Cass County Engineer Charles Marker reports a bridge located a couple of miles south of Interstate 80 in Pymosa Township was closed immediately today (Wednesday) following an inspection. The high truss bridge is located on Chicago Road near Buck Creek Road, not far from the Buck Creek Church. Marker said their inspection revealed a wooden “pile cap” on the northeast corner of the bridge has shattered, making it unsafe.

Their concern is that the northwest corner of the bridge, which will carry more of the weight, might soon be in a similar situation. Marker says the bridge was closed so crews can replace the pile caps.

Marker said also, the Atlantic quarry where road rock is obtained by the Secondary Roads Department, is now closed, so crews are getting rock from the Lewis Quarry and the Stennett Quarry south of Griswold.

The damaged pile cap on a high truss bridge on Chicago Rd. (Cass County Engineer’s photo)

Police in Creston are investigating the theft of a rabbit. Authorities say a woman who resides in the 300 block of N. Oak Street, in Creston, reported that when she came home from work, Tuesday, one of her rabbits was missing. The loss was estimated at $35.

Iowans are living much less physical lives now than they did a few decades ago and people are being encouraged to get outdoors for a brisk walk today (Wednesday) as part of National Walking Day. Kassi Wessing, spokeswoman for the American Heart Association of Iowa, says to start with just a half hour of hoofing it. “It’s a day for people to take charge of their heart health,” Wessing says. “It’s starting to get nice out, we’re enjoying warmer temperatures and people are ready to get outside and enjoy the spring weather. We would like everybody to get out and get at least a 30-minute walk today. So, lace up your sneakers and get moving.”

It’s recommended adults take part in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week. “Walking is one of the easiest exercises you can take on,” Wessing says. “It’s low risk. All you need is a good pair of sneakers and a path to walk on, so it’s inexpensive. Pretty much anybody can do it and a lot of times, that can kind of be our gateway drug to more physical activity.”

She says everyone who walks can “donate” their minutes walked to the American Heart Association  by posting their minutes on social media. “We’d like anybody that walks to share that they’re participating in National Walking Day,” Wessing says. “Share how many minutes you walked. Use #AHALaceUp. We’re going to track all of that and work toward the goal of 100,000 minutes walked nationally today.”

Studies suggest moderate physical activity has many proven benefits for overall health, like lowering blood pressure, increasing H-D-L or “good” cholesterol and controlling weight. All these changes help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, Iowa’s number-1 and number-5 killers.

(Radio Iowa)