SIOUX CITY, Iowa – April 27, 2021 – A bridge deck overlay project on Interstate 129 in Sioux City requires closing the ramp from southbound I-29 to westbound I-129/U.S. 20 from 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, until Monday, July 12, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office.

During this project, motorists will be detoured to Singing Hills Boulevard, then to northbound I-29 and westbound U.S. 20 (see map).

Atlantic, Iowa – April 27 — Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric service reliability in 2020. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA). APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data and then compares the data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities.

AMU’s Average Service Availability Index is 99.9923%, meaning that on average, customers of AMU have their electric service available for use more than 99.99% of the time. APPA has awarded AMU a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability because AMU ranks in the top quartile (25%) of all electric utilities throughout the U.S.

“Public power utilities have proven their commitment to serving their community by continuing to lead the nation in reliability,” said Alex Hofmann, APPA’s Vice President of Technical and Operations Services. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on in their communities.”

“We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our line workers and staff to ensure that we keep Atlantic and the surrounding rural area powered,” said Steve Tjepkes, General Manager at AMU.

In an update to our earlier reports, the Atlantic Police Department, Tuesday (today), said Angela Hillhouse, of Atlantic, complained of neck pain, but refused transport to CCMH, following a collision that happened in the 1000 block of E. 22nd Street, at around 7:35-a.m., Monday (April 26).

Authorities say Hillhouse was traveling eastbound on 22nd and had stopped in the roadway for construction workers, who were partially blocking the road, and a bus that was approaching in the opposite direction.

Her vehicle was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by Leslie Paulsen, of Exira, as Paulsen was traveling over the hill. Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests. On Sunday, Deputies arrested 38-year-old Erick Antoine Smith, of St. Louis, MO, following a traffic stop on I-29. He was charged with Possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $1,000. Last Saturday, 20-year-old Nathan Edward Lee Richardson, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense. His bond was set at $5,000. 44-year-old Michael Raymond Carver, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, also, for Intimidation, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $1,600.

Last Friday, 20-year-old Mariah Marie Pierson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $10,000. On April 21st, 41-year old Jacey Carvel Higgins, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a PCS charge. Bond was set at $5,000.

On April 17th, 22-year-old Dylan Jacob Barrett, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, with bond set at $300. And, 37-year-old Garret Allen Horgdahl, of Henderson, was arrested on a warrant for Stalking, Harassment in the 2nd Degree, 2 counts of Child Endangerment, and Contempt of Court. His bond was set at $7,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, 55-year-old Timothy Harvey, of Glenwood, escaped injury after the 2014 Harley Davidson he was driving, went out of control and entered the west ditch off of 230th Street. The incident occurred at around 12:33-p.m., after a tan Ford Ranger came into his lane as Harvey was traveling southbound, near Devore Avenue. The Ranger continued northbound on 230th Street, and did not stop.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU via Iowa DOT Aviation Bureau) — A road near Sioux Gateway Airport has been named after a pilot from an infamous flight. KCAU in Sioux City reports the city council voted unanimously to dedicate the north segment of the road near the airport Al Haynes Drive.

The remains of United Flight 232 following the fatal crash 7/19/1989

Haynes was the pilot of United Airlines Flight 232, which crashed at Sioux Gateway Airport on July 19, 1989.  The flight was enroute from Denver to Chicago and then on to Philadelphia, when it crash-landed after suffering a catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine, which led to the loss of many flight controls. 112 people died in the crash, but thanks to the actions of Haynes and local rescue crews, 184 people survived. Haynes died in 2019.

Mayor Bob Scott said Haynes always spoke highly of the City of Sioux City, so it was only fitting to name a street after him. Scott said the city may hold an official dedication in the future.

(Council Bluffs) – An Iowa Girl Scout troop is helping sweeten the deal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. KCCI-TV reports the girls are part of a troop based at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter who had a record year of cookie sales. Some of their customers even bought boxes to be donated to worthy causes.Those cookies went to the Pottawattamie County Health Department to give to people after they get vaccinated.

In all, the health department received nearly 2,400 boxes of treats like Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs.

(Radio Iowa) – A top Republican says there’s still a chance the Houses will vote this year to make changes in Iowa’s Bottle Bill, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says it’s very difficult to find a resolution. “The same thing happens every time we even have these conversations is every group that’s involved goes into their corners and no one’s willing to move,” Grassley says. “And so it just makes it really hard to not only find an agreement, but a bill that’s palatable to any caucus.” Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, has been involved in negotiations to reform the Bottle Bill. “This has been a topic that’s been around for decades,” Kaufmann says. “I think we’re as close as we’ve ever been, without saying we’re 100% there yet, to having support for passage in the House.”

For several years, grocers have asking legislators to end the requirement that grocers accept empty bottles and cans and repay the nickel deposits. This year Fareway hired two former Republican legislators as lobbyists to make that pitch. Former State Representative Chip Baltimore, who represented Boone in the House, calls the Bottle Bill a dinosaur. “It was originally enacted as a litter control system, trying to clean up ditches, but since then it has simply turned into a trash collection system,” Baltimore said. “…When you go to a restaurant and they give you a styrofoam box to take your food home in, you don’t have to take your styrofoam box back to the restaurant to allow them to recycle or redeem it.”

Former Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix is also lobbying for Fareway. Dix has publicly expressed support for an approach that would let grocers opt out of accepting the empties if a redemption center was within 20 miles of their store. “This is conceptually a bill that Fareway is interested in seeing continue to move through the process,” Dix said, “…with possible tweaks and changes to improve it along the way.”

That concept has stalled in the Senate and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says there is no single solution that has emerged with enough support to pass the Senate.

The Glenwood Police Department says no injuries were reported after a car struck a convenience store/gas station, Friday night. Police were called to the Fas Mart at 1202 S. Locust Street in Glenwood at around 8:30-p.m., for a vehicle that struck the building. An investigation revealed a 2001 Toyota Camry driven by 75-year-old Bernard Stanek, of Glenwood, was pulling into a parking in front of the building, when he stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. The car jumped a curb and crashed through the front window of the business, causing serious damage.

Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene to check on Stanek, who claimed he was not hurt, and refused medical treatment. Damage to the building was estimated to be $10,000. The car sustained $1,500 damage. No citations were issued.

Authorities said also, 28-year-old Patrick Eggerling, of Avoca, was arrested Thursday, for driving while barred. While in custody, Eggerling was charged also, with Possession of contraband in a correctional facility. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000. And, on April 23rd, 48-year-old Kirk Baldwin, of Omaha, was arrested in Glenwood, for Violation of a No Contact Order.

(Radio Iowa) – President Biden is approaching his 100th day in office this week and his administration is getting a back-handed complement from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley as to how Biden is handling the pandemic. Grassley says, “I think that he is doing an outstanding job of carrying on the outstanding policies of the Trump administration.”

President Biden is scheduled to provide an update today (Tuesday) as to how his administration has responded to COVID-19. Grassley, a Republican, says the groundwork to attack the virus was already in place, thanks to the previous administration. “Because of what President Trump did and what President Biden followed through on, we’re at a point where we aren’t worrying about people getting enough doses to get it stopped,” Grassley says. “We’ve got more doses than we have people.”

Biden set a goal of delivering 200-million shots in his first 100 days in office. That goal was reached last week, on his 92nd day, what Biden called “an incredible achievement for the nation.” Grassley offers little credit to the current president but says he’s satisfied by what’s been accomplished with the vaccine. “Normally, you’d have to wait for the thing to be approved, which was in November, and then another six months for the stuff to be manufactured and start vaccinating people in July,” Grassley says. “We got it all done because of President Trump and then President Biden doing a good job to carry it out.”

It’s expected the president today will discuss easing restrictions on people who’ve been vaccinated, as a way of acknowledging their lower risk and to also offer more prompting for everyone to get the shots. Grassley tested positive for COVID in November and went into isolation, but said he experienced no symptoms.