(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Monday) signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for nine Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from damaging winds, hail, heavy rains and thunderstorms from June 3, 2014 – June 4, 2014. The request pertains to damages from the June 3 – 4 severe weather event and it is possible more requests will be made for additional counties adversely affected by subsequent severe weather.

Regarding the June 3 – 4 severe weather event, the letter reads, in part, “In response to the situation, I have issued a total of three State of Iowa Proclamations of Disaster Emergency. The first was issued on June 3, 2014, directing the execution of the Iowa Emergency Response Plan in Pottawattamie County.
Succeeding proclamations have resulted in a total of 11 counties to be in a State of Disaster Emergency. These actions were taken pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6 and Section 401 of the Stafford Act.

“I determined that the severity of the damage in Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, and Wayne Counties is so great that Joint Federal, State, and local Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments were required. On June 12, 2014, the State of Iowa first requested a Joint Federal, State, and local Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment for ten of the most severely impacted counties. These assessments commenced on June 18,
and were concluded on June 21.

“As a result of these Joint assessments, I have determined that the severity of damages in nine counties is such that Federal Assistance is needed.”

(Press Release)

An Iowa State Patrol trooper was treated and released from Atlantic hospital after a wreck on Interstate-80 in western Iowa late Monday morning. According to the accident report, Trooper Todd Granner, of Atlantic, was buckled in his patrol car east of Atlantic, with his vehicle positioned to direct traffic around another accident in the westbound lanes of I-80.

Trooper Todd Granner

Authorities say a semi driver reached to retrieve something inside his cab and when he looked back up realized traffic ahead had slowed substantially. The semi veered to avoid the line of traffic and ran into the back of the Granner’s patrol car and then into a guard rail. The trooper was taken to the Atlantic hospital as a precaution. The semi driver was not hurt. He was not identified but was expected to be cited for the incident.

(Radio Iowa)

ATLANTIC, Iowa —An Iowa State Patrol trooper is expected to be OK after a semi truck rear ended his cruiser Monday morning. KETV reports the crash happened in western Iowa on Interstate 80 before 11 a.m.

The semi also hit a cable barrier in the median during the crash. The trooper was outside the vehicle directing traffic around another crash at the time. He was taken to Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

The crash remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County are investigating an accident that ended with a vehicle submerged in a drainage ditch Saturday, about a mile southwest of Pacific Junction. Authorities say a 2007 Mercury, registered to Megan Schmoll, was traveling eastbound on Kelting Avenue and approaching the curve to 210th Street, when it left the road and rolled onto its top in a drainage ditch, where it became submerged.

No driver was found, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle had been reported stolen July 5th.

Three people were arrested over the weekend, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says 42-year old Patricia Margaret Zastera, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday evening in Pacific Junction. Zastera was charged with Trespassing, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was also wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $3,800.

On Sunday, 47-year old Clinton Jeffrey Moore, of Omaha, was arrested on 195th Street in Mills County. Authorities say he was charged with Indecent Exposure, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession  of Drug Paraphernalia. Moore’s bond was set at $2,300.

And, 54-year old Verner Jay Moore, of Emerson, was arrested in Emerson at around 1:30-p.m., Sunday. He was charged with Domestic Abuse/Assault. Moore was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.