(Radio Iowa) — State flood aid is included in a bill that cleared the Iowa legislature on Saturday — the final day of its 2019 session. Republican Representative Ray Sorenson of Greenfield says 15-million dollars will be available for local governments in the seven counties hardest hit by this year’s flooding. “These communities would be able to apply for funds to assist with flood response, flood recovery and flood mitigation efforts,” Sorenson says. “These funds could be used to meet federal match requirements or as part of further flood recovery or flood protection efforts in their communities.”

The Flood Recovery Fund will be managed by an already-existing state board created after the massive flooding that hit Iowa in 2008. “This approach will allow us to maximize federal funding and allow communities to move quicker in recovering from this spring’s floods,” Sorenson says.  Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the legislature should have committed more to deal with the “extraordinary damage” from this year’s flooding.  “Based on my experience in the flood of 2008…I am highly skeptical that $15 million is going to be enough before the legislature reconvenes next January,” Hogg said.

He said also, “…I think it is crystal clear that the homeowners and the businesses and the families that have lost so much need more help.” Two weeks ago, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds asked legislators to set aside the 15-million dollars for flood recovery and mitigation. Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says the governor has a team of experts on the ground and he trusts her judgment. “One of the determinations that’s made when you apply for federal funds is if the need is actually here,” Breitbach said. “If we can show we don’t have a need for those funds because we’ve already appropriated more money than is needed, it can hinder some of our qualifications to receive some of those funds.”

Legislators did commit another 10 million dollars to state tax credits for home building, hoping to help RE-building in devastated communities like Pacific Junction and Hamburg.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say there’s no indication a woman who was fatally shot while driving over a highway bridge in northeast Iowa was targeted, and they’re seeking the public’s help in determining if the gunfire came from nearby woods. Micalla Alexis Rettinger was shot about 2:30 a.m. Sunday as she drove over a wooded area along the Cedar River in Waterloo. The shot shattered the driver’s side window of her Jeep and hit her neck, then hit one of her two passengers.

The 25-year-old former University of Northern Iowa softball player pulled over and died. The injured passenger was taken to a hospital. Police are offering a $6,000 reward for information and seeking surveillance or trail camera video from the area. Investigators want to know if someone was hunting near the river.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), approved a joint agreement between Cass and Montgomery Counties, for interim County Engineer services in Montgomery County, using Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold. County Auditor Dale Sunderman read from the motion to approve the agreement, which stipulates Bechtold will serve as the interim Montgomery County Engineer until June 30, 2019, or until Montgomery County hires a full-time professional engineer. Bechtold said he didn’t have a problem with filling the temporary post, as long as most of the necessary paperwork for Montgomery County road and bridge projects can be reviewed and approved electronically, and the scope of the work is defined.

Bechtold also said he would be willing to help Montgomery County in the search-hiring process for a new Engineer. The timing for getting an Engineer in place is critical, he said, because the County’s Iowa DOT Budget Amendment has to be filed before June 1st. In Cass County, Bechtold said that’s not a problem. And, while the Cass-Montgomery County matter was approved, the Supervisors tabled action on a FY 2020 Employment Agreement with Bechtold until their meeting May 14th at 9-a.m.

In other business, the Board approved the first amendment to the Child Support Staffing Contract with Child Support Recovery, incorporating the program budget for State Fiscal Year 2020. Auditor Dale Sunderman explained Cass County is paid to administer flow-through funding from State funds.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 30-year old Christopher John Hazen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a hold for another agency Monday night, after a deputy was called to a residence in the 18,300 block of School Hill Avenue, in Council Bluffs. The deputy was sent to investigate a suspicious vehicle and found a running pickup truck just east of a residence. Hazen was located and taken into custody.

Monday afternoon, 42-year old Gordon Lee Nash, III, of Holstein, was transported from the Woodbury County Jail to the jail in Pottawattamie County, where he was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Probation Violation. And, a traffic stop Monday night in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest of 21-year old Eduardo Andy Mora, for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has again been sentenced to four years in prison for beating an 11-year-old boy. Sioux County District Court records say 37-year-old Matthew Spaans was re-sentenced Monday. The Iowa Appeals Court in December ordered a resentencing after ruling that the trial judge considered an improper factor a year ago when sentencing Spaans the first time.

Spaans and his wife, Nina Spaans, of Hawarden, pleaded guilty to four counts of child endangerment. She received a four-year suspended prison sentence and was placed on two years’ probation. Court records say Matthew Spaans beat his stepson with his hands, a 56-inch sword and another item. The documents say the boy was told to make up stories about his bruises or his next beating would be worse.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests, two of which occurred Saturday. At around midnight, authorities arrested 30-year-old Jacob Le Miller, of Harlan, on a Class-D felony charge of operating while intoxicated 3rd offense. The charges was the result of a traffic stop along Highway 44.   Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail and held under bond and was then released the following morning after posting the required $5000 surety bond. And, at around 9-p.m. Saturday, Shelby County authorities were called to a disturbance at a residence along Highway 44. Further information revealed that a party involved had left the scene.  Authorities located the vehicle traveling on Highway 44 and performed a traffic stop and upon further investigation it was determined that 42-year-old Jennifer Marie Rowedder, of Harlan, was intoxicated and charged with operating while intoxicated 1st offense.  Rowedder was transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident and held under bond until being released by the magistrate the following morning on her own recognizance.

And, there were two separate arrests on April 19th. At around 9-p.m., deputies arrested 45-year-old Bruce Daniel Peters, from Walnut, following a traffic stop for speeding along Highway 59 in Shelby County.  Upon further investigation Peters was taken into custody for operating while intoxicated 1st offense, and he was cited for speeding.   Peters was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident and released later that night after posting the $1000 cash bond. Also arrested, following a traffic stop in Earling April 19th, was 25-year-old Brett Scott Wilke, from Irwin.  Wilke was stopped around 1-a.m. for speeding, and upon further investigation was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated 1st offense. Wilke was transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident and held till the following morning after he was released on his own recognizance.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones will administer the Oath of Office to the City’s newest Police Officer, Wednesday. Officer Dustin Gelner began working with the Atlantic Police Department on April 24th. Originally from Vinton, Louisiana, Gelner met his wife Michelle, an Atlantic native, while serving in the armed forces for five-years. Michelle Gelner is a nurse at CCMH. Both moved to town and have found a home to raise their family. The couple has a two-and one-half year old son, and recently welcomed a daughter, who is now three months old. The event is part of the regular City Council meeting, which begins 5:30-p.m. at the Atlantic City Hall.

The Atlantic City Council will act on approving an application for the Ba-Da Ba-Da Bing Bang Rally set for May 18th. The rally of vintage military equipment has been a popular event over the past few years, and requires certain temporary road closures for a 3-p.m. “cruise” beginning and ending at the Armory (American Legion Memorial bldg.). The route follows Poplar Street south of 7th Street, then west to 10th, continuing onto Sunnyside Lane to 22nd Street all the way to Highway 71. A rest stop will be taken at Wal-Mart, before the military vehicles proceed to head back to the Armory using 14th, Plum Street; Roosevelt Drive; 11th Street; Linn Street; 10th Street; Chestnut Street; 7th Street; 3rd Street, and finally Poplar. There will be an Atlantic Police escort for the participants.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the sale of 602 Spruce Street, followed by a Resolution acting on the sale of the property. They will also act on approving a Resolution authorizing a Loan Agreement and the Issuance of Bonds for a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Note. City Administrator John Lund points out the City is a member of a 28-E organization that operates the Cass County Landfill. The City, he says, is required to support the Landfill financially, if the Landfill determines it is necessary. The Landfill has implemented a per-capita fee of $12 per residence ($85,344), payable in four equal installments over the course of the fiscal year. Since the City does not have the ability to foot that kind of financial obligation out of the General Fund over the long term. “Bonding for this type of debt is not logical,” he says. That leaves the City with one alternative: working with local banks for a paper debt and to make an immediate payment of the principal and any interest. Since it is still a debt, Public Hearings and the proper paperwork are required.

The Council will act on a Resolution approving the contract and bonds for the 2019 Palm Street improvement project, and a Resolution setting May 15th as the date for a Public Hearing on amending the FY 2019 Budget