A call about a person carrying weapons in the parking lot of a store Friday evening in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of a man on assault and weapons charges. Bluffs Police say at around 5:35-p.m., Friday, officers were dispatched to the Family Dollar parking lot at 2801 West Broadway for an armed subject damaging the business’ sign.

Upon arrival, an officer was approached by a man later identified as 30-year old Matthew Swarbrick, of Council Bluffs, as Swarbrick was carrying two open pocket knives. The man allegedly threatened the officer and threw both pocket knives at him.

Matthew Swarbrick

The officer was able to quickly take cover then ordered Swarbrick to the ground so he could be safely apprehended. No one was injured during the incident. Swarbrick was booked into Pottawattamie County Corrections for Assault on a Peace Officer, Going Armed with Intent, Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and Criminal Mischief 2nd.

Atlantic firefighters were called to a reported large grass fire early this (Saturday) morning on the northeast side of town. The call went out at around 3:25-a.m. for the blaze located just east/northeast of the Little League Ball fields, in the Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ well field complex. The area burning was said to be roughly 150-yards long by 50-feet wide, and was easily visible from less than one-mile away.

The flames were extinguished by 4-a.m.  No immediate cause for the blaze was determined, but smoking materials were a possibility, according to Fire Chief Mark McNees.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CARROLL, Iowa (AP) — Outside his sprawling Iowa congressional district, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King’s stream of inflammatory comments generate outrage and condemnation. But back home they rate little more than a shrug. Many interrupt King’s comments as racist, and House Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House have distanced themselves from his most recent statements. But in King’s conservative district, he likely can count on continued support.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst met with confrontational crowds in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids where she was repeatedly shouted down and booed over the GOP health care reform plan. Ernst drew laughter and booing when she said many of the millions of people likely to lose insurance under the bill will willingly chose not to buy insurance once the mandates under the current law are lifted.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and injured another man. Police say officers were called around 4 p.m. Friday to a residence for a report of a shooting and found two men injured. Police say one man had been shot in a foot, and the other man had been shot in his upper torso. Both me were taken to local hospitals, where the man shot in the torso died.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 79-year-old Omaha woman embezzled more than $1.2 million from her employer and blew it gambling at casinos. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Annie Carbullido pleaded no contest Tuesday to two counts of theft by deception and two counts of tax evasion. Her sentencing is set for May 17.

As we usher in spring next week, the construction season will also bloom and blossom quickly. Interstate construction crews have steadily worked over the winter months to ramp up for spring and with the warmer weather approaching, residents and travelers through Council Bluffs will see that happen. Scott Schram, Iowa DOT District 4 engineer in Atlantic, says a few early impacts due to construction will begin next week:

The westbound Interstate 80 exit at Iowa 192/South Expressway (exit 3) and right lane of westbound I-80 between the I-80/I-29 interchange (exit 4) and Iowa 192/Expressway (exit 3): Overnight closures are scheduled for each evening from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning Monday through Thursday, March 20-23 (ending Friday morning, March 24).

The right lane of westbound I-80 between the I-80/I-29 interchange (exit 1) and the Missouri River bridge: Overnight closure scheduled for Monday night, March 20, from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, for pavement restriping.

The southbound I-29 to westbound I-80 ramp (exit 51): The ramp will be closed from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 21.

Eastbound I-80 at the I-80/I-29 interchange (exit 4): Eastbound I-80 will be closed overnight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until the following morning on Wednesday and Thursday, March 22 and 23 (ending Friday morning, March 24).

Iowa 192/South Expressway between the westbound I-80 ramp and 30th Avenue: Iowa 192/South Expressway will be closed overnight each evening from 9:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. the following morning Monday through Thursday, March 27-30 (ending Friday morning, March 31).

Schram says “More details about the 2017 interstate construction activities will be discussed with the public at an open house meeting in April; details will be announced soon. The Iowa DOT anticipates that ongoing work will most impact people traveling on the interstate and local businesses in the area.”

The Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time while this interstate improvement takes effect. If you would like more information about detours and traffic impacts visit the program website, www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov.

A passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision Friday afternoon in Creston, was injured and and transported to the hospital for treatment of suspected, minor injuries. Creston Police say 68-year old Judy Wells, of Creston, was injured during the collision that happened at around 12:15-p.m. at the intersection of Birch and Howard Streets.

Wells was a passenger in a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup that was hit by a 2010 Chevy Equinox. Neither the driver of the Chevy, 22-year old Shaylen Renae Kipp, or the pickup, 48-year old Gena Ann Chumbley, both of Creston, were injured.

The accident happened when Kipp stopped at the intersection, but then failed to yield to Chumbley’s pickup. Kipp was cited for Failure to Obey a stop or yield sign. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,500.

The Atlantic Police Department, Friday, issued a warning to area residents about private debt collectors who are supposedly working for Verizon Wireless. The “debt collectors”are calling asking customers to go to onto a Verizon website they provide to pay off a certain amount of money you may owe.

The A-PD says you should always call Verizon directly to see if you owe anything on your account. Don’t use the website the caller has given, and if you have used the website the debt collector gave you, be sure and keep a close eye on your bank accounts. Always go through Verizon directly, on the website listed on your statements or call them directly at a verifiable number.

As always, with any debt collection or call you may receive, never give your personal information out to the caller, and never send money.