The Shelby County Engineer’s Office says a road closed near the end of May for bridge repair, will re-open to traffic tomorrow (Friday). Officials say 1000^th Street between Shelby County Road M-56 and Woodland Road between Jackson Township sections 15- and 22, is set to open.

(Radio Iowa) — It’s been two-and-a-half years since a young woman from Council Bluffs was killed in a car accident in Omaha, a crash caused by a man who was in the country illegally. Twenty-one-year-old Sarah Root had been an organ donor since first getting her driver’s license at age 16. Now her mother, Michelle Root, says she’s in contact with the family of the person who received Sarah’s heart. “The heart recipient’s wife had emailed me and stated that her husband’s birthday is coming up and they would love for us to meet,” Root says.  The face-to-face meeting is to take place on Sunday, though the location is being kept secret. “I get to hear my baby’s heartbeat again and that’s going to be very emotional but very rewarding in its own way as well,” Root says.

Few details about the heart recipient are being released to maintain his privacy, but Root says all that really matters is he needed a heart and he got one. “He’s full of energy and life now and he can keep up with his grandchildren,” Root says. “They just seem like a wonderful family.” Root says her daughter’s organs have saved several lives and knowing that Sarah helped so many helps to ease the pain of her death. Sarah

Root who was killed on January 31st of 2016, a matter of hours after she graduated with honors from Bellevue University. Omaha police say her S-U-V was hit by a drag-racing drunk driver who was in the country illegally. Nineteen-year-old Eswin Mejia, a native of the Honduras, was released on bail and disappeared. It’s presumed he left the country.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old April Marie Watson, of Carson, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. today (Thursday), at a residence on Highway 92 in Pottawattamie County, as part of a follow-up investigation. Watson was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, including a glass pipe, multi-colored bong, and a shot glass with residue.

Authorities said also, 40-year old Jeremiah Victor Sapien, of Council Bluffs, turned himself in to the Jail, Wednesday. Sapien was taken into custody on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was then turned over to Corrections Staff without incident. And a disturbance Wednesday night in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest of 32-year old Schyler Ray Kellogg, of Council Bluffs. Kellogg was arrested for Domestic Assault with Injury, in connection to the alleged assault of his 26-year old girlfriend, who suffered apparent, minor injuries.

SABULA, Iowa (AP) — Work on a new bridge connecting Iowa and Illinois has been delayed by high water in the Mississippi River. The February closure of the bridge at Sabula for safety concerns stopped access to the U.S. 52/Illinois 64 bridge over the river to Savanna, Illinois. Drivers have since been making a 36-mile detour or taking a free ferry.

The $8.5 million replacement bridge was expected to be opened by Labor Day, but now the opening is projected for several weeks later. On Wednesday Iowa Transportation Department engineer Jim Schnoebelen blamed the delay on the slower-than-anticipated rate at which the river water is dropping. Snowmelt and heavy rains had swollen the river above flood stage at several spots earlier this year.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — A state oversight board has approved a Dubuque hospital’s request to buy $5.2 million worth of equipment for a new cancer center. The State Health Facilities Council voted 3-1 at its meeting Wednesday for the proposal from Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque. Mercy plans to start building its $25 million treatment center this year and open it in 2020.

In October the council rejected Mercy’s request. UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital argued at the time that its Wendt Cancer Center already provides the necessary services in Dubuque. The council is charged with preventing unnecessary duplication of medical services.

Ted Townsend is interim president and CEO of UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital, and he told the Telegraph Herald after Wednesday’s meeting in Ankeny that his organization is disappointed by the new decision. He says he expects Finley officials will appeal.

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A man who attacked a deputy during his escape in eastern Nebraska has pleaded no contest. Court records say 38-year-old Eric Scott entered the pleas Wednesday to charges of escape, assault on an officer, theft and use of a weapon. A second weapons count was dropped. Officials say Scott was being driven to court in Fremont Sept. 20 by a Dodge County sheriff’s deputy in an unmarked government car when he slipped his handcuffs and used his leg-iron chain to choke the deputy. Scott gained control of the car in Saunders County, forcing out the deputy.

Scott was arrested the next day after he was found walking near the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Officials found the Dodge County deputy’s service weapon on Scott when he was arrested.