Officials with MidAmerican Energy Company said Friday (today) tree maintenance crews have been working to maintain vegetation around MidAmerican Energy’s facilities throughout its service territory, including  (locally) those in Avoca, Charter Oak, Clarinda and Council Bluffs.

MidAmerican Energy contracts with companies that specialize in tree trimming to perform the work and crews are supervised by International Society of Arboriculture certified arborists. Customers are notified by mail approximately three weeks before services are scheduled in their neighborhood. There is no service charge assessed to perform the work.

Fallen trees or debris from trees cause seven to 10 percent of electric outages and create hazardous situations when they knock down electrical wires and poles. Trees must be pruned or removed to alleviate safety hazards and improve service reliability.

Property owners should contact MidAmerican Energy before choosing to care for landscaping near power lines. If you, your equipment, or the branches you touch come into contact with energized lines, you could be seriously injured, if not killed. If you are concerned about trees near power lines on your property, contact MidAmerican Energy at 888-427-5632 or trees@midamerican.com.

Three Atlantic residents were arrested Thursday night on drug and other charges. According to the Atlantic Police Department,

Mary Nowatzke (Cass Co. S/O booking photo)

27-year old Mary Nowatzke was charged with: Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2 counts of Child Endangerment, & Gathering where controlled substances were used.

28-year old Derek McDermott was charged with: Possession with Intent to Deliver; Gathering where Controlled Substances are unlawfully used; 2 counts of Child Endangerment and Delivery of a Controlled substance.

Derek McDermott (Cass Co. S/O photo)

And, 30-year old Cody Hanson faces charges that include Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, 2nd offense.

All three Atlantic residents were taken into custody at 505 Cedar St., Apt. #2, and booked into the Cass County Jail.

Cody Hanson booking photo

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney is aiming to boost Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst’s appeal to mainstream Republicans with a public endorsement in Cedar Rapids in the last days of the competitive primary.

Ernst has built a lead in the five-way primary on catchy ads and a diverse background as a Iowa farmer, military veteran and rural Iowa state senator. The combination has helped draw endorsements from across the political spectrum, including outside groups that have been at odds in Republican primaries in Nebraska, Kentucky and Mississippi.

But Ernst has the backing of mainstream Republicans such as Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Kim Reynolds, and the quiet backing of longtime Gov. Terry Branstad, as well as tea party favorites such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Two people were injured, one of them seriously, during an accident this (Friday) morning on Interstate 80 in Cass County. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around  7:20-a.m. on I-80 westbound at the 50.56-mile marker, in the construction zone just before the Marne exit. According to reports the vehicle struck two unoccupied construction vehicle in the work zone. Atlantic Medivac and Marne as well as Atlantic Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

50.56-mm I-80 Westbound accident scene. Mike Kennon/Cass Co. EMA Director – photo

The driver and a passenger in the vehicle suffered cuts and bruises. One of the victims, a female, was unconscious but breathing. The accident remains under investigation.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) – Fire officials are on the scene of an overnight fire in central Iowa that destroyed a feed and milling business. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Whiton’s Feed and Milling Company in Perry caught fire just before 11 p.m. Thursday.

KCCI says fire crews were still on the scene of the fire Friday morning. Fire officials say they are still looking into what started the fire.