure when officers write a ticket or make an arrest, the paperwork is filled-out and turned in correctly.

According to the Atlantic Police Department’s website, Dvorak began working for the department in 1990. Prior to working for the City, she was a sale clerk and stay at home mom. She and her husband, John, have two children that are grown and have left the area.

About 20 residents living in the vicinity of the Heritage House in Atlantic, voiced their concerns during a special City Council meeting Wednesday evening, over how a 6,800-square foot addition for a Commons Area at the retirement home, will affect storm water runoff. The residents affected by the runoff live primarily in an area north and west of the Heritage House, along or near Roosevelt Drive.

Dave Sturm with Snyder and Associates Engineers in Atlantic, spent the past week evaluating the drainage areas on the site, as well as existing building and drainage conditions. Ryan Hardisty, project engineer with Civil Design Advantage in Grimes said he agrees with Sturm that enlarging the existing detention basin located south of the existing building, and constructing a new, smaller basin, to the north, to catch any additional runoff from the proposed addition, will serve to alleviate many of the residents’ concerns about more water flowing into their basements during heavy rainfall.

Dr. Keith Leonard explained the residents of Roosevelt Drive showed up in force at the meeting, because they “Already have plenty of water, a lot more water than we want.” He said at least four houses from 14th Street north on the east side of Roosevelt, all have sump pumps that are constantly running. Leonard said “Whatever retention pond is there, is not doing anything or is filled-up…and is totally unusable.”

Atlantic businessman Rich Perry also lives in the area. He said no one is against Heritage House expanding, “Because they are a real asset to our community.” He said they wanted the Council to know there is a problem though, with storm water runoff, and that the addition might worsen the situation. Mayor Dave Jones said the City had been trying to deal with the Bull Creek issue over the years by installing detention basins and slowing down erosion.

Sturm said the storm water runoff is caught by a swale and directs it to 13th and 11th Streets, and Brookridge Circle, all of which are dead ends, down Roosevelt and into Bull Creek. Hardisty said they’ve analyzed the 11th Street drainage basin, and there are 24 acres that contribute water flow, not just the 13 acres occupied by the Heritage House. Single-family housing upstream he said, also contributes to runoff in the area.

After hearing from residents in the area, the Atlantic City Council approved the Heritage House addition site plans with the contingencies that the existing drainage basin be enlarged and a second basin created.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Wednesday of a Clarinda man on a valid warrant charging him with Criminal Trespass and Theft in the 5th Degree.  The charges against David G. Gaunt stem from an incident that occurred on April 16th where items were removed from an unoccupied farmstead.

Mr. Gaunt was located by Page County authorities and transported to the Montgomery County Line where he was taken by Montgomery County authorities to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center without incident. Gaunt is being held on $300 cash bond.

Rescue crews have been dispatched to a reported four-vehicle accident on Highway 92 near the Cass-Adair County line. The accident took place at around 6:15-p.m., Wednesday. Four people have been hurt, at least one is said to have been trapped in a vehicle. At least two people, possibly three, were critically injured according to scanner traffic. Three people were transported by two separate ambulances, to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. LifeNet was also enroute from Clarinda to the scene.

The road was blocked, as well. Travelers should take an alternate route. Multiple law enforcement agencies are responding for traffic control.

No other details are currently available. Check back for updates.

A collision between a dump truck and a semi this (Wednesday) morning in Council Bluffs caused traffic to be blocked in one lane for more than an hour. According to Bluffs Police, a semi operated by 35-year old Chad Followell, of Garrett, IN., had broken down and was legally parked on the shoulder of Interstate 80 near the South 24th Street exit, with triangular warning reflectors placed on behind the vehicle, as required.

A dump truck, driven by 47-year old Russell Chase, of Omaha, was traveling west on I-80 when he dozed off or passed out, possibly as the result of exhaust fumes entering the cab. Chase said the vehicle has recently had issues with its exhaust. The dump truck collided with the parked semi, resulting in minor injuries to Followell, who was on the passenger side of his semi’s tractor, 46-year old Shawn Smith, of LaPorte, IN., a passenger in the semi who was in the semi’s sleeper compartment, and Russell Chase.

Each of the individuals complained of pain but refused medical treatment. Chase was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The right lane of I-80 westbound was closed for about 90-minutes, and while it has since re-opened, work was continuing Wednesday afternoon on the shoulder of the road.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man late this (Wednesday) morning for allegedly brandishing a knife in front of Thomas Jefferson High School, in Council Bluffs. Officers responded to the school located at 2501 W. Broadway, just before Noon, after authorities received a report of a man swinging a knife at the flagpole in front of the school. The school resource officer was notified and the school was placed into lock-down. Officers arrived on scene and took 23-year old Anthony James Featherstone into custody without incident. Featherstone was in possession of a butter knife. He also caused damage to the flagpole, but the damage was less than $200.Officers transported Featherstone to Pottawattamie County Corrections, where he was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief 5th degree. The school was released from lock down at 12:01-p.m. No students were involved or injured during the incident.

COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD…-
323 PM CDT WED APR 22 2015

Freeze Warning for Counties in purple

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CDT THURSDAY.

* TIMING…LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

* TEMPERATURE…TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TO THE MID 20S TO AROUND 30 DEGREES BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS…SENSITIVE VEGETATION MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR
HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a woman was arrested on an assault charge, Monday. 40-year old Mary Jo Villegas, of Glenwood, was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. in the vicinity of Deacon Road, and charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Her bond was set at $1,000. And on Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 26-year old Robert David Dulaney, of Fluvanna, TX, on a charge of Theft in the 1st Degree. Dulaney was arrested along I-29 at around 2:35-p.m. His bond was set at $10,000.00.

A school in Council Bluffs was on a brief lock-down late this (Thursday) morning. The Daily NonPareil reports Council Bluffs Police were called to the Thomas Jefferson High School at around 11:45-a.m., upon reports of a man allegedly brandishing a knife outside the school. The unidentified suspect was standing outside the school, on West Broadway, holding a knife.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Federal officials say they’re taking steps to create a human vaccine for the bird flu virus that’s affected the Midwest poultry industry, though they still consider the danger to be low. Dr. Alicia Fry, an influenza expert with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says they’re optimistic there won’t be any human cases of the H5N2 strain that has cost chicken and turkey producers nearly 6.8 million birds so far.

She said Wednesday that most human infections with other bird flu viruses have required close, prolonged contact with infected birds. So, officials are monitoring farm workers who’ve been exposed to affected flocks. Fry said the CDC has taken early steps toward developing a human vaccine in case it’s needed, but that’s a standard procedure with all emerging diseases.