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Red Oak man arrested on assault, armed w/intent & criminal mischief charges

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports officers dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of E. Elm Street, Monday, ended-up arresting a man on assault and other charges. Following a brief investigation, officers took 41-year-old Michael Duwayne Cobb, of Red Oak, into custody at around 5:30-p.m., on: 2 counts of Assault w/bodily injury; Going Armed with Intent (A Class-D Felony), and 4th Degree Criminal Mischief.

Cobb was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Inspectors: Medication errors in a western IA care facility linked to woman’s acute kidney injury

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs nursing home is facing a potential fine for medication errors that may have resulted in serious injury to the resident. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports state inspectors allege the staff at Prairie Gate, a 32-resident nursing home in Council Bluffs, recently committed a series of “significant” medication errors in its treatment of a female resident.

According to the inspectors, in early March the woman’s cardiologist ordered that she be given Bumetanide twice per day in 2-milligram doses for 3 days, followed by a once-daily dose of 2 milligrams.

The home didn’t initiate the once-per-day order, which meant the woman didn’t receive the drug from March 10 through March 15. A second error occurred when she was allegedly given, for two full months, a 2-milligram dose twice per day rather once per day. That error was compounded when the home began providing an additional, prescribed 1 milligrams per day. The net result, according to state inspectors, was that the woman “received 5 milligrams of Bumetanide a day, for roughly 58 days, when 3 milligrams was ordered.”

A nurse at the woman’s cardiologist’s office allegedly told inspectors such an error could cause acute kidney injury, adding that she didn’t understand why the home did not question the order in March. The state inspectors’ report does not indicate whether the resident survived, but it does state that she was discharged from the facility on May 28 with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. The state has proposed, but held in suspension, an $8,000 fine. Earlier this year, the state fined Prairie Gate $6,250 for inadequate nursing services related to an alleged failure to address pressure sores. That fine was later reduced by the state to $4,062.

Prairie Gate has a one-star overall rating, as well as a one-star rating for both staffing and quality measures, on the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Care Compare website, which scores the nation’s nursing homes on a five-star scale. CMS also reports that it has imposed no fines or penalties against the facility in the past three years.

Prairie Gate is owned by a nonprofit organization, Presbyterian Homes & Services.

NW Iowa flood drowning victim is identified

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Spencer, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa have identified a man who died Saturday, after his vehicle was swept away by flood waters. According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, William Schulze, of Elburn, Illinois, was driving a red Ford vehicle and attempting to cross rapid flood waters on 240th Avenue, when he was swept away in the flood waters from the Little Sioux River on Saturday. Witnesses told officers they saw a vehicle float under the waters.

Authorities said they knew where the vehicle was, but weren’t able to get to it safely until Monday.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Weather

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny w/a 30% chance of afternoon showers & thunderstorms. High near 94. Heat index values as high as 103. HEAT ADVISORY in effect from Noon until 7-p.m. today. SW winds 5-10 this morning becoming SE this afternoon.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Low around 65.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. N/NE winds 10-20 mph.
Wed. Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy w/a 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 78. .
Thu. Night: A 70% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Low around 65.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms ending in the morning; Becoming partly sunny. High near 88.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 97, and the Low was 74. This day last year in Atlantic the high was 80 and the low 52. The record high in Atlantic on June 25th, was 106 in 1937, & the record Low was 40, in 2004. Sunrise this morning: 5:47 am. Sunset: 8:58 pm.

GOP lawmaker calls for review of UI use of animals in research

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Republican lawmaker is calling on the University of Iowa to examine its use of animals in medical research, consider alternatives and release a public report. State Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis says he finds one experiment particularly grotesque — beagles with a fatal infection were euthanized, then blood and tissue samples from the dogs were studied.

“These are really concerning research practices that are occurring at the University of Iowa and we’re simply asking for a review of these practices because we shouldn’t be simply only looking at dollar signs when we’re conducting research,” Collins says. “We also need to be thinking about the ethical use of these animals.”

University of Iowa officials say the 25 dogs were infected with the disease when the owners of the beagles donated the animals for the research a decade ago and no dogs have been used in the university’s research since 2019. A written statement from university says faculty have an unwavering commitment to the health and well being of research animals and strongly support development of non-animal alternatives for research.

“As usual we have received no commitments to make any improvements, conduct any kind of review or even admit any wrongdoing ever occurred. The only thing we have gotten back is a boilerplate FAQ to simply answer questions about the study,” Collins says. “The university and the Board of Regents can’t just continue to ignore issues that legislators bring to their attention. They either need to address this or we’ll do it for them like many other things.”

Collins led efforts in the legislature this year to cut the budgets for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa. Collins says two years ago the legislature passed a law that requires university researchers to set up adoption programs for dogs and cats that are retired from research.  “We’ve sounded the alarm bell on it before,” Collins says, “but as usual the university has become increasingly out of touch with everyday Iowans and the legislature when it comes to research.”

The Iowa director of the Humane Society has raised the same concerns as Collins and the group has started an online petition calling for changes in animal testing practices at the University of Iowa. Officials at the University of Iowa say for the past 30 years the university has been accredited by an international nonprofit that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science.

Governor Reynolds announces approval of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Mondayy that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred beginning on June 16, 2024 and continuing.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now authorized to provide assistance to Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Governor will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected.

Residents in these counties can now apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. Other options include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or downloading the FEMA app.

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, may be able to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. In addition, small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and private, nonprofit organizations impacted by the severe weather may be eligible to apply for working capital loans.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is no longer available in counties where the FEMA Individual Assistance Program has been made available and residents should apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.

In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program has been activated for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures.

I-29 and I-680 north of Council Bluffs to close due to flooding

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IOWA – June 25, 2024 – If you travel on Interstate 29 or I-680 north of Council Bluffs, the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office wants you to know that it intends to close I-29 from milepost 55 (25th Street at the north edge of Council Bluffs) to the I-29/880 interchange (near Loveland) at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25. Timing will depend on rising flood water levels on the Missouri River.

In addition, the portion of I-680 west of I-29 located in Iowa will also be closed at approximately 11 a.m. due to rising flood waters.

Once the roadway is closed you will follow a signed detour that will start at the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland, continue east to the I-80/880 interchange, and then southwest on I-80 to Council Bluffs. If you are driving between Iowa and Nebraska, you should use I-80. Local traffic in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area should follow the signed detour.

The Iowa DOT reminds travelers to never enter a water-covered roadway. Do not move or travel around barricades or fencing as they are placed there for your safety. Turn around and don’t drown.

Griswold Softball Shines in the heat against Essex

Sports

June 24th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Griswold Tigers softball team had another strong outing on Monday night in a heat index of 102, winning against the Essex Trojans 13-1. The game started off well for starting pitcher Karly Millikan and the Tigers as they retired the first three Trojan batters they faced. In the bottom of the 1st inning Griswold scored 4 runs from 3 base hits and 1 error to take a 4-0 lead. In the top of the 2nd Essex continued to struggle at the plate only getting one base hit in the inning. Tori Burns then turned things up for the Trojans in the bottom of the 2nd as she only had one run come in and one hit in the inning with the Tigers now up 5-0 through 2 innings.

Essex put a run on the board in the top of the 3rd starting from a Kyndra Gray double to make the game 5-1. In the bottom of the 3rd is when things really shifted for Griswold that began with a solo homerun from Whitney Pennock to achieve her 100th run in her high school career. That homer led to a 4 hit, 3 walk, and 6 run surge to put the Tigers way ahead at 11-1 through 3 innings. Griswold put the game away in the bottom of the 4th with 2 walks and a passed ball walk off to take the game at 13-1.

Karly Millikan had another impressive night pitching as she threw for 4 innings, had one run, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts, and no walks.

Griswold Head Coach Jody Rossell commented on how well her team handled the heat and the game.

Pennock’s career achievement was no small feat in coach Rossell’s eyes.

Griswold improves to 20-2 with the win and their next game is at home on Wednesday against Bedford. Coach Rossell wants to see her team continue to play with discipline.

Essex falls to 10-9 on the year with their loss and will travel to Shenandoah on Tuesday to face off against the Fillies.

DCI Assists Taylor County with Bank Robbery that ends w/suspect’s death

News

June 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATED by Radio Iowa) – Authorities say the suspect in a southwest Iowa bank robbery died by suicide in a farm field. According to an Iowa Department of Public Safety news release, a man walked into the Iowa State Savings Bank in Lenox at about 1:30 Monday afternoon and demanded money. He left on a motorcycle, was chased into the neighboring county, crashed into a farm field and started running. Officers from four county sheriff’s departments and the Iowa State Patrol surrounded the field.

The Creston News Advertiser reports authorities used a drone to speak to the man, who responded that he would take his own life. The state agency’s news release indicates the suspect fired one shot and died of a self-inflicted wound. The Creston newspaper has identified the man as 45 year old Steven Sapp, a man from Nebraska with a criminal record.

Several media reports from more than a decade ago show Sapp did time in a Missouri prison after pleading guilty to stabbing a man to death with a pocket knife in southern Missouri in 2008. In 2013, Sapp was convicted of robbing a Pizza Hut in southwest Nebraska and beating two female employees at the restaurant. He was released from a Nebraska prison in 2022 after serving nine years on a 21 year sentence.

Pott. County prepares for Missouri River flooding & evacuations

News

June 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) –  Emergency Management and other officials in Pottawattamie County, Monday evening, said they anticipate river flooding to levels equal to or exceeding the 2019 flood event. However, flood waters are not anticipated to linger for an extended period of time. Crest is currently forecast for 35.1′ and is anticipated to recede below flood stage on or about July 4th.

Local, state, and federal partners have communicated and planned response priorities and continue to partner to meet the needs of local governments and the residents that face potential impacts from this event.

If you receive flood damages in the coming days, you are asked to report your damages at the links provided on this website. Please include flood damage and level pictures as part of your submission.

Emergency Protective Actions

Voluntary Evacuations announced for two areas in Pottawattamie County and Council Bluffs. 

  • Area 1 | Northwest Pottawattamie from Harrison County south to Council Bluffs, and east from the Missouri River to I-29.
  • Area 2 | In Council Bluffs – Email Ln, Dog Bite Ln, and the east to west spans of Gifford Rd between S 19th St and S 35th St.

CBPD made contact with residents in Area 2. PCSO will be canvassing Area 1 starting 6/25/2024. Alert Iowa notifications went out to Area 1 residents 6/24/2024.

SEE INFORMATION BELOW FOR MORE EVACUATION INFORMATION

Current Actions

  • Local law enforcement & Fire Departments have arranged staffing plans for any potential need for evacuation or rescue operations in the coming days.
  • Iowa DNR has closed Wilson Island State Park; closed the river access boat ramp south of Lake Manawa.
  • Pottawattamie Co Conservation has closed the Narrows River Park.
  • City of Council Bluffs has closed Tom Hanafan Rivers Edge Park. The city also advises people to stay off the levee trail system.
  • Council Bluffs flood and drainage gates are closed, and stormwater pumps are operational.
  • Iowa DOT is pre-positioning assets for anticipated closures to I-29 and I-680.