AMES, Iowa – June 28, 2011 – 6:15 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)
is providing the following update on road conditions in western Iowa. The department
is also continuing to monitor at-risk areas as flood water levels change. 

Turn Around Dont Drown®
Flooding is a dynamic situation, ever-changing throughout the day. Motorists need to
take extra precautions when traveling in areas where flooding is occurring or
predicted. 
·  Use additional caution when traveling at night when it is difficult to see a
flooded road ahead or water approaching the roadway from the side. 
·  If you must travel on roadways where water is nearby, give your full attention to
the driving task and expect vehicles ahead to slow down or make sudden stops. 
·  Keep your focus on the road ahead, not on the water around you and adjust your
speed for conditions. 

Current road closures/restrictions
·  UPDATED: I-29 Hamilton Boulevard interchange in Woodbury County: The southbound
I-29 interchange ramps at Hamilton Boulevard in Sioux City are closed. The
northbound off-ramp is also closed. An alternative ramp has been constructed from
southbound I-29 to Wesley Parkway/U.S. 77. 
·  I-29 in Pottawattamie County: The south- and northbound lanes of I-29 between
milepost 54B (North 35th Street interchange in Council Bluffs) and the I-29/680
interchange at milepost 71 (near Loveland) are closed. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·  I-29 in Fremont County, Iowa, and Atchison County, Mo: I-29 is closed in both
directions from Iowa 2 (exit 10 in Iowa) to the U.S. 136 interchange in Missouri
(near Rock Port). This is expected to be a longer-term closure.
·  I-29 exit and entrance ramps in Fremont County: All I-29 exit and entrance ramps
at exit 20 near Thurman are closed due to ground water. 
·  I-680 in Omaha area: I-680 is closed from the I-29/680 interchange (exit 61 near
Crescent) in Iowa to North 30th Street in Omaha, Neb. (exit 13). This closure
includes the Mormon Bridge across the Missouri River. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·  Iowa 2 in Fremont County: Iowa 2 is closed from I-29 in Iowa to Nebraska City.
Both east- and westbound lanes are closed. This is expected to be a longer-term
closure.
·  UPDATED: Iowa 175 between Onawa and Decatur, Neb.: Flood mitigation work was
underway in this area when it became necessary to close the roadway on Monday.
Serious erosion of the embankment near the east abutment of the Decatur bridge has
occurred, which threatened the integrity of the roadway approach to the bridge. It
is no longer safe for travel. Additional details will be released about this
closure. 
·  Iowa 333 in Hamburg: Iowa 333 is closed from I-29 into Hamburg. Access to Hamburg
is currently available via U.S. 275 in Iowa. 
·  UPDATED: Iowa 376 northbound (U.S. 75 Business-Lewis Boulevard): The exit ramp to
westbound Gordon Drive is closed. 

Highway segments at higher risk of being closed due to flooding
·  UPDATED: I-29 (north of Blencoe): Flood barrier walls are being installed in this
area to reduce the risk of flooding. There is a temporary detour in place for I-29
northbound travelers, which is allowing the barriers to be installed. Follow the
detour signs. 
·  UPDATED: I-29 (north of Missouri Valley): Flood barrier walls are being installed
in this area. 
·  NEW: I-29 (north of Modale): This is a levee-protected area. However, if a breach
were to occur, it would be inundated with several feet of flood waters. 
·  NEW: I-29 (north of Whiting): This area is threatened due to a connection between
the Missouri River and a stream that flows under Berry Avenue and through the Badger
Lake State Wildlife Management Area.   
·  UPDATED: U.S. 30 between Missouri Valley and Blair, Neb. This road will close
temporarily beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, to permit installation of
flood barrier walls along the south side of the roadway. The road is expected to be
closed for approximately two days. Operations will be performed around-the-clock to
expedite the work. After the road is reopened, flood barrier walls will be installed
on the north side of the road, but work performed using intermittent closures, pilot
vehicles and flagging operations. 
·  I-29/I-680 interchange: This interchange near Loveland was previously closed due
to flooding. Mitigation work including use of sandbags, barrier wall and pumps
allowed the roadway to reopen. Because this area remains vulnerable to increased
water levels, additional mitigation measures will be taken to help control the flood
waters.  
·  U.S. 34, between I-29 in Iowa and Plattsmouth, Neb.: This roadway is protected by
a levee system, but remains at risk from a levee breach or overtopping. The
mandatory evacuation within Mills County due to rising ground water has not affected
this roadway. U.S. 34 remains open to travel. 

Being monitored 
·  I-29, northbound off-ramp to Dace Avenue in Sioux City (exit 147B or commonly
known as the Downtown/Tyson Events Center): Flood mitigation efforts will be
deployed to try to keep this ramp open.
·  I-29, southbound exit ramp to Nebraska Street (exit 147B) in Sioux City: This
area is dike protected, but would be inundated if the dike is breached or
overtopped. 
·  I-29, northbound and southbound lanes in Sioux City at the U.S. 77/Wesley Parkway
underpass (between exits 148 and 149): Flood mitigation efforts will be deployed to
try to prevent this low area from being flooded. 
·  I-29, from the Bellevue, Neb., interchange (milepost 42) to Iowa 2 (milepost 10):
This area is at a lesser risk, but would be inundated if a levee is breached or
overtopped.
·  I-29 exit and entrance ramps at the Bartlett interchange, exit 24: Ground water
has been rising nearby, which threatens the area below I-29.    
·  Iowa 127 near Mondamin: The Iowa DOT is monitoring areas east and west of
Mondamin, near mileposts 0.8 and 1.5, but the risk of flooding is lower because the
road is protected somewhat by a high ridge. 

Key traveler information resources
·  Iowa DOT’s flood information call center 866-452-8510, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
daily, speak to an operator for travel assistance
·  Road condition information 24 hours a day: visit www.511ia.org, or call 511 (in
Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside of the state) for a recorded message of road closures

·  Iowa DOT on Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/iowadot/ 
·  View the flooded Iowa roads map for road closures, detours and areas at risk of
flooding - http://tinyurl.com/3o2mtlp

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a rollover accident which occurred Tuesday afternoon, just southeast of Grant. According to scanner traffic, the accident happened at around 2:15-p.m., near 3111 115th Street. An unidentified woman was trapped in the vehicle, which was on its top when rescuers arrived.

Griswold Rescue transported the woman to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of minor leg and neck injuries. Additional details are currently unavailable.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a Lewis woman was arrested today (Tuesday), on alcohol and drug charges. 62-year old Ilene Margaret Rhoads was taken into custody on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Rhoads was taken to the Cass County Jail, and later  released on her own recognizance.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a suspect in the shooting death of an Omaha man has been arrested in Kansas.

A news release Tuesday from Omaha police says 48-year-old Donald Krisor was arrested Monday in Burlington, Kan., on a warrant charging him with second-degree murder and a weapons charge. Krisor is a suspect in the death last week of 31-year-old Blaise Benscoter.

Police say Krisor is awaiting extradition.

Benscoter was found wounded Thursday in an apartment and died a short time later at a hospital.

Three other men have been arrested in Benscoter’s death, including 37-year-old Omar Martinez, who was arrested Monday in a Council Bluffs, Iowa hotel. Police say 38-year-old Donald Bridgeford was arrested Saturday, and 20-year-old Sean Collins turned himself in to police Saturday night.

AMES, Iowa – June 28, 2011 – Throughout the holiday weekend, travel information will continue to be available from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding flooded road conditions. For travel information during the Fourth of July weekend, call 511 (in Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (from anywhere in the U.S.), or visit http://www.511ia.org/.

Services are free and available any time of the day to keep travelers informed and safe. The Iowa DOT’s temporary, operator-assisted flood hotline will be closed July 2-4. Services will resume Tuesday, July 5, with new hours­­­­­­ – 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Iowa DOT’s flood hotline – 866-452-8510 – will remain available through Friday, July 1, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – June 28, 2011 – Schuler Manufacturing, a family-owned business specializing in feed mixer wagons in Griswold, is the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award winner. The business was nominated by the Cass County Farm Bureau.

The equipment business was born in 1962 when Dorland Schuler designed and built a custom feed wagon for his own cattle feeding operation. After several area farmers requested similar wagons, Schuler founded the manufacturing business. Today, the company is run by Schuler and his wife and manufactures cattle feed mixers, feed wagons, and other feed mixer equipment for the beef cattle feedlot and dairy industries.

Feed mixer models are available in tractor PTO-driven and towed, truck-mounted and stationary versions. The product line also includes bunk-style feeder wagons and hay feeder wagons. This fall, the company will launch a big hay bale processor line.

The company, which employs up to 40 seasonal workers, now sells to beef cattle and dairy farmers in Iowa and even has international customers in Australia, Russia and Japan.  Even though the wagon line has evolved, the design remains the same. Schuler still has that first wagon and is proud to say that the company’s current grinder wagons carry the same basic design. He is also proud of the business’ family ties. His two sons, a nephew and two grandsons are all involved in the company.

Russ Joyce, executive director of the Cass Atlantic Development Corporation, says the company and its success is a testament to rural Iowans and farmer ingenuity. “Rural Iowa is generally rich in entrepreneurs that have come out of the agricultural industry,” says Joyce.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative that supports new and existing businesses through business education, mentoring and financial resources.  In cooperation with five community colleges, RRI is coordinating a series of free, one-day, innovation seminars this summer to introduce Iowa’s key economic development partners and tools.  To register and learn more, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Monday on a fraud charge. Atlantic Police say 21-year old Theresa Sutton faces a charge of Unauthorized use of a Credit card/fraud. Sutton has been booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an Atlantic man was arrested Monday, for Violation of his probation. 21-year old Devin Register has also been booked into the Cass County Jail.

Today (Tuesday), officers with the Atlantic Police Department arrested 23-year old Joseph Fredericksen, and 20-year old Andrew Rice, both of Atlantic, on charges of 5^th degree theft. Both men were being held in the Cass County Jail.

It’s less than a month now until Atlantic welcomes RAGBRAI on Sunday, July 24.  Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ann McCurdy says there is still a need for housing, especially for groups of individuals who will be making their way to our community. Here’s a sample of some of the groups who will be coming to town that weekend…

A 13 member Christian Bible study group from West Point, New York, traveling as married couples with one adult child. A flat area for the pop up camper would be ideal for these folks. They also prefer shower/toilet access.

A group of 13 traveling in a 15 passenger van with trailer seeks a bed for one couple, inside camping or yard camping, with shower and toilet access. The group has participated in RAGBRAI for 22 years. One member is the former Chief of Police in Des Moines. Members come from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.

A family group of 3 first time RAGBAI-ers who prefer yard camping. They are from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and range in age from 21 to 50.

A group of 11 from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, which includes 1 physician assistant, 3 nurses, 1 physical therapist, a French teacher, a financier , a retired computer engineer and a New Yorker. They look forward to getting to know the locals and cherishing the experience of what RAGBRAI is all about.  They will camp but would like shower and toilet access.

McCurdy says more than 1,500 people will be looking for yard space in Atlantic, so that may set up camp, have housing, and a place to wash-up.  If you are interested in housing one of these groups, please call the Chamber at 243.3017.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay and Straw Directory.  The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw. 

“This directory is designed to help both buyers and sellers by listing Iowa growers that have hay and straw and straw available,” Northey said.  “This directory has proven to be a valuable asset to Iowa farmers and encourage those that can use it to take full advantage of this resource.” 

The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation, however only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list. 

Names are gathered throughout the year with added emphasis now that hay harvest has started. Sections within the Hay and Straw Directory include “Forage for Sale,” “Forage Auctions,” “Hay Associations,” “Forage Dealers,” “Hay Grinders” and “Custom Balers.” 

Farmers interested in listing should visit the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.  An application form can be found by going to the “Bureaus” link and then selecting “Agricultural Marketing.”  Then click on “Hay & Straw Directory” link at the bottom of the page.