Modern warplanes and historic aircraft will fill the skies during two major air shows on opposite corners of Iowa this weekend. The Thunder in the Valley Air Show in Waterloo is expected to draw 50-thousand spectators, while Omaha/Council Bluffs hosts its Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show at Offutt (OFF-it) Air Force Base. Lieutenant Colonel Donovan Routsis is the 55th Wing Group Commander at Offutt and says they have an entertaining lineup, starting with parachutists.

“The Army Golden Knights kick off our air show and then we’ll have an F-15-E Strike Eagle demonstration team,” Routsis says. “We’ll also have a Russian attack helicopter performing for the first time ever at a U-S air show. This will also be the first time we will have a B-2 (stealth bomber) on display here at Offutt.” In addition, the base has scheduled more than 20 aerial performers and more than 30 static displays. Flying can be a hazardous business and he notes, just last weekend, there were three deadly crashes at air shows nationwide.

“We’re very saddened by the tragic accidents that happened last weekend and we express our condolences to those families and friends of those involved,” Routsis says. “We’ve heard nothing from the FAA and our operations group stays in very close contact with the FAA in regards to accidents and our open house and air show are going to take place as scheduled.”

Routis was referring to the crash at a Kansas City, Missouri air expo, which took the life of 50-year old Atlantic native Bryan Jensen on August 20^th. That same day a 33-year old Royal Air Force pilot died at an air show in the U.K. The next day, wing Walker Todd Green fell 200 feet, after an attempting an aircraft transfer from a Stearman to a Helicopter at an air show in Michigan.

Both airshows in Waterloo and Omaha are planned for Saturday and Sunday. Jensen had been scheduled to perform this weekend, at the air show in Waterloo.

Car crashes into the Danish Inn Thursday evening

Additional information was released this morning about an accident in Elk Horn Thursday evening, which injured four people. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says a 2007 Toyota driven by 66-year old Patricia Miller, of Harlan, went out of control at around 5:40-p.m. as Miller was attempting to park her car outside the Danish Inn. The vehicle crashed through the north wall of the building, causing minor injuries to three people inside the restaurant.

Vern Kline owner of the Danish Inn, told KJAN News it was a normal night, when all of the sudden there was a crash. Kline said he heard a loud noise, and turned to see a car crashing into the north side of the building. He says three people were knocked to the ground and injured.

A front seat passenger in the car, 68-year old Larry Miller, of Harlan, was also injured. The injured restaurant patrons were identified as 62-year old Richard Clough, 63-year old Sandra Clough, and 87-year old Jim Tyler, all from Atlantic. Those in the restaurant were transported by Elk Horn Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, while the passenger in the car was taken to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan. None of the restaurant’s staff were injured.

The restaurant, which sustained about $2,500 damage, was closed for the rest of the evening, but was expected to re-open today (Friday), at noon.  The car sustained $3,000 damage.

Passengers onboard an Amtrak train traveling through Creston were stranded for nearly five-hours early Thursday morning, due to the impact of flooding in Iowa, and delays resulting from the earthquake earlier this week, in the eastern U-S. The train, which was traveling from Pennsylvania to Utah, was already nearly 12 hours behind schedule by the time it left Creston at 8:30-a.m., because of backups in service due to the earthquake.

The floods have created headaches for the railroads all summer long. In Omaha, a section of track had to be removed to build a levy near a sewage treatment plant, and, the Amtrak station in Omaha remains closed. All Amtrak passenger service and Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal routes are currently being rerouted through Creston.

Before you fuel-up your vehicle in preparation for your Labor Day weekend travels, remember, the gas tank isn’t the only think that needs refueling. The American Red Cross says they typically experience a dip in blood donations before and after the Labor Day holiday weekend, and want to thank eligible donors who help to “refuel” the blood supply in southwestern Iowa. As an extra incentive to roll-up your sleeve, August 29th through September 7th all blood donors in the Midwest Blood Services Region are eligible to win one of three $500 gas cards.

Officials say in addition, you have a chance to win a 2012 Ford Fiesta. Now through September 14th, all presenting blood donors can register for a chance to win the car through Red Cross Racing! Visit redcrossracing.com for more information. All blood types are needed to help maintain a stable blood supply, and there is a special need for types O negative, B negative and A negative. Whether this is your first donation of the summer season, or you’re eligible to give again, officials encourage you to make an appointment today to donate. To donate blood, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. 

Blood Donation Opportunities in S.W. IA :

CASS COUNTY 9/3/2011, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm, Hy-Vee, 1630 East 7th Street, Atlantic

HARRISON COUNTY 9/7/2011, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, West Harrison High School, 410 Pine Street, Mondamin

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

8/29/2011, 12:30 pm- 6:15 pm, Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street, Council Bluffs

8/30/2011, 9:30 am- 3:00 pm, Harrah’s Casino, 1 Harrahs Blvd, Council Bluffs

8/30/2011, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street, Council Bluffs

9/1/2011, 7:00 am-12:30 pm, Pottawattamie County Courthouse, 227 S. 6th St., Council Bluffs

9/1/2011, 9:00 am- 2:00 pm, AmeriStar Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs

9/2/2011, 6:30 am-12:30 pm, Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street, Council Bluffs

9/3/2011, 6:30 am-12:00 pm, Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street, Council Bluffs

9/6/2011, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm, Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street, Council Bluffs

SHELBY COUNTY

9/6/2011, 11:30 am- 5:30 pm, Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview, Harlan