OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Experts say more Missouri River levees are likely to fail throughout the summer because months of high water will put tremendous pressure on the system. Older, rural levees are especially at risk because they’re likely to be shorter and less well-built than levees protecting urban areas.

Missouri University of Science and Technology professor David Rogers says most of the levees along the Missouri River are agricultural ones that weren’t engineered to withstand flooding. So far, most levees have held along the 811 miles the Missouri travels from the last dam in South Dakota to its confluence with the Mississippi River near St. Louis.

But with every additional day of high water, the levees are more likely to develop problems.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A key bridge over the Missouri River linking northwest Iowa with northeast Nebraska will remain closed longer than expected because of damage to the eastern base of the bridge. The Iowa Transportation Department says about 250 feet of the eastern embankment near the Highway 175 bridge has become unstable because of the force of the river and the bridge abutment has been exposed.

Officials said Friday the original flood mitigation plan had to be scrapped, so the bridge between Onawa, Iowa, and Decatur, Neb., will remain closed for a longer period. For people who live on one side of the bridge but work on the other, the bridge closure has significantly lengthened their commute.

What had been a ten-minute trip might take an hour or more now.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The amount of water held in reservoirs along the Missouri River has started to decline slightly, but flooding is still expected to continue along the river through the summer. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir manager Jody Farhat says Friday was the sixth day in a row when more water was released from the six reservoirs along the river than came into the system.

Farhat says that’s good news for everyone dealing with flooding. But the corps doesn’t plan to significantly decrease the amount of water being released from dams because there is still a massive amount of water in the reservoirs from melting snow and heavy spring rains.

Farhat says any major rainfall in Montana or the Dakotas could force the corps to increase the amount of water being released.

Brewfest 2010

Beer lovers can sample a large variety of craft brews in one location in central Iowa this weekend. The Fifth Annual Brewfest is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. today (Saturday) at Principal Park in downtown Des Moines. Jeff Bruning, a consultant for the event, says attendees can taste test more than 400 different varieties of beer. “We have a lot of beers that you normally can’t get or are hard to find,” Bruning said. “You can come down and sample these beers…some are special releases, some are brewed specifically for Brewfest and some are hard to get or are coming to the state for this one time.”

More than a dozen Iowa based breweries will offer samples. “I think there are currently 25 breweries in the state of Iowa. We have over half of them coming,” Bruning said. Two relatively new Iowa breweries will be the Brewfest for the first time: Toppling Goliath from Decorah and Twist Vine Brewery from Madison County.

The event gives distributors a unique opportunity to speak directly to consumers and vice-versa.  “There are going to be quite a few brewery reps there, people who know what they’re talking about, so you can ask them questions about what’s coming from the brewery…or what should I try,” Bruning said. Tickets to Brewfest are $23 in advance or $28 at the gate. For more information, visit BREWFEST D-S-M DOT COM.

(Radio Iowa)

Four area Boards of Education will meet Monday evening in our immediate listening area. For two of the Boards, it will be their last meeting, because their districts have reorganized into one district.

The first meeting at 5:30-p.m. is for the Griswold School Board, who will meet in the Central Office Board room. On their agenda, is action on: old board policies; Resolutions pertaining to the Revenue Purpose Statement, and the board election; Sharing agreement with cities; approval of bids for the bakery, dairy, snow removal and sanitation, as well as other, administrative matters, such as the appointment of a Board Secretary, Treasurer, Business Manager, and School Attorney.

At 6-p.m., the C-and-M School Board will meet for the last time in the CAM High School Media Center. Last September, voters in the Anita and Cumberland-Massena Community School Districts overwhelmingly chosen to reorganize the two districts into one. For nearly eight-years, the districts have participated in a whole grade sharing agreement, sharing students and programs, and they have shared athletic activities for many years beyond that. All the while, they had maintained separate administrative teams and Boards of Education.

During the C&M Board’s meeting, they’ll act on a Transfer of Quit Claim Deeds for property and Transfer of Vehicle Titles. At 6:20-p.m., the Anita School District’s Board of Education will meet in the CAM High School Media Center, to handle similar administrative matters. And, at 6:45-p.m., the combined CAM School Board will hold its regular meeting, during which they will appoint a Board Secretary/Treasurer, School Attorney and conduct other administrative business.

The CAM Board will also discuss and/or act on Bread and Milk bids, curriculum changes, a School Resources Officer (SRO) agreement, a resignation, contracts and the 2011-2012 school fees.

The City Council in Audubon is set to meet Monday evening. During their 7-p.m. session at City Hall, the Council will hear, and possible act on a request from the Audubon Chamber of Commerce, for street closings, use of City equipment (tables), and the parade route, for the T-Bone Celebration.

The City of Atlantic’s RAGBRAI Organizing Committee is still in need of many volunteers for the Sunday, July 24 ^th event. Anyone interested in helping out, are encouraged to sign up now. Billie Hoover, Volunteer Co-Chair, says there are many volunteer jobs that need to be filled, and the committee is hoping people will step up and share a few hours of their time. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt to wear on July 24th, and wearing the shirt will also give them free entrance to the entertainment area to see The Nadas perform.

Ann McCurdy, Executive Director of the Chamber, says the “Proceeds from the RAGBRAI Organizing Committee will go to support the Atlantic Fire Department, Nishna Valley Trails, The Grounds Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce.” She says that’s because those groups touch a majority of residents in our area.

Volunteers are needed to work in a variety of areas including:

Information Center: Where volunteers are needed throughout the day to answer questions about Atlantic, directions to destinations, and serve as a general first point of contact for riders with questions.

Beverage Garden: Volunteers are need to check I.D., put on wristbands, and sell beverages. Shifts are available from noon until midnight.

Traffic and Parking: Volunteers are needed in the morning and afternoon to help direct traffic in low-risk intersections and in campgrounds.

Shuttle/Bus Stops: This job entails sitting at the designated areas and being a helpful voice in directing riders and answering questions.

If anyone is interested in volunteering, please call (712)- 243-3017, or visit www.atlanticiowa.com/ragbrai to fill out our online form.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – July 8, 2011 – Bridge construction work will cause lane restrictions on eastbound Interstate 680 between I-29 (exit 71) and Pottawattamie County Road L-34 (exit 21) east of Crescent beginning Monday, July 18, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs construction office.

The right lane will be closed in the construction zone. The open lanes will have a 14-foot width lane restriction. This project is expected to be completed by mid-November.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

City officials in Lewis have issued a warning to parents and others who care for infants under six-months of age, about using City water to make infant formula. The City’s Water Works says water samples received Friday, July 8^th, showed nitrate levels of 11-milligrams per Liter. The samples exceeded the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level of 10-milligrams per Liter. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six-months of age.

Officials say you if your home or business is served by the Lewis Water Supply, you should not give water to infants, because they could become seriously ill, and if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath, and blue baby syndrome, which is indicated by the blueness of an infant’s skin. If those systems are displayed, you should seek medical attention for the infant immediately.

Water, juice and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants in the Lewis area until further notice.

Officials say you should NOT boil water, as neither boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting it stand will reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can even make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain when the water evaporates.

Adults and children older than six-months CAN drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants, because they cannot process it in the same way adults can). If you are pregnant, or have specific health concerns, you should consult your physician.

Officials say nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources, including septic systems and run-off. Levels of nitrates can vary throughout the year. The City will let residents and those with ties to its water system know, as soon as the amount of nitrate in the water supply is below the maximum safe limit.

The City says it’s their opinion the sample may have been taken in the wrong location, and samples will be taken on Monday, July 11^th to confirm or refute the initial findings.