(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Leaders in Pottawattamie County and the City of Underwood have come together to create a plan to greatly assist travelers in the west-central part of the county. The proposed project calls for reconstruction of Magnolia Road (G30) from Railroad Highway to the intersection of L52. The project will also include a two-way left turn lane (TWLTL) from the railroad tracks to the interstate ramps. This will require reconstruction of the Mosquito Creek Bridge to provide the additional lane and maintain two-way traffic during reconstruction.

“This project has community and regional significance as a popular commuter route, an emergency interstate detour, and provides vital interstate access for services and commerce,” said John Rasmussen, Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads Engineer. “Traffic has increased dramatically during the service life of the existing infrastructure and exceeds the capacity of the current design. It’s time for reconstruction to improve deteriorating conditions, traffic capacity, and safety.”

Rasmussen credits Tina Treantos, Operations Manager for Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads, and Cindy Sorlien, Underwood’s City Administrator for fostering the partnership. “It’s a great example of community teamwork,” said Rasmussen. “Our staff worked closely with the City of Underwood to address a real need and its leaders have been open-minded and exceptionally supportive.”

Treantos completed the process for a Competitive City Bridge Grant application, with the City of Underwood as the applicant. The City was awarded up to $1.5 million, and on Tuesday, November 22nd, Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors signed an agreement to utilize that grant on a joint City/ County project.

“We’re grateful for the incredible collaboration that’s gone into this project,” said Underwood Mayor Dennis Bardsley. “As a city, we’re blessed to work with Pottawattamie County. We understand its leaders have our residents’ best interests in mind.” The $5.5 million project is programmed for FY24 but may be delayed until additional funding is secured. The design is in the preliminary stages and will be shared at public meetings once plans are more adequately developed.

Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads Department encourages residents to subscribe to the Road Notification System. The Road Notification System provides advanced warning of projects as well as project completion updates for County residents. Subscribe at: https://www.iceasb.org/road-notifications/subscribe/

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Two central Iowa men were sentenced last week on separate sex-related offenses. According to U-S Attorney’s Office reports 30-year-old Kyle Taylor Tremblay, of Ankeny, was sentenced Nov. 22nd to 30 years in prison for Production of Child Pornography. And, 58-year-old Dennis Eugene Kimball, of Des Moines, was sentenced that same day to 20-years in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Kyle Tremblay, interacted with children on an online video-chat forum on multiple dates in early 2021. Tremblay directed the children to perform sexual acts to themselves, including children that Tremblay knew were 10 years old and 11 years old, and make explicit poses for the webcam. Tremblay video-recorded his online interactions with the children. Police located these recordings on Tremblay’s cell phone that was seized during a search warrant at Tremblay’s Ankeny residence in April 2021. Police also located videos and images of other child sexual abuse material stored on Tremblay’s cell phone. Tremblay sent numerous images of child sexual abuse material to multiple other persons via an online messenger application. Following completion of his prison term, Tremblay will be on supervised release for five years.

Court documents show Dennis Eugene Kimball communicated over the internet with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female. During the messages, Kimball arranged to meet the person he believed to be a minor female at a hotel to engage in sex acts. Kimball was arrested by law enforcement in October 2021 when he arrived at the hotel expecting to meet the minor female for sex acts. Following his prison term, Kimball will be on supervised release for five years.

Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. Authorities say 35-year-old Clayton Geick, of Glenwood, was arrested Thanksgiving Day, for Violation of a No Contact Order. His cash-only bond was set at $5,000. And, on Friday, Glenwood Police arrested 42-year-old Simon Fletcher, of Glenwood, for OWI/1st offense, and two counts of Child Endangerment. He has since posted a $5,000 bond.

Authorities say Simon was taken into custody following a report of a 2015 GMC Sierra pickup striking a large brick mailbox in the area behind 104 Golfview Estates, in Glenwood. After the vehicle hit the mailbox and a tree, it reversed and struck a light pole. The pickup then went through the yard at 105 Golfview Estates and continued north. It ran over landscaping, bushes and struck the residence at 108 Golfview Estates, causing an estimated $3,000 damage to the front of the home, including trim and gutters.

The vehicle curved around the structures and came to a stop behind 104 Golfview Estates. Two juveniles and the driver were in the vehicle during the incident. No one was hurt. The total amount of damage was estimated at $17,000.