MALVERN, Iowa (AP) – A southwestern Iowa landfill has stopped accepting dead birds and related waste from the recent bird flu outbreak.

Mills County spokeswoman Sheri Bowen tells the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil that the Loess Hills Landfill stopped taking in more birds after Wednesday’s shipments.
Officials the landfill might consider taking in more birds if another outbreak of avian flu were to occur. But at this point, Bowen says, “we’re unsure if we’ll take on more.”

As of Tuesday, trucks had hauled in 426 containers to the landfill, with each carrying seven to eight tons of dead birds, clean-up and protective equipment and other products for use during disposal. Millions of turkeys and chickens have died or have been euthanized to prevent further spreading of the avian flu.

Rescue crews from Cumberland and Lewis, as well as Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash this morning, about five-miles east of Lewis at the intersection of Highway 71 and Oxford Road (Cass County Road G-43). Five people were injured, with at least three requiring transport to the hospital. One person, a female, suffered a head injury and possible broken leg. Two were determined to be in critical condition. Two had minor injuries. All were conscious and breathing when authorities arrived on the scene. LifeNet helicopter was being directed to the Cass County Memorial Hospital to transport the most seriously injured to another hospital. The road, which was completely blocked, was reopened both ways, as of 8:50-a.m. LifeNet departed from CCMH at about the same time.

The accident occurred at around 7:30-a.m. No other details are currently available.

A woman who suffered from an apparent medical condition lost control of her SUV Thursday evening and crashed, in Red Oak. Authorities say 63-year old Debbie Sue James, of Red Oak, was turning south from Highway 34 onto North 8th Street, when she blacked out. Her 2010 Ford Edge veered off the road and hit a traffic sign before entering a steep ditch on the west side of 8th Street. The vehicles’ passenger side then hit a tree before coming to rest on a steep incline. The accident happened at around 5:10-p.m., Thursday.

James refused medical treatment at the scene, but told police she would go to the hospital to be checked out. Damage from the crash amounted to $7,300.

The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Thursday, approved by a vote of 3-to 2, a 28E agreement that will have the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office providing law enforcement to the City of Guthrie Center. The arrangement is effective July 1st. Supervisors Mike Dickson and Jerry Caraher voted against the measure. Discussions about sharing the services of sheriff’s deputies with the City began about two-years ago, when the two-person Guthrie Center Police Department lost one of its officers, who accepted employment elsewhere. With the new agreement, the County agrees to provide a deputy for routine patrols in Guthrie Center, investigation of crimes and follow-up of crimes needing additional investigation, and traffic enforcement. It’s hoped coverage of the community will amount to an average 60-hours per week, according to the 28E agreement, which will cost the City a little more than $197,000 for the first year, Fiscal Year 2015-16, $41, 167 of which represents employee benefits. The City will make the payments to the County in quarterly installments.  The contract is valid through June 30, 2019.

Tomorrow (Saturday) marks 20 years since the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit (HOO-zin-troot).

Jodi Huisentruit

The 27-year-old Long Prairie, Minnesota native was abducted outside her Mason City apartment early on June 27th, 1995, as she was heading to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City, where she was a News Anchor. Police found her car, blood, other personal belongings and evidence of a struggle in the parking lot. Investigators say the case remains open and they’re following leads. Lieutenant Rich Jensen, of the Mason City Police Department, says they’ve been committed to the case since that morning 20 years ago.

He says their goal is to find Jodi and hold those responsible for what happened to her. He says there are a lot of things about the case they haven’t been able to discuss to preserve the sanctity of the case because their expectation is to be in a courtroom someday holding a defendant accountable. Jensen says it’s frustrating not being able to talk about the case openly, especially when people question whether it’s a case that can be solved.

He says they want people to know that they are working on the case and are committed to it. Jensen says the public wants answers, but they can’t provide those answers. He says there is frustration that the case can’t be discussed more since it’s an ongoing criminal case and anything said could jeopardize the case in the future. Mason City police investigator Terrance Prochaska says he’s taken tips from people across the country regarding possible leads and it’s tough when he can’t even tell those people whether or not their tips helped.

He says some people will call back in a month and ask about the outcome of their tip, and it’s tough not to tell them anything. He explains to the person that the “bad guy is still out there…and he’s still listening or watching” and if the bad guy hears any of that information, it gives him an opportunity to hide. Prochaska says they take every tip seriously.

He says they never overlook leads, even from psychics, and they listen to other people’s theories. Prochaska says someone may have a better idea of how they can look at the case or suggest looking someplace new and possibly develop some sort of lead out of it or find something they’ve missed before.

The Mason City Police Department continues to work with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as leads develop. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mason City Police at 641-421-3636. Huisentruit was declared legally dead in 2001.

(Radio Iowa)