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IA water district struggles with water problems

News

June 20th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

BOUTON, Iowa (AP) – Financially troubled Xenia Rural Water District has problems with its water, too. The district has sent several warnings about higher-than-allowed levels of nitrite and arsenic in its water. Arsenic can cause cancer, and nitrites can be harmful to infants. The district provides water service in all or part of 11 counties west and northwest of Des Moines as well as in Worth County.

Mark Christianson is supply and treatment manager for Xenia. He told The Des Moines Register that the district is using the sodium permanganate to treat the arsenic problems. And the district is attacking the nitrite problem by using a different process to inject chlorine. The district hopes to cancel the nitrite warning by July.

Officials say the water problems aren’t a result of the district debt problems.

Storm reports from late Sun. thru early Mon.

News, Weather

June 20th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Here is a summary of storm reports from around the area from the storms which passed through late Sunday night thru early this (Monday) morning (as compiled by the Nat’l. Weather Service)…(updated 8:52-a.m.)

Monday

6:55-a.m – 3.15″ rain reported by Ray Book, in Harlan (an official NWS observer). 1.12″ fell from 7am-Sat. thru 7-am Sun., & 2.03″ from 7am-Sun thru 6:50-a.m. today, in addition to some hail.

6:00-a.m. – rainfall in Atlantic from 4-am to 6-a.m.=  .14″

3:27-a.m. Power outage in Atlantic thru 4:28-a.m. Tree fell on power line during strong winds. Large part of town south of Highway 6/7th Street was without power. Numerous 6-inch diameter tree branches down. A 40-to 50-foot tree fell on top of a house. (See pictures on kjan.com. Click “news” under the Community Hub, and scroll down).

3:08-a.m.- half-dollar sized hail (1.5″-diameter) south of Logan, in Harrison Co.

1:54-a.m. – Penny sized hail (.75″-dia.) 3 miles west of Pacific Junction, in Mills County.

Sunday

11:52-a.m. – Kellerton, Ringgold County: Thunderstorm wind damage. Four mature trees downed along with numerous 4-to 6- inch diameter limbs. Two separate power lines downed by falling trees. An abandoned mobile home moved off of its foundation. (Time estimated by radar).

11:23-p.m. – Nickel-sized hail (.88″-dia.) in Shenandoah, Page Co.

11:15-p.m – Golfball-sized hail (1.75″-dia.) in Sidney, Fremont Co.

10:50-p.m. – Pea-to-dime-sized hail (1/2″-dia.) & heavy rain in Sidney.

10:35-p.m. – quarter-zied hail (1″-dia.) northeast of Arispe, in Union Co.

10:33-p.m. – 1.5″ hail in Arispe, in Union Co.

10:03-p.m. – .88″-dia. hail north of Clarinda, in Page Co.

10:00-p.m. – 1″-dia. hail 4 miles south of Clarinda.

Power Outage reported in Atlantic this morning

News

June 20th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A large portion of Atlantic and nearby rural areas were without power for about an hour this (Monday) morning, after a tree limb fell on a power line. Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities report the incident, which occurred between 21st and 22nd Streets, on Olive, happened at 3:27-a.m. 

Power was restored to the affected customers by 4:28-a.m.  AMU could not provide a figure early this morning, on the number of customers who lost power.

Griswold man hurt in car vs. motorcycle accident

News

June 20th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Only minor injuries were reported following a car versus motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 49-year old Larry Brown, of Griswold, was checked by Red Oak Rescue for minor injuries at the scene of the crash, at Highway 48 and 130th Street, but refused medical transport to the hospital.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, a 1999 Ford Mustang, owned and operated by 16-year old Abigail Cook, of rural Emerson, was making a left turn from 130th Street onto Highway 48, when she pulled into the path of a 1987 Yamaha motorcycle, owned and operated by Larry Brown. Brown laid his cycle down onto its side just before it hit the Mustang. The accident happened at around 2:20-p.m., Sunday.

The collision caused at total of $4,500 damage. Cook was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a through highway, and failure to have insurance. Brown was also cited for failure to have insurance.

On a separate note, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 46-year old Randall J. Conry, of rural Elliott, was arrested Sunday on a 60-day mittimus, or, order by a court or magistrate, to appear and serve a jail sentence.

I-29 closure location in Council Bluffs changed

News

June 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – June 19, 2011: 5 p.m. – The location where Interstate 29 is closed in
Council Bluffs has been changed. The road is now closed starting at the North 35th
Street interchange (milepost 54B). 

Both north- and southbound lanes of I-29 are now closed from milepost 54B in Council
Bluffs to milepost 71 near Loveland.

Northbound I-29 travelers must exit at North 35th Street. 

All ramps at the I-29/North 25th Street interchange (milepost 55) have been closed. 

Key traveler information resources
·  Iowa DOT’s flood information call center 866-452-8510, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
daily, speak to an operator for travel assistance
·  Road condition information 24 hours a day: visit www.511ia.org, or call 511 (in
Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside of the state) for a recorded message of road closures

·  Iowa DOT on Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/iowadot/ 
·  View the flooded Iowa roads map for road closures, detours and areas at risk of
flooding - http://tinyurl.com/3o2mtlp

Neb. nuke plant notifies feds of Missouri flooding

News

June 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Cooper Nuclear Station in southeast Nebraska is operating as normal despite flooding along the Missouri River. Nebraska Public Power District spokesman Mark Becker says workers continue to monitor flood barricades and the protections are holding up well.

The Columbus-based utility on Sunday issued a “notification of unusual event” for the plant. Such a declaration is required when the Missouri River rises to 42.5 feet, or 899 feet above sea level. Cooper is at 903 feet elevation, and the river would have to climb to 902 feet before officials would shutter the plant.

Becker says the river is forecast to crest there at a little over 900 feet. At such a level, officials would need to barricade internal doorways at the plant to protect equipment.

Domestic disturbance arrest

News

June 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A domestic disturbance at a residence in Elliott, Saturday, resulted in the arrest of an Elliott man on an assault charge. 41-year old Jeffrey M. Brockman was charged with Domestic Assault/Simple Misdemeanor.

His arrest followed an incident which allegedly occurred at around 4:45-a.m., Saturday. Brockman was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was held on $300 bond until making an appearance before the magistrate.

MARVIN WESTPHAL, of Fontanelle (svcs. set for 6-23-11)

Obituaries

June 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Marvin Westphal, 92, of Fontanelle passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle.  Funeral services for Marvin Westphal will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., June 23rd, at the United Methodist Church in Fontanelle.  Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle has the arrangements. 

Visitation is open at the funeral home from 2-7pm Wed. (June 22nd).

Burial will be in the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com. Memorials may be directed to a fund established in his name by the family.

MARVIN WESTPHAL is survived by:

His children – Cecilia “Sue” Cronk, & husband Homer, of Galveston, TX; Marvin L. Westphal, Jr., & wife Joanne, of LaLuz, NM; Annette (Patrick) Lana, of Lakewood, CO; Chris (& wife Donevy) Westphal, of Casey; and Jeffrey (Kim) Westphal, of Casey.

His sister – Macel Brower, of Massena.

His brother – William Westphal, of Greenfield.

17 grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Branstad requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for six Iowa counties

News

June 19th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) -  Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to
President Obama requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for
six Iowa counties.  The six counties in the request are Fremont, Harrison, Mills,
Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury.

The Governor is making the request in response to the ongoing flooding along the
Missouri River in Iowa.  Local and state agencies have been actively preparing for
and responding to flooding conditions along the Missouri River since May 25, 2011.

“Iowans need to remain vigilant as this flood is unlike any other that Iowa has
experienced," said Branstad. "This is a very serious situation. The flooding is
going to continue for several months. This is why I have requested the President to
sign a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa.”

A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion
long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs,
and designed to help  public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance
funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of
disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective
measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for
essential government functions and grants for public schools.

Gov. Branstad is also asking for Direct Federal Assistance, to include, sheltering,
temporary housing and swift-water rescue teams if the need arises.

For more information, please visit www.Governor.Iowa.gov.

Hwy 2 status update – road closure

News

June 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – June 18, 2011; 4:35 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will be closing Iowa 2 from Interstate 29 in Iowa to Nebraska City, Neb., this (Saturday) evening due to rising flood and ground water. All east- and westbound lanes will be closed. This is expected to be a long-term closure.

The Iowa DOT is attempting to keep the road open as long as possible today, but it will be closed tonight. No further advance warning will be possible.  The public will be notified when the road is closed.

Suggested alternative route…
· Starting at the I-29/Iowa 2 interchange in Fremont County, Iowa (exit 10)
· Take Iowa 2 east to U.S. 59
· Take U.S. 59 north to Iowa 92
· Take Iowa 92 west to U.S. 275 at Council Bluffs
· Continue west on U.S. 275 to Nebraska Highway 50
· Go south on Nebraska Highway 50 to Nebraska Highway 2
· Go east on Nebraska Highway 2 to Nebraska City, Neb.